Whether you’re building a new home or renovating your existing kitchen, cabinets are one of the biggest investment components and can have a significant impact on your overall project cost. But how do you choose the best custom kitchen cabinets for your needs, budget and timeframe? The best way to find out is to consult experts.
Stock cabinets are pre-made and available for purchase at a wide variety of retail outlets, from one-stop shops like IKEA to traditional cabinet manufacturers such as Fabuwood. These cabinets are assembled by the buyer using a set of lengthy instructions, but most feature solid wood door frames around MDF panels and durable factory finishes.
The quality of a cabinet depends on the materials, craftsmanship and construction methods used. For example, cheaper plywood boxes are less likely to warp or shrink than pricier solid-wood boxes, which are often made of solid oak, cherry, maple or mahogany. Cabinet drawers are constructed in a similarly varied fashion, with more expensive models using furniture-grade plywood and real wood veneers, while lesser-quality drawers might use butt or rabbet joints, particle board or metal edges.
If you’re willing to wait a bit, custom cabinets can be manufactured and delivered in about 10-12 weeks from when you place your order. For a slightly faster option, consider working with semi-custom brands such as Wellborn, which offers its own network of dealers and a user-friendly design program called You Draw It that allows you to sketch your ideal layout and dimensions. The brand is also a MasterBrand company, so it offers the customer service infrastructure and established manufacturing capabilities of a major player in the U.S. market. custom kitchen cabinets