Cabinets for a Flip - Cedar Rapids
Local Investors,
We are needing new cabinets for our flip. Can anyone recommend a cabinet maker/gallery/store locally for flippers on a budget?
Looking in Marion, Cedar Rapids, even Iowa City.
Thanks!
Most Popular Reply
Rebecca - looks great! Warm neutral colors really improve a place. You must have used quite a few gallons of primer in that kitchen! Wow!
The first thing I thought when you said "budget" cabinets is that you should check out the ReStore in Cedar Rapids (which is a Habitat for Humanity store.) They often get whole kitchens worth of cabinets and sell inexpensively. Sometimes I see solid wood construction and nice fronts there. But not knowing your final buyer market, used cabinets may not be what you want.
I've used reused the existing cabinets before, especially if the layout is acceptable and they are good quality cabinets. Updating the hardware makes a huge difference and I've also replaced cabinet fronts before which make them look next to brand new. I used to live near an IKEA and they sell cabinet doors and drawer fronts that are solid wood and clean style...also cheap. Throw in a couple glass doors and it really takes it up a notch.
I also agree with Justin and Tyler in that Menards offers decent cabinets at a lower dollar, especially the in-stock cabs, and they don't look all that bad. That is what I've used in my rental and in many projects I've done for other people. You may consider "dressing" them up with crown on the top and/or valances on the bottom of the upper cabs and possibly under cab or above cab lighting.
Another cheater tip is that you can order slow-closing latches that catch the drawers or doors before they slam and close them quietly. That is a feature often found on higher end stuff. Easy addition to a Menards cab...
Depending on the homes price range..the "Beech" stock cabinets at Menards are pretty good. Put some nice nices on them and they look pretty good. Pic is below...I've put these cabinets in both flips I am working on now. Hows the flip going?
Thanks, @Tyler Smiarowski! The flip is going well! I'll post some pictures in a new thread tonight. We had a bit of a hiatus because we were out of the country the whole month of January, but we're back at it now.
We've looked at the stock Menard's cabinets... I like them and they seem pretty good for the price!
I was thinking of doing a white kitchen with white cabinets... I'll tag you when i post the pictures, let me know what you think!
I've used Menards cabinets for at least 10 different properties and have always been pretty happy. I usually special order if I have time, otherwise the stock ones are good. The countertops are also the best price, but never seem to fit right. As long as you're fairly handy, you can make them work and save a lot of money though.
Thanks, @Justin S. , thanks for the info... we've decided to go with the Glenwood Beech :).
@Tyler Smiarowski , Here's a quick update:
Living Room (Before):
Living Room (During - primer only):
Kitchen (Before):
Kitchen (During- final paint color):
Bedroom 1 (Before):
Bedroom 1 (During- primer only):
Bedroom 2 (Before):
Bedroom 2 (During - primer only):
They had quite the paint scheme going on.
I'll post more pictures once the cabinets are in and once the bathroom is further along.
Any ideas on counter top color? I'm thinking lighter. We're doing cream colored tile in the kitchen...
Rebecca - looks great! Warm neutral colors really improve a place. You must have used quite a few gallons of primer in that kitchen! Wow!
The first thing I thought when you said "budget" cabinets is that you should check out the ReStore in Cedar Rapids (which is a Habitat for Humanity store.) They often get whole kitchens worth of cabinets and sell inexpensively. Sometimes I see solid wood construction and nice fronts there. But not knowing your final buyer market, used cabinets may not be what you want.
I've used reused the existing cabinets before, especially if the layout is acceptable and they are good quality cabinets. Updating the hardware makes a huge difference and I've also replaced cabinet fronts before which make them look next to brand new. I used to live near an IKEA and they sell cabinet doors and drawer fronts that are solid wood and clean style...also cheap. Throw in a couple glass doors and it really takes it up a notch.
I also agree with Justin and Tyler in that Menards offers decent cabinets at a lower dollar, especially the in-stock cabs, and they don't look all that bad. That is what I've used in my rental and in many projects I've done for other people. You may consider "dressing" them up with crown on the top and/or valances on the bottom of the upper cabs and possibly under cab or above cab lighting.
