Do you want or need new kitchen cabinets? I share my opinions on sourcing the best quality kitchen cabinets for the money.
How would I approach getting new kitchen cabinets, in what order? If you are a longtime reader of this blog, you will probably not be surprised by my #1 recommendation. Here goes:
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Reconsider the need for new kitchen cabinets at all.
If you have an older house with its original kitchen cabinets, those old cabinets may be of better quality than any “affordable” new cabinets available today. If your existing kitchen cabinets are sturdy and still serviceable, there are numerous ways to give them new life. This would help you avoid significant, unnecessary spending, not to mention the stress of a major renovation. Can you work with your cabinets? Refinish them if the wood is nice… Or repaint them… If the doors and drawers have decorative moldings and you want to go for a glazed look, try a solution like Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformations… Then, swap out the cabinet hardware for a fresh new/old look. Other ideas: Add glass-front doors to some of the wall cabinets, or take some doors off some of the wall cabinets for an open look.
Remember, Reality Check: You typically do not make your money back on remodeling projects — plan your spending with care.
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Shop for vintage steel kitchen cabinets.
This is the route I took. The 1975 melamine cabinets in my 1951 kitchen were literally falling apart. I learned about vintage steel kitchen cabinets and went on a five-year hunt. I finally found my 1963 aquamarine Genevas, original finish, in great shape in a cooking school formerly run by nuns. I bought 67 cabinets for $3,000. I installed a bunch of them and then sold the leftovers on ebay for $2,500. And did you catch that: My cabinets are STEEL. Like Superman. With steel roll-out shelves. These cabinets will outlive me. Heck, barring a flood, they will live FOREVER.
Want to learn more about vintage steel kitchen cabinets? I have dozens of stories about vintage steel kitchen cabinets here on the blog. Youngstown steel cabinets were the biggest-selling brand, so will be the most plentiful today. But St. Charles steel cabinets (shown in the photo above, 1941) are the best-of-the-best. The St. Charles’ were made of even heavier steel than my Genevas. They are something. Still, many of the other brands are wonderful — and will do the trick just fine. Searching out steel kitchen cabinets can be a chore. And then, you may need to have them repainted at additional expense. But dollar-for-dollar, I can’t imagine finding any better quality kitchen cabinets for your money, especially for a mid century house or any house with a kitchen being done with vintage flair.
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For new wood cabinets, read the research on Consumer Reports.
I am a ginormous fan of Consumer Reports. All of their testing is independent. They are not beholden to advertisers. They exist to serve their subscribers. Whenever I am in the buying mode for big stuff, I buy an online subscription, so I can research like a maniac. It makes my decision-making process so much easier. Right now, they do not show any brand-by-brand tests of kitchen cabinets. But they do have an article about what kind of construction to look for if you are looking for new wood kitchen cabinets. So read up. Note, though, that their #1 recommendation is same as mine: Can you work with the cabinets you have?
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
I love the Consumer Reports encourages people to use try to work with their existing cabinets. I knew they had great advice about cars, but evidently it extends to kitchens, too!
MsKittyMuses says
When we thought we were buying a house with cheap 80s particle board cabinets, we got ahead of ourselves and looked on Craigslist. We found a whole set of 60s flat front walnut cabinets (6 base, 7 wall) that had been poorly painted out in a dirty white, for only $200! We ended up not getting that house, and the house we did buy luckily had gorgeous, original birch cabinets. But we were able to still use them in our large 1-car garage. Installed with the 60s pink and grey boomerang counter tops I convinced a friend to salvage for me from a house they were redoing, and we got a really cheap, very sturdy, and very swanky storage solution for $200! I eventually want to paint them out in high gloss grey to mimic metal as best I can, and upgrade the 80s white ceramic door pulls, but even then, it was a MUCH cheaper option than buying anything new.
So, search Craigslist! There are usually at least a few posting at any given time, depending on your town. I live in Louisville, which isn’t an area that prizes retro anything for the most part, so there’s less offered simply because no thinks that anyone else will want things. But, you also get it for a better price!
