03 / Replace
A fresh start where it matters.
Make room for a different kitchen.
Ask Dani about replace →Illustrative concept, not a completed customer project.
Who it fits
Is this your
kind of change?
Cabinet condition, storage or layout needs more than an appearance update, or you want cabinetry better suited to how you use the room.
What stays. What changes.
New cabinetry replaces the agreed existing units. What stays, including countertops, flooring, appliances or services, depends on the plan and site conditions. Nothing outside the written scope is assumed included.
Why choose it?
Replacement can address storage, layout and cabinet condition together. The value is solving the actual problem, not automatically selecting the most expensive cabinets.
A customer-direct alternative
Flat-pack cabinets.
A clearly quoted installation.
You can use a supplier’s planning tools, including IKEA’s, choose and purchase the cabinets directly, and arrange delivery to your home. We can discuss consultation, assembly and installation as a separate quote.
Have the plan and site reviewed before ordering. Delivery, missing parts, fillers, panels, hardware and measurements need to be understood. Demolition, disposal, countertops, plumbing, electrical work and appliance connections are not automatically included. Southern Changes is independent of IKEA.
A clear process
From first look
to a defined plan.
- 01
Start with photos, dimensions, your priorities and what is not working.
- 02
Review the proposed layout, site conditions and installation requirements before purchasing cabinets.
- 03
Confirm who supplies each item and who handles demolition, disposal, assembly and installation.
- 04
Coordinate delivery and the agreed work; confirm any separate countertop, plumbing or electrical work.
The tradeoffs to understand
It is typically the most involved path. Measurements, missing parts, delivery timing and related trades need planning. A cabinet purchase alone is not an all-inclusive installed kitchen.
No surprises in the scope
Materials, preparation, repairs, protection, disposal and installation responsibilities are agreed in writing. Related structural, plumbing, electrical and countertop work is a separate scope decision unless expressly included.
Older or unknown coatings need review before disturbance. Cleaning alone does not guarantee adhesion. We do not refinish or repaint lead-positive cabinets. Read our cabinet lead policy.
Want to keep the natural wood appearance? Explore cabinet restoration, or compare all five cabinet processes.
Before you decide
Five questions.
Straight answers.
Does replacing cabinets mean gutting the whole kitchen?
Not necessarily. Replacing cabinets in the same layout can be narrower than a full gut. What happens to countertops, flooring, walls and utilities depends on the installation and site conditions.
What is more disruptive about replacement?
The agreed cabinets come out, new units come in, and installation needs coordinating. Kitchen access can be restricted, particularly when countertop work or service disconnections are involved.
What work might be needed beyond the cabinets?
Demolition, disposal, wall repairs, countertops, flooring, plumbing and electrical work may need attention. None should be assumed included just because a price says "new cabinets."
Can I buy the cabinets and have you install them?
We can discuss consultation, assembly and installation separately. Have the plan reviewed before ordering. Missing panels, fillers or incorrect measurements can hold up more than the cabinet installation.
When is the extra disruption worth it?
When the existing cabinets are failing or the storage and layout need a real change. The goal is to solve those problems, not tear out good cabinets just to sell a bigger job.
Compared with a full kitchen gut
Cabinet replacement does not automatically mean a full kitchen gut. A full gut is a broader scope that can involve countertops, flooring, walls, utilities and other trades. Keeping suitable cabinets can limit demolition, but preparation, dust control, protection and kitchen access still need a plan. Your written scope should explain what stays, what comes out and what you can use while the work is underway.
Possible project budgets
$8,500–$14,000 for this cabinet option.
Cabinet-only replacement in the same layout. Confirm cabinet supply, removal, disposal, assembly and installation in the quote. This is not a full-kitchen remodel allowance: countertops, appliances, flooring, backsplash and related trade work are separate unless listed. Existing countertops cannot be assumed reusable.
The example: a compact 10-by-10-foot kitchen with roughly 14 doors and 6 drawer fronts, no island, keeping the layout. That cabinet count is our example, not a universal 10-by-10 standard.
How does that compare with a full remodel?
A possible full-kitchen remodel budget for this example is $30,000–$50,000+, allowing for new cabinets, counters, standard appliances, flooring, backsplash and ordinary related trade work. It is a much broader project, with more coordination and potentially more time without normal kitchen access. Cabinet replacement alone does not automatically mean a full gut.
These are proposed planning allowances, not local statistical averages or guaranteed quotes. Cabinet quantities, materials, finish condition, repairs and site access affect the price. Tax, shipping, unusual repairs and exactly what is included must be confirmed in the written quote. Photos start the conversation; measurements, condition and scope determine your project price.
Start simple
A few photos.
A useful conversation.
Start with your town, kitchen goals and a few overall and close-up photos. Talk to Dani first or email photos directly. Carl can review them with you by phone and discuss a preliminary price range where the information allows. Site conditions, measurements and a written scope must be confirmed before a final quote. No instant price or booked date is promised.
Only share what is relevant to the project. Keep people, personal documents and other private details out of photos.
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