Hi Sbanks, I would still get Fabuwood but if you love the grey stain you would probably have to spend 40% more to get anything similar in another line. Most importantly you are not working with a competent kitchen designer. Hi Erynn, You could have your kitchen designer send us a copy of their specbook and also tell us where the line falls price point wise compared to other brands. We rate all these lines on our 2018 cabinet review. Need for inspiration for your dream kitchen? to this point. GOOD DEALERS CLOSE TO YOU CAN BETTER ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT’S AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA. But this Friday is New Years Day and we are closed. I can see that you are a “go your own way” kind of woman. Two times is always a charm if the first match isn’t perfect. We have collected reviews on 60 different brands of residential cabinets. You can check them out on our website or come to our showroom located at 35-10 43rd Street Long Island City, New York 11101 and see them from up close. I refer to it constantly as I am researching kitchen cabinets for our remodeling project. And so “Green” becomes something that many poorly made brands advertise. 60K is the average expenditure for a kitchen reno these days. The only way Sarah and I were ever going to have a house we would love was to figure out what it needed to be like on our own, then build it on our own. Hi Laura, Hi Mike, CNC is up and coming line as a less expensive alternative. So, The ONLY reason to purchase the lower quality frameless construction is if you are getting extremely modern and contemporary door styles. My question, i picked out all wood cabinets on Shenandoah and Kraftmaid… Thank you! Hi SBanks, It also covers warping and peeling which if it were to happen it would almost always happen in the first couple of years. But I guess the finish quality is highest in fabu and lowest in forevermark. Unfortunately this concept seems to have alluded your designer, but then again most designers take less interest in these type issues, and of course selling the more expensive line is in his or her financial interest. 4.2 Kitchen sinks and what you need to know about them. This makes the paint easy to chip. Just starting the process of a new kitchen, so I’ve been reading everything you have written and I must say you certainly know your stuff. Having a darker base cabinet and lighter wall and Tall cabinets is not unusual in the same door style. However, in reviewing you cabinet list, I was wondering a few things. The value grade we give is not a rating about the quality of the cabinetry but a rating of how good an investment a cabinet line is considering it’s cost. We are extremely excited about our new home in Newark. I’m curious if you know of Quality Custom (QCCI) and thoughts. This website is such a great resource as we’re deciding on our kitchen renovation, thank you! A pro for the KMV is that it has full depth shelves. Hi Adina, CrownPoint is an expensive custom cabinet brand so the design you are getting should be sophisticated enough to need that high a priced brand. And wanting no wall cabinets-. Over-centerting is a common thing done by less … Sign up to receive information about our special offers, promotions and product updates. If anyone has any pros/cns please share. Mixing door styles that as well as colors I don’t like and I would think that your entire renovation could be valueless if when you go to sell your home the people that buy it don’t like it either and plan on ripping out the kitchen you did. That led me to really hunker down and think budget, time line etc. The wood for all their cabinets is from China, actually a forest in nearby Russia. I asked if that goes for the frame and they said yes. I like Kraftmaid but I wouldn’t get Evercore. I’ve been reading your blog for the better part of the last year and greatly appreciate all of your sage advice. You provide such a wealth of information in your posts and also in the links to appliance ratings, sinks, checklists, etc. Is it a decent cabinetry? I never thought it was tasteful anywhere except a laundry room. Solid wood cabinets are one of the least expensive brands out there. https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/making-kitchen-design-lemonade-out-of-lemons-during-covid-19/, Hi, The rep even told me if they tried to expedite the shipping via air freight it like arrive damaged, basically a guarantee it would arrive damaged. We then tailor it for you. Beaded inset doors, furniture grade stained finishes, distressed finishes, and glazes and paints with visible brushstrokes are features only available in higher priced cabinetry. MDF. I might be wrong, but I think when you get the Kraftmaid all plywood box and not the “plywood sides” option that the shelves will come real plywood. Thank you! Shopping for kitchen cabinets? Thanks Laura, I’ll