I debated between KM and a Mercedes cabinet version custom built by the amish with a significantly higher cost (sold through a "retailer" here in Texas). In the end, I decided KM had sufficient quality to serve me well and were more appropriate for my budget. A second deciding factor was that almost no fillers were necessary. If your kitchen is small and you're losing too much space to fillers to make it work, I would consider looking in a different direction. Like you, I had a top notch installer. I encountered only one problem (wrong drawer slide) which was promptly corrected. After 2 1/2 years, they are still like brand new (with painted finish), and I have no regrets. (1.) One subtle difference is that KM makes their base slightly taller than most cabinets, thereby shortening the height of the drawers and doors. This is an obvious cost benefit for KM. However, I'm still quite pleased with the storage. (2.) Their shelf clips are plastic. My installer substituted the metal ones. (3.) KM drawer box depth is 20.5" whereas total inside depth to the back of the cabinet is 23.5". I would think a more expensive company should give a deeper drawer box. You need to check the cabinet specs re: thickness of cabinet backs, etc. However, I believe KM has sufficient quality to stand the test of time. If you want top construction quality and custom sizes at KM prices, I suggest you look into rta cabinets by Conestoga sold through retailers such as Cabinet Authority or Cabinet Joint. I'm purchasing Conestoga cabinets for a bedroom where I need custom sizing and construction. Take time with your decision and the best choice for your situation will become obvious.

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

Jen, You mention early on that you are interested in frameless cabinets because they allow a more efficient use of the space that you have. Later in a comment about Ikea you state you are leary of them because they are made of particle board (its true they are) So I don't see why you would even consider either of the two options offered by your local lumberyard, given that: 1) They are both a face frame style, not frameless, and 2) Despite what the represententive at the lumber yard seems to have been claiming, both cabinet line are constructed almost exclusively from particle board (going by the images and details they list on their websites). The tops, sides, bottoms, shelves, and toekicks are all particle board, (and for the most part 1/2" particle board) that is glued and stapled together. The only parts of the cabinets that is not particle board, is the face frame, the drawer boxes and the doors and drawer fronts. Of the two the Debut cabinets seem to have slightly superior construction (again going by the images and details they list on their websites) Although in looking at it, the two "manufacturers" are actully two lines manufactured by the same company, which explains why many of the details of the construction seem so similar. Also if you read this site alot you'll find that in base cabinets: drawers == good whereas doors with shelves behind them == bad. If you have a smallish kitchen this can make an enormous difference in the amount of usuable storage you have. Lastly don't take what I have said as an attack on particle board, (some of my best friends have particle board cabinets :-) Many people who post here point out that details of the construction and details of the material are far more important than whether a cabinet is particle board or not. The cheapest plywood will fall apart long before high quality particle board. Ikea cabinets are touted as very high-quality, well-built cabinets, the one big complaint about them is that many people don't like any of the limited number of door styles that they offer.

dreamojean: Thank you for taking the time to put this list together. I've spent months educating myself on the various lines, yet I am still not sure on a few things. You mention the Columbia cabinets in your descriptions, but it isnt in the list. Do you know where it would land in terms of quality / cost?