Well, that's fairly encouraging. I need to look into the cost. I imagine if it's done well with good materials it may still be a bit pricey. Though I'm sure it will be a fraction of our past kitchen remodel - when I was constantly on this forum obsessing about one detail after another.

it would be interesting to see a comparison between refacing and adding components versus just replacing with IKEA. My parents have custom wood cabinetry that is 35 years old and in great condition, but their storage could be so much more functional with all-drawers base cabinets and uppers to the ceiling, things you can't easily gain without replacing.

Before I found my KD, I had someone from HD's reface unit come to my house. I wanted some info and, ultimately, an estimate. The guy was all about presenting a spiel and selling me on the idea of financing (I'm strictly cash-only). He would not get to the point. Finally, I said, how much? He threw out something outrageous, like $10K for my 10x10 kitchen. Mostly what they were offering was some veneer type thing.

Within days I found my KD. Got new Shaker doors and slab drawer fronts in paint-grade maple. Had everything, including the golden oak boxes, professionally painted. Materials + labor for the painter came to about $5.5K. The painter alone was $4.3K. Nothing wrong with my G-shaped layout, aside from 3 blind corners. But I was on a tight budget and they weren't the end of the world. Still aren't.

"Refacing" is doable and very satisfying.

ETA: No interior geegaws, except for Blum retrofit soft closers which were DIY and cost about $60.

We refaced our kitchen cabinets about 2 1/2 yrs ago, it was a DIY job and turned out great, if I do say so myself. My husband, who is very handy and not afraid to tackle anything, said, "lets do it ourselves" I did the prep work, a laborious job because I wanted to make sure the boxes were 100% squeaky clean before applying the veneers. (Veneers won't stick well if its not really clean) Husband did the veneer work, its tricky but can be done. Our veneers were maple, wood backed (not paper backed) and they had adhesive on the back so we didn't have to use contact cement. If you want painted cabinets, you can order doors (either unfinished or factory painted) and then paint the boxes yourselves, in the same color. Paint the new doors if you go with unfinished. (though I'd get the doors prepainted, saves a good bit of work). We wanted stained wood, so we bought the prestained veneers and doors. DIY refacing is not for everyone, but for us, it saved us a bundle and no one can tell its not a professional job.

We are not DIY people by any sense of the imagination so I will need to find a reputable tradesperson. I wonder if it would be worth asking the KD I used before if she knows of a good company to do this. I may be getting ahead of myself since we haven't even decided to buy the place yet. Already obsessing.....

We refaced one of our kitchens. We used a cabinetmaker. The refacing companies were very expensive and not the highest quality. The cabinetmaker used eighth inch cherry ply for the sides and stiles. He replaced all the drawers, used soft close slides, and added pullout shelves. The doors and drawer fronts were solid cherry. The kitchen was gorgeous and less expensive than a refacing company.

I am a complete idiot or REALLY uninformed on the costs of kitchen remodeling!!

Home Depot just left after giving me a quote on refacing my 46' of cabs, NOT including counter tops or backsplash. $17,000 using the most inexpensive materials and numerous discounts. And yes, the presentation was focused on numerous discounts and financing options.

I got two estimates for refacing my cabinets of $6,000 and $7,700. I figured Home Depot should be cheaper and was stunned at an estimate of over $17,000 (which is a sale price he said I need to jump on because it could go away at any time).

It's the labor that drives up the cost for refacing, I think. Applying veneers is very labor intensive. And there is a lot of prep work involved too. Sunsoleil makes a good suggestion, a cabinetmaker could do the job, probably for less than a refacing company. And, 1/8" ply. can certainly be used in place of the veneers. A good cabinet maker can cut the ply. to fit all the box fronts, apply end panels, doors and drawer fronts.