Where To Buy The Best Kitchen Cabinets

If you are remodeling your kitchen, new cabinets are probably near the top of your list for replacement. And while cabinets are a big-ticket item, they don’t have to cripple you financially. This post will cover each type of cabinet and who they are best for.

Why Are Kitchen Cabinets Important?

Kitchen cabinets are very important to a kitchen remodel because they are something you will look at and touch daily, many times each day. For that reason, I think you should be careful with what you choose to ensure you will be happy with them long term.

Best Places To Buy Kitchen Cabinets

Custom

Custom cabinets are just that. They are custom-made for your space. Custom cabinets are good to use if:

• you have a nice/large budget
• you have a super small or very oddly laid out kitchen
• you want a lot of upgrades and speciality accessories and you can afford to pay for them.
• you want a special wood species or a special finish

Once you establish that custom cabinets are the way you want to go, you need to understand that custom cabinets will probably start in the $40,000 range, even for a smaller kitchen. So prepare yourself for that to be a starting cost.

To find a custom cabinet maker, start by googling custom cabinet makers near me and create a list. Before you schedule a time to visit their shop, talk to them. Explain what you want and see if they have done similar jobs. Can they provide references for clients, suppliers, and a banker? Call all the references and ask questions like: “did they deliver when they promised they would,” “would you work with them again,” “how long have you done business with this company,” and “do they pay their bills on time.” After doing this homework, schedule an appointment to see the ones that sounded the most promising.

Box Cabinets

Box cabinets come in standard sizes and are a significant cost savings alternative to custom cabinets. I have box cabinets in my kitchen. There are a few secrets involved in box cabinets that I’m going to share with you. First, ask them to price and upgrade to “all wood” this means you will get cabinets made from a plywood box instead of OSB – usually, with this upgrade, the drawers are dovetailed too. I often am shocked at how little it costs to upgrade to all wood!! Also, ask about upgrading to soft close on the doors and drawers. Again, often I’m shocked at how much this costs, but it does make your kitchen feel much more high-end. (Note: this is something you can add after they are installed if you are handy. You’ll have to weigh the cost.)

Box cabinets should be in the $20,000 range, so 1/2 the cost of custom.

I highly recommend Aristokraft, Homecrest Cabinetry, and Echelon Cabinetry box cabinets to find a box cabinet company. Each website has a “Where To Buy” tab to find a store near you. The store will be able to set you up with an installer.

RTA Cabinets (Ready To Assemble)

The only RTA cabinets I’ve had any experience with are Ikea. They are lovely cabinets with nice options and perfect if you have a lot of time to tackle a large project. Because let me be clear: buying RTA cabinets at Ikea is a huge job. Then you have to assemble them, and then you have to install them. But many people have done this and are pleased with the results! 

RTA cabinets should be in the $10,000 or less range.

There are many YouTube videos on purchasing, assembling, and installing Ikea cabinets. My favorite influencer, Young House Love, has installed Ikea cabinets in three homes. In addition, they have written an extensive blog post about it. You can read it here.

Final Tip

Don’t be afraid to mix and match these options! In our kitchen, we have Echelon cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen, and our island is custom-made out of antique white oak from a barn. Here is a photo of our kitchen:

Closing

Shew! This post is full of great information on buying the best kitchen cabinets – for any price point! My advice is to start with your budget and then follow my advice on where you can get the best cabinets in your budget! Now you are off and running on your kitchen remodel, and you can turn your attention to the other big kitchen item: appliances!!

For more free information on home remodeling, visit my blog. I want you to remodel your home without fear of being ripped off, going massively over budget, or having your home torn up for months.

If you are already working on a home remodel and need some friendly, honest advice on what to do next, sign up for my 1-on-1 coaching! For 30 minutes, I will answer any question about home remodeling and work as hard as possible to get you over whatever is hanging you up.