Kitchen Cabinets: Replace, Reface or Go Custom in Marin and Sonoma?

When your kitchen cabinets are looking tired, dated, or just flat-out broken, you’ve got three real options: rip them out and replace them, reface what’s already there, or design custom cabinets tailored to your home. Sounds simple, right? Except every choice opens the door to a different budget, timeline, and outcome..

Replacing Kitchen Cabinets: When Starting Over Makes Sense

Let’s be honest. Some cabinets just aren’t worth saving. Maybe they’re warped from water damage, falling off the hinges, or were installed during a time when avocado green was considered a bold design move. If the bones are bad—or if the layout doesn’t work—replacing the cabinets entirely is the most logical step.

When to Replace:

• The existing cabinet boxes are damaged or poorly built
  
  
• The kitchen layout isn’t functional and needs to change
  
  
• The goal includes replacing countertops, plumbing, or appliances
  
  
• You want a long-term solution with better materials and hardware
  
  

A full replacement allows for a fresh start. It opens up the opportunity to rework the entire space, improve storage, add modern features (like soft-close drawers and pull-outs), and ensure everything is structurally sound.

It’s more expensive than refacing, sure. But it can deliver a completely new kitchen—something that can actually increase the value of your home and save you from patch jobs that don’t last.

Design Build Specialists integrates cabinet replacement into full-kitchen remodels or as standalone upgrades, all managed in-house to avoid the common “that’s-not-my-job” game between contractors and designers. And because their team includes design pros and construction experts under one roof, every cabinet is built and installed with long-term performance and local code in mind.



Refacing Cabinets: The Budget-Conscious Upgrade (That Only Works Sometimes)

Cabinet refacing is like giving your kitchen a facelift instead of plastic surgery. It keeps the cabinet boxes, replaces the doors and drawer fronts, and adds a new veneer or finish to the exposed frames. It’s faster, cheaper, and less messy than a full tear-out—but it’s not always the right solution.

When Refacing Works:

• The cabinet boxes are solid and well-constructed
  
  
• You like your current kitchen layout
  
  
• You want to save money without skimping entirely
  
  
• The existing cabinets aren’t warped, cracked, or rotting
  
  
• You’re not replacing the counters (or you don’t care if seams show)
  
  

When Refacing Doesn’t Work:

• The cabinets are low-quality or damaged
  
  
• You want to change the cabinet configuration
  
  
• Your kitchen is older and doesn’t meet modern codes
  
  
• You plan to upgrade appliances or plumbing locations
  
  

Refacing can cost 30%–50% less than a full cabinet replacement, but it’s not magic. Homeowners need to be realistic about what they’re working with. Slapping new faces on broken boxes won’t solve long-term issues, and it won’t change a layout that drives you nuts.

Design Build Specialists offers smart guidance through their feasibility process to determine whether refacing is a sensible option—or a bandaid that’s going to fall off in six months. If the structure checks out, refacing might give your kitchen new life for a fraction of the cost.



Going Custom: Built for Your Kitchen (Not From a Warehouse)

Custom cabinets aren’t just about looks—they’re about fit. Pre-fab and stock cabinets are made to standard sizes, which means most kitchens need awkward fillers, spacers, or sacrifices in functionality. Custom cabinets are measured and built for your exact space, style, and use.

Benefits of Custom Cabinets:

• Tailored to your kitchen’s exact dimensions
  
  
• Maximum storage with zero wasted space
  
  
• Endless design options (finishes, styles, hardware)
  
  
• Built to last with higher-quality construction
  
  
• Seamless fit around appliances, windows, or uneven walls
  
  

Sure, they’re pricier than stock boxes from a big-box store. But they’re also built to last 30+ years—not 10. And in places like Marin and Sonoma, where craftsmanship and design matter, custom cabinetry can actually boost your home’s resale value.

What makes Design Build Specialists different? Their custom cabinet work is fully integrated into the remodeling process. That means the cabinets aren’t an afterthought—they’re planned from day one, and built with the layout, budget, and performance in mind. With a full design-build team, clients see their cabinets in 3D before a single board is cut, ensuring the final product is exactly what was promised.



Budgeting Smart: Where to Spend, Where to Save

Let’s get to the part that everyone pretends not to care about but absolutely does: the budget. Cabinets usually eat up 30%–40% of a kitchen remodel’s cost. It’s easy to blow the budget on high-end doors or fancy inserts, but it’s also possible to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Ways to Maximize Value:

• Choose plywood boxes instead of particle board (worth every penny)
  
  
• Stick to shaker or slab styles—they’re timeless and cost-effective
  
  
• Skip unnecessary bells and whistles like lazy Susans if you don’t use them
  
  
• Use real wood veneer for a high-end look at a mid-range price
  
  
• Prioritize drawer quality and soft-close hinges—they’ll pay off daily
  
  

Design Build Specialists doesn’t upsell based on trends. Their approach is rooted in value-engineering—which means helping clients make design choices that maximize ROI and functionality, not just the showroom sparkle.

Want a sleek modern look but still watching your numbers? You can still get it with a combination of custom base cabinets and simplified upper shelving. Looking to reconfigure without full custom? They’ll reuse boxes where it makes sense and customize only where needed.

The key is starting with a feasibility study—something most contractors skip. It allows homeowners to see the real costs before falling in love with $50,000 worth of walnut and brass.



Local Codes, Layouts & Longevity: Why Experience Matters

Marin and Sonoma homeowners face remodeling realities that other regions don’t. Older homes, tighter zoning codes, seismic regulations, and the “charm” of uneven floors can turn a simple cabinet upgrade into a logistical nightmare if the crew doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Design Build Specialists bring decades of local remodeling experience to every kitchen project. Their process includes:

• Code-compliant cabinet construction
  
  
• Accurate 3D modeling to visualize before you commit
  
  
• Detailed project timelines and transparent budgets
  
  
• Local crew and vendors—no mystery subcontractors
  
  
• Permitting handled in-house to avoid delays
  
  

In short, they don’t guess. They plan. Which is probably why their clients end up loving them more at the end of the project than they did at the start.

Homeowners can find proof of their reputation and work quality on Design Build Specialists’ Google profile, which features real projects from local homes—built to code, built to budget, and built to last.

Final Thought: Start with the Right Questions

Before pulling the trigger on new cabinets, smart homeowners in Marin and Sonoma ask:

• Are the existing cabinets structurally sound?
  
  
• Is the layout functional or frustrating?
  
  
• What’s the total kitchen budget—and what’s realistic?
  
  
• Are custom cabinets worth the investment in this home?
  
  
• Will this project need permits, and who’s handling that?
  
  

Whether the answer is a clean reface, a full replacement, or a custom build from scratch, the smart money is on planning it right from the start.

With Design Build Specialists, that planning begins with real data, not guesses—and ends with cabinets (and kitchens) that feel like they’ve always belonged in the home.