My KD offered that as an option: I could have all drawer fronts match the doors, or I could have all drawer fronts slab-style, or I could have a mix. (I chose to have narrow drawers slab-style, but deep drawers will match doors.) I am glad she asked because I would not have known to indicate otherwise. I'm not sure but I think the default is having drawers match doors.

Narrow boards glued together into a wider board are not "laminated." In wood, lamination refers to layers glued together in thickness, as in plywood. The frame helps prevent the panel from warping because the rails apply a cross force to the glued-up boards in the panel. This is the major reason for the traditional design, not just to arbitrarily make more work for the cabinet maker. Battens on the back of a slab door provide a similar cross force. Aprons on a table, likewise. In virtually any traditional design with wood, that cross force is applied in some way. Honestly, I think it's a bit silly to "hate" the battens on the inside of a door that prevent it from warping. But if there is no batten, I would choose veneer over plywood for the slab, making sure the same species and thickness of plies on both front and back to minimize warping. MDF is very heavy and often has hinge failures. And be much more careful than normal to make sure the doors remain dry and the finish intact. The idea that you can find cabinet makers who don't use traditional design, or provide warranties, is no assurance the new design will hold up. In the old days, longevity was more valued and expected. (Some) cabinet makers today know that the average kitchen is replaced in X number of years because people move or want a new look. I find that in home construction in my area, it's possible (easy even) to find workers in every trade who will do work in a way that is highly likely to fail prematurely.

OMG I love those Medallion kitchen cabinet doors! I've gone so far as to replicate them. I LOVE LOVE LOve their lines! I've had a pic of them forever, and have not given up on the idea of buying the doors for other cabinetry. My replicas are pretty darned good, though. LOVE them. I also live and breathe for inset cabinetry. It makes me go, "ahhhhooooooohhhhhhaaaaaaaa..." I disagree with FriedaJane that there is "a lot of lost space" with inset cabinetry. This has been beaten to death, but once the inset cabinets are put together, they're brought out to match the 12.75" "standard" cabinets, which makes the inside space the same. I'm here to tell you. Plus, if you were to order them, you can order them as deep as you'd like. (Brian @ The Cabinet Joint.com does it for me, yet the ones I've picked up at the H4H were the same depth!) A couple of commercial (Norcroft) base cabs I bought before I knew any better have really stupid upper drawers: 3" tall. Just look at that and get what you want. I've never heard that independent carpenters can't make frameless. It's so much easier than inset, because there's so much less precision. I'm one, who has no set, follow-the-lines design style. I think you can achieve a combination of the items you enjoy, and it'll look collected, vs. purchased. I feel sorry for people who buy the showroom and talk about their "eye." I must admit, that table is over the top fancy and oh, so fun. Right now I'm negotiating a butt-ugly armoire on CL. It's so ridiculously contrived it makes me laugh every time I look at it. Someone has painted it, so it's fancy-ness is somehow under control, but again, so over the top. If I get it, I'll make it work and love it. I really look forward to seeing what you bring together!

Suzyq53 - that is TALL! They look great from the pictures. Another cabinet maker I know suggested I should shorten mine to 42" because of the strain on the hardware and how much more effort it takes to open them - something about the bigger doors causing a "suction" and a resistance to open. I wonder if you experience that? Also curious about your hardware. I'm not seeing handles on yours - I was wondering if they were the kind you push and they snap open? thanks again for all of this - it's so helpful to know what is possible, and also by the photos to see what things look like.