hi all, i really want the beaded inset look but its adding another $1800 to total project... anyone ever do the beaded inset only around the slab drawers?? trying to get the slab/bead look I love without putting it everywhere...

I am very happy with my medium-dark gray slate-look porcelain tile floor. I have stained wood cabs, but I've seen real slate and porcelain imitation slate in white kitchens with dark counters, and they both look great. With gray grout, they don't show dirt. I have stainless appliances, and the gray of the tile looks good with the SS. My kitchen is a small galley, and I used 12 X 18" tiles set in 1/3 running bond so less grout. I've also seen 24 x 24 tiles/stones that look great. Another nice look is the plank-look porcelain tile. It comes in a lot of colors. I did get gel pads for the sink and the prep/stove area, and they are nice to stand on. I really notice the difference at Thanksgiving or dinner parties, when I stand in the kitchen for hours. They're almost exactly the same color gray as the floor.

TeamLDH, Just beautiful! Your kitchen cabinet maker did a beautiful job making your cabinets. Where in PA is he located? I am in NJ and parts of Eastern PA are 1 hour from me and some parts are 2.5 hours from me and the farthest west is way too many hours from me.

sayde, I think the biggest difference I've noticed is the finish. Crown Point's paint finish, both their classic and milk paint, is gorgeous. I prefer a very matte finish and even with the 10% sheen, the Cabico cabinets seem a little glossier. CP's finishing is done by hand and is very elaborate. Another thing is the detailing. Crown Point's product looks more like furniture to me. For example, the toekicks aren't added on, they're all one piece with the frame. And look at this corbel: As far as quality of construction, for an upcharge I can upgrade to all plywood boxes with Cabico. As far as I can tell Cabico's drawer construction and undermount hardware are of similar quality to CP's. Aside from quality and detail, the other big factor that had me leaning toward Crown Point was that the CP designer is much more in tune with my style. Her kitchens are in my inspiration file, while the other KD's kitchens appear very run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter to me. Good luck with your continuing research!