I recently sat down with a few of the Premier Kitchens design team members for a Q&A on the cost of cabinets. With a dizzying amount of design options and several different product lines to choose from, figuring out a budget for purchasing cabinets may seem a bit daunting. Luckily, they shared some basic tips that can really help explain what the main cost differences are, and how much you will likely spend. I hope you find their answers as incredibly helpful as I did.

 

 
1) What are the main areas that really affect the cost of cabinets?
 

Quality of the finish-that top layer of paint or stain is important, the thicker the coat and more even the application, particularly around edges the less you will see chipping, fading, and scratches. You’d be surprised how much that quality varies.

Wood speciesThis is a fairly obvious one, basically affected by 3 things: popularity, durability, and the rarity of the wood, the more rare the more expensive.
 
Box Type-The thicker the box the more durable it will be and the more it will cost, also, the type of wood used to make the box affects the price as well.
 
 
2) What’s worth splurging on?
 

It all really depends on what you like and how you plan to use your kitchen space. But, since you asked, beautiful knobs and pulls, they can really add pop to your design without breaking the bank.

 
3) What should you consider budgeting for cabinets?
 

Cabinets should cost about 20-25% of your overall kitchen budget. I’d start with purchasing cabinets before looking at appliances. Cabinets last longer than appliances do and can show wear easier. They are also harder and more expensive to replace than appliances.

 
4) How much should someone comfortably budget for middle of the line cabinets in a medium sized kitchen?
 

$25-$30,000

 
 
5) Any new styles or trends that cost more?
 

Yes, we have seen a lot of customers really liking walnut, a scarce wood and white oak.

 
 
 

6) Anything that sounds like a good deal but should really be avoided? Why? Yes over accessorizing your drawers, the 2 tier drawer pictured here takes away height and if you wanted to put away a wine bottle opener for instance it will get stuck. Also, the pull out cabinet with slots for bins. If you don’t use those bins you can’t use the cabinet. The more accessories you add the less ways you can use your cabinet shelf or drawer, so be careful and choose wisely.

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