here are the drawings. I found them difficult to view tho.

I did notice you said you were getting cab slideouts - not drawers in the base cabs? drawers are so much easier to access. there was something else too I think but i forget what. will have to reread you post...

{{!gwi}}

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do get a few more quotes for the job.

My scanner isn't working properly and I only received paper copies from the KD so I took pictures of each image. I apologize for the poor quality. I'm working on scanning the images for better viewing.

Forgot to answer question re: cabinets. I wanted drawers on either side but KD suggest cabinets b/c the drawers are only so deep & can't hold larger pots, etc... Good thing is this is the 1st drawing & I'm still tweaking it the design.

See if Wellborn makes a drawer base with two deep drawers (the top drawer of which sometimes has a shallow sliding tray inside).

This is good for pots and pans. I have specified these in two kitchens, and the KD/cabinet reps both said that type of cabinet "did not exist" --until they found it in their catalogue.

Yeah- I was going to suggest that about the cabinets with slide-outs. Drawers are much easier to work. Maybe leave 1 slide-out over in the "bar" area.
Also- Gosh I wish my kitchen was as nice as the one you are replacing !
Does that estimate include countertops ? What are you planing there? That price does seem a little high, but Wellborn is considered a custom cabinet line I think. Did they seperate out the labor ? i'd be interested to see what part that was...

Granite-girl,

No, the estimate was for cabinets, labor & sink. It seems high to me too but this is the first estimate so I don't know if what I'm wanting to do is going to cost this much. I've got other companies I'm working w/ so I'll be able to compare. I'm wondering if the 2 pantries and all the paneling w/ molding detail around the island is making it go up in price. I had an appt. yesterday AM and noticed the initial quote on the desk before some changes we made was around $17K. So after 2 hr appt. the changes I made increased the price $6K!! YIKES... The only changes were the glaze finish which is a 15% upgrade, the additional pantry which includes tearing out a coat closet & fixing wall w/ door, wood veneer w/ molding detail on island, corbels, wider crown molding, a mullion door at bar & decorative detail on spice pull outs next to oven. Does these changes seem like a $6K increase?

I like the design except for bar area. I really would like to make the wet bar a desk for laptop, phone etc... I'd like to have a place for a chair and 3 drawers on right side. Not sure if there's enough room between wet bar & island. It's 40" between the two. Does that seem tight if someone was sitting in a chair to pass behind?

I've chosen granite for countertops. The quote for granite is $3630 for 77 sq. ft of Level I granite. Additional $540 for Level II w/ standard edge.

Placing your range and sink where corner cabinets would normally go is a blessing. Having no corner cabinets saves a lot of wasted and/or difficult to reach space.

Negatives. Refridgerator so close to range. If you eventually get a new refridgerator do consider a french-door model with dual condensers (more precise temperature control) Also Your sink/dishwasher placement will require a lot of walking back and forth with tableware.

BUT of course one has to work with the space you have.

DO CONSIDER trying to salvage material and donating to local Habitat for Humanity or other charity (and you'll get a tax deduction too)

"I wanted drawers on either side but KD suggest cabinets b/c the drawers are only so deep & can't hold larger pots"

what is their deepest drawer?

how high is your largest pot? how many do you have that size? how often do you use it/them?

Based on a couple of kitchens I have planned, adding a glass door to a cabinet can triple its price, (now it needs a matching interior); and using farmhouse legs on an island can add $1000; and one or two fancy pullout cabinets can be 1/3 of the entire cabinet order, so yes...changes like you made can add $6000 believe it or not:)

This was the first drawing & after looking at it for a day I think I want to eliminate the wine rack & peninsula cabinet. Palimpsest, thanks for the insight on mullion doors. Also, I figured the upgrade charge for the glazing is over $3K. That's a lot to me for glazing though I really do like the look. Do people normally request a breakdown of all the cabinet pieces & their costs? I did this when we built our pool. It makes it a lot easier to determine if the extras are really worth it.

I don't have tall pots and the deepest drawer planned right now is, I think, 10". I'm not sure what the deepest drawer Wellborn makes. I've made notes to inquire about a 2 drawer cabinet b/c this is where I'll place my Tupperware, etc... I've got cabinets right now w/ pullouts and the Tupperware constantly falls behind the pullouts. Pain in the butt to have to reach down and pick it up. With drawers that completely eliminates the problem.

I agree about the layout of the kitchen, ashebooks. If I had lots of $$$ I would tear down all the walls and start over. But I've got to work w/ the walls we've got.

Thanks everyone who is offering opinions & suggestions. It's really nice to read outside opinions from experienced members.

Regarding cabinets vs drawers and pricing: when we ordered, we found that drawers were less expensive than cabinets with rollout shelves - which was fine with me because I wanted drawers anyway. I love having my pots and pans in drawers.

Chicagoans,

Thanks for the insight about drawers being more cost effective than cabinets w/ pullouts. Kind of makes sense to have drawers if it works in the space. I went to HD today and spoke w/ the KD who's a former custom cabinet maker. After retiring & selling his custom cabinet business he said he was retired for about 6 mos & then went to work for HD. I'm hoping his expertise can help w/ selection of product line & placement.