I ordered the Omega Dynasty, with Shaker doors and slab-front drawers, installed January 2015. I chose Omega because I couldn't find any other cabinet with the Portobello color. Not even four years later I am regretting this decision. The cabinets look great, however, have several fatal flaws. The Shaker frame is not beveled. Therefore, water and moisture roll down the inset panel and collect in the frame, causing warping and bubbling of the painted finish. Even the flat-front drawers collect moisture, causing drip-size warps along the bottom. This is unacceptable. Even though we wipe the cabinets after cooking and washing dishes, kitchens are WET. Cabinets must be designed to withstand moisture. Furthermore, every edge of every cabinet door is showing chips and wear, exposing the wood under the paint. We don't have pets or small children, so there is not anything unusually intense about our use of the kitchen. The company (Masterbrand) is standing behind their cabinets and has replaced most of the affected drawer fronts and doors. However, the cabinet box frames are also showing considerable wear (even cracks in sink base frame), and those cannot be replaced. Again, this is unacceptable for a premium-priced product after less than four years of average use. Ironically, I purchased a less-expensive Masterbrand cabinet (Thomasville) from Home Depot for my master bathroom vanity. Also painted Shaker style, but with beveled frames and mitered drawers. No signs whatsoever of paint wear, chipping or warping. The vanity looks as good as new. Not so my kitchen.

I am not familiar with Starmark, but I have Omega Dynasty overlay cabinets in my lakehouse kitchen. Mine are white (Pearl) and have been installed for 7 years. The finish looks like new. I've been pleased with the soft close drawers & pull-outs. They've held up very well.

Buehl this was a thread on Houzz not on GW. I have found a smattering of comments about Medallion and Holiday finish problems as well but the Dynasty thread had a couple of people comment about finish. How can this happen? Wouldn't the finish process in these big manufacturers be automized for consistency. I understand stuff damaged during shipping but how can the finish have a few that fail?

Hi Rebecca, I just want to say I am not here to sway your decision in any way from one cabinet line to another, I will just pass on what I know about the two, and let you decide what is best for you. As snookums pointed out "Customer's house and money. The decisions are theirs only". Short answer is yes, you can finish the ends and back to match your cabinetry. First off, if you decide to pursue the idea of Diamond, make sure your KD is quoting you Diamond Distinctions, in APC (all plywood construction) and not Diamond Vibes, as someone else mentioned. The APC replaces standard cabinet construction with unfinished 1/2â³ plywood ends, top, bottom, and 3/8â³ back. Upgrades shelves to 3/4â³ finished plywood. 5% Up-charge(I consider this a no brainier, and my customers almost always want the APC) This will give you the same box construction as the higher end cabinet line. Finished ends are accomplished several ways. 1- Finished Ends Creates a matching finished 1/2â³ plywood exterior end. 2-Furniture Finished Plywood Ends Replaces standard cabinet ends with 3/4â³ finished end panels to achieve a Furniture End appearance. 3-Authentic Ends Modifies cabinet end panel with applied decorative door. I use this one the most. Sounds like what you were looking for. 4- Face Frame and Door on End Creates a working door on the end of the specified cabinet. Finishing the backs of islands is one place the two cabinet lines are going to differ, the higher end offers face frame, and matching door panels by the SF built to any configuration and size. The Diamonds don't, but can be done by applying a matching cabinet skin and moldings, then apply what we refer to as "loose doors" . This is one of those many details that needs to be well planned, so as to order the correct size "loose doors"as well as the right skin and moldings. Hope this helps Wayne