Planning a kitchen renovation usually starts with one big question:
Should I keep my existing cabinets or replace them?
The answer depends on several factors including your budget, the condition of your existing cabinetry, how dated it looks, and whether or not the layout still functions well.
If the cabinet boxes are still in good condition and the layout still works, cabinet refacing can completely transform the appearance of your kitchen.
If your layout no longer suits your family, a new hybrid kitchen can provide a beautiful and functional alternative to fully custom cabinetry.
The best renovation isn’t about spending more, it’s about addressing the style and functionality you desire, without spending more than necessary.
Here are two smart options to transform your kitchen.
Option One: Reface Your Existing Cabinets
If your cabinet boxes are structurally sound and your kitchen still functions well, replacing them may not make the most sense.
Cabinet refacing keeps the existing cabinet boxes while updating the visible parts of your kitchen, including:
- Cabinet doors
- Drawer fronts
- Cover panels and gables
- Trim
- Decorative hardware
The result is a dramatically updated kitchen without the disruption of removing perfectly good cabinetry.
Cabinet refacing is often the right choice when you like your kitchen’s layout but want a completely new look.
Option Two: Build a New IKEA Kitchen with Custom Doors
Sometimes the problem isn’t the cabinet doors.
It’s the kitchen itself.
Perhaps you need more drawers, better storage, additional pantry space, and island, or a layout that works better for your family.
That’s where many homeowners automatically think they need custom cabinetry.
In reality, there’s another option that many people haven’t considered.
A “hybrid” option that combines the IKEA cabinet system with custom cabinet doors to give you that complete custom look and feel.
High quality IKEA cabinet boxes provide the structure.
Custom doors offer the style and finish.
The result is a kitchen that looks custom without paying the high cost of custom cabinetry.
Why IKEA Kitchens Have Become So Popular
Today’s IKEA kitchens are not what many homeowners imagine.
The quality of IKEA’s Sektion cabinet boxes is excellent, and often better than those provided by so-called “custom cabinet makers.”
The combination of quality, low cost, and modular cabinet systems designed to make the most of available space is very compelling.
Other benefits include:
- Industry standard, high-quality Blum hardware
- Soft-close door hinges and drawer slides
- Multiple cabinet sizes to fit almost any space
- Efficient storage solutions
- Easy-to-replace components
- Extensive interior organization accessories
- A layout that can be customized for your home
When finished with premium custom doors, an IKEA kitchen can achieve that custom, high-end look that people expect from a custom kitchen.
Many visitors would never know the cabinet system underneath is IKEA.
Which Option Is Right for You?
The decision starts with one question.
Does your current kitchen layout still work?
If the answer is yes, cabinet refacing may be the smartest investment.
If the answer is no, replacing the cabinet boxes may be worthwhile, and an IKEA kitchen with custom doors deserves serious consideration.
Think about your kitchen during a typical week.
- Do you have enough storage?
- Is there enough prep space?
- Can two people cook comfortably?
- Are your appliances where you want them?
- Would you keep this layout for another ten years?
If you’d happily keep the layout, refacing may be all you need.
If not, a new cabinet system gives you the opportunity to redesign your kitchen from the ground up.
It All Comes Down to the Foundation
Choosing between cabinet refacing and a new kitchen isn’t really about cabinet doors.
It’s about deciding whether the foundation of your kitchen is still worth keeping.
If it is, new custom doors can completely transform the space.
If it isn’t, replacing the cabinet boxes with an IKEA system creates the opportunity to build a kitchen that better fits the way you live.
Either way, custom doors are what give the finished kitchen its personality.
Beautiful Kitchens Start with Great Doors
At DB Custom Doors, we help homeowners choose the renovation that makes the most sense for their home, not simply the most expensive option.
Whether you’re updating your existing cabinets through cabinet refacing or designing a new IKEA kitchen, our custom doors are built to create a finished kitchen that reflects your style.
Sometimes that means keeping what already works.
Sometimes it means starting fresh.
Either way, we’ll help you create a kitchen you’ll love for years to come!
