Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 60 posts · 30 votes
Does anyone have any recommendations for low-cost kitchen cabinets in the Minneapolis/St.Paul/Twin Cities area? Any good imported RTA options that you've had experience with? On the value proposition scale, we'd like to stay near the Ikea level or above. Comparable quality to Ikea, but lower cost. Higher quality than Ikea, but same cost. You get the idea...
Investor · Eagan, MN · Member since 2014 · 86 posts · 58 votes
9y
I use RTA Cabinet Store.com. I get a 10% discount from their website. Remember, these are not custom cabinets that go in a million dollar home.
Here are some of my cabinets. I always figure ~$100 per cabinet as a rough estimate. Count upper and lower cabinets, multiply by $100, and that is pretty close. This kitchen is ~$1500, including the center island you do not see.
Investor · Hugo, MN · Member since 2016 · 208 posts · 68 votes
9y
Hi Joseph
We have used BluBox and like them a lot. You get a high quality for your dollar. Basically you buy from a wholesaler. You need to have knowledge or work with the sales person to put together the layout with you. If you want then to design the whole thing for you, there is an additional fee. So, depending on your comfort level you have some ala-carte options.
There is another place that comes up a lot if you look on Craigslist. They are a great price, but we weren't super impressed with the quality when we went and visited their shop.
For a home that is $300k or more I'd go with BluBox. Less or a rental I'd go with the others. For either case I don't recommend the Thermafoil that Home Depot tries to sell. They are plastic looking and can't be refinished if you wanted to.
Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 60 posts · 30 votes
9y
Thanks for the replies! I should mention that these are going into a rental duplex, so the 25 year Ikea warranty is actually very attractive, granted I haven't read their warranty terms to determine how useful it actually is.
@Julie Marquez, have you had experience with either of those?
@Suzanne Griffiths, are you referring to GEC Depot? I've noticed their...loud...advertising on CL as well and have thought about checking them out. Maybe I won't waste my time.
Investor · Skagit County, WA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 807 votes
9y
@Joseph Lee I am in the process of buying the RTA cabinets, and they had someone help with the kitchen design. We will see how it goes, but I've seen good reviews online. It's for our primary house now, but it will turn to a future rental. I've heard that IKEA is the easiest to install yourself, not at all sure about the warranty or wear.
Investor · Hugo, MN · Member since 2016 · 208 posts · 68 votes
9y
@Joseph Lee yes, that's the one. Couldn't bring it to the front of my memory. It all depends on your price point and customer. I'd use them any day for a rental or if you are renovating in N Minny or parts of St Paul.
Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2016 · 736 posts · 582 votes
9y
I use MFS Supply. They also have terrific prices on appliances and other REO supplies.
Cabinets are shipped via common carrier un-assembled (not UPS or FEDEX). If you want them to assemble them, I believe it's $10 per cabinet, but shipping could be more (takes up space on the truck).
I know this is going to sound a little more simple than other ideas, but we bought decent cabinets in stock at Home Depot and installed them with new counters in one of my units. I installed them with help from two handyman friends, and they look great.
Having said that...if you can afford to have someone else do it, go that route. Kitchens are tricky. Stud location are affected by pipes, sewer runs, hood vents for stove's, etc. We had a heck of a time placing an under sink cabinet around the sewer pipe. Also, consider refacing existing cabinets. If they are in good shape, fresh handles, or even doors are a heck of a lot less expensive. We just spray painted cabinets, and the tenants love them.
Flipper/Rehabber · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
9y
We have used ADI Supply a few times and I am just wrapping up an order with cabinets.com this week. I will disclaim that I haven't used cabinets.com yet so can't recommend them. Only reason I am not using ADI is that I forgot their name until the other day when my brother called me about his order at ADI.
Most companies will help with design if needed and ship you sample doors if you are concerned about quality.
Their other products seem high to me tho I can't comment on their cabinet prices. Can anyone else here in the cities chime in with their experiences at BMO?
Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 60 posts · 30 votes
9y
@Scott S.- thanks for the thoughts. I took a second look at Home Depot after your reply. You wouldn't know from checking out the display kitchens in the store that they do have some reasonably priced options as well. I'll take a look at the other ones you guys mentioned as well!
This is 6100. Worth of Ikea cabinets with the 15% off sale they were running. The wall is 16' the island 11' and the fridge wall is 10'. That would be an impossible number with any other cabinet I know of. I went to Ikea with 14' box truck at 8pm. I got home at 3 am with the cabinets and the guys were putting them together a day or two later.
Below are the older style with glossy doors this ran about 3600 I think but the doors were most of the cost.
If you're going for low cost cabinets, one thing we do is buy the unfinished cabinets at Lowes/Home Depot, and paint the faces. It actually looks very nice and high end, and undoubtedly the cheapest option possible. If you add a nice knob, it is a great touch and looks great!
