What Does “Custom Cabinets” Really Mean?

How many of you looking to build or remodel your kitchen equates “Custom” with “Expensive” or “Extravagant”? Having a custom kitchen is not necessarily synonymous with those two words. Buyer be aware of phrases such as “Custom Look”. I admit the look and feel of your kitchen is important, but it should never over shadow the functionality and use of space in your kitchen.

Typical cabinet companies will ask you what your kitchen dimensions are and then fill the walls with the sizes that are available in their catalog. You can also ask for a specific depth for a cabinet, as long as you stay within the usual 3” increments. But can you get a cabinet that is 10 1/2inches wide so that you don’t have to use a worthless 9” cabinet and a 1 1/2” filler piece? Can they provide a custom stain to match your great grandma’s kitchen table? The answer is simple, No, they can’t. You will end up with a kitchen full of filler pieces and kitchen corners that will be useless, wasted, space.

You say you want a double oven? Again, be aware to make sure that you aren’t just getting a cookie cutter cabinet for that double oven. Your appliance manufacturer will provide you with very specific dimensions and sizes needed to ensure that your appliance will fit and function correctly. I have seen many cases where the oven door will open, but “pinches” the top of the drawer below it.

With custom cabinets, you dictate the size of cabinets to be used. If you have 10 1/12” of space, you can have a 10 1/2” cabinet. Rest assured, when asking for a double oven cabinet, it will be made specifically for your double oven to ensure that the safety and functionality of that unit is not compromised. Just make sure to provide the designer with the model number of your purchased appliance.

When thinking of remodeling or building a new home, do your research. Don’t just consider the overall look and feel of your kitchen. Functionality and utilizing the space given is of equal if not more importance.