Need source for unfinished cabinets

13 years ago

I'm planning a super low-budget kitchen remodel in a low-price house, and will be re-using some of the existing cabinets (1920 vintage, painted) and adding new ones, plus either modifying the existing door fronts or replacing the doors so they all match. I'll likely buy the lowers (mostly drawer bases) and build the uppers. Thus I need unpainted cabinets so I can paint everything the same color and have a somewhat uniform-looking kitchen.

I've browsed CL for used cabinets, and it'll be a challenge to get the right sizes to fit my piecemeal needs plus many will need modifications (e.g., changing door base to drawer base, buying different door/drawer fronts) that will bump the cost up. Menards also has pretty cheap unfinished oak cabinets (not my first choice for painting) for So far I think the best deal I can find is from Kitchen Cabinet Depot. They've got a vast size/configuration selection of unfinished RTA and prices are about 46% of what Lowe's quoted me for Shenandoah finished cabs. Depending on the salvageability of the existing cabinets, I could probably piecemeal the cabinets I need for $1400-2400.

I've searched these forums and googled as well, and can't find any reviews of them. I know daveinorlando suggested buying one and putting it together to assess the quality, and I could do that. But also wondering if anyone here has experience with them. Or has other companies to recommend for unfinished RTA cabinets. (The RTA is optional, but presumably cheaper, so that's why I'm going that direction).

Featured Answer

weedyacres
Original Author

13 years ago

I've looked at most of the above mentioned.
Ikea: Too limited on sizes (e.g.: 3 drawer base only comes in 15, 18, and 24).
Barker: more expensive than KCD
Cliq: no unfinished
Conestoga: no unfinished, plus you have to buy through a dealer
Home Depot: a little more expensive than Menards, but same generic oak in limited sizes. How did they paint out?

On your recommendation I googled KCD BBB and found a site called Customer Lobby (never heard of them) that had a string of good reviews. So that looks promising...

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Comments (11)

khat
13 years ago
In my last house I repainted painted Ikea cabinets. I used Kilz primer so I didn't have to sand them. They were in my office but held up pretty well for the 10 years I was in the house. I assembled first and then painted them, but I just read a hack online where the poster said to paint them first. You still might be limited in your sizes, but you wouldn't have to upgrade the drawers.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
13 years ago
Barker cabinets has good reviews here and moderate-low prices. CliqStudios (although components app. not made in USA) have good reviews but I don't think come unpainted. Conestoga has also gotten good mentions here, can be bought from various vendors (I got quote from Cabinet Authority) and I think but again not sure can be purchased unfinished-- also in the moderate-low range, about like Barker..
Did you google Kitchen Cabinet Depot BBB? that will bring up any Better Business Bureau complaints or ratings.
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angel411
13 years ago
I'm using Home Depot unfinished cabinets in a low budget laundry room redo. We just finished painting last night and they are getting hung tomorrow, so I will try to post pics next week when the counters go in. It was a little challenge getting the sizes to work, so if you don't need custom sizes, they can do the job. I also used these in my master bathroom- 2 separate 30 inch sink bases. They are standard kitchen depth, so a little deeper than most vanities, but they work for us! I painted them black and topped them with carrera marble remnants. I love the look and they have held up fine- 4 years now!
User
13 years ago
If you are moderately handy ... check ana-white.com for base cabinet plans.

You can alter the sizes.

http://ana-white.com/2012/01/plans/36quot-corner-base-easy-reach-kitchen-cabinet-basic-model

Here is a link that might be useful: 36
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
13 years ago
If Ikea has the price range that you need, it seems that it is possible to piece together different elements to create a size closer to what you need. For example, I figured out how to get my 21" pantry out of a 15" pantry case mixed with 21" base cabs and drawers, and it still would have been a significant cost savings over Barker.

They do have 30" and 36" base drawer units BTW, they just have a split top drawer.
oldbat2be
13 years ago
I feel like you can get Conestoga unfinished. Worth a call/email. Brian Long at the Cabinet Joint helped (and continues to help) us. These have lovely interiors, too. You get the hang of assembling them fairly quickly (first couple are a little scary, try without glue first time). Quick lead times, too. brian@thecabinetjoint.com

Conestoga RTA:

Good luck!
oldbat2be
13 years ago
One more thought: we were able to customize drawer widths and heights at reasonable up charge.
caliente63
13 years ago
Add Scherr's to the list (many threads here).
salishsong
13 years ago
Another good option, possibly less expensive and completely customizable, is CabParts. They were featured in an article in Fine Homebuilding, used for an architect's own DIY kitchen.

I very nearly got these, but ended up getting Barker cabinets with unfinished doors, which we then had a local craftsman stain and finish. The Barker website made ordering far easier (than CabParts) which left me feeling more confident that I'd ordered what I needed. The price was very close to Conestoga, a bit more than CabParts.

Here is a link that might be useful: CabParts website
weedyacres
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the continued suggestions. I've browsed them all, and, on lazygardens' suggestion, have been looking more into building my own bases. I'm completely confident on uppers, and on lower boxes, just inexperienced on drawers. Multiple youtube videos later, on multiple different drawer construction methods, it's seeming feasible. Or there's Drawer Depot, that sells kits, any size, for $30 per drawer. We're only talking 3 drawer bases, a trash pullout and a sink front.

I'm also thinking of just doing a site-built stretch of cabinets instead of individual boxes. I'll keep sketching and googling...