Kitchen cabinets and refacing

New cabinets or a new face

Cabinets set the look of the room and decide how much you can store, so they are often the first thing people want to change. There are two main routes. Replacement means removing the old boxes and installing new ones, which lets you change the layout, the height and the sizes. Refacing keeps the existing boxes and covers them with new veneer, then adds new doors, drawer fronts and hardware.

Refacing costs less and creates less mess, because the counters, plumbing and appliances can usually stay put. It only makes sense when the boxes are solid, dry and laid out the way you want. If the sink base has water damage or you want to move things around, replacement is the better choice.

Storage in a compact kitchen

Many Pleasantville kitchens are short on wall space, with windows, doorways and radiators breaking up the runs. New cabinets can make up for that. Uppers that go all the way to the ceiling add a shelf or two of storage. Drawer bases hold pots and pans better than doors with a single shelf. A narrow pull-out next to the range keeps oils and spices close.

Corner cabinets are often wasted space. Ask about blind-corner pull-outs or a lazy Susan, and compare the cost against simply using that corner for something you rarely need.

• Stock cabinets come in set sizes and ship faster
• Semi-custom cabinets offer more sizes and finishes
• Custom cabinets are built to fit and cost the most
• Soft-close hinges and full-extension drawers are worth asking about

What drives the price

HomeAdvisor puts the national average for cabinet installation near $6,400, with custom work adding 50 to 100 percent. Material, construction, the number of cabinets and the finish all play a part. Painted finishes and inset doors cost more than standard overlay doors.

Lead time matters too. Stock cabinets may arrive in a few weeks, while custom or semi-custom orders can take much longer. Ask the contractor when cabinets would arrive before you set a start date, so the kitchen is not torn out while you wait.

Doors, finishes and hardware

Door style changes the feel of a small room more than you might think. Flat slab doors look clean and modern, shaker doors suit most colonials and capes, and raised panel doors lean traditional. Painted finishes show wear at the edges over time, while stained wood hides small dings. New knobs and pulls are an easy final touch. Ask to see a sample door in your own kitchen light before you order the full set.

Before the cabinets go in

A good installer checks that the floor and walls are level enough before hanging anything. In older houses they may need to shim or scribe cabinets to fit uneven surfaces. That careful work is what makes doors line up and counters sit flat, so ask how they handle it.

Typical cabinet costs

Published national ranges. Not quotes.

Ranges are national figures from the sources below, rounded, and are not quotes. Westchester prices often run higher. Your price depends on the number of cabinets, materials, finish and installation details.

Sources: HomeAdvisor, cabinet installation; Angi, cabinet refacing