If you do a search on custom cabinets, you'll find many threads. In many cases it's cheaper to have custom cabinets than cabs thru a big box store.

Of course I learned this after I redid my current kitchen 3 1/2 years ago. I'm going custom for my new house.

I'm a novice remodeler (first time) so have limited advice. I think there are many factors to consider such as budget (Ikea seems to be incredibly good value) and your desired configuration. Often people go custom when Ikea sizes will not work for what they want as they have pretty standards sizes only. Have you searched for 'ikea' in the search function here - you'll get lots of hits I'm sure as tons have people have gone that route and I've only seen positive stuff. That said, I'm not doing Ikea because we need more flexibility in sizes. I was also nervous that with Ikea, I think the customer has to put in quite a bit of work with the design - we needed quite a lot of handholding.

Check out the website ikeafans.com too.

Depends what your priorities are too. Do you want to have some money left in the budget to have a really stunning countertop?

The Home Depot experience seems to get a more varied response. I've noticed some people say good things and not so good things here.

As noted here, custom may not necessarily mean more expensive so it might be worth including in your comparisons.

I'm sure if you search some previous threads, you'll get the answers to your other question about quality of cabinets.

Spend your money on the more permanent items, those things that are going to be with you for a long time, i.e. cabinets and counter tops. Buy the best that you can afford. If you have to cut back, do it on appliances, light fixtures, flooring, pulls, even the backsplash. These things are easier to upgrade at a latter date.

Get several estiamtes, from both custom shops and the big box stores. I wouldn't dismiss the HD or Lowes, but it is important that you get a knowledgeable salesperson. Even then you need to double check everything.

Depending on your skill level and time available, you might be able to save some money by doing the rip out, clean up, painting, etc., yourself. Mechanicals, are often best left to the pros, but if you are handy and the kitchen isn't too complicated, installation is not that difficult. Counter tops, particularly stone, also should be done by a pro.

svwillow1 gives good advice, but I disagree that saving on appliances to spend more on countertops and cabinets is a hard and fast rule. We spent a lot more on our refrigerator (Kitchen Aid built-in 48" side x side)than our cabinets (Ikea), and we're glad we did. We are a family of five with 2 dairy-allergic kids. We needed a *huge* refrigerator, but there was no way the largest free-standing refrigerators (36" deep, bottom-freezer) would fit in our kitchen. The gorgeous refrigerator and our center island countertop, which we also splurged on, are the centerpieces of the kitchen.

What I'm saying is that you should determine what elements are really important to you and spend on that. E.g., do you broil in your oven a lot? Then you should look at splurging on an F&P oven or another brand with a killer broiler element. Bake alot? Consider splurging on an island with a marble countertop? Disabled? Splurge on the cabinet layout that accommodates your needs.

Just follow this forum for a few weeks and you will start to figure it all out. For example, I didn't really think about a backsplash as a kitchen element at all until I started reading this forum. Good luck.

i can't see putting cabinets and counters ahead of appliances either. it's a KITCHEN. if i had to put my money in one place it would have to be the appliances. but that's me... what are your priorities? you would be the only one able to decide.
about cabinets: custom is something that can work out as far as value goes, but NOT if you have an ikea budget. ikea cabs look quite good and i'm putting them in my laundry room.

As others have noted it depends on what your goals are for this remodel.

(1) How long will you be in your current house (the one you're remodeling)? [If a short time 3 years, remodel based on YOUR needs/wants]

(2) What is the goal of your remodel? What kind of kitchen are you going for? Take the "The Sweeby Test".

(3) How much do you plan to DIY? If at least some DIY, how good are your DIY skills?

(4) What is your budget?

(5) Look a the Finished Kitchen Blog to see sample kitchens and their various elements.

(6) What is important to you? (I know, the best of everything you can afford!) You've already defined your kitchen's feel (Sweeby Test).

(7) Now, armed with what you want out of your kitchen, your budget, and ideas from the FKB, list your priorities for you kitchen. Some people really want a granite or soapstone counter and will compromise on cabinets or flooring or appliances. Some want solid wood doors and all-wood door boxes while others want top-of-the-line, the-best-money-can-buy appliances. What are your priorities?

To consider:

Cabinets:

...Do you want well-built, well-accessorized cabinets or will basic (but still solid) cabinets with only a few accessories be fine?
...What style of door do you want...modern or traditional?
...Also look, at the style of drawer fronts...if you have mostly drawers in your base cabinets then drawer fronts will be a major part of the look of your cabinets in your kitchen.
...What type of doors do you want...wood, wood-veneer, metal, MDF?
...What construction do you want in your cabinet boxes...plywood, particleboard, metal, MDF?
...Do you need/want full-extension drawers and/or pullout shelves?
...Look at drawer & pullout shelf glides...are they plastic or metal? (metal is generally stronger and lasts longer)
...How much DIY do you plan? Some cabinets, like IKEA, come ready to assemble (RTA). Most come assembled.

Other elements to consider:

Countertop: granite, soapstone, quartz, solid surface, wood, laminate, recycled glass or paper, etc.
Flooring: wood, tile, stone, laminate, etc.
Backsplash: none, partial (continuation of countertop material), tile/stone, paint, etc.
Lighting: recessed, undercabinet, pendants, etc.
Appliances: You can spend 5,000 plus dollars on a range or refrigerator or you can spend One thing to keep in mind is that some things will last longer than others. Generally, appliances will need to be replaced long before cabinets and countertops so yes, you might go "light" on the appliances initially or even re-use what you already have. That would leave more of your budget for higher-end cabinets, countertop, and flooring--items that you change much less often. Backsplashes can be delayed.

All these things are subjective...based on your needs and wants. You will get many opinions here; read them knowing that everyone is different and everyone (1) has different goals for their kitchen and (2) has different priorities. Filter comments through the lens of your goals/needs/wants.

Good luck!

Here are my thoughts based on my experience and situation:

We went with Kraftmaid cabinets purchased through a local dealer, our KD was a former cabinet installer with over 20 years experience - we weren't changing the layout and were installing the cabinets ourselves. It worked out well for us.

We put the bulk of our $$'s in cabinetry and countertops - we don't do enough cooking on a regular basis to really appreciate high end appliances - we'll replace the fridge in the spring when we get more $$'s saved up.

Definitely hire pros for the mechanicals, we didn't need much done with the plumbing and electrical but it was more than we could have handled by ourselves. Our house is 80 years old so some of the systems are a bit odd....at least the knob and tube wiring was updated years ago.

Make sure you have all of the lighting and outlets you need - good advice from my mother.

Always have a plan B & plan C - it's amazing what you find when you take up floors and open walls (honey, there's no framing in this wall...guess that's why we couldn't find a stud...hmmmm).

Be very clear about getting what you want for the elements that are hard to change or uninstall....hardware, paint, light fixtures and appliances can be changed or replaced.

Don't pack away your corkscrew - you're gonna need it.

Figure out what's important to you and what fits your lifestyle/budget. If you get what's important to you, you'll love the end result.

I'm happy with the way our kitchen has turned out, it's at 80% finished and holding - we'll install the flooring after Christmas - out of energy right now!

I havent read the other answers, but I would do Ikea in a heart beat. My next kitchen will have them. Right now we have custom cabinets that were built for our house, but have none of the functionality of Ikea. I also believe dollar for dollar you will get a better value from Ikea vs Lowes/HD. If you do not love the ikea doors you can get ones from Scherr's.

Here is a link that might be useful: Scherr's