MsKittyMuses says
I should also add that the cabinet that were original to our house needed major elbow grease when we moved in. They looked Okish, but the previous owners had live there since 1960, and were smokers. The insides of the cabinets, especially the wall cabinets, smelled AWFUL. So i spent almost an entire weekend first trying different products, then cleaning each one inside and out.
I ended up using Grease Lighting, which I will add is NOT recommended for wood, but it was the only thing I could find that cut through the layer of nicotine build up, and I watched very closely and didn’t let it sit too long. It still took multiple applications in some parts, and the sludge that came off was disgusting, so gloves were my friend! I then washed them down with orange oil, and let them air out for a day or two. Fixed it, and they looked so much better.
The shiny varnish did dull a bit in places where I had to spray more than once, but I was willing to deal with that if it meant getting rid of the smell!
Lynne says
I was at the Schaumberg, IL Ikea store a couple weeks ago. They are now offering a light turquoise in their door color selection. They were showing the aqua door in a white case, and wow, did it look fabulous. If I were anywhere near a kitchen or laundry room remodel I would be all over these.
Actually, I have all white, wall mounted, floating Ikea cabinets in my little laundry room now. I am thinking of replacing the doors with the new aqua ones. Another star for Ikea! I can change up the look of the existing case goods with a cheap door exchange! For the record, I’ve been really happy with the quality of the Ikea case goods in the 3 years I have had them.
Jennifer Kepesh says
I have a similar color in glass from a couple of years back on our wall cabinets (1 set) and pantry (3 narrow doors 6 1/2″ high). It looks absolutely wonderful, and while it isn’t re-used or re-finished, it met our needs.
Katie says
That is one of the major advantages of Ikea cabinets, its very easy to swap out the cabinet fronts.
I’ve also been very happy with my Ikea cabinets, which I got after water damage made a gut-remodel of the kitchen unavoidable. I think its a good option for creating a period look on a budget, and the hardware is, surprisingly, top quality.
Beth says
Glad to hear this info about IKEA cabinets. My home is a 1962 confused ranch/mcm – it can’t decide. Wood cabinets that are that shiny varnished finish, but the layout is awful. Drawers are dropping sawdust onto my pots and pans, etc. Have the original boomerang handles/pulls in copper finish. Although the cabinets are solid wood, I couldn’t afford to replace. So either IKEA or metal cabinets are in my future. Now to have color or white. Hmmm.
pam kueber says
we call the “coolonial” houses
Robin, NV says
The original birch cabinets in my kitchen were a huge selling point when I was house shopping. They’re so warm and glowy. I wipe them down with wood oil soap about once a year and they just shine! I’m so glad no one messed with them over the years. I guess my point is, if your cabinets are in good shape, appreciate and preserve them and maybe the next owner will too.
My only heartache is that I’d like to install a microwave over my stove and it just won’t fit with the height of the cabinets as is (it’d be too low over the stove). Don’t judge me – I have a galley style kitchen and countertops space is at a premium. My little countertop microwave is eating up too much space and I’d like to have a wall hung one. But what do I do? Remove a set of cabinets? Cut them down (eek!)? Cut into the soffet and raise the one set? I just don’t know! I’ve been thinking about this for 4 years and I still don’t have a good answer.
pam kueber says
Idea: Is it possible to recess the microwave within the backsplash? That would require: A space adjacent to the a kitchen wall where the recess could be hidden. A garage perhaps? A closet?
Kelly Wittenauer says
Pam,
Wouldn’t work in my current kitchen, but an awesome idea! At 4’10” the ones over the stove don’t work work well for me. It would look so much better recessed into the wall than sitting on my counter!
Bob Connor says
One idea I have done with the microwave is to have it in the pantry. I did that with an apartment I had and it worked out well, except that you may want to have an outlet installed in the pantry so there is no cord hanging out. I like the idea of the microwave in the backsplash of the counter but for many people, then the MW would have to be – outside!
