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I have remodeled my kitchen a few times and have spent very little money. I am getting ready to draw up plans for a bigger remodel this time, but will encorporate the same cost saving secret. I dont concern myself with high quality wood cabinets, as I get bored and redo the colors very often, every two years seems to be my averge. Why pay for expensive wood in that case? I LOVE my MDF island and will redo all my caninets in MDF in the new remodel. Extremely low cost which allows me the freedom to change the color as often as I like without the stress of all that money. I do appreciate the beauty of real wood in other kitchens, but in my own, I have to be free to change and experiment, and the MDF is a perfect solution for me. I can do amazing things with paint... when I dont have to worry about money! (I designed my island about 5 years ago. Wood quote was $8,000 from Home Depot. MDF was $800 from a local wood worker who followed my design plans to a "T". Nobody knows it isnt real solid wood unless I tell them anyway! HELLO!!!) Last year my kitchen was a natural celery green, very earthy and peaceful. Now, it is a fire engine red with forrest green trim. FUN!

Posted by Idaho beachbum – January 1, 2007 10:04 AM

Happy New Year to you and your family! I too managed to finish my kitchen in time for the holidays. For my choice of cabinets I chose the Premier brand from Home Depot. I understand that this company is now a part of Kraftmaid and according to Consumer Report magazine both companies have a solid satisfactory rating. A few years ago I attempted to refinish my maple cabinets by professionally stripping the doors and outer wood. Within a year they were right back to their original color. All that work for nothing. Another fact to consider is that the old cabinets have fixed shelves offering little in the way of space. Both my husband and I love the layout of our new cabinets which is different from the original ones. The interiors are much more space efficient with adjustable shelves and pullout areas for tall liquids. Anyone considering a kitchen remodel should consider the advantages of the newer cabinets when deciding to redo or replace the cabinets. I could have saved a considerable amount of time and a waste of money if I chose to renovate sooner. Oh well, better late than never! To all who are about to make this big decision I say,"Go for it!" Why renovate a kitchen just to sell your home?

Posted by Margaret Keane – January 2, 2007 5:50 PM

We also went with Kraftmaid, but not at Home Depot. I wanted to use them, but the personnel at our store was less than friendly, and seemed in no hurry to assist me. The Lowe's was too far away to consider using (45 minutes through the mountains) for the project. So we went with Santa Cruz Kitchen and Bath. http://www.sckb.com/ I think this would have really been a wonderful experience, except for our designer's accident. And it's real hard to fault someone for an accident.
Any way, we are using Cherry with the cabernet finish for the kitchen part and Maple with honey glaze finish for the eating part. I think it will be cool. The cherry cabinets have a beige corian counter and the maple cabinet has a ruby red corian top. I'm really hoping it all pulls together as well as I image it. We finally get to start putting in the cabinets next week.
I never thought I would want to cook so badly. I'm really desparate to make something!
As a final note... the slide.com site is really making it easier for me to load more pictures. Maybe for the final showing of your kitchen you could try it?

Posted by Joyce Lund – January 4, 2007 1:18 AM

Hey, guess what??? I came home from work yesterday, and I have a cabinet!!! Is that cool or what???

Posted by Joyce lund – January 9, 2007 10:54 AM

We are considering replacing our cabinets and every kitchen picture I love has painted ivory cabinets. Mine are currently dark brown and 37 yrs. old. With light painted cabinets how much of a pain is it to keep them clean? I have four kids and a dog.

Posted by Becky Krzemen – January 12, 2007 1:19 PM

I RECENTLY PAINTED MY PLAIN PLYWOOD OAK UPPER CABINETS BLACK, AND TH BOTTOM RED. MY FLOOR IS MED OAK WOOD... WHAT COLOR DO I PAINT MY CEILING???????

Posted by DEBBIE – January 12, 2007 9:25 PM

We are in the final stages of our kitchen remodel.....Yahhhooooooo Fortunately my husband, DD and myself have done all the work with help from a few friends....ie demo and sheet rocking
I got 6 quotes that ranged from 16,000 and down we ended up going with cabinets from Ikea and we love them! Yes they do come flat packed and we had the honor of assembly! This is the best kitchen ever.....20 months (We took it back to the studs, redid the wiring, plumbing, insulation etc.) with a make shift kitchen and now to have 2 sinks and a warming oven ROCKS! Would I do it again Oh yes! When my husbands bookeeper came in left the kitchen door open and just stood there and kept saying Wow, WOw, WOW....WOW.... I knew it all worked! Now to get the finishing touches done and have the grand unveiling party....I can't wait

Posted by Robyn – January 13, 2007 7:23 PM

We are just getting started. Well, we are coming out of the planning stages. We are using the unfinished oak cabinets from Lowes. We looked at other cabinets but they were way out of our price range with my daughter's college tution payment now due. $250 for a little wine rack thing. So we will finish the oak. I'm pretty good at staining and finishing. I just found the same size cabinet that was in the more expensive drawing and inserted an unfinished cabinet. saved about $4000. So, we will be getting the next weekend and starting....

