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On average, a brand-new kitchen—custom cabinets, hardwood floors, high-end appliances—will cost you $30,000, minimum. Usually, the process entails going to a local showroom and paying its marked-up prices, along with a $2,000 design fee off the bat. Now there’s a way to get around all those extra expenses. FORM Kitchens, an online service that’s been making made-to-order cabinets in Germany since 2018, has officially launched in the U.S., and its spaces will run you 30 to 40 percent less than a typical showroom kitchen (think: the $15,000-to-$25,000 range).
So what’s the catch? No, you won’t be getting flimsy doors. According to Danny Soos, the company’s cofounder and CEO, its direct sale model enables FORM to bypass traditional overhead. Cutting out travel and tons of emailing is also a major factor (clients simply click and comment on plans to request changes from their designer). Another next-level touch: The renderings are lifelike, making the whole endeavor less daunting. “A lot of existing European kitchen brands are about exclusivity; we don’t agree with that,” says Soos. “Using modern technology to streamline the process is one way we communicate that.”
There are thousands of ways to customize your cabinets and storage options (and the company will tell you how much every little detail costs along the way, down to a drawer insert). You’ll also get three full-size samples shipped to your door so you can get a better sense of how your space will look and feel. When all the cabinets do arrive, they’ll show up preassembled to make the installation faster and easier for your contractor.
Ready to get started? Prioritize organization. Wide drawers, appliance garages, and pantry units have been the top three biggest functionality requests to date, according to Soos. “The kitchen has turned into a multipurpose space, so we think in zones and choose the right cabinetry to support each area,” he says. As far as aesthetics go, hardware-less cupboards (flat panels with recessed steel channels at the top) have been spiking lately. The people have spoken: Seamless remodeling is in for 2021.
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