How to Spot a Cheap or Custom Kitchen Cabinet!

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Want to know how the 5 ways to tell if your cabinets are cheap or if they have custom cabinet details? Want to be able to choose kitchen cabinetry with confidence in the quality? The difference in kitchen cabinetry is easy to see when you know what to look for. You can better shop and plan for your budget by knowing what you want and what's in the remodeling budget! I show you how this interior designer spots inexpensive cabinet options vs custom details and accessories for the function of your kitchen layout.. Hope this helps you to get the most of your kitchen design!

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[ronlowery]

She knows what she's talking about! If you want cabinets to last 25 + years semi custom or custom is the way to go. 3/4" - 1" thick plywood boxes with solid wood doors and drawer fronts, solid wood dovetail drawer boxes. Low priced/grade cabinets will fall apart. Hinges and drawer guides are cheap, mdf or particle wood will deteriorate quickly. Shelving will bow under weight or even with nothing on them. Doors and drawer fronts will constantly be out of adjustment. You'll be replacing cabinetry that has a very short lifespan vs that of quality cabinetry that will probably be there when you're gone. Plus you have a wide array of cabinet paints or stains to choose from that suits you with any color you can dream of and not what the box stores are selling. Most kitchens are the focal point of a lot of family gatherings nowadays. Eat and be merry!

[PaulaMion]

We are going to be building a new home next year. One of my PET PEEVES that I will not have anyplace in the house, are knobs. I HATE that they all eventually turn and loosen. I will use handles on everything because there are 2 screws and nothing will turn or loosen. Thanks for the great info!!

[Kevin_Rhodes]

IKEA cabinets are 3/4" thick, and rugged enough for them to warranty them for 25 years. Thier cabinets are JUST as water resistant as typical, non-marine-grade plywood - which is to say, NOT REALLY AT ALL. And their BLUM-sourced hardware and drawers are *fantastic*. The hardware alone is reason enough to choose them. I can't afford high-end custom cabinetry, and my house isn't worth enough to justify the cost if I could.

[TheseusTitan]

All the cabinets you talked about are cheap. Some are cheaper than others. I have all solid wood cabinets… real wood. They’re strong and they look great

[tamaramartin]

The kitchen in our next house has custom-made solid oak cabinets in almost perfect condition. They're pretty much my least favorite style and finish (cathedral, honey oak), but as i see it, we'd be foolish with a capital F to take them down and replace them with cheap cabs just because of the aesthetic. We can always paint or re-stain them down the road, and honest to Pete, if this is our biggest problem, we'll be okay 😀

[suziewong]

Jeez! I wish I could have found you before I started my nightmare kitchen 3 years ago!!!😢😢😢
New sub…
Maybe I will learn some for bathroom and closets…🙏🏻
*I went with a middle of the road cheaper cabinets. Custom cabs were the uppers since they are deeper and I had a back wall that had to be custom for the depth and utilizing all the space on the back wall.
I wish I could have been able to do dovetail and 3/4” but I didn’t have the budget for that.
I will DIY for the “bells and whistles”.

[JulieOParkCity]

What brand of cabinets do you think are a solid upper mid level brand? Thanks

[midnite]

So glad I found your channel, new subscriber!

[Mr._Craig]

What is your opinion of J&K cabinetry?

[moneymakingmikeg.]

Swing the door shut & slam the drawers as hard as you can!!! This will tell JOKING LOL!!! All fantastic talking points Liz. Hoping all is well, Dirty Jersey out!!

[PaulaMion]

Was wondering what you think about RTA Cabinets.

[gardenmusicnotebook]

What would you recommend for a rental property ( not a higher end area)?

[alisonhoyte]

I went back and looked at my kitchen after your video and although it is a Rimu wood finish I now know why I don't like it cheap cheap cheap. Hubby loves the wood but !!!! it doesn't work for me at all. Growing up in my design abilities now thanks to your help xxx

[Bostonbob]

The most expensive, high-end European cabinets (we're talking $60-75, 000 and up for a full kitchen of cabinets) are made of...particle board. Leicht, Poggenpohl, etc. use particle board, but they're extremely well designed and constructed, and the fit and finish is amazing.