The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Do it Yourself Discussion! => Topic started by: mindaugas on April 09, 2013, 01:20:36 PM
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Not looking for custom, just something stock. Home depot has a deal if I buy them by tomorrow for 20% off. Is that usually the best place to go? I'm in the Denver area.
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Check out Ikea. Great price, DIYable, and highly rated on Consumer Reports. I've also seen some decent cabinets at Habitat ReStore, but that can be hit or miss.
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You might also actually get a bid from a custom cabinet shop.
I did premade Lowes cabinets for a bathroom once -- and I'm pretty sure they cost more (per sqft or cubic foot) than the cabinets I had put in when we built our house.
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DH has put in a lot of kitchens for people and for us and he thought that the Ikea kitchen that he installed last year was horrible. He would NOT recommend. Their so-called kitchen designer was a joke. That was at the Denver store. That, however, could have changed.
Anyway, we've put in a couple of kitchens using basic Merillat cabinets. They weren't super expensive for decent quality. They have three different product lines. There are several dealers in Denver.
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DH has put in a lot of kitchens for people and for us and he thought that the Ikea kitchen that he installed last year was horrible. He would NOT recommend. Their so-called kitchen designer was a joke. That was at the Denver store. That, however, could have changed.
Anyway, we've put in a couple of kitchens using basic Merillat cabinets. They weren't super expensive for decent quality. They have three different product lines. There are several dealers in Denver.
I'm surprised to hear that. We used Ikea cabinets in our kitchen a couple years ago and thought they were decent for the price. They aren't the same quality as, say, Kraftmaid, but they are also a fraction of the price. Ours look really nice (IMO) and they come standard with pullout shelves and soft close doors. We even put a few glass front cabinets. I do agree that you shouldn't try to use their staff to design your kitchen. Some of the kitchen design staff was good at my local store, but it's hit or miss. I prefer to do that sort of thing myself anyway. They have a program you can download where you can design your own kitchen. It was kind of a clunky program, but it got the job done.
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We bought unfinished cabinets from a place called Southern Salvage, though the cabinets were new, solid wood, not salvaged. Anyway, we came in at less than the cost of Ikea, so it might be worth looking around for a similar place if you're up to doing the finishing yourself.
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2 kitchens ago in another city I remodeled with cabinets from an outlet store--Cabinet Factory Outlet. There were truly a lot of scratch and dent, and you couldn't order anything. So it took me about a year to collect all the right sizes. But it ended up being less than 5 thousand for beautiful cherry cabinets in a medium size kitchen.
Last house, we added cabinets and fortunately the most basic stock cabinets at Lowe's were a match. They are basic unfinished oak, but do the job.
This house (pre-mustachian still) we had custom cabinets done. Even with a fancy wood and much larger kitchen and installation included and custom do-dads, was $11 thousand.
Main point--if you have time, I would get a quote from a cabinet shop. If you just want something basic, tell them.
Is this in your own home or someone else's or rental?
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Thought of another place that is online. We have friends who used them and they were really nice.
http://www.scherrs.com/
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I'm looking at this place http://www.barkercabinets.com/
I ordered one of their drawers and it's really nice. I'm going to order a sample cabinet to check them out. I know people swear by IKEA, but I never have good luck with their stuff. It looks nice in the store, but really doesn't stand up to much wear. People say the cabinets are better than other lines, but to me they seem expensive for what they are.
Also, I was excited when I read the title of this thread as I'm trying to figure out a way to get rid of my upper cabinets, so I thought it was about cabinet placement.
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I would recommend at least considering building your own! When I built my cabinets, the only bit of wood work I had ever done was a dining room table off of ana-white.com but they ended up being pretty good.
I used 3/4" baltic birch ply, everything is dadoed/rabbeted and glued and screwed together and they are solid as as all get out.
It may be more trouble than you want to put into it but it's possible to save some money this way and also get something that will last forever.
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GB, did you use the cabinet plans on Ana White? I briefly considered this but in reality I'm not as handy as I think I am. That said it didn't look too difficult and I could get 100% custom for my space.
I want to get rid if my uppers and get a tall pantry instead. So I'd likely just have to build lowers
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c, I didn't use the Ana White plans for the cabinets, I didn't even know there were cabinet plans on the site. I just figured out the dimensions I needed and build sturdy boxes to fit.