get some drawings to you some Friday when and if I can. Which do you suggest or is there another line in that price point we should look at. Interior Designers can add value to Kitchen Design. You’ve spent a bunch of time with me. Yours is an extreme case. OUR SERVICE AREA IS WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVE OF OUR BALA CYNWYD PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE. Home → KraftMaid . If there are other lines that would be comparable I would love to hear about them. A home owner not opting for these features does just as well in a less expensive cabinet line as long as the cabinetry being ordered meets the recommended minimum requirements. It is within my range: o Perimeter of kitchen in Dover White Paint with Latte glaze #25 Kraftmaid #26 Schuler #27 Shenandoah #28 Homecrest #29 Merillat #30 Decora #31 Kemper #32 Designers' Choice #33 Thomasville #34 Diamond #35 Aristokraft #36 Wolf #37 Masterbrand #38 Hampton Bay #39 Schrock #40 Kitchen Craft #41 Timberlake. We are … ; then Kitchen and Bath Center in Agawam offered to do a design with Fabuwood Fusion or Galaxy or a Fieldstone cabinetry. Another recent example of this type of upgrade was when Yorktowne upgraded to Medallion construction, and we needed to change our reviews accordingly. Last Updated February 2020: Wolf Home Products was founded back in 1843 with a single lumber store and have now grown to be one of the most well known cabinet suppliers in the country. Certainly taking this road without any knowledgeable design help will get you an amateurish kitchen. All these low cost lines that get rated well are similar. Main Line Kitchen Design would never recomend doing this except in a few very specific situations. Diamond is more expensive without even upgrading to APC yet. I think there are well made assembled plywood cabinets sold for only 20% more than Green Forest. Read Reviews of Crestwood Cabinets. Because contemporary and modern door styles look so much better with the ultra tight gaps between doors and drawer fronts only possible with frameless construction, they are only available that way. While Crystal is a good cabinet brand looking for “Green” cabinetry can be dangerous in The cabinet industry. Personally I decorated and designed our own bathrooms with stained cabinetry to avoid any issues. Unfortunately Shiloh has a nice looking cabinet but is poorly engineered. 15-20K average for average kitchen cabinets for an average kitchen. Would you recommend it? Which line is best? Thank you once again for your generosity in sharing your expertise…and your stories! At the end of the day, the finish of your new cabinetry is probably the most important part. There seem to be a lot of happy Schroll clients at Houzz. The dealer is then responsible for handling and directing all purchases and warranty claims to the appropriate Fabuwood departments. 2.2 Design and Build and why splitting the two can make sense. Fabuwood Quest Catalog. A limited Lifetime warranty for a cabinet line covers hinges and tracks which are warrantied for life by the hardware companies. I do want something that is environmentally friendly, low v o c, Etc thank you for your time … I’ve received some really good information from your website. However here you are asking for reviews on all frameless cabinetry so we know they can’t get better than a B for construction. How does it compare against Kraftmaid? I can go to Lowe’s, order JSI online, or get Waypoint or Wolf from a local cabinet dealer. Hi Paul, I would be very pleased to give you a great review! The two main brands that this shop carries are Schrock and Decora. Compare Kitchen Cabinet Brands. Special Price $135.00 Regular Price $245.00. . Our funny video makes the point that people just don’t know what they don’t know: So extra money spent upgrading to higher cost cabinet lines often goes unappreciated. I have reserve champagne taste and my house came in higher than I thought it would to build. I realize there are oftentimes unfairly harsh reviews directed towards manufacturers or designers by homeowners who simply do not fully grasp the realities of a renovation project. Kitchen Cabinet ratings for 2020. Thanks in advance! I had to postpone it for 2 years due to illness, but now, I am ready. These incredibly detailed but ill conceived plans include amateurish design flaws. Do you have any ratings or info on Crown cabinets in Utah? Not much information about them online. Very disappointing. Lowe’s is trying to sell me the Kraftmaid Evercore doors in white painted shaker. We have all of the major brands listed - Kraftmaid, Mid Continent Cabinetry, Marsh, Fieldstone Cabinetry, Quality, Merillat, Welborn, StarMark Cabinetry, UltraCraft Cabinetry, Urban Effects Cabintery, Decora, Thomasville, Medallion, Omega, Diamond and more. You have already successfully ruled out some. Deciding on cabinets for