Shantharam...a lot depends on where you live...do you want stock, semi-custom, or custom...etc. This is probably too late for you, but I thought I'd try answering your question for you anyway just in case & maybe help others out as well! Ours are Omega semi-custom from EXPO Design Center. But if you check the Omega site you'll be able to locate dealers in your area. I suspect all cabinet makers have similar dealer locators on their websites. Many people have had great luck with small, local cabinetmakers...getting custom for the cost of semi-custom or even stock cabinets...BUT, be sure to check their work before committing. You do often get what you pay for! HTH!

We did KM Ginger Glaze on maple, which I loved, for our kitchen remodel in our previous condo. Bought from HD and DIY install. A couple of doors were warped, and KM sent us new ones. We did KM again in our new home through a different HD: Toffee on birch for the mudroom & laundry, which looks blander than I'd expected--but maybe I didn't choose the right color counter top or paint; Sunset on cherry for the lower level walkout kitchen which I like just as well as the upstairs kitchen cherry cabinets without the cost of the glaze (which I forget the name of, but has since been changed). We had several warped doors (large order with 42" tall upper cabs) and a few other issues which we took digital pictures of and sent via internet to KM's rep via HD. Replacements were sent for all cabinet problems, but I'm sure that was partly because I'd itemized each problem with it's cabinet order # and a suggested solution on a spreadsheet and sent it with the accompanying photos. My husband went in to our HD with me when we ordered the cabinets, and again when we had the problems. He's more rational and diplomatic than I am, so that was a help! Also, our HD KD had been a carpenter in his previous life, and was one of HD's best long term kitchen salespeople. He presented our situation to the HD manager who communicated with KM on our behalf. Because of this support, I would use both HD and KM again. I'd gotten an estimate for Merillat, but the KD was so disorganized, that she didn't get back to me twice. When I finally caught her, the amount was about double what it should have been, and she hadn't even caught her mistake, so I didn't want to work with her. I was going to get an estimate for KM from an independent place, but since the gal was on commission, she was always rushing through everything. I went with HD because I could go at my own pace. However, even with appointments there, there are constant interruptions due to phones ringing and other customers needing quick answers to questions. Like Nalcar, I measured everything myself, figured out every detail of my order, and gave it to the KD both times (after discussing the various cabinets with them), and then double checked the printout before I paid for the finalized copy. Anne

As we remodel we will remove Merillat cabinets that are original to the house, 26 years old. We are not the original owners. The cabinets are particleboard and the drawers are stapled. The lazy suzan corner cabinets have two door panels attached together. They changed shape and have not fit into the opening properly for over 10 years. The undersink cabinet was ruined about 5 years ago due to a plumbing problem (the bottom sagged and separated from the side, paper cover pilled off). Then the undercooktop cabinet bottom caved because I put too much weight on it (gallons of water). Now one of the wall cabinets bottom is separating from the side. I think the glue is drying up and no longer holding it together. Everything else seems perfect. So perfect that it took me several years to talk my husband into changing these cabinets. We will reuse them in the basement. I assume that much have changed in cabinet materials in 26 years (particleboard, glue quality, etc.) If I wanted framed cabinets I would look at Merillat. But we decided to get frameless, which Merillat does not make. The important question about upgrading is how long do they expect to be in this condo? How long do they want these cabinets to last? How much customizing do they want to do? Does the builder's model give them the cabinet / drawer configurations that they want? Can they just upgrade some of the cabinets, instead of all, and they would all match? Also, consider what appliances are being built in. Appliances don't seem to last as long as good quality kitchens. In our case the slow death of the built in appliances (cooktop and oven-microwave combo) is what really got us into remodeling, not the cabinets. I would suggest they get a range and a microwave on a shelf instead of built in appliances. And no downdraft venting! If a built in dies you have to deal with making a new cutout or getting a replacement cabinet, trying to match it to other cabinets that are still in good shape, or wait 6 years until both of you are ready to rip out cabinets that are still in mostly good shape. Sorry, that's a lot more info than you asked for...

joy20, all your appliances will have spec sheets and your contractor/cabinet builder should be fully aware of the specs(measurements for depth and width) and if you are having inset doors, they need to accommodate for the doors shutting flush within the cabinet box by building the cabinet box deeper...this is so simple, but critical if they screw it up. Most spec sheets only allow for "overlay doors" - doors that close on the outside of the box, not into it...make sure your carpenter takes this into account! labradoodlemom, benjamin moore's coppermine is the red cabinet...the white cabs are custom to match our trim, but very close to Sherwin Williams Navajo white 6126 Good luck!