We purchased our Kraftmaid cabs through Lowes and didn't experience anything resembling what you're going through. A couple of days after we placed our order, the Kraftmaid rep called to let us know that our cabs were going into production. She gave us an approximate delivery date and told us that they would call when they were ready for delivery. She left her name and number w/ extension which I didn't even ask for. When our cabs were ready(less than 3 weeks later) she called to set up delivery. We set up delivery for that Wednesday morning. The morning of the delivery, the delivery guys called to let us know they were on their way. They must have been just getting off the highway, because they were at my house ten minutes later. They carried all 39 boxes up my front steps and into my great room. I had only a 9" pullout that was out of square, an end panel with a scratch, and 2 doors with pooled staining/finish problems. 1 of the doors was real nitpicky, only visible from a certain angle. I went to my Lowe's KD and she ordered replacements without ever needing to come out and look at them. Again Kraftmaid called a couple of days later, to let me know my pieces were in production, etc. They arrived a few weeks later in tip top condition. We're very happy with our Kraftmaid purchase. We got Cherry Lynchburg Mission in the Honey Spice finish. I've heard their glazed finishes can be a bit messy, but I'm confused about the shelves that were coming apart. Kraftmaid shelves are separate items that are adjustable, not fixed. How were they coming apart?

I can't tell exactly, but it's pretty close to the Kraftmaid Kensington we got from Lowes. I think Kensington is a Lowes exclusive, but each retailer seems to have their own names for the same thing. It's very confusing at times. Anyhow, here's a couple of pictures (these are the only ones I have with me now). This is in Cherry Antique Chocolate with a Mocha Glaze. Very happen with the cabinets. I think they both look and feel very well made.

I've done quite a few of KM kitchens in the Bisque glaze, which is their Dove White with a vanilla glaze on it (as they are now renaming their finishes to reflect more accurately the layered process). We have an office display in the Bisque. That particular display is old enough that all of the doors show the typical cracking associated with the expansion/contraction of wood. I've only had a couple of issues with customers being unhappy with the Dove White with Vanilla Glaze (Bisque). On one of those complaints, there was a definate factory defect in that the outer frame of the door had warped enough that unpainted wood showed extensively at the joints. Those few doors that showed that were replaced and no further problems ensued. I know that a big contributory factor to that was that this was new construction that didn't have adequate temperature/humidity control achieved yet. It was only a couple of doors, so it wasn't a problem to ask for replacement. But, really, it's up to the customer to achieve temperature/humidity control in the environment before the cabinets are installed. It wasn't worth it to make that point with only a couple of doors affected, so we registered the point with the customer, had the doors replaced, and made sure we adequately cover that issue more clearly in the future. One of my newer colleagues had an issue with a laundry room he did in Bisque---because he didn't adequately explain all of the above that I listed to the customer. She was very unhappy about the joint line cracking. She eventually accepted it (with several doors replaced and a discount) because it was a laundry room. My colleague had a meeting with me he won't soon forget and now adequately qualifies the customer on the front end. Especially those who say they want paint. Often, what they really want is thermofoil that looks like paint, not real paint. I have done one kitchen in the Dove White this year that turned out quite nicely. It was in the shaker style with the satin chrome bow pulls and very simple moldings and a lot of clear glass with in cabinet lighting. Light grey floor tile and beadboard backing for the peninsula and back splash. Very serene beachy looking and the customer loved it. We had zero issues on the cabinets other than KM "losing" half the order (which showed up the next week), and yes, some of them came in with the paint already showing some cracking at the joints. She knew to expect this, because it was explained on the front end. So, it was not a problem.

Carmela, are we related? I just went through this very thing - it took me *months* to choose cabinets!!! I think I had the same concerns as you too - wanted good quality at a manageable price. I wanted shaker style rather than raised panel, not too orangey (or pinky or yellowy). Boy, was it ever hard to find the right color! For a while I was trying to get my head around Medallion because my contractor had recommended a dealer with very good prices. Hazelnut is very orangey, IMO. I saw a sample Hazelnut kitchen at the dealer, and one of my contractor's references also had a Hazelnut kitchen. *Beautiful* but definitely orange. Considered Kraftmaid Toffee, too. It's a much lighter color, more warm yellowy with a definite pink cast. (At least the sample door my dealer brought over when she came to measure looked very pink in my kitchen.) It's pretty, though - the Lowe's near me had a sample kitchen in Toffee. *Very* different from Medallion Hazelnut. Kraftmaid Praline is a very nice finish. It seemed like a warm but neutral brown - darker than what I wanted, but really nice. My dealer said it's her most popular color. Haven't seen the other cabinet brands, so can't comment. But if you don't like orange and you don't like yellow, I'm not sure Hazelnut or Toffee will work for you. Words of advice - don't go by the pictures of the colors on the web sites - the colors often look very different!!! (Toffee on the Kraftmaid web site doesn't look *anything* like it does in person!!!) Also, the cabinet doors in the display cases look different if you take them out of the cases - something about the lighting in those cases. Finally, if you can possibly see samples in your own home, it makes a huge difference. (I still can't believe how Toffee looked so pink!) Most cabinet brands have wood samples that you can take home. (Kraftmaid doesn't - boo on them!)