Kitchen Design 101

This guide below will walk you through the basics of kitchen design & cabinetry along with starting a relationship with East Main. Save your style and preferences. Let us help you get the look you want without designer prices.

Kitchen Renovation Pricing

While you can DIY improve your kitchen with new hardware and painting or refacing your cabinets for under $10k, and fully custom high end kitchen renovations range from $125k - 250k+ with imported materials, most kitchen renovations in Cincinnati fall in one of the three categories below, which start around 30k for a basic kitchen remodel to 80k+ for a more signature designer remodel.

At East Main, we create beautiful kitchens through a process that’s clear, collaborative, and designed to feel effortless from start to finish.

No industry lingo. No surprise add-ons. Just open conversations, a process that feels like common sense, and pricing that’s easy to follow—so you can confidently choose what’s right for your home while we continue doing the work we love.

Kitchen renovations have the highest ROI of any home improvement project with an estimated 83% cost recovery. Working with a local cabinet supplier can help you tremendous in getting a lot of value out of your cabinet investment.

  • Basic Kitchen — ~$30K

    A fresh, functional update using elevated basics. Ideal for those looking to upgrade their space without reimagining it entirely.

    Price Breakdown (approx.):

    Cabinetry – $8 - 13K
    Cost-effective options in durable finishes, limited styles.

    Countertops – $4 - 6K
    Budget-friendly quartz with a clean, timeless look.

    Hardware – $500
    Simple, functional designs.

    Core Construction & Installation – $8 - 12K
    Includes standard construction work and installation; no major layout changes.

    Note: Flooring materials and appliances are not included.

  • Mid-Range Kitchen — ~$50K

    A refined mix of form and function—balancing semi-custom details with everyday livability.

    Price Breakdown (approx.):

    Cabinetry – $20K - $30k
    Semi-custom cabinetry in curated finishes for a tailored look and added functionality.

    Countertops – $6 - 12K
    Natural stone or upgraded quartz for timeless beauty and durability.

    Hardware – $600
    Designer selections that elevate the overall feel of the space.

    Core Construction & Installation – $15 - 20K
    Includes construction and installation, with the option for minor layout adjustments.

    Note: Flooring materials and appliances are not included.

  • Signature Kitchen — $80K+

    Where craftsmanship meets customization. A full reimagination of your space—tailored entirely to the way you live.

    Price Breakdown (approx.):

    Cabinetry – $40 - 50K
    Fully custom cabinetry, designed and built specifically for your home with limitless style and finish options.

    Countertops – $10 - 15K
    Natural stone or high-end quartz, hand-selected for unique veining, color, and character.

    Hardware – $600 - 1k
    Designer hardware selections that complete the look with detail and precision.

    Core Construction & Installation – $25K+
    Includes extensive construction, full installation, and major layout or structural changes as needed.

    Note: Flooring materials and appliances are not included.

Appliance and Flooring Budgets

While appliances and flooring aren’t part of our core pricing, they’re worth including in your kitchen budget. These key components can add several thousand to your overall investment.

Basic Kitchen

Appliances: Plan for $3K–$5K
Think reliable, well-designed essentials—brands like Whirlpool, Frigidaire, or GE in classic finishes.

Flooring Materials: Plan for $1,500–$2,500
Luxury vinyl plank or entry-level engineered hardwood—durable, timeless, and easy to live with.

Mid-Range Kitchen

Appliances: Plan for $5K–$10K
Step into more features and thoughtful details—brands like KitchenAid, Bosch, or Café with upgraded finishes and counter-depth options.

Flooring Materials: Plan for $3,000–$5,000
Higher-end LVP, engineered hardwood, or classic tile—materials that elevate without overpowering the space.

Signature Kitchen

Appliances: Plan for $10K–$30K+
A statement in both form and function—luxury brands like Thermador, Sub-Zero, Wolf, or Miele, often fully integrated w/ panels for a seamless look.

Flooring Materials: Plan for $6,000–$10,000+
Wide-plank hardwood, hand-selected stone, or custom tile—flooring that feels as considered as the rest of your kitchen.

Download the Kitchen Checklist
Modern kitchen with beige cabinets, white countertops, and black pendant lights

Cabinet Lines

No matter the budget, we can find quality cabinets that meet your needs. Schedule an appointment to get started.

  • We’re blending timeless style with the affordability you appreciate. This ready-to-assemble line is comparable in price to what you’d find at IKEA, but even higher quality. Our collection offers stylish cabinets for any home renovation or refresh. Elevate your space with our thoughtfully designed pieces.

  • This cabinet line is skillfully designed to offer the same affordability and convenience you'd find at big-box stores. Our collection features quality engineered wood cabinets that are both stylish and robust, ideal for any home makeover or update. With this line, we aim to bring you budget-friendly options without sacrificing design or quality, ensuring you can elevate your space with beautifully crafted pieces that fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.

  • Our go-to line of quality wood cabinets, Shiloh & Eclipse Cabinetry, is thoughtfully crafted to offer unparalleled flexibility for any home design. Renowned for their adaptability and superior craftsmanship, these pieces seamlessly blend into your existing space and style, enhancing your ability to create a personalized look. Whether embarking on a complete renovation or a simple room refresh, our cabinets provide dependable and stylish solutions that help make your space truly your own.

  • We have a line of fully custom cabinets, renowned for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted with the flexibility to suit any home design. Our craftsmen are known for their attention to detail and the adaptability of their work, making these solid wood cabinets perfect whether you're planning a complete renovation or simply refreshing a room.

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Modern open-plan kitchen and dining area with light wood flooring, white cabinetry, and pendant lighting. A large kitchen island with a marble countertop features a sink and built-in appliances. The dining area includes a black table with gray chairs. A sliding barn door and stainless steel refrigerator are visible, along with large windows providing natural light.

