Today I am going to talk cabinets. More specifically I am going to talk shopping for kitchen cabinets. I would talk countertops but, frankly, that has been the easiest part of the kitchen shopping process thus far.
Now, those that personally know me know that shopping is my jam. I love to shop - clothes, doorknobs, shoes, purses, most anything is fun to shop for! So, spending a day with the kitchen designer half of my contracting team was a vacation day made in heaven! It did not hurt that the weather was amazing here in the DMV on my designated day allowing me to drop the top on Franklin and enjoy the time! I took it as a sign from the contractor gods that this day was going to go well!
First stop: Cabinets!
The cabinet designer showed us around the showroom and we settled in to talk about my dream. I am all for talking about all the amazing things I would love to have in my kitchen when it comes to cabinetry but I broke the first cardinal rule of shopping:
Lesson 3: Set budget expectations with vendors right from the start!
What happened? We waxed poetically about pull out shelves for everyone, pull out spice racks next to stove, open shelving made by cabinet maker, and more drawer bells and whistles than you can count.
After a second walk through to do final measurements and map out where cabinets will really go, I got the first design and, more importantly, the first quote. The cabinet price was going to be 75% of my budget. Not good. I reached out to my contractor team with my disappointment at the price as they knew from the beginning what my budget was. They reassured me that there were several other lines for cabinetry that the same company could work with to design my dream townhouse kitchen.
And there were.
We made it to the third line of cabinetry before we hit a price that did not make me want to weep and that would not kill my budget. I am sacrificing those magical pull out shelves in the pantry right now...but not for long. You know my existing cabinets? Well the previous owner added in aftermarket tracks and pull out shelves! What does that mean? Well, I am pretty darn handy if I do say so myself (I mean I own a finish nailer, circular saw, wet-tile saw and many other items!).
Plan: Harvest the pull out shelf hardware and make new shelves that fit the new cabinets better! Success and on budget!
PLUS, the new cabinet doors are still wide enough to transfer some of my favorite Elfa organization pieces from the current pantry closet! Second Success!
So, what cabinets have I settled on? For all the cabinetry, including the coveted wall o' pantry, I am going with a classic and simple 5-piece Shaker style cabinet in bright white:
For the island - yes, I am adding an island! a 66" island of storage and seating - no bar height please! Just a full 66" x 40" of soapstone gloriousness! But I digress. To bring the wood tones from the floors in the rest of the townhouse and add warmth to the kitchen, I am going with the same shaker style with a slightly different drawer face in a Honey tone:
And let's just imagine both topped by this deliciousness. Excuse the terrible lighting and iPhone image but trust me when I say it is an amazing slab.
No I have not shared the overall theme yet with all of you...be patient. I will. So, cabinets and counters selected...the two biggest expenses down other than the expense for labor and general materials.
That is all for now! Next time we will talk of statement pieces and making good choices to make the budget work.
See ya!
Shel
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