Lauryn says
Robin, this might come under the category of “non-suggestion” and it may not be an option for you, but have you ever considered ditching the microwave altogether? We too have a small galley kitchen where counter space is limited, so I understand not wanting to clutter things up. But years ago, my microwave needed to be replaced and I never got around to doing it. I haven’t had a microwave in probably 12 years (maybe more) and I don’t miss it one bit … and I especially don’t miss having it take up valuable counter top real estate!!
lisa says
Robin, I ditched the over-the-stove microwave because ours was slightly broken, too low, and constantly greasy because the vent fan didn’t work well. In its place put our old, not-built-in microwave on a standalone shelf unit in the kitchen. I bought chrome wire shelving for this. Our recycle bins are on the lowest shelf and the uppers hold a basket full of dish towels, my food processor, the fruit basket, the microwave, and an “out box” for house keys and such since this is all near the back door.
In our old house we had a teeny bit more counter space so I had the microwave on a small metal shelf on top of the counter. I stored our cutting boards underneath. The shelf’s original purpose was a computer monitor riser. You could also mount a shelf on your backsplash wall under the upper cabinets with just enough space for a small microwave.
Chad says
I’d call a cabinetmaker and see if it’s feasible to modify a cabinet. The newly cut edge on the door would be a little lighter, but that’d probably be hard to notice if you did the edge that’s farthest from eye level. And, consider putting the microwave below your counter instead if you don’t like the over the range type.
Robin, NV says
Wow! Thanks everyone for the advice (hugs everyone on RR).
Pam – what a nifty idea! My kitchen backs up to the closet where the furnace lives but I don’t think there’s enough room for both. You should see my furnace – it’s original and boy does it heat the house, even after 51 years of use!
Lauryn – I have considered dumping the microwave. I remember the days before them and we got along just fine. Your suggestion reminds me that I generally only use the microwave to thaw things or heat them up. Do I really need to rearrange my kitchen with a new appliance just to do those two things? Plus a hood over the range would look so sweet! Will have to mull this over a bit more.
Lisa – thanks for the shelf idea but I don’t think my kitchen has the space for it. It’s a small galley kitchen but they really packed it full of cabinets and drawers.
Chad – I was angling toward your advice already. I’ll probably call in a carpenter or cabinet guy and ask what he thinks is the best route.
Thanks again everyone!
lisa says
Robin, I’ve also seen on the blog Young House Love where they removed the over-the-stove cabinet entirely and mounted a open shelving in its place. The microhood is mounted to the lowest new shelf. That way they could make it the right height from the stove. I think the new shelves are also subtly bumped out in the back from the original wall to conceal ductwork so the microwave fan works better (most can be recirculating but ducted moves air better).
Or if there is space above your cabinets you could have the over-stove cabinet taken out and remounted higher up. Our kitchen was like that when we had a microwave over the stove. They had bumped out the cabinet a little and raised it up. You would have to have your carpenter put some new molding on top, but he should be able to match what you have. Here is a picture of what I mean, though they use the concept with a hood instead of microwave: http://kansascitywoodproducts.com/custom-kitchen-shaker-style-enamel/
Robin, NV says
Lisa – raising the one set of cabinets has been the best solution I’ve come up with so far. The only problem being that there’s a soffit in the way. Would it look weird if we had a carpenter cut into the soffit and raise the cabinet 4-6 inches above the rest? I love my soffits, so I’m not willing to have them taken out. I painted an argyle pattern on one soffit and it looks great! I’m waiting to paint the other side until I figure out what to do about the microwave.
Lisa Compo says
Robin, I didn’t have much room for a microwave when we moved here so I bought a baker’s rack at Target and my microwave sits on there. I had just the right wall for it so that helped. Could you put a little rack of some sort just outside the galley kitchen–is there a little wall around the corner? Also, and this might be really dumb but you never know…if you have ample cabinets can you buy one of the little tiny microwaves (like for dorms etc..) and keep it in the cabinet until you needed to use it? Just keep it put away until needed then put it back. Let us know if you come up with something…you know we all want to know. 🙂
lisa says
I think you could do it! Talk to a carpenter, naturally. But the way I envision your kitchen, I think you could raise that cabinet and bump it out a little; maybe also bump out the soffit behind it to give it a more integrated look. You’ll have to figure out what to do about the argyle on that side. Is it more than one row of diamonds? If so, measure the ones you’ve already done and use that to determine the exact placement of the cabinet so it all comes out even.
