Changing to New Cabinets

Moving to another house and the only major thing I'd like to change in the coming years is to totally update the kitchen. I priced and looked at selection at HD. While the plastic covered white cabinets are cheapest I don't want to go that route....they can chip or peel over time and would look a mess. So I'd like something that is solid wood and stained. Has anyone put in their own kitchen cabinets? Can you recommend affordable places to get them? Has anyone ever bought the unfinished ones and stained them themselves? I would like that route but don't think I can do it....we'll need some custom cut pieces to fit into certain areas. I want it top notch but done ourselves so we can afford to spend more on the materials since we are the labor.

Any tips or places of reference (online stores?) etc would be great.