I had a similar experience. My quote for new fronts and drawers was actually slightly more than just doing new cabinets. I am still in the research stages and am not certain yet about the quality of each.

Refacing only addresses the cosmetics. Replacing lets you add function, like more drawers, and address dysfunction, like a poor layout. If you try doing that at the same time you reface, you just spent way more than buying new. The iron on veneers over the face frames don't last that ling either. They end up bubbling down the road, necessitating the replacement route then. So why waste your money in the first place?

We have a white painted country kitchen theme going so no veneers are needed or planned. The existing cabinets were built in place and utilize space better than any pre-made slap in place cabinet that could be purchased.

Yeah, well good luck with that. You obviously don't know what you don't know.

If someone can't be anything more than a crabby contributer then don't bother contributing. I look forward to creative ideas and craftsmanship suggestions from anyone else who has had a successfull kitchen remodel

First off- hire someone to do this. I have been through this myself when staging Mom's home. Understand, the time, energy and final result is too temporary for the cost. It is great if you are staging or leaving sooner than later.

What you do not realize is that the faces of the cabinet have to be finished to match the new door faces. So peeping, and painting is required. All the hardware should be replaced too- as the old cannot return to the old holes. The new doors have to be drilled, as do your cabinets. Your cabinets are getting a new face, new hardware, new holes, new. It is not as cheap as you think, nor as easy to do.

I suggest that you reexamine your kitchen: Ask yourself- Are the cabinet boxes in super condition? If they are approximately 10 years or older- they are not made of quality MDF and should be replaced. Interior surfaces MDF today is far superior and lasts longer. Bigger point- are you staying or leaving?

If you are staying for the long haul. IKEA makes great kitchen cabinets that you can have installed for a fraction of a contractor fee.

There is the quick and truthful about " refacing" a kitchen...as I have personally experienced it. The condo sold quickly...by the way.

Refacing is a waste of time and money. Especially for cruddy old site built cabinets with no adjustable shelving, or decent drawers. It's a very short term solution. Go for the long term solution and get new cabinets. It's is almost the same money.

I recently compared quotes between a new refacing program courting us and an existing mid grade cabinet liner hat we carry. There was only 2K worth of difference. 14K vs 12K. The world of difference in upgrading to modern cabinet construction and amenities was worth more than 2 K. A lot more. Especially compared with site built. Those are the lowest specs available. No backs even, most of the time.

"Ask yourself- Are the cabinet boxes in super condition? If they are
approximately 10 years or older- they are not made of quality MDF and
should be replaced."

Is this to say that solid wood is inferior to quality MDF, or is this just an assumption that his/her boxes are made of MDF in the first place?

The reason I ask is because my boxes are over 10 years old, but they are solid wood, not MDF. He/she may have solid wood boxes and if so then I can understand his/her concerns here.

A cabinetmaker looked our kitchen this week and I showed him the doors we want to replace. He recommended http://rawdoors.net

Thanks a bunch for the link Sage!

@reelcharacter what did you end up deciding with your kitchen?