Thanks everyone. It's so hard making these choices. Not only do I have to choose glaze or no glaze, but also white vs cream (vs off-white vs french vanilla, etc. etc.). Txsuszq - the overall style I'm going for is definitely traditional. The RIGHT glaze doesn't bother me (one that just subtly changes the overall color, but doesn't leave DARK lines), but most of the cabinets I'm considering don't have glazes like that. I like the subtle patina, but not the dark lines. I am now leaning AWAY from glazes because as I look closer at the lines I'm considering, I'm finding that most of the glazes I do not actually like. To breezygirl - I have looked at some large local cabinet makers (i.e., not little shops, but larger ones) and what I am finding is that most local people don't offer lifetime warranties. I think I need to go to a bigger cabinet maker for that (which I can understand). My rule about having a lifetime warranty is making me toss some lines that are no doubt very good (Shiloh, Plain & Fancy, and some locals I like), but I need to stick to my rule. If I don't, and I have problems with my cabs in 10 years, I'm going to hate that I violated my own rule. My current cabinets had a 5-year warranty, and now I'm regretting that choice. Amy - I saw your kitchen previously when looking at creamy kitchens. It is gorgeous! You have great before and after pix. Shiloh is a line I ruled out because they don't have a lifetime warranty, but the glaze on the Shiloh cabinets like yours is beautiful. Again, maybe I'm being silly about my "rule." Dianalo - I know what you mean. I have white thermofoil now, and they clean up very well, and I see every speck and get it right away. But since they are thermofoil, they are EASY to clean. I also have a white vinyl floor (which has fulfilled its Floor Destiny and soon will no longer live here). My thinking with that is that I'd clean it as soon as it was dirty. The problem is that it is a horrible quality floor, so it's HARD to clean. It looks dirty AFTER I clean it. That's my fear with white or cream cabinets - not that I won't try to clean them when they are dirty, but that they won't clean up well. You have a slab door, and I was planning on a slightly more intricate one, which would probably be harder to clean just because of its design. It's odd how I want a glaze to hide the dirt and imperfections, but I don't like the way it makes the cabinets look dirty. I saw another poster with the same paradoxical thought. Does anyone have any comments about the whites/creams in the lines I'm considering (in my original post)? Do they clean well, or badly? Do they age badly? I am concerned about white turning yellow. If you get cream, who can tell if it yellowed? Again, I have thermofoil, and while very durable, I now have some white cabinets, and some cream. :) I have a multi-colored kitchen (and drawer fronts that have been superglued on because they are particleboard and fell apart!). So, any comments about white/cream in the cabinets above? I recently talked to someone who deals with Kraftmaid, and my concern there is that with a large manufacturer, I'm not sure how much work they do by hand, and that might reflect in the quality/durability of the painted finishes. If I liked darker woods, I wouldn't be stressing nearly as much about this... Any more comments would be greatly appreciated, especially about the white/creams of the lines I'm considering, or Kraftmaid. Thanks!! Piglet

Jakuval here- first- my mantra-who you buy from is more important than what brand you buy. Second- I've carried SWP for 5 years, only brand I have at that price (all but one are more) I have not sold much SWP in the last year. That has nothing to do with them, just customer choices and pricing. I happen to have a regional brand of a slightly nicer cabinet that prices exceptionally well and many have opted to move up to that. (particularly when comparing to SWP's veneer interior option) I have seen a few posts on this forum in the last two years indicating what may be some growing pains (one was not getting satisfaction from KD and I forwarded post to my rep to send to HQ, was resolved next day) As they have grown I have run into small issues with tech support. Nothing more than new trainees not quite as astute. It simply means I have to pay attention, something I do anyway. As I re-read this it sounds a bit like a sales pitch. I did not intend that so apologize if any are offended. This is my experience, no more no less and I was mentioned. We are a small dealer so have not done hundreds of kitchens in any brand we carry (though I have over the years done a couple of thousand) My experience with companies at this price point and size is that there can always be occasional issues and that things can change in a short period of time (particularly during expansions) Point is take anything anyone says about any brand with a grain of salt. Overall-consistency of construction has been good to excellent, failure rate-zero, delivered damaged-rare, on time delivery-100%, design flexibility super,CS is very good, responsiveness-couldn't ask for more. Paints Over the last 5 yrs I've done quite a few SWP paints with zero issues. I think they have one of the best paint finishes at the price out there, comparable to higher end brands and have used them in secondary rooms in homes where we were doing much more expensive brands. I especially like the matte finish option, rare at the price point and NC. I don't like the standard (free) glaze on paint, I do like (as do many clients) the brushed and vintage paints, well done for the price point but not free. I am most often doing paint on "Paint Grade" instead of Maple but you want to understand the details of those choices. Talk with KD. Washes and consistency Since this came up I'll address this first- Showplace grey washes are not simple stains and specifically noted to have more variation. They have a standard "Finish Advisory" form the dealer is supposed to have you read and sign. NOTE that there is a bit of contradiction between what SWP has on it's website re washes and what the spec book says. IRL the spec book is accurate. I have run into issues with edges not being properly covered. It was taken care of by SWP for me. Stains To date my experience has been very good- wood grading above average for the price, consistency of color overall better than most AT THE PRICE. There are a few stains on maple that I avoid completely, not unusual for any brand. Construction I have no issue with the material used for the 1/2" ply upgrade (quite the contrary) but think it best when clients are aware of all details prior to purchase. Shelf clips- this has been a thorn in my side and they are aware of my feelings on these. They did look into changing them a couple of years ago- didn't happen. SOP I order a bag of clips with every job. Those are the ones with a metal post and plastic shelf section (they supply them standard for glass cabinets) Then I break the existing shelf clips and replace. I have not run into an issue with drawer bottoms deflecting excessively as noted elsewhere. I will try to find out if the material has changed but note that 1/4" drawer bottoms is so common as to be SOP at even higher price points. I do get heavy duty drawers for pots and pans etc, an optional extra expense. My only other complaint has been with the backs of the cabinets. It's not that they are inadequate, just that to me they should be a bit (just a little) better selected material. . Frameless- SWP is bringing out a frameless line next month. They built a new facility to do that (expansion) I have only seen the specs not actual product yet. My rep is stopping by in a couple of weeks so I have nothing to say until I see for myself. While I am reserving judgment, going in, on paper, I'm not crazy about the drawer box spec.

Hi edelweiss- I am not sure how the wood lowers and white uppers will look to you 10 years down the line when it isn't so in style. Have you thought about doing all the uppers and lowers the same wood, with maybe two uppers glass? You could frost the glass or even just put an inexpensive peel-on film over the glass if you don't want the contents easily visualized. Then you could paint the island whatever color you want. Either white, or even that red that you like. With two different color cabinetry, (on the periphery and the island) I would not have a different type of counter top on the island, unless it were to be butcher block. I would also not get a red range top. Your tastes may change and a range top is very expensive to replace. Or you may need replacement parts, and red may not be available. Or you may sell, and red is very taste specific, and that may be a deal breaker.

My daughter used the IKEA Bodarp green kitchen units for her new open plan kitchen extension and sourced some wooden terrazzo worktops, ply handles and oak slats panels to go round the peninsular. Looked amazing when completed. Here are some photos taken during the completion of it.