If you work with a talented, experienced cabinet designer you might be surprised how well your kitchen can be designed with "stock cabinets." That said, the thing to know about stock cabinets -- what makes them more affordable -- is that they tend toward the lower end of the quality spectrum in terms of construction, hardware and finishes. You may be disappointed in the near future as this becomes evident. I always encourage my clients to invest in better quality for things like cabinets that are more difficult to change.

I have been designing Ikea stock kitchens for 20= yrs and never have a problem you just need a deigner that can sit down and really work with the space This pic in my kitchen in a 1905 house that is totally done with Ikea stock cabinets but with some imagination this looks custom As for quality IMO there is nothing wrong with Ikea I have kitchens I did 20yrs ago with Ikea that still look awesome and their hardware is some of the best in the world. I really get pi---ed at people who have no idea of the quality but make blanket statements about Ikea. The kitchen in this pic is now almost 15 yrs old and still looks like new. In all the time I have done these kitchens i have had one warranty problem settled in 1 hr in the store.

Thanks! Great advice! I do have a distributor of Bertch stock cabinetry nearby so I can see for myself whether they feel as solid as they look. I will continue to explore the stock cabinet option and do my homework.