Cheap Kitchen Cabinets

[Beer Belly]

We just did Windows and Siding on our house, had a majority of the inside painted, and now the Kitchen really looks dated (1978). We are looking to do cheap Cabinets to get us thru the next 5 years, then see where we stand with finances. It's just the Wife and I, so it's not like we have little ones who may slam the doors and such, so hopefully our timeline (5 years) won't be an issue. We are looking at Home Depot, and Lowes base Cabinets....Hickory to be specific.....they look decent, but was wondering if anyone here has any real world experience with these....also, I will be doing the install. Thanks

 

[Ehouse]

The HD and Lowe's base cabs. are so common that they're a perfect craigslist score. I just did a small kitchen for around $200 including sink, countertop and upper and lower cabs. Write down your measurements and start looking. You might find a whole kitchen and only have to buy (or eliminate) 1 or 2 cabs. to make it fit. You can also put new doors on unmatched sets as the casings are much the same. On that note, just put new doors on your existing cabs, they're probably better made than what you can buy today.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Lowes and HD cabinets are overpriced IMO. Look for a Discount Home Improvement store in your area selling those Oak cabinets that you assemble. They are a fraction of the cost of HD and Lowes cabinets. Quite higher quality for the price as they are all wood(solid wood fronts and plywood sides and backs -no flake or particle board. Main reason they are cheap is the shipping cost is greatly reduced as they are shipped in flat sections rather than assembled and full size and also they come from china. Its all cam locks so all you need is screwdriver,takes about 10-15 minutes each to assemble.Same as those entertainment centers for your living room.(WHich take a lot longer to assemble)You can add additional strength by gluing while assembling them.I have never glued them and have had very good results. I put them in all my rentals and houses that i sell. Been using these for about 15 years.

 

[firefighterjake]

When my wife and I re-did our kitchen we looked at everything from the big box store to folks selling cabinets. Ended up traveling south to NH to get cabinets at Cabinets to Go. As Seasoned Oak said, they were all wood with no particle board. Not high end, but honestly for the price the quality is pretty good. One box was also damaged in shipping . . . company ended up shipping a replacement cabinet which arrived within a few days. Overal, we're quite happy with the look, feel and expense.

 

[stee6043]

When I was looking for some lower cost cabinets I found Menards to have a much better selection and better pricing than HD or Lowes. For whatever that's worth...

 

[mass_burner]

What's dated about them? Style? Finish?

 

[Beer Belly]

What's dated about them? Style? Finish?

The door style is outdated, they are painted (many coats), and they originally had a dark stain by the looks of the inside of the cabinets (dark Brown Stain)...and we like the look of Natural wood. It's a small 11x11 Kitchen, and so far we are looking at quotes from HD and Lowes of about $2,500- $3,000 for Cabinets....it's in our price range for a quick, updated look. It was either side the house, or do the Kitchen right....decided to do the Siding and Windows, and do what we can with the Kitchen

 

[mass_burner]

If they're a standard size door, maybe just buy new doors. Another option, wait for it....IKEA. How close are you to New Haven?

 

[Beer Belly]

If they're a standard size door, maybe just buy new doors. Another option, wait for it....IKEA. How close are you to New Haven?

Not far from New Haven....I think. The boxes are in good shape, it's what's under the paint we don't like, and the interior Stain is ...well....EWWW!!. I have had one other person mention Ikea, the Wife looked online, and said they are over budget ($3,000)

 

[mrjohneel]

My neighbors got an attractive and relatively inexpensive series of cabinets from IKEA -- yes, IKEA. I do some woodworking and built my own kitchen cabinets with quartersawn white oak. I've looked at the joinery and construction of the IKEA cabinets and I think they're well made. It may be worth your while to take a drive to an IKEA if there's not one near you to check it out. They're cheaper than HD and Lowes. Good luck.

 

[mrjohneel]

Massburner, I was writing while you were posting. It's funny that we both thought ... "Wait for It" and "yes...." IKEA can surprise you sometimes.

 

[ironpony]

Not sure if you are looking at in store stock or ordering them so.............
if you are looking at in stock try different stores, they carry different cabinet styles in stock. Some of the stores around here keep hickory in stock in the store. If you can make the sizes work this would be your least expensive route for built cabinets.

 

[mass_burner]

funny! I've learned you need to be selective at IKEA. They do have some solid wood pieces here and there.

