Is that walnut?

They are stained maple with a glaze. They said they used the same stain and glaze but they turned out darker.

What wood species are they?

In my opinion, the installed look much nicer than the sample, but, that's my personal opinion. What's important is that these are your cabinets and you are disappointed.

Is this the first you've seen the cabinets - i.e., you did not have an opportunity to see them b/f they were installed? Ours were delivered ahead of time and we checked them while they were still in the boxes.

What does your Kitchen Designer say? We've heard what the manufacturer says, but what out your KD?

Is your sample door exactly the same as what you ordered for your cabinets? Same wood species, etc.?

(We cross-posted - saw your answer after my post was submitted)

Everything is the same, wood, stain, glaze. They were delivered and installed and I wasn't able to be there. The problem with the cabinets is that they are so dark and not what I was expecting. We worked with a custom cabinet company and used their kitchen designer. Our builder agrees that the color doesn't match and is trying to help resolve the issue. These cabinets are in kitchen, laundry and all bathrooms.

I suspect things will match just fine BUT that will never lighten the wood and I would be depressed with that much darkness. I would find your paperwork and see what it says about matching the sample.

Good for your contractor!

I simply cannot see how those can be the same stain, especially on maple which is rather dense. I would never consider that amount of variation being "within spec", have NEVER seen that much from any maker in any wood with any stain. They won't lighten up to get even close.

Are you sure your sample is maple? I'm not good enough to tell from here but it looks like it might be cherry which would end up with a lighter door at this point (and thus a really bad sample door).

Are the doors at least matching each other? it might be the light but they look like there is some variation among the installed doors, which isn't going to work for that style.

Very odd that the sample door is lighter. Usually a sample door will appear darker than a new one since it has been exposed to light, elements etc.

To me, the top two drawers look a different colour from the bottom ones, in addition to the pattern being different. Are they supposed to look totally different than the ones below them. They don't seem that much narrower that the rails/stiles (or whatever they are called) should look so different than the two drawers below. Myself, I prefer the sample door. It looks like my sisters kitchen, and hers is really nice.

The back of the door says dark maple. The company has been trying to lighten the color but it's not helping. The doors on the cabinets match each other but the style of the sample door is different than the installed cabinets. The sample door was for color only not style.

mgmum - before they installed the doors the KD called and told me not to panic when I saw the cabinets because there were 19 drawers in the kitchen that didn't turn out right. I have all drawers in my lower cabinets. I didn't panic since he called and knew that there was a problem. I panicked when I saw the cabinets and the color was so dark and the drawers in one of the bathrooms wouldn't open because they hit the door casing (they are redoing those drawers). I also panicked when I saw my master bath and the drawers that are all the same size had different size drawer fronts some by as much as 1/2". They said they are fixing all of these things which is a long list of things to fix. What bothers me is that they are fixing it in a color that I don't like. Even one of their employees that came out to work on the repairs looked at the sample door and said "that would hold up in Judge Judy's court". My builder has not paid for them and won't until I'm happy but I'm not sure that they can be fixed and don't know if it is reasonable for me to ask that they be redone.

Either the sample was mislabeled or someone screwed up at the factory. I would not be able to get both those colors from the same stain on any hardwood if I tried. It's just not possible.

Replace.

Or they were mis-ordered.

Wow.

I'm so glad to hear that. I couldn't live with it, simply because it takes me so long to have my aHA moments about things.

Not to sound didactic, but here's yet another reason to be home when things are going on. I know, I know. Life happens. But having to live with something because you weren't there would have ruined me about my kitchen forever.

I think you should share the names of your KD and builder. Everyone wants someone who is supposed to look out for them to do so! They deserve some really strong recognition in this world of jerks. (That's about as PC as I can get.)

Gotta agree with CE. Sure, it'll delay things, but having a crew that redoes something is good.

Wow, great ending to an unfortunate situation. I love your sample and would be crazy unhappy with the murky, lifeless stain/glaze they gave you. Not the same at all.

That factory really screwed up. Not only are the drawers different drawer fronts which would drive me batty but the darker color would too. So glad they're remaking them. Be sure to be there when they are delivered next time to make sure the color is correct.

And sorry, it would never hold up in Judge Judy's court.

Judge Judy is a goddess.

Oh jeez, I just noticed the drawer fronts aren't the same either.

And..... be there to make sure they are right this time!

Yes, I can see the top two drawers are completely a different style! I hope you make sure they are fixing that as well as the dark stain color.

I am so glad they are fixing it to what you ordered. Your sample door has a gorgeous grain showing through. I think they went a little glaze happy huh?

I could be wrong, but you might also double check that they are not using a paint grade maple if you paid for top quality stain grade. It almost looks that way on the upper cab. Notice the dark and light stripiness verses the nice wood grain pattern of your sample?

Here are a few examples I found. Hopefully they didn't, but I did wonder based off your photo. Let us know how they turn out. Best wishes!

No way is that remotely close to being a match, but I much prefer the darker cabinets.

The drawer fronts are supposed to be like that because the top ones aren't tall enough for the full design. I wouldn't opt for it personally but it's not a mistake. :)

Rebunky the variation in the stain is common with mid to dark wiping stains on even the best hard maple. Soft maple actually behaves better as do sprayed toners which are not popular or common.

In the store fixture manufacturing business (Saks, Bloomingdales) a fixture manufacturer submits a stain/species sample to the owner's architect for approval. He signs off on the sample and the installed fixtures had damn well better match or someone will be learning the definition of "liquidated damages".

Fori, I thought about the change in the style possibly being due to the smaller size top drawer too, but it just looked too different to me. It seems like the outermost raised part going around the drawer should be the same width and with the same little bead detail around it. Maybe losing the raised center part or something? I don't have a clue. All I knew was that looked like a mistake IMHO. It would really bother me as shown.

Also, when you look at the inside edge of each drawer, they line up pretty well. But as you then look to the outside edge, the top drawer looks like it sticks out about a half inch further then the bottom two drawers. If they tried to adjust it more centered then both sides would not line up. Sorry, my OCD just kicked into high gear. ;-)

Jackuval, thanks for the info. I have always appreciated your expertise and been nice to see you posting on a couple threads lately.

Yeah it doesn't work for me either--I've ruled out certain door styles due to that being a factor. You could do a slab on top with just the edges matching, but then it wouldn't be right either. Something's gotta give. I don't like this either: (random Omega door style)

Hey! That's my door style from Omega, Fori! I love it! I absolutely detest slab drawers but love this style! The drawer front is one of the reasons I chose that door style (I also like the doors, but I liked the Aretsia better...but, you know, budget!)

(No, I'm not offended - we all have different like/dislikes.)