I'm not sure I understand--most of Brookhaven and Woodmode's lines are framed!

Anyway, frameless is just as sturdy if built right, and isn't necessarily built of lesser materials. And that line, especially Woodmode, is quite good quality. $$$

Thanks for the reply fori. This designer seems to be more inclined to use the frameless Brookhaven. So, would you feel comfortable using Brookhaven (made by Wood-Mode) instead of the other cabinets listed? If framless is just as strong, what about particle board vs. plywood as far as material?

No matter what you do, really investigate each brand first (I see you are doing that by asking questions here-- good start). I went with a brand I was unsure about b/c I loved our KD. Huge mistake. The cabinets were terrible quality-- I could not approve the sample doors due to numerous flaws. We are still fighting for our 50% deposit back. We're now going with the brand I felt comfortable with from day 1. If possible, I'd see if you can get a design independent of the cabinets and then get things priced out using your plan. Otherwise, make sure you are confident about the product you are getting (not just the service).

I understand the desire to work with someone you know and like but I am hesitant to work with anyone who uses only one supplier. Maybe I'm too cynical but I can't help but wonder if they are getting a kickback or if the profit margin is really high on that line. Too many years as a salesman's wife I guess (and yes they do try to sell you the one they make the most profit on)

As Danielle said the key is to educate yourself - this is a good place to start - and make you know and like whatever goes into your kitchen. Happy hunting!

Brookhaven/Woodmode are great cabinets! It sounds like a win/win situation to me. Nothing wrong with furniure board construction OR frameless. That's what's always used in high end Euro cabinetry. It's just Americans aren't that familar with that type of construction and tend to be somewhat suspicious of it. This suspicion is somewhat fanned by cabinet makers who make traditional framed cabinetry and tend to have a dog to lose in the fight.

Wait--I think I'm a little confused. I really don't know anything about Holiday or Kingswood, but I'm pretty sure that Brookhaven (and CERTAINLY Wood-Mode) are generally considered a step up from KraftMaid. Not that KraftMaid is "bad"--just that I don't think people generally compare the two quite in the same bracket. Were the contractors telling you otherwise? I'm sure others will chime in with more details about frame construction, but I just was hoping you weren't getting misled by someone.

If I had to pick between Brookhaven or KraftMaid, it really wouldn't be a choice for me--I would pick Brookhaven every time. And if I had more money, I would go with Wood-Mode, Crown Point or completely custom.

Definitely do your homework before committing to any cabinet line--a few hours on here will be worth your weight in gold!! Search for the cabinet brands you are thinking of in the little box at the bottom of the screen, get quotes with all the same bells and whistles (get as close as you can to comparing apples to apples!) and see which product you like better.

:)
Sarah

All semi custom cabinets are on 3-inch increments. I would think the kitchen designer would be able to design the kitchen regardless of brand (with the exception of a few specific cabinets or options) and go from there. There Would be differences with framed vs frameless.

I have used frameless Brookhaven, and framed Kraftmaid for myself and Thomasville framed (a Home Depot brand) in another kitchen I designed, as well as Plain $ Fancy --a custom cabinet.

The Brookhaven had a very small finish flaw but otherwise was fine. The Kraftmaid is holding up well. I do not like the finish on the Thomasville, but that client is much harder on things than we are in our house. Kraftmaid makes a version of frameless and I am not familiar with it, except that I did not like the side finishing options and other trims on the display I saw because it was all thermofoil... and if the display doesnt look that nice, a real installation can only be worse IMO.

Our Brookhaven cabinets are in the process of being installed. We chose them for two reasons: 1) familiarity with the Woodmode/Brookhaven cabinets and the quality of the construction and finish, 2)the KD who was far superior, in our opinion to the KD's who were representing Downsview, Plain and Fancy, and Omega who also gave us bids. It sounds to me as if you have a win/win if you get a KD you like and the Woodmode/Brookhaven line of cabinets.

If you don't want to compromise, why not just use Wood-Mode?

Personally I would always do wood before particle board (it's a debatable subject to some but not to me) but both Brookhaven and WoodMode offer that option. I'm not sure why the CKD is only offering you particle board frameless? Both WM and BH come in framed and frameless.

Personally I'd have gone with Wood Mode if I could have, but they wouldn't build some of the custom features I wanted so I went with Omega. I'd do the Bh over the other options you've posted, especially as you show doubt about the contractor verses a CKD. If you need a KD...than you should stick with them, but be sure they're being fair in their offerings to you. It sounds like (from your post) they only offer Brookhaven frameless particle...and that would actually be unlikely because when they carry the line, they carry the whole line (it's all ordered from the factory, not on hand).