Cabinet Materials

Cabinets are made from wood and wood products. Particle board (or engineered wood) and MDF are used at the lower end, the standard cabinet is made from plywood, and doors can be made from solid wood.

The 8 most popular wood species used in the United States today for are:

  1. Alder: Alder is a softer wood with a fine grain. It's often chosen for its clear, even surface that accepts stains well, making it a good choice for a custom look.

  2. Cherry: Cherry wood is prized for its rich, deep color that darkens with age. It has a smooth grain and is quite durable, making it a luxurious choice for cabinets.

  3. Hickory: Hickory is very strong and has a dramatic grain pattern with natural color variations. It is often used in rustic or farmhouse-style kitchens.

  4. Maple: Maple is favored for its fine, consistent grain and its ability to take a variety of stains and finishes, which makes it versatile for many kitchen styles.

  5. Walnut: Walnut is chosen for its dark, smooth grain and elegance. Though more costly, it adds a luxurious and sophisticated touch to kitchen cabinetry.

  6. White Oak: White Oak is known for its durability and distinctive grain pattern. It has a lighter color compared to Red Oak and is often selected for its resistance to moisture, making it ideal for more modern and minimalistic designs.

  7. Red Oak: Red Oak is appreciated for its strength and prominent grain patterns. It typically has a warmer tone than White Oak and is commonly used in traditional kitchen styles due to its classic appeal and ability to accept a variety of stains.

  8. Poplar: Poplar wood is a cost-effective choice, known for its light color and straight grain. It is especially popular for painted cabinets due to its smooth surface and excellent paint acceptance, ideal for achieving a sleek, modern finish.

Comparison of plywood, MDF, and particle board types with labeled sections
Comparison of eight wooden cabinet door panels in different wood types: Alder, Cherry, Hickory, Maple, Walnut, White Oak, Red Oak, and Poplar.

Cabinet Construction

The box construction of cabinets are either face framed or frameless. Doors are attached to the box of the cabinet in one of 4 ways:

  1. Standard Overlay: This is the least expensive option and overlays the cabinet by about half an inch and allows you to see some of the frame of the cabinet.

  2. Full Overlay: This is where the doors and drawers are ordered so that they overlay the cabinet to almost cover up the whole frame of the cabinet, giving off a consistent seamless look.

  3. Inset: This is the most expensive option because it requires a high level of precision for the doors and drawers to fit inside of the frame of the cabinet. This also looks the most luxurious.

  4. Frameless: Since frameless cabinets don’t have a frame, the doors are attached directly to the sides of the cabinet box. This provides a more contemporary look with slightly more accessible interior space, but sacrifices on the sturdiness and quality of the overall construction.

Illustration comparing four styles of kitchen cabinet overlay: Inset, Standard (Partial), Full, and Frameless, showing different door placements and cabinet designs.

Door Styles

The door style is where your style preference starts to show. There are numerous options to choose from depending on how you want your cabinets to look. You can choose from traditional and transitional to modern and contemporary styles.

Below are some of our favorite door styles and when they might be the right choice for your cabinets:

  1. Modern — Shaker or Slim Shaker (Recessed Panel): A very popular and classic choice. A 5 piece door with 4 sides and then a center squared recessed panel.

  2. Transitional — Beveled Detail (Recessed Panel): Like the shaker style it has a recessed panel but with slightly more detail on edge for a modern transitional look.

  3. Traditional — Raised Panel: The center panel is raised and has decorative elements.

  4. Contemporary European — Flat / Slab: A flat panel door.

Three door styles: raised panel, recessed panel, and flat/slab. Each door is depicted in a side view illustration highlighting its design features.

Color: Paint or Stain

The color and finish of the cabinet is determined by if you choose to have your cabinet painted or stained. Stained cabinets continue to show the grain of the wood (like a texture) where as most paints will cover the grain and will be a flat and clean finish.

Paints Color Choices:

  1. White: The classic. Especially for shaker style doors.

  2. Cream / Neutrals: A more modern and trendy color.

  3. Greens / Blues: Colors that work well in most homes.

  4. Black / Charcoal: A bold contrast color for your kitchen.

Stain Choices (remember: different wood species will have different results with stains):

  1. Clear: Let the wood species and grain speak for themselves.

  2. Natural: Bring out the natural wood, but blend the inconsistencies together for a smooth finish

  3. Golden Oak: A nice medium finish

  4. Special Walnut: A slightly darker but still medium finish

  5. Dark Walnut: Our favorite darker brown finish

** IMPORTANT ** Make sure you have a sample with the wood and the stain applied to that wood, otherwise you might be disappointed with the results.

Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, blue island with bar stools, pendant lights, and wine fridge.
Six wooden planks labeled as Red Oak, White Oak, Pine, Poplar, Walnut, and Birch, showcasing different wood grains and colors.

Hardware

Cabinet Hardware is your pulls and knobs for how you access your doors and drawers. These can be very inexpensive to very expensive. The style can change from farmhouse, to modern, to traditional, all the way to ornate. The length or width and feel of the knobs and pulls can enhance or distract from your cabinets.

Options & Accessories

Make your mark on your cabinets with organizational options and accessories. This is where your unique

Below are some of our favorite door styles and when they might be the right choice for your cabinets:

  1. Soft-Close Doors & Drawers: We

  2. Trash Drawers:

  3. Low drawers for kids: Save yourself a chore and teach your kids where their cups and bowls are, all within reach.

  4. Double silverware drawers: Always feel like you are running out of silverware, use a double silverware drawer for twice the storage.

  5. Cooking utensil drawer:

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