How I Built a Kitchen Cabinet Cost Calculator with Next.js and Prisma

Every year, millions of homeowners start a kitchen remodel and immediately hit the same wall: "How much will new cabinets actually cost?" The answers online are vague — "$5,000 to $25,000 depending on factors." That is not helpful when you are trying to set a realistic budget. I decided to build a free tool that gives people real, actionable cost estimates based on their specific kitchen layout. Here is how I built it, and what I learned about the custom furniture sourcing industry along the way. The Problem: Opaque Pricing in Custom Cabinetry Custom kitchen cabinets are one of the biggest line items in any renovation. But pricing is wildly inconsistent: Retail markup can be 3-5x over factory cost Pricing varies dramatically by region, material, and finish Most online calculators are lead-gen forms, not actual tools Getting a real quote requires contacting 5-10 suppliers I wanted to build something that actually computes an estimate on the spot — no email required, no sales call, just