1000% yes. They aren’t even in the same category at all. Omega does insetvsnd frameless in addition to partial and full overlay. KM only does partial and full overlay, and isn’t nearly the build quality.

Better still, Omega’s semi custom line Dynasty, can do 95% of the order, and you onky need to use 5% of the more expensive true custom Omega for the 1-2 cabinets that need to be true custom. They dovetail seamlessly, and you can’t tell the difference. The whole order looks high end full custom.

Thank you @Verbo. I’m not sure - what is “insetvsnd frameless”?

Can you help me understand better why the build quality of the KM isn’t as good? I looked at the dovetailed construction of the drawers, and the wood used in the door construction, and it seemed similar to that from Omega. I’m sure there are differences, but I’m not knowledgeable enough to know what they are.

I believe what @Verbo meant was, inset and frameless…which is a type of cabinet style.

I have no personal experience with Omega, but I believe you’ll find the finish details are superior to what you’ll get with Kraftmaid.

I had Kraftmaid cabinets in my former home…and while they were in fine condition when we moved 25 years later, the factory finish was obviously inferior to the finish on the cabinets in our new home, made by Tedd Wood, one of the better semi-custom cabinet lines. Kraftmaid had a shiny, plastic looking finish. The Tedd Wood cabinets have a more refined, matte appearance. The interior finishes are much better in the new cabinets. Also, the doors on the Tedd Wood cabs seem to be more substantial.

Ditto what Shannon said…no glazing! That went out years ago. The glazing gives the appearance of the doors being dirty.

Thanks for the clarification. I figured that’s what Verbo meant, but I was quite sure.

Shannon_WI, I’d prefer not to go frameless Too risky given the age of my home and my feeling that the walls are not perfect enough for that to be a slam dunk. Going framed. But what about a full overlay?

Frameless gets you 20% more storage space in the same space. It’s a far more functional choice. It’s also the 99.9% choice of the entire rest of the world. Who have far older and far wonkier homes than any 200 year young house in the US. Full overlay mimics frameless in appearance, but with less storage, more wood wasted, and with the exact same issues with clearances having to be factored into the design.

Well then, I’m just confused, as the two most exclusive KDs in my area (neither of which I can afford to buy from) advise against frameless. I spoke with reps at both places.

“most exclusive KDs in my area … advise against frameless” Because they don’t sell it, want to sell to you, and they obviously are not being impartial when they disreccomnend something they can’t profit from selling. Or they are just old fossils.

This is why it is important to hetvan *independent* kitchen designer, and don’t mix that role up with the *salesperson* trying to sell you cabinets. One is impartial and on your side. One will sell you the under coating for the car, the tire shine, an extended warranry, and a left handed monkey wrench. Because that’s their job. Selling.

Seriously, the US is the only country in the entire world that does framed full overlay. The rest of the world is frameless, with a very small smattering of inset. And the US is the only place where old fossils or dogs in the manger have ”problems” with frameless.

No, I don’t think that’s the case. One KD does all the MasterBrand cabinets, from Omega on down. They also have a European brand that is all frameless. Big display of that stuff as well as the Masterbrands. The other place also shows a frameless range in their store. Can’t recall which brand, though.

I think part of the reason (only part) frameless may be so much more popular in other parts of the world is very straightforward - more storage. Most kitchens throughout the world are smaller than in the U.S., at least from what I’ve seen in my own limited travels around the planet. That may be behind why frameless was not on high recommendation for my solution - I have a huge kitchen. I don’t need the extra space I’d get with frameless cabinets. Just guessing.

"I’d prefer not to go frameless Too risky given the age of my home and my feeling that the walls are not perfect enough"

This is such a wrong assumption I don't know what to say. Of course, get what you like, but I need to set the record straight that frameless would not be "risky" or would not work because the walls are not perfect enough. It's ludicrous. My last home had 17-year-old frameless cabinets that when I moved out, looked like the day they were installed. No walls could be more wonky than that house's walls, and the ceiling too (the cabinets met the ceiling and looked perfect).

If you like a traditional look, and have a large kitchen as you mentioned, then inset might be the look you want. Full overlay will also be framed like inset, but will be less expensive than inset. A well-done cabinet line will have full overlay that looks like frameless cabinetry, but a less expensive brand will look more obviously like overlay.

Frameless is a more current look. Perhaps your "exclusive KDs" only work with traditional-look kitchens with thick heavy crowns, corbels, and a library-like aesthetic. Nothing wrong with that, people love it, but it is wrong to bash frameless cabinets as an alternative. One of the leading kitchen designers in the country, Mick de Giulio (he doesn't get out of bed for a kitchen less than $300k), uses frameless cabinets. He also uses inset. The choice depends on the house and the look his client wants.

@Verbo It's been a while since you posted to this thread, but I am researching cabinets and can't find the Dynasty line mentioned on the Omega website. Do they still make the Dynasty line?

Hello!

Omega combined Dynasty and Pinnacle into one Omega Cabinetry line to make it easier for designers to design and sell. We still offer the same products, finishes and construction. So when you see Omega Cabinetry, it is the same as Dynasty. Thank you for your interest in Omega!

@Omega Cabinetry

Dynasty used to be the semi-custom line and Omega Custom (later Pinnacle, I think) was the custom line with standard things like interiors matching the exterior, finished undersides for uppers, thicker walls, etc. Is there no longer a "Custom" line, just the semi-custom?

@Buehl and @Omega Cabinetry I am having the same question. Does Omega still make both custom and semi-custom lines? Or just one or the other?

Omega’s current product line includes semi-custom and custom cabinetry. In the past, designers could enhance a Dynasty project with cabinets from the Pinnacle line, by placing two separate orders. Starting in 2021, designers can specify both semi-custom and custom cabinets in one order, instead of separate orders. This makes it much easier for designers. We are always searching for ways to streamline designers’ worklife.

1000000 percent No! Terrible customer service, terrible quality. I purchased a whole kitchen and 4 bathrooms and dry bar from omega. Two years later the quality sucks- they look terrible and I have custom and semi custom. I would recommend getting anything else. Omega is terrible all around to deal with. On top of that they always blame the distributor or the installer.

Well, there's always customer abuse to blame as well. Because 90% of the time, it IS installer error or customer abuse. Water is not friendly to wood.

We remodeled our Kitchen and Powder Room in 2008 - Omega (mix of custom & semi-custom) in the Kitchen and KraftMaid in the Powder Room.

Fast forward to today (2024) and the Kitchen cabinets still look and work great! Yes, there are a few nicks here & there caused by general use (it has been 16 years after all!), but there are no issues with the finish or functioning of drawers or doors. They're stained cherry.

On the other hand, the KraftMaid cabinet in the Powder Room that has seen far less use shows definite signs of wear. It's also stained cherry.

I would do the Omega again in a heartbeat; KraftMaid, probably not.

Regarding Customer Service, my experience is the opposite of mboydiaw's -- we had issues with our remodeling company so I called Omega directly and they assured me they would take care of it and deal with the remodeling company -- and they did! They were very responsive and helpful.

I am getting pricing for Omega and Brookhaven cabinets. The quote I got for Omega is in my budget, still waiting for the Brookhaven quote. I see in recent years poor reviews for Omega, is the quality still good? Are they all wood? Why are the various door styles at different price points or grades. I asked for prices for 2 styles and was told one is a zero and the other a 5 price point, why? Thanks for any help!

Some doors take more labor to produce and thus cost more

Thank you!!