Kitchen Cabinets - Not IKEA

[GMU MOM]

We have started planning our kitchen remodel and need new kitchen cabinets. DH does not want IKEA cabinets but the other options I have looked at so far are way too expensive (more than double IKEA).

Does anyone have other suggestions for cabinets that you have in your home and like? I need good quality for a town house but not super expensive.

Honestly, I thought $4500-5000 would get us decent cabinets but boy was I wrong. So far quotes are $7000+ just for cabinets (we will do installation)

Other than IKEA, what brand cabinets are reasonably priced with good quality?

 

[MillauFr]

My mom did quite a bit of research and went with Omega cabinets. I thought they were excellent quality. What is wrong with the existing cabinets? Are they falling apart? You could always explore keeping the frames and replacing the fronts?

 

[GMU MOM]

My mom did quite a bit of research and went with Omega cabinets. I thought they were excellent quality. What is wrong with the existing cabinets? Are they falling apart? You could always explore keeping the frames and replacing the fronts?

The kitchen is about 23 years old so it's time for a complete renovation.
We are replacing everything: cabinets,countertop, floor and backsplash tile and some of the appliances.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Joining in as we are in the same dilemma. Our kitchen is literally falling apart and needs to have the cabinets and countertops replaced. It is well over 30-35 years old, I think they may be original ikea type cabinets...lol.
Appliances will stay as we have no $$ to replace them and they still work.
Then we'll replace the linoleum next year with laminate/tile.

 

[hsmamato2]

not to be rude, but why not Ikea? I realize some of their stuff is junky...but look it up on an an older consumer reports...they rate quite well...as well as much more $$$ options.... we installed them 3 years ago...they are holding up perfectly in our rough and tumble house....my bro. who installs high end (REALLY high end) kitchens told us that the quality is quite similiar...solid wood fronts/use areas... cheaper backboard that are just for covering the walls....just a thought.... I think we did our entire kitchen including appliances for under 4k.....

 

[Them!]

My cabinets were bought and installed by Home Depot. The cabinets were their mid price range offering. I love the cabinets and but I will NEVER use HD again for any type of home improvement. They mis-measured, mis-ordered and were uncommunicative. I would call and leave message after message that would not get returned. The kitchen "designer" lied to his manager and tried to make every issue the customer's issue. I really got ticked and called store manager and ultimately corporate. (btw corporate was pretty awesome) The cabinet subcontractors were good but the countertop guy was a disaster and he was a no show on the appointed install date.
Long story short: the cabinet quality is great and really looks great. The HD kitchen designer was a disaster, the subcontractors were 50/50.

 

[sam1998]

We are also planning on a complete renovation, but we think we will be going with the Ikea cabinets. The price is much better than similar quality cabinets that we have found. My DH is apprehensive about putting them together and installing them, but I think it will go just fine.

 

[GMU MOM]

not to be rude, but why not Ikea? I realize some of their stuff is junky...but look it up on an an older consumer reports...they rate quite well...as well as much more $$$ options.... we installed them 3 years ago...they are holding up perfectly in our rough and tumble house....my bro. who installs high end (REALLY high end) kitchens told us that the quality is quite similiar...solid wood fronts/use areas... cheaper backboard that are just for covering the walls....just a thought.... I think we did our entire kitchen including appliances for under 4k.....

Me personally, I wouldn't mind getting IKEA cabinets. It's DH who hates them.
I think it's the fact that they come in pieces and we would have to assemble them before installation. Plus, there are certain cabinets we need that IKEA does not carry as well as the color I want.

Honestly, this project is already giving me a headache and I'm just starting.

 

[wendow]

Sorry about your headache!!

I understand as we have a 20 yo kitchen we are also going to be renovating soon. We considered re-facing but I don't even want to keep the boxes. We have only had the house for about 7 mos and the cabinets are just disgusting inside. I have cleaned and scrubbed and lined then with contact paper. The paper won't even stick all the way cause some places are just so grimy! So, yep, as much as I'd love a cheaper solution and easier one, I don't think I can live with these cabinets.

