Hey everyone,
We have just started the process of looking into new kitchen cabinets for our 1927 house which is slowly being remodeled. I stopped by Home Depot just to see what they had — not great, and the installation charge was beyond belief (he said usually at least half the cost of the cabinets).
Our house is nice, but it’s not the type of house — or in the type of neighborhood — where you would want to spend a lot of money on a new kitchen. While I would love Crownpoint cabinets, it’s just not practical. When we sell in six or seven years, I’ll never see that money since most buyers in my neck of the woods don’t care much about quality — they’re more interested in how many people they can cram into the house. It’s bad enough I spent a bunch of money on hand-printed wallpaper — looks great and I love it, but it’s not likely that a buyer in a few years is going to appreciate it. You know what I mean?
So, my question: Is Home Depot or Lowes the way to go if you want to spend around $5,000 on new cabinets (about 20 linear feet), or is there another source that is close in price but higher quality? I’m a weekend remodeler and while I can build nice radiator cabinets, I’m not able to build my own carcasses. Are there any other options besides IKEA or the dreaded cam-lock particle board models?
Thanks,
Michael
Replies
If you can build nice radiator cabinets, then surely you can install kitchen cabinets (from your post it sounded like you were planning on having HD do the install). That would eliminate a good part of the cost you were quoted. I've done 2 1/2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms, and a mudroom with Kraftmaid cabinets from HD. While I'm sure there are some brands that are better, I've been very satisfied.
First get some bids from local cabinet shops. Second get a price from Lowes and Home Depot. Personally I like the finished cabinets stocked at Lowes and hang them myself.
The IKEA stuff isn't that bad, if you can find a style you like. (But I don't care for most of the styles.)
There are apparently several other suppliers of mail-order cabs, but I don't know any names.
I should have been clearer -- I think I'm able to install the cabinets, but not comfortable building them myself -- I've seen catalogs where you can buy the cabinet doors for the carcasses that you build yourself, but that seems like too much work and not worth it in the end.I definitely would not use the HD installers unless the spouse insists on it. My brother up in Boston is a contractor who used to do their kitchen installs, and he has horror stories about not gettng paid, gettng the wrong shipments on site, etc.I'll go and take a look at Lowes -- haven't been there in quite a while.Thanks for the advice,Michael
http://www.budgetkitchencabinets.com/
I took a design from Home Depot and send it to these guys. They beat the price and I got 3/4" plywood, dovetail joints on the draws. Just make sure you get the cabinets in hand before you do any work.
For decent quality at a decent price, I used to like Kraftmaid. Lots of sizes and options, so you should be able to get what will look good for you. And one of the big boxes handles Kraftmaid, along with other kitchen dealers.
Plan on getting the cabinets ahead of time and inspecting them for errors, like wrong cabinet, bark wane, or too much color variation. Kraftmaid was very quick to replace problem pieces, though they should never have shippped them in the first place.
But I haven't bought cabinets in 15 years, though I did just price a few replacements pieces from HD and I was beyond shocked at the prices.
BTW, don't do what the bozos who did our kitchen did. If you have an upper cabinet on a wall opposite a window, be sure to put a 3" spacer in to keep the door from hitting the window and not opening fully.
IKEA is the way to go on a thin wallet, they usually have a reasonable installer too. But as someone has mentioned, the style isn't for everyone.
CANAC make a decent bargain cabinet, are they available where you are ?
I'd done cabinets from "cab parts" for some friends' cottages, made two sets of doors (any router table and a door set of router bits will deliver decent doors, provided you don't want 'arched'; an arched top requires a set of jigs); obtained doors for others from a guy I met at the local workshop show.
If this doesn't ring a bell, the "cab parts" factory sends you unassembled cabinets in the form of stock components (i.e. you order sides, floors, shelves, etc. and put them together yourself. Note: a skilled installer can install cabinets solo, IMHO, it takes about 4 amateurs to do the same job without injuring someone.
Check the net for cabinets in parts while you're at it.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Edited 9/5/2006 7:07 pm ET by PhillGiles
Michael,
I'll assume yor in or around NYC by the name?
I just did my Kitchen. I'm not planning on staying more than another year, and what i put in is 1000% better than what was here.
I used American Woodmark from Lowes. I ahve one ten foot and one six foot run of uppers. I have about 12' total of lowers. It's a really strange layout. I can send you a few pics if you want.
Anyway, I paid $3000 for cabinets and accesories. $800 for Formica Countertops.
I used the maple cabinets that are in stock and hung them myself ( I've done it before so it was no big deal). Problem is that they only have the most basic of stuff in stock.
Robert:Just moved from NYC up to Westchester (an hour north). My kitchen sounds similar to yours. Could you post pictures if you have them or send them to [email protected].I was looking at Woodmark last night and it's pretty much what I wanted -- not great, but looks decent. As you said, not much in the way of options, but that's not what I'm looking for anyway.
You can always hang your cabinets on a 45* block (french cleat), and take em with you, like they do in Europe. IMO, it's better to have well made cabs you're proud of, than mediocre ones you tire of.
spend around $5,000 on new cabinets (about 20 linear feet)
Ok, so I know that there's a big regional difference in prices, but wow.
I could get 20 l.f. of made-to-spec (semi)custom cabinets delivered & installed for $4000.
(That's finished, your pick, in one of 10 finishes on your pick of 5 wood species with your pick of 12 door/drawer styles; knife-hinge semi concealed, too; cheaper with PB carcasses, upcharge for euro hinges, full u/m euro undermounts, or dovetailed drawers, or the like.)
If I went to the guy two doors down with his smaller shop, he'd likely do 20' of frameless for three grand--but with a lot fewer options, but 100% custon, to order. Shoot, for four grand, he could probably be talked into shipping them by common carrier <g>.