Long Island Custom Cabinets: What is the definition of custom cabinets? Do you need them in your Long Island kitchen? Are they better? What's so great about custom cabinets? And, most important, what is the difference between custom cabinets and semi custom cabinets? Custom cabinets can be confusing to those who are just starting to look for kitchen cabinetry. Stock, semi custom, custom, so much to learn! Let's talk about what custom means. Long story short, "custom" means different things to different people! One thing most professional kitchen designers would agree on is that custom does mean that it is made to order. They are not pre made cabinets which are taken off a shelf, for example and shipped to you. That is a fundamental agreement by many. Custom, in its purest sense, means that every part of the cabinet can be changed, or reconfigured in some way. The dimensions, height, width, and/or depth can be manipulated to solve any design issue which arises. I engineer my cabinets to fit within 1/8", and custom cabinets which are a good fit has the look and feel of integral architectural elements within a space. Custom finishes! Here is where one can truly express oneself in the kitchen. I've coordinated finishes from the nuances of Benjamin Moore paint samples, custom stains for wood, perhaps with a custom glaze, all chosen for a unique, personal, look. Sometimes a client requests a light or a heavy glaze on paint, certain types of distressing...these are examples of the potential of going beyond standard finishes. To express oneself, that is the point. Custom cabinets are also defined by the quality of construction. Better drawer glides, and even a choice of drawer glides. Custom doors, custom framing on the cabinet, a choice of hinges, and other types of construction customizations define a custom cabinet. These construction details are what differentiates a custom cabinet from a semi custom or stock cabinet. Do you need a custom cabinet? Of course not. As I often say to my clients, a door will open and close just as it will in a mid priced cabinet. So, no, one does not "need" a custom cabinet. Is a custom cabinet better than other types of cabinets? Technically, yes. Like any other product, you will be able to see and feel the superior level of quality, just like a pair of shoes or a car or any other high quality product. Custom cabinetry is a wonderful way to get a seamless, tight, and built in fit in your kitchen. It's unique, one of a kind, and expressly, YOU.