I would recommend hiring an architect to design your kitchen and a licensed contractor to perform the install. You will spend a little extra for both, but it will be money very well spent. Your architect and/or contractor can also price custom built cabinets to compare against the Lowe's brand. Based on my experience the price is usually about the same but the quality of a true wood cabinet that is custom built for your kitchen is far superior.

In terms of design, I have not been impressed with anything that has come out of the Home Depot or Lowes design center. They do not use contractors. They are installers following a set of instructions.

An architect is complete overkill for a kitchen redo unless an addition is involved. Most don't cook and wouldn't know NKBA recommendations if that 32" aisle bit them in the hiney. Which it would if the tried bending over in a 32" aisle.

Lowes has a new program that uses an interior designer and licensed full service contractor to do a tart to finish complete project. It's worth checking out. Locally, they've hired some pretty outstanding individuals to run it. Your area may vary.

Shenandoah/American Woodmark/Timberlake/Waypoint is not a true mid grade line. They are a high entry level that can be upgraded in construction, but still lacks in the details when that is done. Their finishes are what really keep them down. Not great quality. They used a tinted toner for their cherry to mask the lower quality wood, and don't spend a lot o time sanding anything. They only offer 2 color of base for heir white finishes.

A true mid grade line would offer a natural cherry, as well as multiple choices or a painted white. They would use soft close doors and drawers as standard, with 1/2" sidewall construction. As standard. And not make you ''upgrade''.

Yes, that's Diamond, which I have used in several flips and intend to put in my own house next spring. Solid construction, dovetail corners, soft-close doors, good accessories. Highly recommend.

Your experience will vary a lot with your specific store. I have a great designer at my local Lowes who can make magic out of tricky spaces, work with my crazier ideas, offer sales and deals. Installation has always been my own guys. If you didn't have a good person for either step, of course you might feel less positive. But the cabinets seem good and my contractors have always been favorably impressed with the quality of all the parts.

Am almist finished with Home Depot kitchen renovation to increase storage and counter space in my 33-year old kitchen. After contacting ten different contractors, handymen and kitchen designers in Gainesville, Fl not one of them returned a call or a second visit after measuring and discussing project.
Home Depot spent more than two months working with my modest budget and I am more than pleased with the outcome. Their contractor is professional, reliable and detail oriented.

Sophie, I am a licensed architect and I design many kitchens. I also spend a great deal of time in my own kitchen cooking.

I'm not sure where you get your 32" aisle reference from, but 32" isn't allowed by code or fair housing standards. It's required as a clear opening for accessible doors only. Corridors and aisles are required to be at least 36" wide. For kitchens 42" is a minimum and 48" is preferred, if space allows, between wall cabinets and islands. It is never overkill to hire a licensed architect. It's a worthwhile investment of expertise into your most expensive asset - your home.

The words "corridors" and "aisles" don't even exist in the International Residential Code.

In the IBC (not IRC), there is no aisle width for group R occupancies.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/2012/icod_ibc_2012_10_sec017.htm

And "Corridors shall be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Table 1018.1. The corridor walls required to be fire-resistance rated shall comply with Section 708 for fire partitions."

I doubt that that would apply to the spacing of a wooden (combustible) kitchen island.

Fair housing in a single family private residence ??????

Fred, IRC Section R311.6 "The minimum width of a hallway shall not be less than 3 feet." The term hallway and corridor are synonymous. Further, if you refer to ANSI 117.1 2009, which deals with accessibility requirements, you will see in Chapter 4, Section 402 "Accessible Routes" which requires horizontal and vertical clearances for dwelling units. Section 404 deals with required clearances for doorways. Lastly, if you go to Chapter 8, Section 804 "Kitchens and Kitchenettes" you will see a minimum clearance of 40" required between counters in a pass thru kitchen and 60" required for a galley type kitchen. An "aisle" is simply a clear width between two objects for the purpose of traveling between. Just because it is not specifically defined in the Definitions section does not mean anything. There are lots of words used in the various codes and references that are not specifically defined.

"The term hallway and corridor are synonymous."

IBC definition;

CORRIDOR. An enclosed exit access component that defines and provides a path of egress travel.

Therefore, it does not apply to the distance between two counter tops.

There are NO accessibility REQUIREMENTS in a privately owned single family residence.

1103.2.4 Detached dwellings.

Detached one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures, and their associated sites and facilities, are not required to be accessible.

The link in the above post for aisles is NOT in the definitions. It is the actual restrictions, for which R-3, R-2, or R-1 has NO minimum width.

