Today's Kitchen Cabinets
Where to find cabinets
Where you buy cabinets depends on your planning process. Work with a kitchen designer, and you'll have the opportunity to see a wide variety of styles and manufacturers' lines in showrooms and design centers. Contractors, on the other hand, generally prefer to work with just a few cabinet companies. Another option is to use a local cabinetmaker who can design and build exactly what you want.
What cabinets cost
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, roughly half the tab for a complete kitchen remodel goes to cabinets and installation. Final costs vary significantly based on the type of cabinet (stock, semicustom, custom) and the material (hardwoods and exotic veneers are priciest). Accessories, modifications and unique finishes can be well worth the added cost in terms of convenience and looks.
When can I have them
Stock cabinets are stored in manufacturers' warehouses and typically are available within a week of being ordered from home centers. Semicustom cabinets can't be built until your order is placed, so they will take a month or longer to arrive. For true custom-made cabinets, plan to wait at least six to ten weeks (longer waits are not uncommon).
Determining storage needs
The first step in planning for new cabinets, says Minneapolis kitchen designer Lynn Monson, is to make a list of "cons" regarding your existing setup. For example, "there's nowhere to put recyclables," "not enough storage for bulk groceries." The list will help you prioritize storage needs. Monson also recommends taking inventory of your kitchen equipment. Discard unused items, and single out high-demand appliances and tools so convenient cabinet space can be created for them. Do you prefer having things out and at hand, or neatly tucked away? Consider how your family uses the kitchen. Kids who prepare lunches and snacks for themselves should have easy access to staples such as cereal and peanut butter. Designers also recommend positioning cabinets near the dishwasher for easy unloading of tableware. Likewise, pots and pans should be stored close to the range or cooktop. Open shelving, extra-deep drawers, and slide-out shelves are good bets for cookware.
Stock, semicustom, and custom
Based on how they're built and the degree of customization available, cabinets can be divided into three primary groups: stock, semicustom, and custom. These categories are not indicators of quality, as fine cabinetry is available across all three. As a guarantee of durable construction in any manufactured cabinet, look for the blue and white Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association "Certified Cabinet" seal.
- Stock:
Widths for stock cabinets begin at nine inches and increase in three-inch increments to 48 inches (the largest standard stock cabinet available). They come in many styles and can be ordered through retailers and manufacturers' catalogs. But because stock cabinets are constructed before being purchased, special sizes are unavailable. Therefore, filler strips are used to close gaps between a cabinet and an appliance or wall. Some home centers keep limited quantities of stock cabinetry on hand and ready for delivery.
- Semicustom:
Construction of these cabinets begins only when the order is final, so modifications to standard sizes may be made. An experienced designer can describe numerous optionsÑsuch as interior finishes that match the exteriors, and varying cabinet depthsÑthat will give your kitchen its own distinctive look. A wider range of styles, construction materials, and colors than for stock cabinets, as well as unique storage units and accessories such as convenient pullout bins and lazy Susans, have made semicustom cabinetry an increasingly popular choice.
- Custom:
Within the limits of sound construction, custom cabinets can be made to suit any space or desire (an extra-long cabinet without interior partitions to accommodate trays or large pans, for instance). Custom cabinetry also lets you incorporate virtually any door style and color into the kitchen. You might have cabinets made to match your home's existing woodwork or architectural details, or opt instead for an "unfitted" look with freestanding or built-in cabinets that mimic furniture.
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