The first decision you’ll need to make is what cabinet style you prefer. Aim for a classic option that you will still love long after the latest trend passes. Ask your Custom cabinet builders if they use Face Frame construction, which has a solid wood frame that shows around the door and drawer faces. Also, check whether they are able to modify cabinet depth and width in 1-inch increments. Budget Cabinets at The Home Depot Many Home Depot and Lowe’s stores have a kitchen design center or desk that can help you plan your new cabinets, but it can be difficult to get any one-on-one time with an expert. Also, the designers at these stores are not able to visit your space or take measurements, so it’s up to you or your contractor to make sure the cabinets are properly sized and installed. While budget cabinets from Home Depot and Lowe’s are cheaper than IKEA, they tend to be made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF). If you opt for the more expensive Home Depot house brand or Cabinets To Go, you should look at the cabinet construction carefully to ensure it’s plywood instead of MDF. This will hold screws better and resist dents. Stock Cabinets at IKEA While IKEA cabinets offer a sleek appearance at an affordable price, many homeowners question whether they can withstand a busy household and heavy usage over time. Like Home Depot, IKEA offers a semi-custom option: pick from set sizes, colors, finishes, and features. But unlike Home Depot, the retailer carries its own lines of cabinetry instead of acting as distributor for independent brands. The cabinet pieces are shipped flat to the homeowner, who is responsible for assembling them. If you don’t want to risk a DIY disaster, it’s best to hire an experienced contractor to complete the job. IKEA’s SEKTION cabinet system comes with a 25-year warranty. It covers the frames, hinges, MAXIMERA drawers, legs and toe kicks, cover panels, and deco strips and molding. Custom Cabinets at Amuneal Modular cabinets offer more design flexibility than their mass-produced stock counterparts. They come in a wide variety of color and finish options, as well as add-ons like carousel or slide-out cabinets to optimize storage solutions. In addition to a broad range of materials and finishes, Amuneal cabinetry is designed to be functional and aesthetically matched with the rest of the kitchen, such as in this oak + brass clad kitchen. The custom veneer doors and drawer faces are finished in Oxidized Oak to match the tones of the stone backsplash, Mottled Bronze clad hood enclosure and machined Frankford Pulls. Amuneal is rated “A+” on KitchensRated’s quality grade, with a customer satisfaction rating of 10 out of 10. Their price point is slightly higher than Home Depot’s. Custom Cabinets at Plain English Cabinets are the backbone of any kitchen—they offer storage, set the style, and establish functionality. The best kitchen cabinets do more than that, though. They can make a room feel bespoke and tailored, like the one in this 19th-century brownstone where Plain English’s founders live and work. They created a custom kitchen that pairs modern British style with cottagecore elements like blue paint and distressed hardware. The company makes four curated cabinet collections that feature flat-front wood doors and drawers and come in a range of finishes and colors. Custom options add to the overall price of the cabinets and installation. But semi-custom companies offer a finite number of choices, so they tend to be more affordable than full-custom options. Custom Cabinets at Omega Founded in the 1970’s, Omega is known for their high-end wood cabinets. They use only the best hand-selected hardwoods with the highest quality craftsmanship to produce custom cabinetry. They offer two product platforms; framed and full access (also called frameless). Both styles have their own set of design options which include door style, finish, surfaces, weathered finishes, accessories and more. It would take a lot of high end expertise for local custom makers to compare to Omega. Their cabinets are truly custom in every way, from the door design to the finish, and everything in between. The best part is that they deliver their cabinetry directly to their warehouse so they can handle the delivery and inspection process, ensuring that they’ll arrive in perfect condition. custom kitchen cabinets
