Kitchen Cabinet Advice

2 years ago

We are starting the quote process for remodeling our kitchen in Phoenix. Looking for recommendations for affordable cabinets that won’t cost a fortune but are good quality. Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

Mrs Pete

2 years ago

Start by considering the details, with an eye towards budget:

- This board is united on few things, but one of them is that we all believe in more drawers /fewer traditional cabinets. Drawers are more expensive, but people here will tell you that's a worthwhile spend. Think through what you need to store and determine what you need.

- Consider that simple cabinets /drawer units are less expensive than corner cabinets, pull outs or other fancy organizer cabinets. Things like drawer-in-drawer or sliding layers or spice pull-outs will add to your cost.

- Consider that wider drawers /cabinets give you more space than narrower cabinets. Why? Because every cabinet needs a couple inches on the edges for wood and hardware. (My kitchen is full of 18" cabinets. If those were 36", I'd have fewer cabinets, but I'd gain a few inches of storage between every two units.)

- Insist upon heavy-duty hardware that will last, full-extension drawers, soft close drawers, and drawers that reach all the way to the back of the cabinet. (My cabinets are 24" deep. I lived in this house more than a decade before I realized my drawers are only something like 18" deep. Waste.)

- Standard uppers are 12" deep ... consider going 15" deep, as modern plates are often larger.

- If you're interested in glass uppers, consider going with just 1-2 carefully placed ... they will cost more because the insides of the boxes must be finished.

- Most people want their uppers to go up to the ceiling, though this will cost a little more. One single taller cabinet will cost more than two "stacked" cabinets.

- Do you know the difference between insert, overlay and partial overlay cabinets? A quick google search will yield you dozens of examples. Insert is trendy right now, but it's also more expensive than the other options.

- Know that an island is considerably more expensive than wall cabinets because it must be finished on all four sides.

- Remember that the cabinets are only one cost ... you still have to pay for installation and counter tops.

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Comments (10)

PRO
Minardi
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Pick your poison. Affordable is not good quality. Do you want to have to redo it in a few years because you went with some junk imported plywood that has voids and stinks to high heaven? Better to buy better quality furniture board than anything with imported plywood. National average for mid grade cabinets in a 12x12 kitchen is right at 30K. Upgrades are more. Bigger kitchens are more. Taller cabinets are more.

Kraftmaid, Medallion, Diamond, Merillat, Durasupreme, Kemper, Shiloh, Showplace, Schrock, etc. All are mid grade, US made.
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herbflavor
2 years ago
if you have some DIY skills/ some space to work and a straightforward layout.....few corners / standard kinds of things/ do consider RTA for quality always at good price points. Much is done online now with planning/ choosing options/ line itemization to make it easy and give you time at your convenience to pour over it all. Can you describe generally what your situation / space is all about? Cabinets are only one segment of the overall project.
AZ Gal
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Thank you all for the advice! Happy to share our plans to date!

Current Floorplan.....

Photos of current Kitchen / Family Room.....excuse the walls and mess! We are packing and taking everything down for demo!

Plan is to take down the wall seperating the kitchen from the formal living room and turn the Family Room into our dining room with a giant picture window that looks into part of our pretty backyard! Then we will remove and cover the two windows in the kitchen that look at a two-story house next door. This will give us a ton of wall space to work with! See renderings below.....
AZ Gal
Original Author
2 years ago
Tish
2 years ago
That’s more like 50K of cabinets. It’s large and tall, with all kinds of upgrades, including a big island. Cabinets are only about 1/3 of a kitchen remodel budget.

Then add in the 20K of structural work for tsking own the wall. Add the 50-80K of all new flooring for the whole downstairs, to fill the hole that the wall revealed. Plus plumbing and electrical and HVAC changes that were located in that wall. Etc.
AZ Gal thanked Tish
AZ Gal
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Tish,
You are correct! It is a huge project and quite expensive!

We have a GC who has provided us a quote for everything you mentioned
(demo/install, electrical, plumbing, framing, flooring, windows, unforeseen
expenses, etc.)

I have received two quotes to date for just the cabinets and installation. Both were
around $30k. The products quoted were Fabuwood (Galaxy Timber) and the other
was from Design & Stone International (Natural Wood Shaker). These quotes
did not include the quartz slabs, fabrication/installation, hardware, and
appliances.

We have lived in our home for 17 years and we plan to stay here for the duration
of our existence. I am committed to the project, but advice and guidance from
those who have experience, or been through the process, is extremely helpful. I
know what I want to do, but it doesn’t mean it is correct or the most
cost-effective option.

I am seeking advice on cabinet suggestions as well as layout. I do feel the kitchen
renderings have more storage than I need. Perhaps an alternate layout would
serve us better. I was trying to balance the layout of the kitchen with the
dining room and the great room. Maybe I don't need to enclose the two windows
or move the water line to the island. I'm open to hearing others' suggestions!
PRO
Minardi
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Fabuwood is cheap import stock cabinets. Same as the other. They are NOT what you are looking for, unless it's for a flip. Double that for anything real, from a decent line.
PRO
The Kitchen Place
2 years ago
Don't want to hurt your feelings, but the two tier tiny "airline" windows at the top are too much. IMO, that look has come and gone. If you decide to keep them, try to keep them all similar in size. Not skinny ones next to chunkier ones....if that makes sense.

Maybe keep kitchen sink and window. Close off the lower window only. Put refrigerator on far right leg. Keep Range on far left leg with more countertop space on both sides (since ref. will be moved. I'd need exact wall dimensions to see what's possible here. But i feel there's a better layout out there for you. Good luck.
AZ Gal
Original Author
2 years ago
No feelings hurt here! Appreciate the constructive criticism! I own my own company, so I get it! Mood lighting is a big thing for me, but I understand the same goal can be accomplished with under-mount lighting. Agree that I need to revisit the current layout. Will provide exact measurements tomorrow! Thank you for your kindness! It’s much appreciated!