Why Custom Cabinets Should Come Before the Floor Plan

If you're still choosing custom cabinets after the floor plan is finalized, you're losing more than just storage space.

In most projects, cabinetry is one of the last things to be decided—picked out once the layout is set, mechanicals are roughed in, and walls are framed. It’s treated like a finishing detail. An aesthetic decision. A cherry on top.

But what if that process is backward?

Here’s the truth: custom cabinetry isn’t just about finishes. It’s about function, space planning, and flow. And when it’s considered early—before the floor plan is finalized—it becomes a powerful tool that can shape smarter, more intentional designs.

The Real Cost of Delayed Cabinet Planning

When cabinetry is an afterthought, you’re constantly solving problems you could have avoided in the first place:

• Lost storage opportunities:That weird corner of the kitchen? Could’ve been a deep pantry pull-out—if we’d planned it from the start.

• Inefficient layouts: Cabinets squeezed in wherever they’ll fit often lead to poor workflow and awkward navigation.

• Fillers and gaps: If you’ve ever installed a 3" filler strip because a stock cabinet didn’t fit, you’ve seen the downside firsthand. Those little compromises add up—visually and functionally.

• Trades working backward: HVAC, electrical, and plumbing are often run without cabinet specs, only to be moved (expensively) once the install begins.

Flip the Script: Cabinets First

Instead of cramming cabinets into a pre-set space, imagine this:

• The kitchen layout is developed in tandem with cabinetry specs—ensuring a perfect fit, optimized workflow, and no wasted inches.

• Built-ins are planned before walls go up, so framing accommodates them seamlessly.

• Vanities, laundry storage, and mudroom units are designed to match your project’s exact needs—not adapted later to make do with what’s already built.

By bringing your cabinet maker into the early planning stages, you unlock opportunities that would otherwise be missed.

Real-World Benefits for Builders + Designers

• Better visual balance: Cabinet proportions can influence ceiling height, window placement, and traffic flow.

• Higher client satisfaction: You’re delivering not just beauty, but smart, personalized function.

• Reduced change orders: The fewer surprises on site, the more profitable and stress-free your build becomes.

• Design cohesion: Cabinets that align with architecture, not fight against it, elevate the entire project.

Treat cabinetry as architecture, not decoration.

By integrating custom cabinetry into the earliest stages of your design or build process, you don’t just install cabinets—you craft homes that work better, feel better, and function beautifully.

Want to streamline your next build with smarter cabinet planning? Let’s talk early. The best projects start with collaboration.