If you can find a local cabinet maker, you may be able to get away for less and still have great quality cabinets. I do think we'll end up with Ikea simply for the quality/cost factor.

 

[Bren's Mom]

We redid the kitchen in our old house before we move. When I was pricing cabinets (to install ourselves) I ended up getting a recommendation to try a local lumberyard. They had their own kitchen designer, who was paid by them...I didn't get charged a dime. She helped me design the kitchen using only stock size cabinets, no custom, and then helped me find ones affordable for us. And they delivered them for free. I thought they came out great!

 

[momoftwins]

My kitchen is only 7 years old. However, I hate the cabinet doors. I know they are American Woodmark cabinets - and I have seen some pretty doors in their catalog- but the costs for the doors - yikes!

Anyone have a place they can recommend for doors only? What about any websites that can might show how to update existing doors.

My doors just look so flat in color. I am wondering if I put a gloss finish on them? Anyone ever redo their doors?

Thanks so much! Pictures would be great!

 

[pixiewings71]

When we rebuilt after our fire we went with Kraftmaid cabinets from Home Depot, installed by the contractor. The cabinets were not cheap but they do look great. If we were doing it ourselves we honestly probably would have gone with IKEA......lol

 

[havaneselover]

Mine are Kraftmaid (I think from HD). My kitchen was redone by the previous owners 7 years ago (only thing they did). Mine are maple with softtouch drawers and tons of storage for a small space. They still are in excellent condition and are not falling apart in any way.

 

[tinatark]

Do you have a local salvage store? The ones here all have a cabinet line. Nice ones, too!

 

[Sinderelly]

You might want to ask your DH to look up reviews on Ikea cabinets. Not so bad huh? The house we built in 2012 had a complete Ikea kitchen. We had to sell and are getting ready to start construction on a new home. There are only 2 things I HAVE to have Ikea cabinets and a soaking tub

The Ikea cabinets do come in boxes BUT they have a service that will put them all together for you and the price is still WAY below a similar quality product. The pull out pantries and drawers were nothing short of amazing. We also bought our countertops at Ikea.

If you take another look at Ikea try to hit the next kitchen sale to save even more.

 

[p&tbrown]

I've worked in the kitchen and bath remodel industry for 13+ years. Where are you located? A lot of local dealers will design for no additional charge. I would recommend Masterbrand brands of cabinetry. Specifically for a more economical price point Diamond cabinets. They give you a lot of design options and a quality made cabinet. Call them and see who in your area is a dealer. To keep costs low, keep the same basic foot print-don't move to location of appliances or plumbing. Also, if you want to save money on your granite countertops, find an installer who works with Pre fab granite. This is the same granite you get when you pick out a slab, but is already edge treated and cut to 26" deep.
I hope this info helps you.

 

[GMU MOM]

I've worked in the kitchen and bath remodel industry for 13+ years. Where are you located? A lot of local dealers will design for no additional charge. I would recommend Masterbrand brands of cabinetry. Specifically for a more economical price point Diamond cabinets. They give you a lot of design options and a quality made cabinet. Call them and see who in your area is a dealer. To keep costs low, keep the same basic foot print-don't move to location of appliances or plumbing. Also, if you want to save money on your granite countertops, find an installer who works with Pre fab granite. This is the same granite you get when you pick out a slab, but is already edge treated and cut to 26" deep.
I hope this info helps you.

Thank you, this is helpful. We are the DC area (NOVA). We have many kitchen cabinet dealers in our area and I have visited some who have drawn up the plans for me. And I have looked specifically at the Masterbrand brands but the prices I'm getting are still quite expensive. I feel $7500-8000 for only the kitchen cabinets in a town home is a bit much.

 

[shelly3girls]

Don't rule out mid-range brands before checking if they are running specials. We remodeled our kitchen using mostly Brookhaven (Woodmode where custom was needed on the island). We priced several brands. At the time Brookhaven was offering a special that brought the cost down below Kraftmaid and is a superior product (we have Kraftmaid in other areas of the house).