our Kitchen Reno. For your needs I would recommend Fabuwood or J&K if it is less and you need to stay on budget. The MDF doors will look nice painted but if you are hard on things they will be easily damaged and impossible to repair. This is why Home Centers don’t sell custom cabinetry. For a stained cabinet Omega will be much nicer looking but that isn’t what you are selecting. Just a suggestion, but when rating cabinet mfgs. Thank you! View all reviews for quality, service & price. Both are frameless lines. Hi Lisa, We have been given 3 recommendations from our designer: Fabuwood, Siteline, and Schrock. Getting inset Starmark with all plywood construction for Schrock pricing would be quite a deal. vs Wellborn and of course you have mentioned the lack or customer contact or response with Woodmode. David Bradley (USA) and Superior (Canada). I’m considering Kraftsmaid if I don’t want to stain myself, if I can find a wood stain finish I like. Thank you! Hi Paul, I am having a hard time finding much information online. They come straight off the same assembly line. Have you all reviewed Wynnbrooke American Collection? Thank you for all the recommendations that you put out there..it’s a valuable resource for us. The Warranty is not a meaningful thing in the cabinet world and has no relation to how well cabinets are made. Both designers seem easy to work with, and both are fairly new to the profession, and both are not from big box stores. 4.1 Why is it so hard to compare kitchen cabinet brands? Once you are getting a well made cabinet line as these lines are the difference will be mostly in how the finish looks an how exact and even the gaps in the inset doors are. We are just in the beginning steps of kitchen reno. What is your experience with this? Foil or laminate frameless cabinets in black and white is more common than painted cabinets in mid priced lines. Hi Jill. The moldings in the second kitchen on the blog below were all done this way: Our budget is flexible but we do not want to go too much over $6-7K as we will be selling the house within a year. I had pipes burst in my home, have extensive damage, and therefore I am looking to be the most cost effective as possible as I proceed in repairing two-thirds of my home. I’ll send you an email with my contact information. Yes Trish transparency would be lovely but in the cabinet world it is uncommon. The articles and comments are quite helpful! It is our first time doing any type of remodel and am finding the price for the cabinets very high. The website says the doors are MDF. My research turned up that the company has places in Asia (China) they get their “birch species” wood from. We also carry the latest kitchen cabinet trends 2021, as well as top kitchen trends 2020. I am going to ask him for more specific details and also go back to the Agawam MA Kitchen & Bsath Design Center with Fabuwood to get a real design and price. Notice that frameless lines can receive at best a B in construction in the 2017 rankings. Sorry Suzzan. Refrigerator should not be centered and should be located towords one end with door hinge on that end so that countertop is more usable when door is open. Once you have the drawings from an actual kitchen designer we can help you fix any design flaws we see. . Is Brookhaven a better or equal option? We are on a modest budget and the available brands we are frequently steered towards locally are J&K, ProCraft, and A1. Hi, Im doing a new kitchen on the big inland hawaii they have medallion,heartwood, and bellmont,cabinents..my problem i need all made in usa wood too harevest here.IT IS MUST only medallion will tell you that im doing cherry or oak on shaker very simple wanted white can`t have paint because it will peel from moisture also im making sure they are making them all wood or plywood inside . NO NOT ever get a custom paint RTA. We live a little too far to use you, very much appreciate your frank assessment/advice. Too many buzz words and very little information. So, I’ll try to reach you this Friday. I don’t freak out about the plastic wood patterns on the inside of cabinets, as long as the exposed outer sides are real and the cabinet box is plywood. Is there any way to upgrade Merillat to make it acceptable? I take your point on actual need for Crown Point. Hi Paul, A better fit. By the way your website is an awesome source and I have used it several times as I have met with different places to look at cabinets! This is really a wealth of information! The Smooth Finish. Get a good designer first and they can help you spend your money more effectively. Is there another name for it? For example, many of the most expensive well made cabinet lines receive lower marks on value even though as designers we think the cabinetry is the best in it’s class. Generally the designs people send us on Fridays to look at are absolutely terrible. We love the