We've been pricing new doors. They run about $100 each.

However, refinishing cabinets properly requires a significant amount of time and $. (Cleaning, sanding, priming, painting, sealing...)

We chose to refinish our cabinets because we weren't going to change the layout. Also, at this point in our lives, Hubby has more time than we have $$ to pay someone / buy new stuff.

After all was said and done, however, we are going to wind up with new doors and drawers anyhow. Of course in our case we're stripping and re-staining the cabinets and the doors and drawer fronts were cheap veneer so that's a bit of a different story.

Recycling is good. Environmentally friendly and all, and I like the hand brushed look too (and the ability to get a perfect match on anything I like to add later). New doors and a few new upper cabinets from some place like Scherr's won't be anything like all new cabinets in terms of price.

Five to 10 years in a kitchen you hate is too long. But if you think it'll be a teardown after 5-10 years, you could go cheap but stylish and get Ikea cabinets or something. They have some nice door styles that are compatible with split levels.

But...too many variables to really advise you. I think you should do something though!! Does that help? :D

Thanks for the advice so far. These cabs are in good shape - I think a wash down with TSP and a (very) light sanding would be the extent of the prep work. You think i need to prime? I know I would have to prime the (new) doors.

I guess it's going to come down to the labor costs.

Wisdom is you should always priume - and sand in between coats, too.

Here's a few links I found when I was researching this:
http://day-lab-diy.blogspot.com/2007/09/cabinet-paint.html
http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/Article_detail.aspx?id=124

As we decided to strip and re-stain I can't speak to actual experience with these methods.

Hmm...my cabinets already have a paint finish. OTOH, it's probably a good idea to prime if only to guarantee that the final color exactly matches the new cabinets. Thanks for the tip and links. If I paint, I will prime!

i have mostly custom wode mode cabinets installed by the former owner about 25 years ago and have not seen any cabinets of better or even equal quality to them in any store, showroom, or kitchen. Since I only changed one area of my kitchen, which required a local cabinet maker to construct them for me, I kept most of the old boxes. He made and stained new doors for all of them and refaced the old boxes to match with the new ones. I think they look great, but nobody is seeing them til i get countertops! This could be another option for you.

Also, even tho doors do account for the biggest portion of cabinet costs, it is still far cheaper to do it that way. For us, it was about 2/3 the cost of all new cabs....and remember, I did have a new section built (70 inches) of 4 uppers and combo of drawers and cab lowers.

You have gotten some great advice from those above, at least reuse the boxes if they are sound. Some of us (me) would be so happy if our boxes were in good shape. I can't grasp the concept of wasting money and perfectly good materials if you don't need to.

I think you can get new doors for a lot less than $100 apiece. My kitchen (although on the small side) cost me less than $10 thousand for a new window, new hardwood floors, new doors with hardware and paint.

I am in the midst of updating my kitchen w/ 25 y.o. custom cabs before I put it on the market. I added crown moulding. I bought unfinished paint grade doors w/MDF raised panels for approx $24/ door. I had the painters paint them and the preexisting frames. The doors have transformed the kitchen. Every contractor I've had in my house has commented on my "new" kitchen. Definitely worth it. I don't think you need to get new cabs, especially since your previous cabs are in such good shape. For a few more dollars per door, you can get all-wood paint grade doors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Evans cabinets

Well, looks like I should reuse the cabinets, one way or the other. The existing base cabnets fit well into the layouts I'm playing with.

egganddart - the doors are more detailed than I would like, but what bothers me most is the finish and the partial overlay aspect. I would prefer inset or full overlay.

One problem with the current kitchen is that I stupidly used d/w panels and it doesn't really work with partial overlay doors. Perhaps what I should do is get ss panels for the d/ws and fridge and just paint the existing cabs. Then I wouldn't have to worry about getting a really good carpenter. Only prob with that is i will have traditional-looking cabs with ss appliances. Not sure about that.

The layout I'm playing with has an island with stools open to a hearth room and minimal upper cabs. So the doors aren't going to be a focal point anyway.

Any one have any idea on labor for all this. Plumbing for one sink, two d/w, mostly all new electric, sliding some windows over (no brick work).

Thanks to everyone for all the advice!

I've seen lots of examples of traditional looking cabinets with ss appliances, often in ads for high-end cabinetry. It can look very good. I think you've got the right idea when you say the doors won't be a focal point anyway. If you "neutralize" them one way or another and shift the focus elsewhere, you can achieve a surprisingly big change for little money.

I don't know what the labor would be for the cabinets, I usually do this kind of thing myself. If you have the time, it's something you can do. It's rewarding to transform a room this way, by yourself.

I don't do plumbing, etc, tho! You can save $$ by hiring someone who's very capable at it, but isn't a licensed plumber or electrician. Some people might advise against this, and it depends on the complexity of the job and the skill of the worker. For tricky things I'd hire a plumber or electrician. But a lot of jobs are straighforward and a competent carpenter might do them for less.

We are moving the entire kitchen from one room to an adjacent space. SO I don't think it's DIY - at least not for me! So if labor is going to be a lot, I don't want to be penny wise, pound foolish trying to save on cabinets. Sounds like reusing them isn't foolish, though,

I'll start looking through magazines for ss / painted cab combos.