Custom cabinetry is the single most defining element in any kitchen remodel. Cabinets determine how your kitchen looks, how it functions, and how much storage you actually get out of the space. They also represent the largest single line item in most renovation budgets, typically accounting for 35-50% of total project cost.
Atlanta homeowners are increasingly choosing custom kitchen cabinets over stock options, and for good reason. The housing stock across Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, and Newnan includes homes built across several decades with non-standard room dimensions, uneven walls, and layouts that stock cabinetry simply cannot accommodate. After installing custom cabinetry in hundreds of kitchens over more than 24 years, our team at Turan Designs has learned that the difference between a kitchen that functions beautifully and one that frustrates you daily almost always comes down to the cabinets.
This guide covers everything you need to know about custom cabinetry in Atlanta: styles, materials, construction, realistic costs, and how to choose the right provider.
What Makes Cabinetry "Custom"?
The term "custom" gets used loosely in the cabinet industry. Understanding the three distinct tiers helps you set realistic expectations for both quality and budget.
Stock cabinets are mass-produced in standard sizes (typically in 3-inch width increments) with limited finish and style options. They ship quickly because they are already built. If your kitchen dimensions fall between standard sizes, you fill the gaps with filler strips.
Semi-custom cabinets start with a standard cabinet box but offer more flexibility. You can modify dimensions in smaller increments, choose from a wider range of door styles and finishes, and add interior accessories. Lead times run 4-8 weeks.
Fully custom cabinets are built to your exact specifications from scratch. Every dimension is tailored to your kitchen. You choose the wood species, construction method, door style, finish, and every interior feature. A skilled cabinet shop builds each unit individually, which means zero filler strips, no wasted space, and a kitchen that fits like it was always meant to be there.
For a detailed comparison of semi-custom and custom cabinets, see our guide to semi-custom vs custom kitchen cabinets, which breaks down the specific scenarios where each option delivers the best value.
Popular Cabinet Styles in Atlanta
Style preferences across the Atlanta metro area vary widely, influenced by home architecture, neighborhood character, and personal taste. Here are the styles we install most frequently.
Shaker
Shaker remains the most popular door style in the Atlanta market by a significant margin. Its five-piece frame with a flat center panel works in traditional, transitional, and modern kitchens alike. Shaker cabinets pair well with virtually any countertop material and kitchen layout, which is why they dominate both new construction and remodels throughout Fayette County.
Flat-Panel (Slab)
Flat-panel doors have gained substantial ground in Atlanta neighborhoods like Inman Park and Druid Hills, where homeowners lean toward contemporary aesthetics. A single flat piece with no frame or raised detail, slab doors create a seamless, minimalist look that works especially well in high-gloss finishes or natural wood grains.
Raised Panel
Raised panel doors feature a center panel elevated above the surrounding frame, creating depth and shadow lines. This classic traditional look is common in established Peachtree City and Newnan homes. While less trendy than a decade ago, raised panel cabinetry remains a strong choice for homeowners who want a formal, timeless kitchen.
Beadboard
Beadboard panels inside a frame add texture and a cottage or farmhouse feel. We see this style frequently in Tyrone and south Fayette County homes where homeowners want warmth without formality.
Glass-Front and Open Shelving
Glass-front uppers serve as display cabinetry for dishware or decorative items. Open shelving continues to trend in Atlanta kitchens. We often recommend combining a few open shelves with closed cabinets to balance aesthetics with practical storage.
Cabinet Materials and Construction
The materials and construction methods behind your cabinet doors matter more than most homeowners realize. Two cabinets can look identical on the surface and differ dramatically in durability and longevity.
Wood Species
- Maple: Dense, smooth grain that takes paint exceptionally well. The most popular choice for painted custom cabinets in Atlanta.
- Cherry: Rich, warm tones that deepen over time. A premium hardwood that looks stunning with a natural stain.
- Oak: Strong and durable with prominent grain. Red oak dominated in the 1990s; white oak has made a significant comeback in 2025-2026 for its cleaner grain pattern.
- Walnut: A premium dark hardwood with striking character. Increasingly requested in high-end Atlanta kitchen remodels.
- Painted MDF: Medium-density fiberboard is the preferred material for painted doors in professional shops. MDF does not expand, contract, or crack like solid wood, so your painted finish stays smooth longer.