quality but of course they are at the highest price point. There is another shop that carries Cabico that we could possibly consider. I’m torn between Cabico and Wellborn Forest Shaker cabinets. When possible all construction specifics were double checked on the web sites for each cabinet line. We are most concerned about quality of finish at seams and wear over these next few years. Feel free to call us on Fridays between 2pm and 4pm when we answer questions from people outside our service area. Home; RTA Cabinets; Assembled Cabinets; Custom Cabinets; Kitchen Design; KraftMaid. I’m installing a kitchen in a small home. I’ve decided to avoid Masterbrand products such as Decora and Omega. I have seen it mentioned a few times in this discussion, but I have not seen you comment on its quality. Main Line Kitchen Design’s Bishop line has the greatest door style and finish selection in European frameless construction. I stopped the contractor before he put this one on. What would the major difference in durability and price? I’m starting a new construction and need help. Often customers can’t tell the difference and they will both hold up equally. We are now looking at the white Shenandoah Duraform style Province. We’ll see. I am looking at two different brands that you have listed here. But the new US rules are pretty much the same. This funny video applies particularly to expensive kitchens. Hello, As always the design itself is most important especially when you are picking between well made cabinetry. (4) If I decide to go with white cabinets, do all white cabinets chip, crack or peel over time? Only the Brighton Beaded Inset Doylestown PA, Kitchen truly needed to be designed in a custom line to achieve that look. Then the door style will only be available in European frameless lines. Thanks again! They will assemble. We rate over 70 lines including Showplace on this post: We are considering showplace cabinets for our new kitchen. My question would be is the value column relative to the price category they are in or is it relative to the entire marketplace of cabinetry. One of the better word-of-mouth kitchen designers in my area does not offer these cabinets, so I am deciding between SWC services or doing further research on local designers, including the word-of-mouth designer. Hi Mary, That being said any cabinet will last the 6 years you are asking for and any nicks and scratches to the white paint can be touched up before you sell by Guardsman Furniture Re-finishers for a few hundred dollars. The designs we get sent on Fridays 2-4 pm when we give free advice are almost always amateurish and poor. On the other hand, after meeting these construction minimums cabinetry should last a lifetime so there is very little advantage in paying for cabinetry that exceeds the criteria. We charge $150 / hour to do 3D designs and we require a deposit of $500 to start the design process. KraftMaid products are available at national chains like Home Depot, Expo Design Centers, and Lowe's. The answer depends on several factors including budget, how fast cabinetry is needed, and how long you want the cabinetry to last. We would greatly appreciate some input and opinions. Overall, the design using KraftMaid cabinets had a tighter, more integrated feel in our kitchen than the Ikea cabinets. This is what will truly determine how green your choice is. We will be doing a two toned painted finish (navy lowers and white uppers). Do you do kitchen design work in Westchester, NY? Therefor I need to lower my cabinet budget without destroying the look of my open kitchen. We have received quotes for Waypoint (full APC), and Diamond. Only their dealers would know. Omega will take at least 4- 6 weeks & Fabuwood about 2wks. I really enjoyed reading your blog posts and learned a lot. This is why selecting a designer is more important than a brand. I was wondering about your thoughts on using a Duraform instead of a painted cabinet and if it will match the quality of the house. Have not made the decision about Fabuwood yet. Either the finish was defective or you are cleaning the cabinets with something caustic. That said, there seem to be limited options when looking for new, high-quality cabinets to match the strong, framed, 3-ply full overlay cabinets we have now. Installed by A.D. Panaccio. We are finalizing the design and I hope to be able to submit it to you for feedback. How would I know? Thank you, Paul! Change door styles but not designers. My kitchen is not large, but quite sufficient, 13′ usable wall space with ancient 30″ side by side frig & a set of 4 drawers & small cabinet to left of sink, DW to right of sink, sharp corner right turn has 30″ stovetop and 27″ Wall oven cabinet. Hi Mike, They carry Fabuwood, but steered me more towards Diamond Vibe due to the longer warranty. The very few found (you wouldn’t run out of fingers on one hand with the