Kitchen Cabinetry Illinois
When purchasing new cabinets for your kitchen, it is important to consider all of your options. Cabinetry generally comes in three different levels of quality, each with their own price point. Below we will run through the various options:
Stock Cabinets
These tend to be affordable, have short lead times, and have a nice esthetic. We have created some spectacular kitchens, using Bertch Marketplace cabinetry which is considered a "stock cabinet". These cabinets are perfect for a customer that wants a high end look, without the high end price tag.
What we like about this level of cabinetry is the solid wood doors, which make it appear to be high end. And the last few years have shown some major improvements to this level of cabinetry. Most cabinet companies have begun to offer premium finishes in their stock lines.
There are some downsides to using these. First, you won't have as many options for the internal components compared to a semi custom line. You still can get the basics such as roll trays, built in garbage and recycling centers, tilt out bins, and full extension drawers. But if you are looking for all the bells and whistles, you must upgrade to the semi custom level.
Lastly, you are somewhat limited when it comes to door styles, woods, and stains. Most times you will have 4-5 woods to choose from, and 6-7 stains which can be applied to those woods. For most customers, you can find something appealing. But for those wanting something more exotic, this may not be the right product line for you.
Below is a kitchen remodel where we used Bertch Marketplace cabinetry. The wood is Maple, the stain toffee. We spiced up the kitchen, with granite tops and traverine at the backsplash. This helps give the kitchen an upgraded look. You can view more pictures of this kitchen in our gallery.
Semi Custom Cabinets
Most of our customers select semi custom cabinets, as you tend to get a very nice product with tons of options. In this level of cabinetry you have access to the finer woods and stains, and the cabinetry tends to be solid wood.
Beyond just selecting a nicer wood, you have more intricate door styles that are not commonly found. You can also select painted finishes, glazed finishes, distressing options, and customizations.
By having so many options to customize the look and size of the cabinetry. We can make your kitchen design more impressive, and more functional.
There are some downsides here as well. The lead times are longer. Expect to wait 7-9 weeks for semi custom cabinets to arrive from the plant. Also, expect to increase your budget, as these tend to cost 30-50 percent more than a stock cabinet line.
Below is an example of a kitchen we completed using semi custom cabinets from Bertch. Below is a Cherry wood cabinet with Mocha stain in a square raised panel door style.
Custom Cabinets
We rarely use custom cabinets for a full kitchen, as they are so cost prohibitive. But for those that are willing to consider them, prepare for countless options and a very unique kitchen.
When selecting a custom cabinet, we can match any piece of wood you provide, and anything that you can imagine can be built. Sounds great, but be ready for a shock when it comes to your budget as this level of customization is costly.
Generally, expect a longer lead time usually 10-12 weeks, but this can vary depending on the season.
Most of our customers will choose to use custom cabinets sparingly, such as a custom island or a few well placed custom cabinets mixed in with their semi custom cabinets.
Wood Types
Here we will run through some of the most popular wood offerings. Each wood type has different characteristics, so choose wisely!
Red Alder
A fine grained hardwood, similar to Birch, Maple or Cherry. Pale yellow tan to reddish brown in color. A soft, light wood with even texture and straight grain that accepts stain well.
Birch
Birch is a strong, closed grained wood that is predominately off white in color, although it also contains light hues of yellow, brown and pink. Birch contains close-grained, light reddish brown heartwood with sapwood pale to nearly white. Birch has fire and color similar to maple, but slightly coarser in texture.
Maple
Maple is a strong, close grained wood that is predominately off-white in color, although it also contains light hues of yellow-brown and pink. Hard maple occasionally contains light tan or small dark streaks. Maple is also available in Knotty which has an emphasis on knots and grain.
Cherry
Cherry is an elegant, multi-colored hardwood. Natural or light stains accent these color variations making a distinctive statement in a full kitchen. Cherry wood will darken or "mellow" with age. This mellowing is a natural occurrence and the benefit of owning a solid cherry kitchen. Cherry is also available in Knotty which has an emphasis on knots and grain.
Hickory
Hickory is a strong, open grained wood that is known for its wide variation in color. It is not uncommon to see doors, or parts of doors that range in color from deep brown to vanilla when finished in light or natural stains. These characteristics are what make each hickory cabinet unique and a preference of those who love wood.
Oak
Oak is a strong, open grained wood that has a range of color of white, yellow and pink. Red oak is sometimes streaked with green, yellow and black mineral deposits and may contain some wide grain. Oak is also available in Knotty which has an emphasis on knots and grain.
