Wow, talk about local! You can't be more than 10-15 minutes from me. We are getting the rest of our powder room Friday, then Cabinets go in on Tuesday. I have a daily update thread going if you want to peek :-)

Contact me through my profile and I'll share my sources.

Deja Q got great cabs inexpensively from an Amish cabmaker in Huevelton, which is south of Ogdensburg. I think she had to have them transported and get them installed herself. But she spent $4300 ,which has to be some kind of record for a whole kitchen of custom cabs. Here's her reveal, which includes, farther down, the name of her guy. You can probably contact her for details about how she did it.

I realize this is pretty far away from you, but it could be worth it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Deja Q reveal - Amish Cabs

How big is the kitchen? A bit east of you in the boonies I got cabs including installation for about 10. This was a small shop out of Herkimer. The whole gut remodel with a bump out came to about 25. Even with the bump out it is a small kitchen, however.

Small world. I'm in Saratoga Springs! Like you, I wanted a good kitchen remodel on a tight budget. Initially went to Curtis Lumber for a quote. They were great with design, but the final quote was way beyond what I was willing to spend. Then I found Kitchen Resource Direct on the web. I was nervous about going online for my cabinets, but their quality for assembled cabinets looked great, they offered a style I wanted (off-white Shaker) and they were a great help with design. Best of all - their quote was $9000 less!!!!! than what I'd gotten from CL, and had more perks and custom design features. My cabinets arrived last week and they are everything I'd hoped they would be. I'll post pictures as soon as they get installed. Anyway - highly recommend you check them out. Oh yeah - one other nice thing - they are made in the USA. Woot woot!

Don't know what you want for counters, but if you want granite, there is a place in Latham with good prices, small selection, and only okay install. We are spending a little more and going with Granite and Marbleworks in Saratoga. They have been great to work with and have quality workmanship.

Good luck. Hope this helps!

OH! and if you need appliances - HIGHLY RECOMMEND Cocca's in Colonie.

On a budget, I'd certainly keep an eye on the Habitat for Humanity Restore down in Menands. Not likely to find a whole kitchen (though some times they have pretty substantial cab collections), but you might find the odd element there. For instance, I bought an Elkay Lustertone prep sink there for $5. It was used, but being a high quality material it cleaned up perfectly.

There is an Amish/Mennonite cabinet maker just east of Hoosick Falls in Rensselaer Co. on Route 7 (Down the Northway from CP to New Rt 7> Go east, past intersection w/ 787 > then east up and out of Troy on Hoosick street> through Brunswick > past Tomahannock Reservoir > past intersection w/ Rt 22 > past stop light at the BBQ joint and then about 3/4 mile further east on your left. They have an oversized wooden bedframe in the front, filled with blooming annuals, a "flower bed", LOL)

I like Feiden's in Latham for appliances.

Of course, there's always IKEA in Stoughton, MA or the one in Paramus NJ, each about equidistant from here. Worth looking into, even though it's a long haul (4+ hours). I plan to use some of their cab boxes with custom door/drawer fronts ordered online from a third-party.

Maybe we should see if there are a few GWers from the Cap District interested in a recon trip to IKEA this summer and make up a car pool. Perhaps even go in together on a rental truck to bring stuff back on a later date.

I am always surprised to find so many people here who are GW/KF readers and local residents, because I never find one in real life. Most of my KF-gleaned ideas are complete novelties to my friends who are doing kitchens.

L