The bumping out that was in my kitchen was just about 2″. They stuck a 2×4 on the wall and affixed the cabinet to it. I didn’t put it up; I took it down, but the arrangement looked pretty simple.
Justin says
I don’t know if you have the room or not, but could you put the microwave inside one of the cabinets? That way it is off of the counter top.
pam kueber says
Another thought: We’ve always kept our microwave near the refrigerator. That’s because that’s how we use the microwave: To warm up stuff from the fridge….
Joe Felice says
I’ve always wondered why they don’t put the microwave over the sink, instead of over the stove. The first place I go after heating something is the sink, or next to it. Of course, I recycle, so I rinse out the plastic trays. Maybe this is against code, for electrical reasons, but it could be put onto a circuit that is GFI protected. Speaking of which, I recommend that ALL kitchen circuits have GFI protectors on them. Code only requires it if the outlet is within 6 feet of the sink. I found it interesting that code did not require GFIs in the laundry room, above the washer, or in the furnace room, next to the water heater. I did install GFI outlets in those areas, and I think they should be required.
Jenny says
We also have beautiful birch cabinets in our 1957 ranch. The previous owner butchered three cabinet under and beside the sink to put in a dishwasher, and moved the sink so it wasn’t centered under the window. We bought cheap, unfinished solid wood cabinets, removed the doors and drawer fronts, and re-used some of the old cabinet doors (luckily they were saved in the basement, with hardware still on them). They had to be cut to fit, but my husband is really handy. I had to buy several colors of stain and it took me several weeks to match the color, layers and layers of stain, but they turned out beautifully. Unless you look very closely, you cannot tell the difference. You could do the same thing above your stove, re-using the doors you have now. It would be fairly easy to have them cut to fit.
Marti says
I have the same problem but with steel shelves (Youngstown). We found out yesterday that our newly-deceased, 80s Goliath of a microwave is actually shorter than the current over-stove models. In order to install the new one, we’d have to remove the 16 inch cupboard over the existing microwave, purchase or build a shorter replacement cupboard, and completely botch our original, shipshape kitchen design. Nearly $1000 to replace the microwave when we only use it to reheat and thaw!
SO, I thought of installing a very small microwave under one of the cabinets over a counter to eliminate countertop clutter. However, I’m not keen on drilling holes into the bottom of our steel cupboard to support the microwave. Here’s my idea: find or make a more-or-less U shaped, steel shelf wherein the serifs of the U (bear with me) are crazy strong, industrial magnets that could support the weight of the shelf and the small microwave. No drilling, no demolition, no mismatched cabinetry. Thoughts, please? Is this doable and where might I start?
Lauryn says
Also, don’t be afraid to tackle the job of repainting cabinets. Ours were 72 years old when I took on the job and it was a LOT of work (sanding, priming, sanding, painting, painting, painting), but I’m very glad I did it. Remember, particularly if they are really old, the flaws that you see up close while working on them will fade into the background when they are done. Cabinets will take a beating over the course of 72 years, but I still think ours are much more solid (and built to fit the space) than anything we might have replaced them with. And yes on NEW HARDWARE. Huge difference.
Lauryn says
IF someone needs new cabinets, I would strongly encourage folks not to discount a local craftsperson. We kept the original cabinets in our kitchen, but had additional cabinets built to match the originals, giving us much needed extra storage and food prep area. An independent woodworker can often do MUCH higher-quality work for considerably less than a “specialty” kitchen company or even a big-box store. What’s more, it keeps dollars local and most likely keeps someone in your community working.