counting) were a stretch… a maybe possible maybe, but likely not. The difference is the dealer that offers the Showplace inset cabinets also has installation pricing whereas the dealer that has the Starmark does not. So, I have to tell you a story. Read Reviews of Crestwood Cabinets. As far as I know Omega cabinet doors and fronts are still made in the US but that really doesn’t matter here. I’m not so sure about Omega but I’ve been told they are American-made. I know you are on a budget but finding an experienced person to work with is most important of all. Anyways, keep up the great work! However J&K and CNC will be fine just not quite as consistent looking. The line offers seven color options – Horizon, Cobblestone, Linen, Pecan, Nickel, Frost and Espresso. The high-end initial quotes are 20-25k while j&k is 8-9k (not sure about fabuwood yet but I assume it’s somewhere in the middle). They can be cleaned and touched up by furniture refinishers like Guardsman, Hi there. Thinking that staining cabinets yourself is a good idea. Plus there is no face frame holding cabinets square or keeping the cabinet stable. I too was presented with this line and I thought the rep was completely joking with me! Leave a Reply Cancel … Our founder is not just a cabinet maker, he is a finisher (someone who applies the … So Wolf is maybe the best choice. I am taking your advice to have everything on hand before the contractor begins work. Since so many of us readers live too far away to work with you, I’m wondering if you are interested in seeing photos of completed renovations that came about due to your advice. However, many customers come to us saying things like “Well my kitchen is small and we are on a budget so there really isn’t much that we could change in the design.” This is because the homeowner and the people working on the design aren’t experts. If you are getting something like a shaker white door and the design can be accomplished in Fabuwood then spending the extra money on a more expensive line is wasted. It would be in their interest to have us rate them if they are well constructed. We are building a new house and working with a guy who has been in the kitchen design business for a very long time. The construction of the wall cabinets is more important in some ways than the base cabinets since they hang on a wall. If you do care about resale value, I would guess that there are other design issues you might have with the design of your kitchen. Any advice much appreciated. Max upgrades only? KraftMaid Cabinets is stationed in Ohio and has been in business for over 40 years. It is not uncommon for small compromises to save a significant amount of money. . So many of the makers you list seem to be regional, especially the ones with A ratings. They can also fill in the many blanks that you are unaware of because our industry is so complex. This is why the companies that offer limited lifetime warranties are smarter don’t necessarily make even mediocre cabinets. Hi Sharon, Home depot designers have gotten much worse over the last few years as they cut the salaries they offered kitchen designers in half, same with Lowes. We don’t like to encourage people getting RTA cabinetry because even if you build the cabinet well when you account for the time it takes to build the cabinet it is less of a savings than you think. We’re replacing 45+ year old cabinets that were solid and I don’t want to put in something that will fall apart. Listening to answers to questions posed by others. Can you tell me what other brands would be similar in price range? but we are still not able to decide one way or the other on the pantry. Experienced and ethical kitchen designers help customers fix their kitchen designs and never rubber stamp architects or home owners designs. We do take these considerations into account when we rate a line. I’m so very impressed with the help you offer! I know you rate Merillat very poorly. While Fabuwood can be bought RTA. ALSO WHY WON`T COMPANYS TELL YOU WHERE THEY SOURCE THERE WOOD OR ITEMS FROM ? Have you used them, and do you feel they can survive heavy use? I’m looking for more budget friendly options instead. Wow! However Fabuwood are making a name for themselves as a reliable and … Photographed by Linda McManus. That was a customers and brilliant! Couldn’t find any specific links that compare these 3 manufacturers. 