Don't try to read your own personal beliefs into the code books ;)

Fred, you're correct. Forgive me for using improper terminology. However none of your comments have anything to do with the design of a kitchen or the validity of hiring an architect being overkill for a kitchen remodel.

My comments were correct in that there are requirements for residential DWELLING UNITS. I never said single family. Nor was I suggesting that those apply to this specific case. I was simply trying to understand where Sophie was coming from in originally stating that architects would design all kitchens with a 32" aisle and can't cook.

Not sure what your beef is, but please send personal messages to me instead of blowing up this poor person's Houzz page.

Sophie came from Gardenweb, its on her homepage. She likes surfing. Fred is the same to everyone. No beefs, only venison.

We purchased some Shenandoah base cabinets from Lowe's for our previous home. Used them in a Breakfast Room - for cookbooks, etc. We ordered them made to a custom depth to fit the space, with soft close drawers. We were very pleased with the quality and they held up well.
For a basement kitchenette in our current home, we used Diamond brand cabinets in a white finish, also from Lowe's . They designed the lay -out, but we installed the cabinets in both homes.
I'm not a big fan of Lowe's but in these cases we were pleased with the service and quality of cabinets.

Your kitchen remodel is totally dependent on who the designer is. How much experience have they had? This holds true whether you go to Lowes, Home Depot, or a local business. I went to Lowes and the "designer" was new to the business. After ordering four sets of cabinets and having to send all back I gave up. I went to a local shop where the designer had 20+ years of experience. What a difference. You could tell she knew what she was doing. She also helped with which line of cabinets and so many other things I would have missed. On the other hand another of our local Lowes has one of the best kitchen designers in the area. It's hard to get an appointment at that location. So next place you go ask as many questions as you can about the designer before you ask about the design.

I wasn't asserting the "validity of hiring an architect being overkill for a kitchen remodel." I was merely pointing out that you were quoting out of the commercial code book that is usually overkill for a residence.

"Overkill" is suggesting that "for kitchens 42" is a minimum"code requirement, and that every kitchen must be designed for ADA....Especially, a remodel where there are existing space constraints leaving the only viable option to be exactly what they already have if going by your aisle measurements. Thus, making an architect inherantly unneccessary.

1103.2.11 Residential Group R-1.

Buildings of Group R-1 containing not more than five sleeping units for rent or hire that are also occupied as the residence of the proprietor are not required to be accessible.

202 Dwelling and Sleeping Units Chapter 10 of this standard contains dwelling unit and sleeping unit criteria for Accessible units, Type A units, Type B units, Type C (Visitable) dwelling units and units I with accessible communication features. The administrative authority shall specify, in separate scoping provisions, the extent to which these technical criteria apply. These scoping provisions shall address the types and numbers of units required to comply with each set of unit criteria.

But, if an architect insists on not breaking from space consuming standards that don't apply to the majority of dwelling units, then I suppose that would suggest that hiring an architect would be overkill as it would escalate the project to blowing out the side of the house.

No beef, just don't enjoy rumors about ficticious codes being spread around here.

I quoted the IRC, not the IBC.

Also, did not say 42" was a minimum code requirement. I said it was a minimum as in a design standard for comfort. You're reading too much into my comments and adding references I've never made.

Just relax everybody!

Go surfing!

You never said it was a "minimum as in a design standard for comfort." You were referring to "codes" and "requirements".

Again,

The words "corridors" and "aisles" don't even exist in the International Residential Code. They only exist in the IBC. So, you were either quoting the IBC, or have no idea what is actually in the IRC compared to the IBC. The word "minimum" means that would be the smallest measurement allowed unless followed by some clarifying term like "recommendation" or "preferred".

Anyone else notice that it is always those clearance requirements for kitchens that lead to the most heated discussions?

Hmm. Not subway tiles?

I work as an Project Specialist Interiors with Lowes coordinating all aspects of full remodels if you have any questions about how the process works. Each store has their own PSI, with varying degrees of design experience.

Personally, I have 30 years of design background and 13 years exclusively K&B. My contractor partner is fully licensed, insured, and background checked. As are all who come onto your property. Lowes is very demanding in that regard.

We offer a design build solution that keeps your headaches to a minimum, with one point of contact for it all. And we can do it all, from taking walls down and moving plumbing in a major remodel to putting on new pulls , a cost of paint, and a new counter for a refresh. This isn't your same old box store with limitations anymore. The only thing we won't do is steam showers or install a bunch of products that are bought from the competition.

Im in the middle of a kitchen remodel with Lowes right now it has been a nightmare! I have spent over $30,000 and it has not been completed ( its been planned since February) and it is still not completed! The lack of communication is mind-boggling! I will NEVER EVER recommend Lowes for a remodel.

