Timing Is Everything: How to Plan Your Kitchen Project Around the Holidays

As the holidays approach, many homeowners dream of hosting gatherings in a beautifully updated kitchen but achieving that before Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s takes careful planning. The reality is that cabinetry and countertop orders placed late in the season often run up against holiday closures, extended lead times, and packed delivery schedules. At All About Cabinets and Countertops, we want our clients to feel informed and confident about what to expect when ordering near the holidays. Here’s what you should know:

Lead Times Tighten Quickly

Manufacturers, shipping partners, and warehouses experience their own holiday shutdowns and reduced schedules. This means that even if your order is placed before a deadline, it may still experience delays in production or transit. Most cabinet lead times range anywhere from 6–8 weeks, depending on the brand and finish selection and those timelines can stretch further as the season progresses.

WW Wood Products Inc	Thanksgiving Cutoff to Store/Dealer	Thanksgiving Cutoff for Home Delivery	Christmas Cutoff to Store/Dealer	Christmas Cutoff for Home Delivery
Aspect (4-6 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025
Shiloh (4-6 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025
Eclispe (4-6 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025
Nevara (4-6 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025

WW Wood Products Inc manufacturing will be closed during Thanksgiving and extended from Christmas to New Years.

Masterbrand Lines	Thanksgiving Cutoff to Store/Dealer	Thanksgiving Cutoff for Home Delivery	Christmas Cutoff to Store/Dealer	Christmas Cutoff for Home Delivery
Kemper Echo (Purestyle) (4-6 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025
Kemper Echo (Non-Purestyle) (4-6 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025
Kemper Choice (5-7 weeks)	10/13/2025	10/6/2025	11/10/2025	11/3/2025
Kemper Full Access (5-7 weeks)	10/13/2025	10/6/2025	11/10/2025	11/3/2025
Mantra (2-3 weeks)	11/10/2025	11/3/2025	12/1/2025	11/24/2025
Homecrest (8-10 weeks)	9/29/2025	9/22/2025	10/20/2025	10/13/2025
Aristokraft (3-4 weeks)	10/20/2025	10/13/2025	11/10/2025	11/7/2025

Masterbrand Manufacturing will be closed November 27th-28th, December 24th-25th, & December 31st to January 1st.

Understand the Full Timeline (Not Just the Delivery Date)

When we provide an "estimated delivery dates", it represents the timeframe from order confirmation to when your cabinetry arrives at our showroom warehouse not the full completion of your kitchen. It does not include the time needed to schedule final delivery to your home, installation, or the fabrication and installation of your countertops. Each of those phases adds additional weeks to your project timeline so planning ahead is so important at this stretch of the year.

After that, additional time is needed for:

• Delivery to your home (typically 1-2 week depending on our delivery schedule)

• Cabinet installation (usually 1–2 weeks depending on scope and complexity)

• Countertop template, fabrication, and installation (another 2–3 weeks after cabinets are installed)

Even under ideal circumstances, it can take 8–12 weeks from order to finished project — and that’s before factoring in holiday slowdowns.

Plan Around Holiday Closures

Manufacturers, shipping partners, and even local showrooms operate on reduced schedules during November and December. Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, and New Year’s are all periods when production halts. This means a project that might normally take 8 weeks could stretch closer to 10 or more if it overlaps with these closures.

Pro tip: Ask your designer to verify your cabinet manufacturer’s last ship date before the holidays. Ordering just one week earlier can make all the difference in getting your product before shutdowns begin.

Finalize Selections Early

The design and selection phase can take longer than expected especially if you find it hard to make solid decisions about your design. Finishes, hardware, and countertop materials all need to be confirmed before an order can move forward. To keep things on track:

• Schedule your measure and consultation early. This ensures we can identify potential design challenges or adjustments before ordering.

• Have appliance specs ready. Appliance dimensions directly affect cabinet design, and delays in finalizing them can hold up your entire order.

• Approve samples quickly. Outside of our standard finishes, some finishes require special order or custom match times, which can add a couple weeks to your order.

Communicate Early & Often

We’ll always do our best to keep you informed and help navigate any scheduling challenges, but early action is the best way to avoid disappointment. The earlier you start planning and finalizing selections, the more options and flexibility you will have to align schedules with your goals. Keep open communication with your sales rep/designer and installer so you understand where your project stands at each stage. This prevents surprises and allows for creative solutions if any delays arise.

Our Best Advice: Start Now!

If you’re hoping to enjoy your new kitchen this holiday season, the time to act is now. Early fall is the ideal window to finalize your design, approve materials, and get on the production schedule before the year-end rush. Even if your holiday completion goal is out of reach, beginning the process now ensures a seamless start to the new year without competing for post-holiday lead times when demand spikes again.

Bottom Line: Holiday projects require more than great design, they require strategy and foresight. Planning ahead ensures your investment pays off beautifully, without the stress of last-minute surprises. If you’re hoping to enjoy your new kitchen this holiday season, reach out to All About Cabinets and Countertops to discuss your design goals and secure your order before lead times extend further.