Inset Doors on Stock Cabinets?

[RMS]

We're preparing for kitchen remodel and are really drawn to the look of inset doors for the cabinets. However, I don't think we can swing custom cabinets (more like, 99% sure we can't afford it), and I haven't found a stock or semi-custom line that has inset doors as an option.

I know that some companies (e.g., maplecraftusa.com) sell custom doors and face frames, would it be possible to apply custom face frames and inset doors to a stock cabinet box from, say, like Ikea or Kraftmaid?

If yes, any special tricks or advice on how best to do this? We can hire a carpenter if this requires any skill, assuming it still saves us money over the fully custom route.

Marc in Seattle

[patriarch]

mr [e-mail] (RMS) wrote in news: [e-mail]:

If you are willing to apply doors and face frames, building the boxes yourself in your garage should be no problem at all.

A Kreg jig, a good quality biscuit joiner, a contractor's grade saw with a good fence, and some decent clamps, and you're on your way. If you buy prefinished cabinet grade ply, or similar composite materials, even 90% of the finishing work is done already.

You need to, right now, find a book on making kitchen cabinets. Jim Tolpin, Danny Proulx, Udo Schmidt or a bunch of other folks, have written good ones. If nothing else, you'll be a better informed consumer.

But the face frames and inset doors are really the hard part. If you buy those, you're well on your way.

Patriarch

[Tom Watson]

You could order up your cabinets with fillers between the boxes and then order prefinished trim to apply over the fillers. It will give you the same look as inset doors.

You will also need a filler at the top and the bottom, with the accompanying trim, to pull this off.

Regards, Tom.

"People funny. Life a funny thing." Sonny Liston

Thomas J.Watson - Cabinetmaker (ret.) tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)

[RMS]

Great to hear, thanks for the references. Hopefully this will shave some $$ off the custom quote and make it feasible.

Marc

[patriarch]

mr [e-mail] (RMS) wrote in news: [e-mail]:

The way I saved some cash was to make up a sample, double wide upper cabinet, the way I THOUGHT LOML wanted to see it. Maple Shaker style, overlay doors, prefinished birch ply boxes.

Everything's just fine. Except she KNOWS she wants natural cherry, now.

And I have a nice shop cabinet, hanging over the freezer. Still haven't done the kitchen, however. Material costs were trivial, compared to making a mistake.

Have fun! Buy a new tool or two.

Patriarch