The cabinets were from ADI Supply, solid wood, soft close doors, ball bearing hinges, etc. Not many cabinets needed but the quality was there. Entire kitchen - cabinets, granite, (used) stainless appliances cost just under $6,000. Not sure where the cabinet over the fridge went.... In hind sight I would have made some changes but this was a cheap reno.
Wilmington, DE · Member since 2015 · 121 posts · 36 votes
9y
If you go to the cabinet section of Home Depot you can order Kitchen Kompact cabinets. They are cheaper than the in stock options, are much higher quality (plywood optional), and even qualify for quick shipping. We can usually get them in less than a week.
Lower cost higher quality than Ikea is a rough one. If you find some other brand post it here. We got to Ikea after a long road of hassle with cabinets.
Here is the cabinet I usually use although I use the drawer option with 36" to save time and get a better looking end product.
Investor · Stillwater, MN · Member since 2015 · 106 posts · 44 votes
9y
I used Mike @ Boulevard Cabinetry on my last property and was happy with both the price and the quality. The kitchen cabinets plus a bathroom vanity ran about $3800. They are all wood and soft close drawers and doors.
Investor · Eagan, MN · Member since 2014 · 86 posts · 58 votes
9y
I use RTA Cabinet Store.com. I get a 10% discount from their website. Remember, these are not custom cabinets that go in a million dollar home.
Here are some of my cabinets. I always figure ~$100 per cabinet as a rough estimate. Count upper and lower cabinets, multiply by $100, and that is pretty close. This kitchen is ~$1500, including the center island you do not see.
Investor · Eagan, MN · Member since 2014 · 86 posts · 58 votes
9y
I should add the cabinets are 100% wood, no particle board. JSI also makes a great cabinet.
All drawers, sides and back are plywood. Fronts solid oak. All 100% complete except assembly. I have put in ~12 kitchens with the same product. RTA is an easy company to work with.
Being plywood, and not particle board. I can hang them myself. They are lightweight once you take the doors off, which you need to any way to clamp them while you are hanging them.
I buy regular laminate counter tops from Menards, in stock colors. Kitchens are easy and cheap the way I do it, and they hold up.
i am in process of buying kitchen cabinets now a days. i search on search engines to find best kitchen cabinets retailer and also for my home interior design.After some search i found RTA online store and go to their site. i found many new kitchen designs at low cost with effective results.
Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 60 posts · 30 votes
8y
To close the loop and bit and give some back to the conversation, we ended up going with Ikea since we were able to take advantage of their 20% off sale and also had the design work done for free with our purchase. We were really happy with the results. Cabinets + quartz countertops were ~$4500, I believe.
If anyone's interested at looking at some pictures, you can see it here-
For another option, I have a buddy who has used Boca Cabinets on a few properties and has been pretty happy with the results. They have locations in Chicago and Burnsville and are extremely cost-competitive for a nice product from what I could tell.
Flipper/Rehabber · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
Thanks for following up. Does the price you listed include install or assembly? Last time I looked it sounded like they have their own installers. Not sure if that meant we couldn't put them together ourselves or not....
Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 60 posts · 30 votes
8y
The only install/assembly that was included in that cost was the countertops. They do have a 3rd party installed who they have a relationship with (Traemand). I think we were quoted something like $2k for assembly (everything comes in flat-pack boxes like their furniture) and install.
We decided to do it ourselves, which wasn’t too bad. It’s all pretty easy, (think repeatedly assembling one of their dressers), just takes some time. Install is more involved, but not more so than standard cabinet install. Their hanging rail system is pretty slick, though. Google it if you’ve never seen it.
Flipper/Rehabber · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
Sounds good. We purchase cabinets that need to be assembled also, pretty straight forward. I am sure we will try Ikea cabinets at some point, my wife loves that store.
Rental Property Investor · MN · Member since 2015 · 186 posts · 149 votes
8y
I've been using Smart Cabinets - Squire Maple - http://www.smartcabinetry.com/squire.php - from a local supplier. Average kitchen is $2,200-$2,500 not including counters or install. However cabinets are delivered for just $25 all assembled and brought straight into the house. Just unpack and install ($500). Some people prefer plywood only, some real hardwood, some particle board. These are: doors and face frames are maple hardwood; sides and backs are particle board but water resistant powder coated and shelves too. Highly resistant to water, scratch, stain, and extreme temperatures. So far I've used them in 5 kitchens and a friend of mine in 3 and we haven't had any issues. Here are some pics of my 2 most recent rentals with these cabinets.
Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 60 posts · 30 votes
8y
Those look sharp, @Account Closed Thanks for the input. Will your supplier sell in single-kitchen quantities or do they require a bigger order? Mind messaging me their info?
Now I just need to get a new property where I can try out some of these...