Box Construction
The cabinet box is the structural backbone. Insist on 3/4-inch plywood for the box sides, back, and shelves. Plywood is stronger, more moisture-resistant, and holds screws better than particleboard. Some manufacturers cut costs with particleboard boxes behind solid wood doors. If a cabinet maker cannot tell you what their boxes are made of, that is a red flag.
Drawer Construction
- Dovetail joints interlock wood pieces for maximum strength. This is the hallmark of quality custom cabinetry.
- Stapled or glued butt joints are cheaper and far less durable. Drawers built this way tend to loosen and fail within a few years of regular use.
Hardware and Mechanics
- Soft-close hinges are standard in quality custom cabinetry and should be non-negotiable.
- Full-extension drawer slides allow you to access the entire depth of the drawer. Undermount slides are the premium option: hidden from view, smooth, and rated for heavier loads.
- Quality matters here. Blum, Hettich, and Grass are the hardware brands trusted by top cabinet shops. If your cabinet maker uses unbranded or generic hardware, expect shorter life spans and more service calls.
Cabinet Finish Options
The finish on your custom cabinets defines the overall mood of your kitchen. Here is what we are seeing across the Atlanta market in 2026.
Painted finishes dominate. White remains the top choice, but we are seeing strong movement toward warm whites, soft grays, greiges, and navy blue. Two-tone kitchens, one color on the base cabinets and another on the uppers or island, have moved from trend to standard practice. A professional multi-step paint process (prime, sand, paint, sand, topcoat) is essential for a factory-quality result.
Stained finishes showcase the natural beauty of wood grain. Light and medium stains on white oak and maple are trending strongly, giving kitchens a warm, organic feel without the maintenance concerns of painted surfaces.
Glazed finishes add an antiqued look by applying a translucent color over a base finish, highlighting details in raised panel and shaker profiles.
Distressed finishes intentionally add wear marks and character. This suits farmhouse kitchens but has declined in popularity in the Atlanta market compared to five years ago.
How Much Does Custom Cabinetry Cost in Atlanta? (2026)
Cabinetry pricing varies significantly based on the tier you select. Here are current price ranges for the greater Atlanta area, based on our project experience in 2025-2026.
| Cabinet Tier | Cost Per Linear Foot | Typical Kitchen (20 LF) | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | $100-$300 | $2,000-$6,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| Semi-Custom | $200-$650 | $4,000-$13,000 | 4-8 weeks |
| Fully Custom | $500-$1,200+ | $10,000-$24,000+ | 6-12 weeks |
These ranges cover cabinetry only (boxes, doors, drawers, and standard hardware). Installation, countertops, and backsplash are additional. For a comprehensive look at total kitchen renovation costs in our area, see our 2026 kitchen remodel cost guide for Peachtree City.
Factors That Drive Custom Cabinet Costs Up
- Wood species: Walnut and cherry cost 30-50% more than maple or oak.
- Finish complexity: A hand-applied glaze or multi-step distressed finish adds $50-$150 per door over a standard painted finish.
- Door style: More intricate profiles (raised panel, applied molding, beadboard) require more labor than flat-panel or basic shaker.
- Interior accessories: Pull-out shelves, spice racks, drawer organizers, lazy Susans, and appliance garages add $100-$500+ per feature depending on complexity.
- Hardware: Premium knobs and pulls can range from $5 to $50+ per piece. Across 40-60 doors and drawers, hardware alone can add $200 to $3,000 to your budget.
- Unusual configurations: Angled corners, curved elements, or furniture-style details like turned legs on an island require custom engineering and drive up costs accordingly.
Custom Cabinet Features Worth the Investment
Not every upgrade delivers equal value. Based on 24 years of feedback from clients across Peachtree City, Fayetteville, and greater Atlanta, these features consistently earn the highest satisfaction ratings.
- Soft-close on everything. Doors and drawers. Once you live with soft-close, you cannot go back. The cost difference is minimal on a custom order.
- Pull-out shelves in base cabinets. Deep base cabinets become usable when shelves slide out to full extension. This single upgrade transforms how you use your kitchen daily.
- Drawer organizers. Custom-fitted dividers for utensils, knives, spices, and baking supplies keep everything accessible and organized. We recommend drawers over doors in base cabinets wherever possible.
- Appliance garages. Countertop clutter disappears when your mixer, toaster, and coffee maker have a dedicated, concealed space with an easy-access door.
- Spice pull-outs. A narrow pull-out beside the range keeps every spice visible and within arm's reach. This is one of the most-loved features we install.