Posted by Patty Fantetti – January 14, 2007 8:53 AM

Excellent post...you've made some really important points. Unless you’re a contractor, it’s hard to make sure you don’t get ripped off when you bring in a remodeler to fix up your home. What do you do if you’re cost conscious about a remodeling project, but don’t know what to do?
One great way to get pricing on projects like this is to submit your project inquiry into one of the companies that helps match you with qualified remodeling contractors.
For example, Contractor Marketing Pros.com has a team of experts who are dedicated specifically to helping contractors and small businesses advertise yourselves online. The team has a lot of really great network of websites and a suite of programs that get pinpoint targeted visitors to your website. Plus, with their pay per lead deal, they're not too expensive, because they only charge when they actually get customers for you.

Posted by Craig – January 15, 2007 3:26 AM

I am looking for new cabinets and I would like the details of the large end cabinet shown in the picture above. Thanks

Posted by Barbara Nixon – January 15, 2007 4:21 PM

Whether you are a professional kitchen remodeler or a do it yourselfer, the T-JAK cabinet jack is best tool for supporting and leveling kitchen wall cabinets. It will handle any size wall cabinet, with a quick support range of 53" to 84". It also has precision adjustments to align the cabinets perfectly. Handy magazine posted a great article on the TJAK website about installing kitchen cabinets.

Posted by Jim Clarke – January 19, 2007 4:53 PM

A quick reply to Becky about the cabinets: we've had light cabinets for years. Before they were painted and did get pretty grungy (especially around the cooking/clean up ares)--but I did not really keep up with them because I knew we were (eventually) going to replace them. These cabinets have a distressed finish which includes dents, small nicks, and speckles of a darker paint--all of which help to disguise dirt and marks. So far all I've had to do is wipe spills and splatters and it is just like new. Not too much maintenance at all. I love them. Gretchen (homeowner)

Posted by Gretchen – February 1, 2007 5:49 PM

We just finished our kitchen remodel. Actually all we have left is the backsplash. We also used Kraftmaid with the Vanilla Bean Glaze. This is the 2nd time we used Kraftmaid. We used them in our previous home.
All I can say is that the expense was worth it. We also did the floors in tile. From start to finish the kitchen cost around 17,000 with new cabinets and floors.

Posted by Jay – February 5, 2007 5:27 PM

you should paint them a more bright color to make them pop out at you.

Posted by brooke – February 6, 2007 5:30 PM

This is for Barbara Nixon's post on January 15--
The large cabinet is a double pantry unit. The base has 4 slide-out drawers each of which can be installed at varying heights according to the needs of the kitchen. The top unit (and the one next to it) are both deep shelving units. They are great for the items that get use less frequently. The lower shelves are readily accessible and easy to reach for me. The higher areas, and the deeper areas require use of a step stool. So are they have worked out very well.

Posted by Gretchen (homeowner) – February 18, 2007 11:45 AM

We also did a complete kitchen remodel using maple Kraftmaid cabinets- in natural. We used a designer at Lowe's (Carol). She's now at Home Depot. I love my cabinets- except for the corner storage door with the hinge. The tiny screws keep loosening. My husband has had to replace the tiny wood srews with larger ones to keep part of the door from falling off.
I have the lower cabinets and the pantry with the pull out shelves. I would highly recommend them.

Posted by NotNancy – February 23, 2007 2:36 PM

Does anyone have tips for painting cabinets? We currently have a country oak finish, which clashes with the dark Arts & Crafts-style woodwork in the rest of our 1920 home. We've considered replacing them completely, but we want to avoid the modern look of thermafoil and the expense of custom cabinets. If you've undertaken this project yourself, can you tell me (honestly)how hard it is? We've got two preschoolers, so I don't have the time & energy I once had for DIY projects. Also, can you recommend any products that produce good results?

We're also thinking or replacing the door fronts with ready-to-finish ones. Would the time saved in prepping the doors outweigh the hassle of replacing them?