Another cheater tip is that you can order slow-closing latches that catch the drawers or doors before they slam and close them quietly. That is a feature often found on higher end stuff. Easy addition to a Menards cab...
Thanks for sharing @Account Closed it great to see progress.
@Account Closed Menards has the lowest priced but lowest quality stock cabinets. I've used them before but only if I don't have time to special order. I usually take my Menards quote over to Devin at Ar Jays and he's been able to match the price or come very close on a much better product. 2 yrs ago they had the darker cabinets in stock but now they are special order. I've used them before and really liked them.
As far as counters, have you looked at the Menards in stock jamocha granite? I've been using that lately and it looks great. You can pick up most of the stuff in the store just have to special order unusual configurations. Got a whole large kitchen (4 counters) for just under $400 3 weeks ago. Only reason it cost so much is I had to special order one counter.
If I ever have an excess amount of time to plan a kitchen I'd like to try out that LilyAnn cabinets online. They come broken down you have to assemble but they're supposed to be good quality and at least a 3rd less then the stores.
@Andrew D. I hadn't considered Ar Jays. Maybe I'll head over there this evening. I would really like a white cabinet, but I'm not sure the budget will allow it...
I HAVE seen the jamocha countertops at Menards! I like that color, and think it'd go well with the color scheme I have. I suppose it depends on whether or not I decide to go with white cabinets....
Heres a pick of the Menards stock white on a recent reno. The counters came from Restore just had to cut them down. I'll post pics of the Menards counters at a current house once my painter is done
I have the nice white cabinets from Lowes. I have these in 3 of my properties. I really like them and they are very durable
@Andrew D. & @Scott K. Thanks for the pictures!! I went over last night and my husband just finished sanding down the hardwood (there's beautiful hardwood oak under that ugly green carpet!) and it looks great! Also, if you look at the Bedroom 1 pictures, there's oak hardwood underneath that hideous laminate job, too! Anyway, I took another long look at the kitchen and am pretty sure I'm going to go with the Glenwood Beech cabinets from Menard's. However, if i do that, I'm going to pair it with the light, cream-colored counter-top. Can't wait to be able to show pictures of it!!
I also picked up the light fixtures (much like what Scott K. has in his picture).
Getting really close to being done with the main level inside! Tile is going in tomorrow, carpet Saturday :).
Did you block off the bottom of that window???????????????? Should have replaced that window with a smaller one. Or just took it out
Below is link to a flip i just listed...one pic shows the kitchen...its the beech cabinets from menards.
http://www.skogman.com/property/35977102/949-DANIELS-ST-NE-Cedar-Rapids-IA-52402
Those actually look good for box store cabinets. How much did the cabinets for that kitchen cost you?
Couple more examples of Kitchen Kompact Bretwood Maple cabinets, from recent rehab projects. We use Bretwood Maple in 90% of our projects. The first one is a small bungalow, 110,000, we used FX High Def Golden Mascarello counter tops in stock at Menards.
Another kitchen with Uba Tuba granite. Lighting is a bit off, walls are not yellow :-) here but gives you a pretty good idea of a dark counter top.
Kitchen Kompact are not in-stock item at local Menards. In this area most suppliers can have then within two to three days, including Lowes and Homedepot, special order.
I would have to double check but $1100..that includes toe kick and the trim.
Nice flip, @Tyler Smiarowski ! I like those cabinets from Menard's. I was hesitant because of the white trim we have, but it looks good in your house so now i feel better, ha!
I used rtacabinetstore.com for the 2 flips I've done so far.
Bordeaux Shaker
Traditional White Shaker
I've been using white shaker cabinets with brushed nickel hardware for the past couple flips. They look great especially with dark counters!
I'm sure you found a cabinet maker already but for future projects you could try swan creek cabinets in Boone IA. I don't know how far that would be for you but my father in law is a contractor in Missouri and drives there to pick up his custom made cabinets for his jobs. He highly recommends them.
Well, I'm all settled in S. Florida now, but we managed to finish up this flip right before we left. Here are a couple of the after pics!! The hard wood floors were all salvageable and the beech cabinets from Menard's worked out PERFECTLY, in my opinion :).
