Although many Americans have put plans to sell their property on hold, they’re using the downturn in the economy as an opportunity to dress up, renovate, or restore their homes–especially their kitchens and baths. In the kitchen, one of the more economical ways to transform the look and function of your space is to add new cabinets or refinish existing ones. For those considering new or replacement kitchen cabinets, let’s examine some options.
There’s no need to feel reigned-in by a tight budget. If you’re after ideas and inspiration, take a look at kitchen cabinet designs at the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Depending on your project scope, existing style, and room configurations, there’s a range of kitchen cabinets in the three major categories: stock, semi-custom and custom-made.
Cabinets by Type
Stock and semi-stock kitchen cabinets come in a wide range of prices and designs. You can also save money by choosing ready-to-assemble or pre-assembled cabinets and hardware over the option of having a completed set delivered to your door. Look over selections at your larger home-improvement centers or online. You can get some fresh ideas about stock and semi-stock kitchen cabinets from Bob Villa.
Standard base, American-made cabinets typically come in sets at 341/2-inches high and 24-inches deep, with 3/4-inch sides. You’ll have the most flexibility of price and features in semi-custom models where manufacturers and retailers adjust the cabinet bases or wall fittings, using fillers to accommodate your specifications. Home Depot also has suggestions for measuring cabinets and calculating kitchen space at its design center.
Custom or semi-custom cabinets are best installed by professionals. Shop carefully and ask any cabinet shop how long it will take to complete your order (which can be anywhere from one to three months).
