If you consider that kitchen cabinets are built-in furniture that must be designed to fit along the walls and around appliances, it's easy to see why they're the major expense in a kitchen remodeling project. No matter what your price range is, you'll find a dazzling selection of styles, materials and finishes from modest unfinished ready-to-assemble units to fine handcrafted cabinetry. Be sure to take your time and see all that's available at kitchen design showrooms and home centers.

If you're looking at moderately priced prefinished wooden cabinets, a contractor will charge $2,631 to remove and dispose of the old cabinets and replace them with 10 feet of moderately priced base and wall cabinets with doors, drawers and shelves and post-formed laminate countertop. That's assuming the new cabinets are a direct replacement for the old ones and no new or custom carpentry work is needed. A handy homeowner with carpentry tools and experience can make the swap for $1,850, the cost of the cabinets, countertop and fasteners, and pocket a 30 percent saving. You'll need an electric drill, stud finder and carpenter's level.

No matter who does the installation, open the cabinet boxes when they're delivered to make sure they are the correct size, style and finish, and to see that they are not damaged.

Not sure what style cabinets you want? Go to www.merillat.com and take their quiz.