I’m going to do a minor kitchen remodel next year and am wondering what you experts think about cabinets and appliances.
Cabinets. This is definitely not a “custom cabinet” neighborhood, but I do want to have good quality and good looks, and I want to recoup as much as possible when I sell in five to six years. I’ve been looking at the IKEA cabinets as well as those available in the big-box stores [especially Mill’s Pride because they’re not too expensive]. I don’t know how to assess their quality and longevity, however. They won’t get much wear and tear from me, but how will prospective buyers evaluate them? What’s your experience with/advice about them or recommendations for other brands?
Appliances. I like white, and I think that white is classic and always in style. I have a feeling that the ueber-popular stainless is going to be the avocado/harvest gold of the future, though, and will date all these remodel jobs of the past few years. Opinions?
Replies
If your layout isn't changing, have you thought about refacing your existing cabinets? Just completed a job with new solid surface countertops, tile backsplash and reface in Alder raised panels Recessed a couple of spice cabs into stud bays. Customer did some can lights, under cabinet lights and painting. Looks like whole different kitchen.
In this case the customer avoided tearout mess and inevitable flooring and drywall issues by going with a reface.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
The layout isn't changing much. Refacing would be great, but I want to replace the 30" upper cabinets with 39" or 42". It's a small kitchen that lacks enough storage and there's no place to add some except UP.
>> I've since found some sites where people are raving about IKEA cabinets! The predominant suggestion is to use their cabinets and doors, the hardware if you like the choices, but get the countertops, faucets, and sinks someplace else. I don't like their countertop selections [laminate or butcherblock] but a salesperson told me that they might be offering marble and granite in the spring.
Edited 12/22/2006 3:35 am by techscribe
The IKEA cabinets have been discussed on here several times, usually ending up in a draw, some hate them and some love them.
Personally I think IKEA is junk but in your original post you asked the question, "will the public even notice" (or something like that) and the answer to that is NO, they wont.
If you are sure your planning on selling and you wont do to much to wear them out then get them. No one will notice weather or not the cabinets are high quality or not, they will only notice that they look new!
Doug
A few years back my wife and I remodeled our kitchen. We first evaluated the shortcomings of the existing layout and looked at different options to make the space more efficient. Both of us like to cook and when we have gatherings we have more than two people in the kitchen helping out. Basen on a little change in the layout, keeping the kitchen sink in the same location so that we wouldn't need to change the plumbing layout, my wife then started to research the different cabinet options and basically decided where and how everything that we have and use would be stored in the new layout based on standard cabinet sizes and options. She then researched on line the different lines and options.
We actually bought our Medallions Cabinets at Menards. We saw the same cabinets at a kitchen and bath designers showroom and liked the fact that we were able to see the various Medallions lines in various finishes in larger vinettes than the one door one finish display at any big box home improvement location.
The Medallions have plywood sides and back, dovetail drawers, and are mad in the USA. The time of year was perfect as Menards was having one of their sales and the discount saved us enough to be able to go higher end on the granite counterop, sink, and appliances.
The best Valentines Day celebration I had was demoing the old kitchen cbinets which basically just fell to pieces once we took off the old countertops.
All I'm saying is be open to options, research, and decide what's important to make your end product, a new kitchen, work for you for a long time. I love walking into my kitchen every morning since the remodel. A lot of sweat equity and discipline staying close to the budget. Don't forget the flooring, countertops, and backsplash round out the whole scene.
I do custom cabinetry and - at the risk of commiting an act of heresy - will say that Ikea is probably the best of the lot when it comes to the "big box" lines of cabinets. They aren't great, but they're better than anything I've seen from Home Depot.
As far as resale, it's all about appearance. 99.9% of people buying a house wouldn't know the difference between "good" cabs and the cheap ones. As long as the doors and drawers work, and there's no obvious damage, they'll be happy.
Stainless or black appliances will probably still be ok in 5-6 years, but white appliances are probably the "safest" choice.
Just bought one HD Mill's pride cabinet base for a quick fix in my kitchen to fill the space a stove left - $100 including the doors - except for the door and drawer front it is all particleboard, heavy as hell, and I don't expect it will last well if it sees much water.
I wouldn't buy one again.