Kitchen cabinet choice (hardwood, how much, countertops, cabinets)
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I'm interested in learning the difference in price and look for solid wood maple cabinets versus veneer front/door cabinets. I'm looking at Kraftmaid for now just for baseline purpose. Any info would be appreciated.
I'm sure you'll find your answer. desertsun41 has done several comparisons and inside details of cabinet construction. No reason to reiterate what's already been written.
Happy reading!
I recently went through the same considerations - maple veneer versus solid maple - for my kitchen and choose the solid wood option. The price difference between veneer and solid with the cabinet maker (Brighten Cabinets) was about 10-12% as I recall. There are cost differences within veneer options as well, it depends on the specific door you are looking at.
Our choice was based primarily on esthetic/appearance factors as well as my interest in avoiding veneer construction and having plywood frames as opposed to MDF or pressed board. You can easily access Brighten (as well as other lines) through Cabinet Discounters website Cabinets Annapolis | Kitchen Cabinets | Maryland | Countertops | VA | DC.
Hope that helps.
Some of your consideration should be: what price range is your total home in and how long do you expect to stay there? If it's a pricey home and you'll stay there decades, get the best solid hardwood you can afford. If your property is more of a starter-home and you anticipate selling in 5-7 years, just opt for something that will hold up to wear you intend to give it. Most homebuyers, particularly less experienced ones, look at cabinets in a pretty superficial way.
Matt,
Sorry for the delayed response, we're traveling (in Costa Rica at the moment). I looked at most of the major off the shelf brands available in my area (Maryland), somewhere north of 20 brands as well as seven custom outfits. A major factor for us was the ability to get some custom fit stuff which the off the shelf folks don't offer.
In general, I found that the custom suppliers were not much more expensive than the box stuff and it made a big difference in the wife's happiness factor.
Case in point, KraftMaid doesn't offer a 5.5 inch mini cabinet, it would meant a spacer and wasted space. Brighten did a 5.5 mini at a very reasonable price which was perfect for pizza/cookie pans = happy wife. They also did some other non-standard size stuff for us that really made the kitchen look 1st class.
I spent a lot of time analyzing the cost/benefit of the project (I did cost/benefit analysis professionally for decades) and generally can say that the custom suppliers are a good option. In the final analysis, get what you (and more importantly, the wife) like and stay within your personal budget and your neighborhood values. Jukesgrrl gives good advice. Luck to you.
Thanks very much, that's great information. I probably should focus on the overall plan and seek out a designer/kitchen company that we are comfortable with. The layout will steer us towards custom or semi-custom cabinets.
Don't forget your local cabinet makers. The most beautiful cabinets I have ever seen (my friend's kitchen) were made by a local cabinet maker at a price that was basically the same as the semi-custom cabinets that my kitchen designer ordered for us.
Thanks very much, that's great information. I probably should focus on the overall plan and seek out a designer/kitchen company that we are comfortable with. The layout will steer us towards custom or semi-custom cabinets.
Matt
When I sold my house 2 years ago, buyers remarked how much they liked the kitchen. It had 30 year old custom cabinets and a custom, handmade maple butcher block countertop. Great quality + classic styling = longevity.
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