We also tore out our upper cabinets and put in shelves so I didn't have to build uppers.
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We bought a set of second-hand oak cabinets (including lazy-susan) from craigslist that were from a larger kitchen than our own and hired someone to install them. We added in a hoosier and some shelves for a custom look and are putting new knobs on the cabinets. Total including install is less than $2000 - doesn't include new countertops which are close to $2000 as well.... or the flooring which is yet to be determined... or the lighting... or the new to us upright freezer.
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We have a second kitchen in the basement and plan on getting used cabinets from a reclaim store in the area to redo it. There are 2, one's a Habitat for Humanity Restore, and I don't remember the name of the other. Of course, since this is a small second kitchen in the basement, we don't really care if everything matches perfectly. I'd just be thrilled if all of the cabinets and drawers worked, plus if the sink was not falling through the counter top!
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Check to see if you have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area. The one near us regularly gets complete sets of kitchen cabinets, and you can often get them for under $500 for the whole shebang.
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As you don't want custom cabinets then RTA (ready to assemble) kitchen cabinets would be the best option for you. Even we installed RTA cabinets (http://www.thertastore.com/RTA_Kitchen_Cabinets_Ready_to_Assemble_s/223.htm), you just need to install them yourself which is not at all difficult.
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I agree. We did ready to assemble (RTA) cabinets in our kitchen and they look great. It's a great price point between custom and cheap. The ones we got had no MDF, just maple ply boxes and maple doors and drawer fronts.
They come is flat packs and I assembled them in the garage with the enclosed hardware, glue, and brad gun for the backs.
Ours were made overseas and I purchased them from a local kitchen and granite counter shop. However there are lots of online sources.
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I ussed barker cabinets and doors. The hardware is great. The shipping was free over a certain point. And these things are SOLID. They are pretty easy to put them together, but get a proper electric screwdriver. My plug in drill was just too much power, and my arm was not strong enough.
They are HEAVY too. If they don't tear the house down around them they'll be in place a very long time. And they are custom done so they fit into all of the odd spaces in my old house.
We got their doors painted white. They do a very good job. Its not perfect, but I bet if I called and said, such and such a door developed a pinhole in the paint they would take care of me. I think the paint was still curing when they were delivered.
Complaints? Crown molding came several weeks later - I had actually thought I changed my mind and didnt order it. Also, we ordered a tip-out sink front and the hardware didn't ship with it. Finally, I doubt I actually ordered two of the same cabinet. They're ordering system is a little wonky but if I had paid attention, I could've taken care of it.
If I sound down on them I'm not, the whole process was kind of a trial for me. First big renovation, even with help... but there are some things to watch out for.
When we do out bathroom, I am going to use barker again, and we are talking about using their cabinets for building a desk - although it becomes massively expensive. The desk is going in the kitchen, we may try to use Ikea boxes (cheap!) and barker doors, since the boxes wont be exposed to water like the kitchen cabs.
Lets see... we ordered finished end panels, and my handyman helper who was mounting these without me CUT THE CUSTOM CUT PANELS DOWN TO SIZE - an expensive mistake. I'm considering using a printed wallpaper instead of finished ends I think it'll look fresh.
For counters we went with Ikea Numerar, Beech, 1.5 inch. They aren't the easiest to work with, but its working out. We are using a waterlox finish which I am finding isn't the miracle product everyone says it is, at least for ease of application. We did something wrong... or we got a bad batch. I am finishing a smaller section with a different method (hand rubbing with rag instead of natural brushes) and it seems to be coming out smoothly so maybe it was us.
More than you asked for. I would use barker again, I think it was real wood cabinets with painted wood doors for the price of MDF with stained wood (nothing special) at the box stores.
Barker are made in the USA with USA materials as far as I can tell.
Even their shipping boxes are custom cut!
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We also tore out our upper cabinets and put in shelves so I didn't have to build uppers.
I'm half contemplating doing this too. How do you like it? Did you use concealed shelf brackets?
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We used lowes twice as well... sometimes they have promotions where they will throw in the sink cabinet with a $5k order or something. Cabinets are great and have held up over the years (7yrs now).
