Affordable modern kitchen cabinets
Yesterday I shared some pics of a bed I made for my friend. Today I have some pics of some of his kitchen cabinetry I have been working on. It’s not done by any means, but it gives you a bit of an idea what it will look like when it is all done. The cabinets are birch, with a water based poly urethane finish. Drawers are mounted on heavy duty, full extension, ball bearing slides, so they will last forever. Doors are attached with Salice Euro hinges. We are still looking for some good hardware. The cost in materials for these two 38″ lower cabs came in around $250. Do the math and that is about $50 a linear foot. They are very over built too. I even used 3/4″ ply for the backs instead of the normal 1/4″. I think they turned out pretty decent for my first real kitchen cabinets.
More pics after the jump.
Related posts:
Comments
22 Responses to “Affordable modern kitchen cabinets”
Leave a Reply
Sponsors & Advertisers
-
I love these cabinets! Are they solid birch or birch ply?
They are a birch ply.
very very very nice. through some concrete counters on top, and i just might have to hire you myself.
So, since this is your first time building cabinets… did you build them how cabinets are typically built or did you go with a different process? They look great, the lines made by the door reveals came out really nice. What are you planning on doing for the counter for this… and for the space between the 2 cabinets you made? Did you finish them with polyurethane? or something else?
greetings,
I just discovered your blog and would so love to have you submit it our new blog directory, delightfulblogs.com. I think the gals who visit the directory would just flip to read your posts and bookmark it immediately.
best,
Lynda
delight.com
delightfulblogs.com
hipstercards.com
Bryon, Thanks for the complement. You don’t have to hire me though, we could always trade. Someday I will need your pro photo skills. If you have a nice modern project, and no rushing deadline, let me know, we will work it out.
James, The cabinets are pretty typical in their construction. The joinery methods are pretty standard. The only real difference is they are totally overbuilt. 3/4″ ply all the way around, instead of 1/4″ backs and mostly open tops. The counter will be a 1 1/4″ thick slab of black marble. I’ll post pics when it is done. The space will be filled with a set of drawers that I am working on right now, and a dishwasher. The finish on everything is a water based polyurethane. Very easy to work with. I sand between all coats, and last coat gets a 1500 grit sanding for a smooth finish.
Lynda, Thanks for checking us out. I’ll head on over there right now and submit my site.
Man, there’s so much we’d like to do to our new place. But even little projects seem to get overwhelming very quickly. If we put in new counter tops, you have to put in new cabinets. If we put in new cabinets, might as well get new appliances. At that point we might as well cut the window hole we want between the kitchen and living-room. But then we’re going to need new paint, wile we’re at it, better do put in some new floors, etc, etc. But I’m sure you know all about the remodeling chain-reaction.
Don’t even hesitate to let me know if you need some photo help with any of you projects.
Thanks Brian. Yea I know all about the remodeling chain reaction. We are currently caught in the middle of it.
Those look great! Why do you use a water-based polyurethane? How does it compare to acrylic?
I have some birch ply side tables that are lightly finished, but not apparently not waterproof. I’d love to keep a satin look with some texture and prevent the tables from moisture damage. What finish would you recommend?
[...] Modern Kitchen Cabinets from Grassroots Modern. Very sleek looking. Not so much a step-by-step guide as some really good guidelines. This is way out of my skillset, but would be good for someone more skilled with a band saw than I. [...]
[...] A while ago I posted some pics of some cabinetry I had done for a friend. I am still not finished (need to do some drawers) but he did finally get the top on, and it really tied it all together nicely. The countertop is a honed absolute-black granite. Its a beautiful slab, and looks great on top of the cabinets I built. His whole house is turning out really nice. One of these days I need to get over there and take a bunch more pictures. It truly is a great model of an affordable modern home. It’s in a transitional neighborhood, and the lot is a little small, but he paid well under $100 for the home. I think his goal is to have it all done for around $120, which he should do pretty easy. [...]
The water based poly is just a whole lot nicer to work with. The fumes aren’t real nasty and clean up is a lot easier.
Try the water based poly on the side tables. It is available in satin.
Hi. I just found your blog when I was Googling for green finishing options for my new custom cabinets made out of birch europly. I have a carpenter building the cabinets, but the finishing guy is giving me outlandish quotes. The contractor keeps telling me finishing is “an art”, but all I want is a natural looking satin finish on my kitchen and bath cabinets. I noticed you used water-based polyurethane. How many coats did you have to do to get the nice color you achieved? What grit sand paper did you use in between each coat? What was your sanding process to get ready for your first quote?
Do you think I’m missing something by thinking I can do this myself?! If I could, it’d save me $$$.
Thanks for your help. Your cabinets look great.
I usually do three coats of poly. Before I do the first coat I usually hit the cabinets real quick with some 300 grit sandpaper, just a quick once over. Then I do the first coat, let it dry and sand with 600 grit. Brush it off good, then second coat, dry, 600 grit. Brush it off and then last coat, dry, and 1200 grit sand paper. That makes it silky smooth. For all the painting I use those disposable paint pads instead of a roller. Goes on a lot better. I have to buy my sand paper at an automotive paint store since none of the big box stores have anything close.
Hey,
My husband and I just bought a 1927 house that literally has no closet in the master bedroom. We want to build in a full armoire/closet just like the cabinets you’ve built here. We love the birch and the clean lines. But we have no idea where to start. His dad is coming out for a week, and he’s pretty handy. Thought maybe they could build it then. Did you have a plan? Or did you sketch something out and go from there?
Not sure if you can help, but love what you did, at any rate.
Marija,
Just go to the store and look at how they built something similar, it will give you a good idea of how to build yours. I used a Kreg pocket screw jig for all of my joinery. Also, this book from from my buddy will show you all the basics you need http://www.grassrootsmodern.com/2006/12/05/the-complete-custom-closet-book/
He taught me everything I know about cabinetry.
Great. Thanks. Just bought the book. It looks great!
You’ll love it, let us know how it turns out.
Yes, just as everyone has said, these cabinets are looking really great! I am currently in the middle of kitchen “makeover”. The appliances are in, the countertop is in, the backsplash and floor will be coming in in a few weeks…and the cabinets, i’ve found are too expensive to completely redo. I am searching for options that will keep me from simply repainting. I can get a carpentar to do new drawer fronts and cabinet doors similar to yours, but do you have any suggestions on how to cover up and match the existing cabinet frame that’s exposed? Or would that entire part of the cabinet need to be rebuilt and reung?
Thanks for your help, and thanks for the comments!!
Wow! Beautiful birch. Thanks for all the great info on building, too. I’m going to see if I can possibly build similar cabinets this fall to complement the birch floors I just put in.
Googled modern kitchen cabinets and found you! Just lovely work! You did these cabinets a year ago so what have you been up to lately??
Hi
Very interesting information! Thanks!
Bye