Cabinets-Custom or Semis?

10 years ago

Hello!

We are building a new home here in New England and the builder uses only a custom cabinet maker..Long story short his cabinets tend to look like something out of the 1980s when it comes to styling. He uses old techniques (knife hinges), tiny overlays, and doesn't really provide any special extras in his cabinet package. Top this off with the fact he very expensive and has a terrible attitude and you see why I don't want to use him.

Builder will let me duse who/what I want for cabinets and my allowance is $12k. I have a very good friend who is in the profession, does high end trim out and installs. He recommended the design company he uses and suggested I look at Kraftmaid and Shiloh.

I REALLY like the features I get with a semi custom cabinet maker and quite honestly there is no way a local custom guy can compete. The economies of scale these larger makers have really allow them to make capital investments in equipment a smaller maker never could. So the choices in doors options etc seem to be much more.

After throwing some quotes together based on my budget and lay out I am seeing I get ALOT more for my money than with the builders guy.

Can folks here recommend any makers I should also consider besides KM and Shiloh? And maybe give me some insight into peoples experiences with these two?

Is there any reason I should choose his custom guy? I can't think of one but maybe you can!

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Comments (2)

User
10 years ago
You aren't describing a real custom guy. Your builder's guy has a niche, but it ain't custom. 12 is on the low side for a kitchen. Above builder grade, but not by a whole lot. Average would be 15-25 for a middle of the road kitchen. The makers you listed would be right in that range as well as Diamond, Kitchencraft, or Schuler. There are lower priced brands that might fit your budget better, but you will give up some features and finish quality. Do you prefer to remain mid grade or would something like American Woodmark or Aristokraft work better for you?
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ardcp
10 years ago
skids929- despite what hollysprings said, i have been getting quotes in the $8-9 range for medallion silverline(shuler) and kraftmaid, still waiting on diamond. i am in upstate ny close to VT so i would bet your pricing will be about the same. my design is all drawer bases except 1 cabinet base with 39" high wall cabs. total is 18 cabs. i was originally quoted 11k for both shuler and kraftmaid for solid wood door with raised panel and 1 lazy susan. i scaled back by eliminating the lazy susan and going veneer door with a recessed panel. btw this quote is for full overlay in cherry. i believe kompy sells medallion and has said repeatedly that even their silverline level has excellent finishes and quality. from all the info i have gathered on this site, it seems that unless you want a million dollar kitchen, there is nothing wrong with kraftmaid, medallion, diamond, shlloh, etc. it comes down to what you have in your area but the construction for all the major brands seems to be the same. a lot of people are lucky enough to find custom cab makers in that price range but i couldn't find one here so that wasn't an option.
also when i got a quote for shiloh(12k) for an approximate design, they were not charging extra for inset cabs. i believe they are still running that promo
good luck and know in advance that the things that drive up the cost are: boxed in fridge with the deep cab over( diamond kd said that is 2k) wide moldings, glass cabs, glazes &paint, lazy susans, organizers, etc so i eliminated what didn't matter to me but stuck with all drawers and full overlay cherry cabs.
ps i have aristokraft now and would not buy them again. if the medallion/kraftmaid level was too much i would go with american woodmark/shenedoah since lots of people on this site have good luck with them!
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