You might also actually get a bid from a custom cabinet shop.
I did premade Lowes cabinets for a bathroom once -- and I'm pretty sure they cost more (per sqft or cubic foot) than the cabinets I had put in when we built our house.
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Not looking for custom, just something stock. Home depot has a deal if I buy them by tomorrow for 20% off. Is that usually the best place to go? I'm in the Denver area.
I did mine at lowes, watch for their percentage off total order coupons. Used their kitchen cabinets in the bathroom too as they're slightly larger and I didn't want a vanity that had legs.
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Don't dismiss old cabinets, as they are often solid wood and just need refinishing! New stuff is almost always fibre board or plywood.
If you must replace, habitat for humanity in our area has loads of relatively ok cheap cabinets. Then get a contractor to install a decent countertop.
IKEA is also good for cabinets.
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Best place for kitchen cabinets? I'd say the kitchen. I mean you can put them in the bathroom if you want...
Seriously though, look for a direct import Chinese granite and cabinet place where you live. The stuff may not have a brand, but the prices for these places in Seattle are way better than Ikea, Lowes, or Home Depot for the quality. Typical giveaways include plain looking signs (better yet, with some Chinese characters), and a boring business name.
e.g. GS Building Supply in Seattle (http://www.gsbuildingsupply.com/products/cabinets), but they are popping up in lots of places.
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So I ended up going with stock cabinets at home depot. Total came out to somewhere around $1600 for the entire kitchen upper and lower. My father in law and I installed them ourselves which was actually pretty easy. Install costs were $80 per cabinet which would have added at least another $1k to the total.
In the end we redid our kitchen, put in new flooring, replaced vanity in master bath, and all new base board trim. We had someone install the counter tops and also do the baseboard trim but otherwise all the labor we did ourselves. In the end the remodel cost us about $6k. We bought the townhome in 11/2011 for $124k and sold on 7/2013 for $149,900. There are obviously market factors and other stuff involved but we sold for $10k more than a non-remodeled unit with the same floor plan as ours. So I say we did pretty well.
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Nice work! Nothing looks better than a new kitchen, especially when you do it yourself.
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Here's some before and after pics. It isn't a dramatic HGTV makeover but it's certainly nicer and I believe it contributed to selling our home in less than a day.
Kitchen before. When we bought the home I went over and painted it those goofy colors. I also put on some cheap bronze hardware later (not seen in the pic). I think my wife and I were the only ones who liked it.
(http://www.mikesaysmeh.com/uploads/2013/08/kitchen_before.jpg)
Fridge area before, notice no pantry to the left
(http://www.mikesaysmeh.com/uploads/2013/08/kitchen_fridge_before.jpg)
Kitchen after, new counter tops and cabinets. Laminate counter top. Also raised the overhead microwave to the proper height.
(http://www.mikesaysmeh.com/uploads/2013/08/kitchen_after.jpg)
Fridge after and you can see the new flooring. It was an inexpensive laminate. Added a pantry to the left of the fridge which I think was my bets decision. It added a lot of needed cabinet space. I'm not a fan of cabinets over the fridge since they are hard to get to but it's possible to add some.
(http://www.mikesaysmeh.com/uploads/2013/08/kitchen_fridge_after.jpg)
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I'd rather go with The RTA Store and IKEA. The RTA Store seem pretty on to when it comes to buy stock kitchen cabinets and for others IKEA is OK place. A month ago, I got a great deal on cherry kitchen cabinets (http://www.thertastore.com/RTA_Cathedral_Cherry_cabinets_s/1.htm) from the RTA Store offering 30% discount on the price with free shipping. I'll recommend them if anyone has super limited budget but want something trendy.
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Barker Door is Great. I was able to visit their factory in Portland and their attention to detail on the doors is incredible. I have ordered about 4K in doors from them over the last two years. I have even bought stock cabinets from Home Depot and Just replaced the doors with Barker Doors to get that "Custom" cabinet look with very little effort.
Really solid company.
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I think it depends on a person to chose the type of cabinets he wants in his kitchen. If you want some good cabinets options then you should seek a professional. Buying something like kitchen cabinets online is silly. Can't trust anyone with wood works.
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This post is 3 years old lol. I don't even live in CO anymore.