First, thank you everyone for the feedback. This whole exercise has been a lot of work but fun in a strange self deprecating kind of way...

Sarah, honestly, I have been told by numerous other contractors that Brookhaven (Wood-mode) was a stock builder quality product. When I challenged the KD on this he spent 1/2 an hr. explaining why it was a better product but since this is the only line he uses he certainly has a vested interest.

The Holiday and Kingswood cabinets appeared to me to be a slight step up from Kraft Maid. I guess to live wire's point, I bought into the notion that framed "real wood" must be better than frameless particle board.

I am currently doing a kitchen in full custom Plain & Fancy. The dealer also carries Wood-mode/Brookhaven and recommended it as a lower price point alternative for the project. (the Plain & Fancy comes in at $18K just cabinets in a smallish kitchen).

Although he does a number of custom lines he says that Brookhaven is a good alternative because you can use some of the Wood-mode features for some customization since they share doorstyles. The finishing process is more extensive on the Wood-mode.

Brookhaven is definitely better than the "builder grade" I have seen around here. (So is Kraftmaid--it IS carried by Home Depot, but not the whole line)

Also, I think you will get more of a kitchen from a CDK than a contractor.

Can you find a certified designer who does not sell cabinets? As an alternative, many interior designers have extensive kitchen experience. I'd rather pay for expertise then have mediocre quality cabinets.

Gosh, Brookhaven is not builder's grade around here!! I haven't ever seen it in a house with basic, builder's grade stuff. Most of our builder's grade stuff is Armstrong/Schrock/Bertch, etc. or maybe Kraftmaid.

Might be because of where I live, but to get Brookhaven/Wood-Mode around here, you have to go to a specific KD's shop--we have a couple, but they're not carried at Lowe's/HD/Curtis, etc.

If you can afford it, I would go with Plain & Fancy, Wood-Mode, Omega, Crown Point, etc. Nice thing about Brookhaven as a mid-range price point is that if you can use it for most of your cabinets, you can add in a Wood-Mode cabinet here and there if needed for an odd space or a certain type of cabinet--and have them all finished in the same way. Kind of mix-and-match, if you will.

Oh, and if you do go the route of getting Brookhaven/Wood-Mode, I would shop your plan around if you have other KD's in the area. Mine was 14.5K for a medium sized kitchen with four walls of painted cabinets--and another KD wanted almost 4K more for the same layout. Pays to shop around, even if you want to use your favorite KD in the end. Can't hurt to do some price comparison!

:)
Sarah

Whoever told you that Brookhaven were builder's grade was probably trying to sell you the brand of cabinets that they carry!! I've never heard of Holiday or Kingswood, but I can tell you that Brookhaven are MUCH, MUCH nicer than Kraftmaid. See the Brookhaven finish in person and their superiority will be obvious. Also Brookhaven is available in either framed or framless, and I'd be very surprized if they couldn't be upgraded to plywood if that was what you wanted.

By the way, plywood isn't standard with Kraftmaid either; it's an upgrade.

Since your kitchen is 10x12 perhaps you should think seriously about getting frameless - you will have more storage.

I think Brookhaven is generally considered a high end cabinet brand, not a stock builder's grade. Do a search on this site, and you will see.

We have Brookhaven cabinets, and they are very very nice, and offered so many options, it was totally unnecessary for us to do custom, even though we thought we would have to in our odd kitchen. We also has plywood construction, not particle board, although that was an upgrade.

I had Kraftmaid cabinets in my kitchen in my former apartment. They were nice, but these cabinets are much nicer.

I put Wood-Mode crown moulding in my last kitchen. My KD bought the stuff unfinished from them and sent it to the company that did my (much cheaper) cabinets to be stained and finished. (Twice actually, since she ordered the wrong stuff first.) I liked my cheaper cabinets just fine, but yeegads Wood-Mode sure uses a nice grade of cherry!

Bumping this back up.

How does everyone like their Brookhaven cabinets since this post was last active (1 year ago)?

I too found a kitchen designer I really like to work with and it just so happens he uses mostly Woodmode. So we're planning the kitchen with Brookhaven frameless. I'm really glad to see only positive things written about Brookhaven. As everyone knows it's not so easy to pick out appliances so to feel confident with our designer and his cabinets is a major relief right now.

bump