Thanks!

Posted by Joanie – March 1, 2007 9:29 AM

Our remodel is currently on. We chose Kraftmaid Maple Toffee finish. Initially, checked with HD and lowes. Then we went ahead with a local, Kitchen Expo, NJ, and the price was very good. Always check as many places as possible. we're putting floating floor which looks great. choosing the lightings now! What we found every step of the way is that we are changing our plans with the looks as it goes! Even the lighting now we are thinking chandiliers instead of pedants.

Posted by G.Yogaraj – March 7, 2007 12:20 PM

I am just starting a new kitchen design. I have been to 3 kitchen designers for cabinet plans and estimates. All 3 told me not to buy the more expensive painted cabinets because of the upkeep, paint cracking and the unsightly joint expansion. I would appreciate any comments. I just love Kraftmaids Vanilla Bean glaze but will not be able to afford a new kitchen in 10 years. Help!

Posted by Nadine – March 7, 2007 8:40 PM

I am in the planning stages of new cabinets and countertops. I have a VERY small galley kitchen. I really like the cherry cabinets (my home is full of dark cherry furniture) I am NOT sure if dark will look good, or should I go with the white maple with glaze (both being kraftmaid) Please help a pre-K teacher.

Posted by sarah – March 11, 2007 2:23 PM

This is Angelique Medow. I designed this kitchen for the Sexton family and have some thoughts for Joanie, Nadine and Sarah.

Hello Joanie: Two preschoolers? You have way too much to do to be painting your cabinets! It is a lot of work to sand and paint cabinets, and unless a sprayer is used to make a fine, even finish, there will always be unsightly brush marks that make things look less professional. It can be done, but it will take work and it may not look as good as you hope. If you can buy door fronts and just paint the base of the cabinets, it will be a lot easier and better looking. You may consider buying prefinished door fronts- you will save a considerable amount of time and the finish will be even throughout. I hope you order the prefinished and take a nap.

Hello Nadine: about 4 years ago, I designed a kitchen with Kraftmaid's vanilla bean glaze cabinets and the homeowners have not had any problems with them and the finish is in good condition, no cracking. The upkeep is the same as any other cabinet, unless they are abused, it takes more work to repair the finish. Joint expansion? Haven't heard of that problem and I've used lots of Kraftmaid cabinetry.

Hello Sarah: Dark cherry cabinetry is very rich and beautiful. If cherry cabinets would be a good complement with your flooring and furniture, and if you have plenty of lighting so the room won't get too dark, then go for it!

angeliquemedow@aim.com

Posted by ANGELIQUE MEDOW – March 11, 2007 11:51 PM

I really like the simplicity of the white cabinets, it's not all flat, but some trim in the cabinets. We are getting our condo ready for sale. First, we are looking at some bathroom and kitchen improvement, but our budget is minimal.
We have a 2 year old, so our hands are full. Any ideas how to keep a minimal budget with contractors?

Posted by Gladys Ferrer – March 13, 2007 12:26 PM

We're planning an addition and kitchen makeover and we're wondering if anyone has used Direct Buy to purchase cabinets, floors, furniture, etc. If so, how was the service and is it worth the membership price?

Posted by Pam Walsh – March 14, 2007 1:29 PM

We have been recently updating our kitchen. The cabinets and doors are now painted white, and my wife wants to paint just the front facing of the the cabinets a smoke blue that would match the new floor we are putting in. I think painting the front facing only and not the sides, insides, etc., will not look good at all, so, I first suggested to leave the cabinets white and paint the outer part of the cabinet doors blue. This proved to be harder than anticipated, especially keeping it uniform with the drawer doors. So, suggested we keep it all white except for trim and crown molding on ceiling, etc. and to maybe paint a design on the cabinets and drawer doors. Now she just thinks I'm being difficult.
Would somebody at least agree with me that it would NOT look good at all to paint just the front facing of the cabinets one color different from the rest of the cabinets, i.e., drawer doors, cabinet doors, sides and insides of cabinets?

Posted by Ryan Shelton – March 15, 2007 10:31 AM

i have a small kitchen and i'm wanting to paint the base of my cabinets black and the doors a natural wood color. do you think painting the base of the cabinets black would make my kitchen look smaller than it already is.

Posted by Monica – March 18, 2007 6:41 PM

I am interested in painting my old cabinets a dark brown. Does anyone have a suggestion on color? Or know of some websites I can go to for example pictures??

Posted by Rena – April 23, 2007 12:02 PM