So the contractor we were working with used only Mid-Continent Cabinets. After working with him since early June to put together a plan, he just told us yesterday he won't be able to start our kitchen until at least January. My husband is a contractor (works in commercial and medical development) questioned the breakdown of $25,000 for pretty standard cabinets which we think bugged the GC. I have $15,000 in Bosch appliances sitting in a warehouse and an engineer's plan for a beam to take out a wall. We are frustrated and disappointed. My husband is now considering coordinating our reno himself. Any suggestions on to pursue cabinet work - we our outside Orlando, FL...

I can't say I'm unhappy w/my KK cabinets, but I do wish I'd gone with my GC's cabinet maker instead. He's just done such a wonderful job on my 4 bathroom vanities, mudroom bench w/4 drawers and full wall of cherry shelving and cabinets, that it makes the kitchen look cheap in comparison. I would recommend that if you have any cabinets that will not go to the ceiling, as in a peaked ceiling, that you specify if you want flat, finished tops to the exposed cabinets for easier cleaning or placing items on top, etc. Mine are unfinished, with shims and all showing and it will be a nightmare to ever clean them out. I'm making them finish them, but frankly don't think I should have to. After all, cabinets that don't go to the ceiling are essentially furniture, and furniture always has a top, right? Other small issues I had were the seams where two boxes go together. They are machine sanded and the edges are every so slightly rounded, so the seams can not be tightly screwed together and are very obvious on white painted cabinets. The exposed hinges on my cabinets were not all level to one another, which looked cockeyed on cabinets that were next to each other. Some of my inset drawers and cabinets still need to be centered in the space. I'm certain I would not have had to ask more than once (if at all) if Rich had done the kitchen! So, if you're in NJ, and want a referral to the guy I wish I had used for my kitchen, his name is Rich and his company is Siena Woodworkers located in Rockaway NJ. (Email me for his number.)

If you are in the Midwest or beyond, I would suggest a company called "Best Cabinets". They are not a large conglomerate but rather a medium sized family business. They build a custom and semicustom line. Both Framed and Frameless and they also do Inset cabinets with or without a bead. I would compare their custom line is similar to a Woodmode and their frameless line is similar to Brookhaven. This company offers much more customizationthan any large conglomerate. Plus, they are local and they manufacturer all their own moldings, doors, and dovetail drawers. They do all sorts of high end finishes such a Glazes, Rub Throughs, Crackle Finishes, Milk Paint, Low VOC and No VOC Finishes. Also, they offer "All Glass" Cabinets and "High Gloss" Finishes. I would say this company is similar to Crown Point Cabinetry but this company is growing. Also, they offer a "free" final measure service anywhere in the Continental United States and they also offer instalation by "certified installers" anywhere in the US. They also manufacturer custom furniture. They will do custom colors for "no extra charge". Also, there painted finishes are the same price as their stained finishes. This company is also unique because they own their own forest and sawmill and their wood is locally harvested and milled. They also own their own kiln and therefore can Kiln Dry their lumber to their exact specifications. The lumber is also custom milled to the requirements of the custom cabinet shop. Much of the wood is bookmatched and sequenced. Here is a link that might be useful: Best Custom Cabinets

I'm a KD (signed in with to avoid "branding") About half my work is upper end, the other half mainstream. Just took a look at 10 "semi" or slightly better kitchens, 160 to 20 sq ft, nicely detailed, fully functional. Cabinets were between 12 and 24k. No reason you can't do a fine kitchen in that range- all the ones over 20 were in a slightly "better brand" but 3 in that brand were under 20. North Jersey will be 10-25% higher from what I've seen. Making a kitchen completely functional adds between 7 and 10% usually. Since you can pay more than that for plywood, a glaze, paint, cherry, a door style...I see no reason not to make functional kitchens. Just do it carefully. Semi-custom is just a price point. In framed cabinets it means pocket hole frames- (frameless is harder to explain). You can still get custom sizes, reasonable modifications and good details at the price-if you look around. Finish, wood grading and customer service are the things that vary the most. Price spread is roughly 10% but can be as much as 20 and as little as 0 (for the same two brands). THERE IS NO BEST. Take a rough plan and have it priced as is at a few places. One you make up that has everything you think you want and a correct amount of cabinets. That can give you a rough idea for budget. Details will be missing so allow 10% more. While you're at it pay attention to who you are dealing with. That should be a bigger factor than what brand. IF you run across someone who indicates that they want to add some details tell them to price that as an option. (but put them on you're short list to go back to).