Whether you’re starting a kitchen renovation from scratch or replacing your current cabinetry, shopping for new kitchen cabinets is a big task. Cabinets from big-box retail stores and custom cabinet makers all vary in appearance, cost, and quality.
How do you know if stock, semi-custom, or custom cabinets are right for your kitchen renovation? Stock, custom, and semi-custom cabinetry are all great choices for a kitchen renovation depending on the project. They each offer a unique set of pros and cons, which our following three articles will relate in simple, straightforward terms.
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Semi-custom cabinetry provides a middle ground cabinet price point. It’s custom made cabinetry for your space without the limitless options of the fully custom cabinetry.
Semi-custom cabinetry has fewer design options, fewer wood species offerings, and fewer customization options than full custom cabinets. Similar to custom, semi-custom cabinets are made to order and can come in customized sizes. Depending on the manufacturer, semi-custom cabinets might come in 20 to 50 different door styles and double that many finishes and wood species to choose from. That gives designers plenty of design freedom and the flexibility to craft highly personalized kitchens.
The cost of semi-custom cabinetry is typically offered at a mid-way point between pre-made cabinetry and custom.
That being said, there comes a point where semi-custom costs can overtake custom costs. If you have a long wish list of modifications that you want to make to semi-custom products, it’s worth getting a quote from a custom manufacturer at the same time. The two quotes may surprise you.
That’s because semi-custom cabinets are intended for the homeowner with a specific need. For example, a semi-custom kitchen is perfect for someone who is content with the limited design options available and only needs custom sized cabinets to fit their space. For these cases with only one or two relatively simple upgrades, semi-custom cabinets hold a lot of value.
However, if you try to get too creative and color outside the lines, semi-custom pricing can surpass even custom pricing. Sometimes, the cost to make significant modifications to semi-custom cabinets costs more than making the same cabinets in full custom.
Semi-custom cabinets are made-to-order, like custom cabinetry, so your lead time will probably either be equivalent to or slightly less than that of custom cabinets.
Key features and benefits
- Enhanced aesthetics: Achieve a refined, custom look with the clean lines of inset doors and drawers.
- Increased personalization: Choose from a wider array of door styles, materials, finishes, and wood species than with pre-made cabinets.
- Cost-effectiveness: Generally more affordable than fully custom cabinets, while still offering a level of tailoring.
- Faster lead times: Semi-custom cabinets usually have shorter lead times compared to fully custom cabinets, which can take several months.
Potential drawbacks
- Limited customization compared to full custom: While offering more options than stock cabinets, the choices are still finite.
- Potential fit issues in unique spaces: Standard sizes, even with some modifications, may not perfectly fit unconventional kitchen layouts.
- Possible up-charges for extensive modifications: Customizing heavily can quickly raise the price, potentially approaching the cost of full custom options
What’s Next?
Choosing kitchen cabinetry is one of the most important decisions in any kitchen renovation project. As you weigh your options between pre-made, semi-custom, and custom cabinetry, take your time to decide which choice is ideally suited to you.
Pre-made cabinets offer more in terms of budget and immediate availability, while custom cabinets offer greater design flexibility, better design options, and superior quality. Semi-custom is the bridge between the two. Time to get out that old pen and paper, and with the information provided in this article, write out a pros and cons list of your own.
No matter what your decision and budget, we’re here for you at Grandior. With over 20 years of experience to our name, we provide our clients with a wholly customized experience with our talented team of designers.
Visit us at our Hunt Valley, MD showroom or request a consultation to get started on your dream remodel today.
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