Sherree says
My 1951 kitchen has the original, built on sight, kitchen cabinets. They have been sloppily painted many times without ever having the hardware removed. They are not deep enough, and the fixed shelves are so close together I cannot even stand up a bottle of oil or a cereal box. In addition, there are not enough of them. And at 4’10” tall, I cannot even reach the middle shelves of the uppers. That being said, we cannot bring ourselves to fork out hard earned cash on a gut job (or even a modest update) when mid century homes in my neighborhood are selling for less than $60,000! Our home is now worth much less than when we purchased it in 2010. We would NEVER get the return on the money if we remodeled 🙁 We are stuck and making due with what we have.
Joe Felice says
Why do people paint hinges? Are they really too lazy to take the doors, if they are going to the trouble of re-painting the cabinets. That drives me batty. Are these the same folks that paint over switch plate and outlet covers?
Sarah says
Also you should consider upgrading the guts of the cabinets if your cabinets look good but aren’t working well.
I have great solid oak custom cabinets, but the drawer hardware was worn out, making the drawers heavy to pull and squeaky, especially the drawers that had been used the most over the years or filled with heavy silverware. We had new drawers made and installed, and the existing drawer fronts were reattached to these new drawers. It has made a tremendous difference in how the kitchen feels. I have wonderful, smooth, whisper close glides and full extension drawers, which effectively doubled the amount of usable space in my drawers. It wasn’t cheap, as it was all custom work, but my cabinets FEEL brand new!
I also imagine that some people could really benefit from having awkward fixed shelves removed and adjustable shelves installed or pull out shelves installed.
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
Before making any rushed decisions live with your cabinets for awhile. I don’t particularly love my kitchen cabinets but there’s nothing technically wrong with them and they’ve grown on me.
First things first, clean them! If they are wood, using a nice orange oil can really make some dull cabinets shine. This definitely helped me appreciate my cabinets more.
So maybe they are the wrong color… It’s time to get messy ( or hire someone to get messy) and refinish the surface with a new stain or paint.
Or maybe you’ve got my problem and you just don’t like the style of cabinet, you can always just replace the doors. My doors are beveled and I’d rather the flat modern look. Still, replacing 50 cabinet doors can be very pricey (which is why I haven’t done it). But this works when the layout of your cabinets works but the facade needs an overhaul.
Sometimes just changing the hardware makes enough of a difference. The point is, kitchen cabinet replacement or makeovers can get very expensive so take your time and think it over.
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
Also when it comes to steel cabinets it can be hard to leave them original or have them refinished.
My parents just bought a new home with a huge 1953 st charles kitchen. They were white and the while room was decorated black and white. For most readers of the blog they’d be in heaven but some regular folk would have been turned off by its sterility.
The original finish had become dull and worn down to the primer around some of the handles.
I spoke with my parents about the cabinets and we agreed that if we didn’t refinish them, the next owners of this house will probably rip them out and start over.
We had a auto paint and body friend repaint them aqua and they shine and look just like a mint condition classic car. Everyone (including the previous owners) has been floored! They just love it. Now I see them being used and appreciated another 60 years!
tammyCA says
Wow, they sound spiffy! 🙂 I always drool over the classic cars I see around here with the pretty colors of aqua, minty green, buttery yellow, etc.
gsciencechick says
Our 60’s kitchen cabinets had already been repainted, so I was not about to strip them. It was still a lot of work to take all the doors down, patch, prime, and repaint them white. We had a contractor replace the hinges. Even with a small kitchen, the job took a couple of weeks. We then got new counters, backsplash, sink, faucet, and hardware. Our knotty pine paneling had also been repainted, so we also have them a creamier white than the cabinets.
I think a lot of people would’ve just gotten rid of the cabinets and installed budget cabinets, but these cabinets had been here nearly 50 years and were sturdy. Full custom cabinets would not be typical in our moderate housing neighborhood, but Ikea might work well.
For the additional storage we needed, we found a vintage stereo cabinet we repurposed as a bar, and we have a huge Heywood-Wakefield domed-glass hutch which holds barware and linens.