- Trash and recycling pull-outs. A built-in, concealed bin system eliminates the freestanding trash can and frees up floor space.
- Corner solutions. Blind corners waste space unless you install a Super Susan, pull-out corner tray, or magic corner unit. These accessories recover up to 70% of otherwise dead corner space.
The Custom Cabinetry Process
Understanding the timeline and steps involved helps you plan your kitchen remodel realistically.
Design consultation (Week 1-2). A designer works with you to establish style, function, and budget parameters. This is where your kitchen layout is finalized and cabinet configurations are determined.
Detailed measurements (Week 2-3). Precise field measurements of your kitchen are taken. For custom work, measurements must be accurate to 1/16 of an inch. Laser measuring tools are standard practice for reputable firms.
Material selection (Week 3-4). You select wood species, door style, finish, hardware, and interior accessories. A good provider will have physical samples you can see and touch, not just digital renderings.
Fabrication (Weeks 4-16). Fully custom cabinets typically take 6-12 weeks to fabricate depending on shop capacity, order complexity, and current demand. This is the longest phase and the primary reason kitchen remodels require advance planning.
Installation (1-2 weeks). Professional installation by experienced cabinet installers is critical. Even perfectly built cabinets look and perform poorly if installation is rushed. Cabinets must be leveled, shimmed, and secured precisely to ensure doors align, drawers operate smoothly, and the finished product looks seamless.
How to Choose a Custom Cabinet Provider
Whether you work with an independent cabinet shop or a design-build firm, evaluate these factors before committing.
- Physical samples. Any serious provider should have door samples, finish samples, and hardware displays you can examine in person. Photos on a website are not sufficient for a decision of this magnitude.
- A showroom or display. Walk through completed installations to judge quality firsthand. Check drawer operation, door alignment, finish consistency, and interior construction.
- Realistic lead times. If a shop promises fully custom cabinets in two weeks, be skeptical. Quality custom work requires time. Shops that overpromise on timelines often cut corners.
- Warranty. Custom cabinets should carry a minimum one-year warranty on construction and finish. Many quality shops offer 5-year or lifetime structural warranties.
- Installation quality. Ask who installs the cabinets. Some shops subcontract installation to third parties. The best results come from firms whose own trained crews handle installation. For broader guidance on evaluating cabinet professionals, our guide to finding the right cabinet maker covers the full vetting process.
When you are also choosing a kitchen contractor for the broader remodel, make sure your contractor and cabinet provider communicate effectively, or better yet, work with a firm that manages both.
Why Work with a Design-Build Firm for Custom Cabinetry
Custom cabinets do not exist in isolation. They must integrate with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, appliances, lighting, and plumbing layout. When cabinetry is designed and ordered independently of these elements, problems emerge: appliances that do not fit, outlets behind cabinets, countertop seams in visible locations, and backsplash patterns that clash with cabinet proportions.
At Turan Designs, our approach keeps everything under one roof. Our designer specifies your custom cabinetry as part of a comprehensive kitchen design that accounts for every element in the room. Countertop overhangs are calculated before cabinets are ordered. Appliance dimensions are confirmed before cabinet openings are cut. Electrical and plumbing rough-in coordinates with cabinet placement so nothing conflicts during installation.
Our five-step design-build process ensures that your custom cabinetry integrates with every other material and system in your kitchen. One team manages design, ordering, scheduling, and installation, eliminating the finger-pointing and scheduling conflicts that occur when homeowners coordinate between a separate designer, cabinet shop, countertop fabricator, and general contractor.
You can see examples of our custom cabinetry work, including Shaker, slab, and transitional styles, in our project portfolio.
Start Planning Your Custom Cabinetry Project
Custom kitchen cabinets are a significant investment, and the decisions you make about style, materials, and provider will affect how your kitchen looks and functions for decades. Taking the time to understand your options, compare quality levels, and choose the right partner for the project pays for itself in a kitchen that works exactly the way you need it to.
At Turan Designs, we have designed and installed custom cabinetry in kitchens across Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, Newnan, and greater Atlanta for over 24 years. As an NKBA-member design-build firm, we handle your project from initial design concept through final cabinet installation with one dedicated team.
Use our free renovation cost calculator to estimate your cabinetry investment, or contact us today to schedule a complimentary design consultation.
Call us at (404) 394-2038 or visit our showroom at 125 Howell Road, Tyrone, GA 30290.