 

[seige101]

Check into a Grossmans Bargain outlet, solid wood cabinets for a reasonable price. Also good prices on laminate counter tops that look pretty darn close to a granite. A 10x10 kitchen can be had from them for $1200-$2000 depending on style. (broken link removed to http://www.bargain-outlets.com/gbo-kitchens.php)

 

[greg13]

Grossmans used to have Sunco cabinets that you had to assemble. They are VERY easy to put together, These cabinets are 100% HARDWOOD, no mushboard!! We did our kitchen with them for $1400 for 16 cabinets.

Look close at ANY cabinet, You do not want ANY particle board. The glue dissolves in water leaving sawdust.

 

[Swedishchef]

Ever think of IKEA? There's a great 3D application on their website and the choices are endless. A friend of mine bought them: chopping block counter top, drawer and door dampers,et cetc. Local quote for same: $16000. He paid $6500 from IKEA and put them together himself.

Andrew

 

[Beer Belly]

What's dated about them? Style? Finish?

The door style is outdated, they are painted (many coats), and they originally had a dark stain by the looks of the inside of the cabinets (dark Brown Stain)...and we like the look of Natural wood. It's a small 11x11 Kitchen, and so far we are looking at quotes from HD and Lowes of about $2,500- $3,000 for Cabinets....it's in our price range for a quick, updated look. It was either side the house, or do the Kitchen right....decided to do the Siding and Windows, and do what we can with the Kitchen

(broken image removed)

 

[Beer Belly]

Thanks for all the suggestions.....I'll be searching these tomorrow morning

 

[Beer Belly]

Not sure if you are looking at in store stock or ordering them so.............
if you are looking at in stock try different stores, they carry different cabinet styles in stock. Some of the stores around here keep hickory in stock in the store. If you can make the sizes work this would be your least expensive route for built cabinets.

Lowes in Kingston, NY (about 1 3/4 hours away) has Hickory in stock....if I go with Lowes, I was thinking of renting a truck to pick them up rather than pay for delivery if I order local.....plus I can actually pick out each Cabinet in Kingston....you know how the Hickory Cabinets have many variations. and being in stock saves 20%, plus I have a coupon for an additional 10%

 

[Hogwildz]

Those Hickory cabinets are gorgeous.
Decent quality, not the best in the world, but certainly far from crap.
The price is good for what they are.
I was going to use them in my addition, but I needed shallow cabinets, so ended up making my own.
I really wanted those Hickory ones though.
Some day I might do the Kitchen in them.
Good decision.

 

[Beer Belly]

When my wife and I re-did our kitchen we looked at everything from the big box store to folks selling cabinets. Ended up traveling south to NH to get cabinets at Cabinets to Go. As Seasoned Oak said, they were all wood with no particle board. Not high end, but honestly for the price the quality is pretty good. One box was also damaged in shipping . . . company ended up shipping a replacement cabinet which arrived within a few days. Overal, we're quite happy with the look, feel and expense.

No Hickory ??

 

[Beer Belly]

When I was looking for some lower cost cabinets I found Menards to have a much better selection and better pricing than HD or Lowes. For whatever that's worth...

Just checked Menards website....they don't offer a 27" sink base, nor a 27" draw/door cabinet that I can make into a sink base.....and just my luck, no stores nearby, and they won't ship the cabinets I chose.....otherwise, not bad.

 

[Beer Belly]

Check into a Grossmans Bargain outlet, solid wood cabinets for a reasonable price. Also good prices on laminate counter tops that look pretty darn close to a granite. A 10x10 kitchen can be had from them for $1200-$2000 depending on style. (broken link removed to http://www.bargain-outlets.com/gbo-kitchens.php)

Grossmans priced out at $2,600, and can be had in Kingston (doable).....and being unassembled, could probably fit it all in my pick up.....I think.....gonna give it a closer look

 

[Ehouse]

(broken image removed)

Boy! That would be a nice upgrade for me! I'd do divided lite upper doors with new hinges and pulls all around and a front apron farmhouse style sink.

Natural wood will visually darken and shrink a small kitchen.

 

[Beer Belly]

Boy! That would be a nice upgrade for me! I'd do divided lite upper doors with new hinges and pulls all around and a front apron farmhouse style sink.

Natural wood will visually darken and shrink a small kitchen.

My original plan, was to get some of that thin Pine Beadboard meant for walls....glue them to the doors and frame it out....then try to see if I could strip the Cabinets back down to the raw wood (I believe also Pine)......my thought is that would be a rustic look....but the Wife doesn't agree, so new it is