Teresa, can you say which Lowes in which state? I know your experience doesn't represent all Lowes, they could never stay in business. I would also want to avoid that Lowes. :)

Thanks!

Patti

I have no personal experience with either, but friends & neighbors have used them & regretted it. Personally, I prefer independent companies for my cabinetry, flooring & everything else ( like the new front door & custom gates I recently purchased ).

@Patti Elhoff it was in Indiana

Thanks Teresa! K Laurence, here in NJ no one (we've gone through 5 well established independent companies )will call us back since our house is an older home, not in a development, not a cookie cutter home. We were told that's not uncommon. Unfortunately only HD Lowes and Ikea call us back. :(

Thanks!

Patti

Lowe's? HORRIBLE. We ordered and paid in full for custom kitchen cabinets from Lowe's 180 days ago. They still aren't done. Installers have ruined cabinets that needed re-ordered, broken 2 appliances in the process and left our house a disaster. From the Lowe's side, they drop the ball at every opportunity and will sell you on a process that you won't get.

See many more photos and read more: https://myloweskitchencabinets.com/

I used home depot for two kitchen remodels. Bought the cabinets from them but had someone else install. You need to decide whether you want solid plywood construction throughout the entire cabinet or if you are ok with portions of the cabinet being particle board and then make your purchasing decisions accordingly. What I will tell you is if you buy from Home Depot, the boxes will be delivered directly do your house. Open them immediately and carefully inspect each cabinet for imperfections. If you find a problem, they will do a great job of getting you a replacement. Typically, the issues (if any) would be with the doors and they can be easily replaced even if you have to install the cabinets now. I video taped my full kitchen remodel from about 5-6 months ago.

Flannel Guy DIY - Youtube

How much is freight shipping for custom Home Depot cabinets?

I know Lowes is $250 to $350 depending on the brand

So, it seems that maybe the purchase from them is a good move, and maybe utilizing their designers, but don't allow them to install? That is what I got from this thread....and I ignored the arguing about spaciing. :)

Thats a good idea, since they will do it for free, but we've encountered a new (much bigger problem) since moving our appliances into the kitchen. The doors on the pantry won't open all the way without hitting the refrigerator (which marks up the cabinets). They came out and installed restrictor clips so the door won't hit the fridge, but now the pullout drawers in the pantry can't be pulled out since the doors don't open wide enough anymore. We're on Day 248 and they are still not done. It's really unbelievable. DO NOT USE LOWE'S.

Phillip, did they do the installation? What brand of cabinets did you get from them? We want to use the Kraftmaid. Thank you!

Lowe's did do the installation. We purchased Diamond brand cabinets. Diamond has been great throughout this, but I also know first hand that Kraftmaid is good too.

I sold kitchens at Lowe's during the recession (desperation job choice) and I can tell you that
a) Their installation services are a profit center and they charge 30% above what the independent contractor/installer charges.
b) It's a crapshoot. I worked with three installers and I only trusted one of them. The other two would sooner mess up a job as look at it.
c) It always took forever to get an installer back to fix a problem

Having said that, the special-order cabinets that they sell are quality products that you can get for a good price. To my knowledge, they're still made in American and Lowe's offers a lifetime warranty on them. Buy your cabinets there only after vetting the design through someone you trust or by giving them a parts list and not having them design at all.

With Lowe's you might get someone who's skilled and experienced in design and then in installation, but then again you might not and the only way you'll find out is after the installation starts. HTH

are the diamond cabinets in stock?

No, they're special order, four week turnaround time. Unless this is a low-priced rental house in a dodgy neighborhood, don't use Lowe's stock cabinets. They're horrendous!

DON'T USE LOWES!!!!!!!! Everything went wrong, from wrong color cabinets to too small cabinets, to job still not done after 5 months, should have been 2 months.

Just an update:

We ordered and paid in full for custom kitchen cabinets from Lowe's 294 days (OVER 9 MONTHS!!!) ago and so far, it has cost us more than $10,000 beyond what we agreed to pay. There has been so many problems it's not even funny. The craftsmanship has been horrid, 3 of the cabinets needed replaced due to the installers. They've also managed to break 2 brand new appliances, run over my mailbox and STOLE STUFF FROM MY TOOLBOX (Yes, I have video footage).

WOW!! Thanks for the feedback. We went with some custom cabinets for our job. Pleased but our contractor SUCKED!

I punched out a 6-month long Lowe's bathroom remodel in half a day several years ago. Customer wouldn't let the GC back on the job, but at least Lowe's came through for him.

whose prices are cheaper lowes or home depot?