Custom vs. Semi-Custom Cabinets

Family coming in and out, pots on every burner, and the occasional fire alarm – yup! That’s your kitchen. One of the top 3 things our clients usually want to solve with their Kitchen Remodel is adding storage. 

If you think about your kitchen as a beehive of activity, your cabinets are the honeycomb structure that holds everything you need. It’s vital that your cabinets give you the maximum storage while being a beautiful element of design as well. So, do you need a Semi-Custom or Fully Custom line? Both offer distinct advantages, but let’s dive in and see what’s best for your home.

 

Custom Cabinets: Tailored to Your Exact Specifications

Custom cabinets are built-to-order and crafted to fit your space’s unique dimensions. If you need to do something out of the ordinary with your cabinets, custom is the way to go.

 

You should consider a Custom Cabinet Line if: 

• The room has an unusual layout/footprint
• You want to optimize every inch of space in irregular corners, pantry spaces, etc.
• You want a specific color match (match existing cabinets, etc.)
• You want cabinets designed around a specific feature or appliance 
• You want full-height cabinets, and your ceilings are over 9 feet 
• You want unique or ornate door and drawer fronts
• You want unique cabinet features like countertop towers, corner drawers, low-profile drawers, or pull out doors
   

Our Custom Cabinet Vendors are skilled artisans based in Pennsylvania. We’ve partnered with them for years, and their craftsmanship is unmatched – every piece is made to order and hand-finished. If you’re looking for a unique storage solution or want a custom finish, a full custom cabinet line is a great choice.

 

 

Semi-Custom Cabinets: Balancing Flexibility and Cost 

 

Semi-custom cabinets offer a middle ground between fully custom and factory cabinets. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes – it’s like working with puzzle pieces! While custom cabinets offer endless options, semi-custom cabinets do have some limitations.

 

Limitations of a Custom Cabinet Line

• Choose from 10-20 paint colors, sometimes 1-2 stained wood options 
• Choose from a wide variety of box sizes
• Choose from 1-3 door & drawer profiles  

 

A good designer can do a lot with a semi-custom cabinet line. There are several ways you can “customize” a Semi-Custom line. 

 

Customize a Semi Custom Cabinet Line with:

• Stack various colors or sizes of cabinetry to get more variety 
• Glass inlays, lighting, and mesh can all be added (as long as the semi-custom line offers glass)
• Maximize storage with inserts: lazy susans, docking drawers, spice racks, etc. 
• Some cabinet lines have wiggle room for depths and heights

 

These options provide enough customization to accommodate most standard kitchen and bathroom layouts and design styles, all at a lower cost. Our Semi-Custom Cabinet Vendors consistently deliver high-quality cabinets, often with shorter lead times than a custom line. 

 

Choosing the Right Cabinets for Your Home

 

The choice is yours! Semi-custom and fully custom cabinet lines will give you a wide range of options. The best one for your home will depend on your priorities. Here are some examples:

 

• Client 1 has a vaulted room with a slanted ceiling. They are transforming it into an artillery room with floor-to-ceiling cabinets showcasing the various weapons. They want the cabinet to fit the ceiling slant, offer custom storage for the firearms, and feature a dark, natural wood finish.  

They will need to use a custom cabinet line, as a semi-custom line will not provide the custom shape, built-ins, or stain color they are looking for.

 

• Client 2 is starting a luxury custom kitchen remodel. They want a variety of storage options and have few budgetary constraints.  

Both custom and semi-custom cabinet lines would answer this client’s goals.

 

• Client 3 is remodeling their bathroom on a smaller budget. They’d like an outlet in one of the drawers and want a quality finish that will last. 

A semi-custom cabinet line would work well for these clients. It will provide everything they need while keeping them in their target investment range.

 

Which Did You Choose? 

 

Our Designer will guide you through the various features and customization options of both cabinet lines and help you determine the best cabinetry line for your space. Regardless, you can be confident that the end result will be beautiful, and durable, and give you all the storage you need!