4..0 Price comparing kitchen cabinets and why it is a bad idea. Kraftmaid solution is to make you wait 2-3 for another replacement with no guarantee it will be any better than the first 2. Hi Laura, If this was universally followed, the kitchen design industry would be one of the most respected industries out there! KraftMaid is a division of the Masco Corporation of Taylor, Michigan. What are your thought ms on the quality of DuraSurpreme? The builder specs JSI Cabinets. Would be interested in your opinion on these lines, and how they compare to each other. I wouldn’t call them designers, although they are better than the people staffing IKEAs. You have helped me rule out so many cabinet choices. All painted finishes chip and scratch easily so Kraftmaid won’t hold up any better. The solid would rail can be seen on the top back of the base cabinet. Chrystal is a much better cabinet assuming it is upgraded to plywood CliqueStdios has already gone bankrupt once I would worry about it happening again and loosing my money. They can either make another adjusted gallon or add pigment to the original. Just to be clear– Any cabinetry you buy as a consumer and any complaints you have should be directed to the cabinet dealer you bought from and NEVER to the cabinet line. Reviews for Fabuwood cabinets are very mixed, with some consumers rating them poorly for design issues and the lack of an extended guarantee. Do you have any thoughts? If you like the look and don’t care that others don’t that’s OK, but you are spending a fortune on this project. Hi Deanne, Both are good lines either way you go. Fabuwood Dealers. Or possibly an online company like CliqStudios https://www.cliqstudios.com/ could walk you through the same process and design a simple kitchen for you which you could then tweak with whoever is going to sell you cabinets. Home owners and kitchen designers must balance the cost to be in different cabinet lines with how well those lines meet design and finish preferences. (1)What do you think of a product called thermofuse? The interior pull outs etc you want should be available in both lines. I can choose a painted cabinet or a wood that is stained, not painted. If there are other cabinet brands you might recommend it is appreciated I have probably looked at 30 And lastly, we have a travertine backsplash, would it be “odd” to have the upper cabinets in a pearl or off white color??? Email * (This will not be published, it is simply spam precaution). Which cabinet manufacturers do you recommend for that modern European look? Houzz like HGTV is a terrible place to get information on kitchen design and cabinetry. Do you trust the Decora line(I see they are a “4” for value and an “A” for quality on your rating, but hearing it from you would reassure us that the extra 12% cost is worth it. They both are white shaker and look similar. specs? The builder strongly encouraged us to use their supplier. The KraftMaid backs their cabinets with a limited warranty for as long as you own the cabinets. They are well constructed. On a painted shaker full overlay door I think Fabuwood is the best value. Also, we are trying do decide between alder and maple. … Home centers are becoming the go to place for people that don’t want any design advice. See below: https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/how-to-make-a-better-kitchen-cabinet/. My favorite craziness from architects of late is rooms or decks that can only be accessed though a bathroom. They are also manufactured in a part of the country not known for the best values in cabinetry. Fabuwood Cabinet Reviews – Affordable High End Customizable Cabinets. thinking wearability and keeping a lighter look ?? I’m doing a new kitchen in grey maple stained cabinets. Cabinet manufacturers that are trying to sell to home owners usually make cabinetry that either comes well constructed or can be upgraded to acceptable standards. Fabuwood … Its not possible for a customer to be presented cabinets named Fabuwood without the red flags going up. For baths paint is less durable than stain and a laminate or foil would be the the least effected by steam. If you need any more choices in material or style then I suggest you take a look at Fabuwood Cabinets or Wellborn Cabinets because they are similar in price and quality. There is no information on cabinet construction on their site which is a sure sign that there is nothing to brag about. This is a product marketing to amateurs and contractors looking for nice looking cabinetry on the cheap. o Soft close feature on doors and drawers I have been reading your blog for the last year while preparing for a kitchen and bath renovation. o Hanover door style This is our last house, so want to make choices that will stand the test of time. This is a great ranking. I found another cabinet maker, a neighbor, whose kitchen I really like. The price difference may be upwards of 4K for Diamond.. apples to apples. The biggest weakness of particle board when compared to plywood is that if it gets subjected to a high humidity or wet … That would be 3 lumber yards and a small home center (cabinets, counters, etc.) Focus less on the cabinet line and more on getting the help that you should have putting decisions in perspective. An expert kitchen designer would almost always be able to improve a design without increasing the overall cost of the kitchen significantly.