Your Guide To Custom Kitchen Cabinets
The bulk of a kitchen’s essentials—pots and pans, dishware and utensils, canned and dry goods—is stored in the kitchen cabinets. And with so much space devoted to cabinets (25 to 30 feet in the typical kitchen), they go a long way in determining the look and feel of the room.
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Types of Kitchen Cabinets
There are three options for kitchen cabinets based on manufactured and sold. Kitchen cabinets are available in three types of construction: stock, semi-custom, and custom.
Stock cabinets
These are mass-produced kitchen cabinets sold at many home improvement centers. Stock cabinets are typically available fully assembled in standard sizes and configurations. However, some may require some assembly. Stock cabinets are the least expensive option, running between $100 and $300 per linear foot, but these cabinets may only be available in limited runs of colors, material options, and styles.
Custom cabinets
These are kitchen cabinets built to your exact size and style specifications in the material, color, and finish of your choice. They often include one-of-a-kind features such as an appliance garage or a coffee station, may boast furniture-style touches such as bun feet and leaded-glass doors, and can be built floor to ceiling, perhaps adorned with crown molding at the top. The craftsmanship and attention to detail into custom cabinetry generally mean a longer production time and a high-end price, with costs ranging from $500 to $1,200 per linear foot.
Semi-custom cabinets
These are stock cabinets with various extra details that help you personalize both style and storage capabilities. You can change the dimensions of drawers, for instance, or go with a different finish on the door fronts. Semi-custom cabinets, which cost between about $150 and $650 per linear foot, usually take four to eight weeks for delivery.
Should You Get Stock Cabinets or Custom Cabinetry for Your Kitchen Renovation?
Whether you’re building a new home or want to renovate your current space, one of the biggest showpieces in the kitchen is your cabinets. As you begin planning your kitchen remodel, you’ll need to choose from either stock kitchen cabinets or custom cabinets.
With stock cabinetry, installation speed and cost are on your side, while custom cabinets allow you to add special features and detailed craftsmanship. Although custom cabinets can be significantly more expensive, they are well worth the cost.
Stock cabinets are pre-manufactured; they can be supplied as ready-to-assemble or pre-assembled. Custom cabinets are made to order; they can be customized to almost any color, size, and shape.
If you’re ready to dive into cabinet shopping, here are the expert tips you need to know for choosing kitchen cabinets you’ll love for years to come.
Plan Desired Installation Time
Cabinet installation timelines vary by type.
Custom cabinets are usually more labor-intensive and time-consuming to install since they often come with additional accessories and unusual construction features and require a custom approach. Custom cabinetry is also more expensive and involves long lead times. It means installers have to be more careful with measuring and preparation. When outlining your renovation timeline, be sure to factor in what type of cabinets you plan to use.
Choose Special Features
If you’re interested in adding one-of-a-kind features, such as an appliance garage or a coffee station, to your new cabinet layout, custom cabinets might be the answer. Custom sizes, hardware, and moldings are in-demand features, and the custom cabinet sizes will help to fully utilize all available kitchen space. The ability to choose custom hardware or integrate organizing options will add functionality to any kitchen, and cabinet moldings play an essential role in the overall kitchen look.
Other custom cabinet features include hidden doors to adjacent rooms, ladders within a drawer to reach upper cabinets, charging stations, hydraulics, and endless storage opportunities.
However, not all cabinet storage features are limited to custom installations. Be aware that these days, stock cabinets come with more features. For example, appliance garages are available in stock cabinet lines, and a coffee station can be created on-site with the right carpentry skills.
Pay Attention to Pricing
Cost is a significant factor when deciding between custom and stock cabinetry. An average 10-foot by 10-foot kitchen with stock cabinets costs about $3,500. Custom cabinetry pricing is difficult to determine without knowing all project specifications and homeowners’ ideas, but custom cabinets with regular features will typically start at $7,000 for a 10-foot by 10-foot kitchen.
Consider the Rule of Three
This dictates that you can only choose two out of three objectives in any given situation: speed, cost, and quality. If quality is driving your decision-making process, stock cabinets are not for you, and custom options are the best in this case. If speed or cost is your main objective, the best choice is to go with stock cabinetry.
We Are Ready To Help You
When you’re ready to outfit your kitchen with new cabinets, give us a call. We have years of experience to help you have the kitchen of your dreams within your budget.