Confession time: I am a Philistine when it comes to closets. I think it is really neat when they are beautifully designed and well executed. But, I'm not willing to allocate enough budget to do that kind of job, so I am going for function over form. When DD & I went to the Container Store, I fell in love with the pullout shoe racks & DH started to layout an Elfa system for the closet. However, when we went to IKEA & saw the pull out shoe racks with the PAX system, I think those are even better because they can be used with both heels & flats. I honestly don't need a lot of drawers and such because I have my antique dresser in the bedroom and I hang just about everything else. I even hang my tee-shirts and arrange them by color (I wonder why many of you aren't surprised by that ;^P) I think what we will put together will be something of a hybrid. PAX carcasses where I want the Komplement bells & whistles and then just plan double and single hanging for most of the rest of the closet. Anyway, if a prospective buyer doesn't like what I've done, it will be very easy & inexpensive to change. I'm glad IKEA has gotten such a good response. I think it is very clever stuff. Jo Ann

They all have their favorite brands I was told. If that KD won't quote shenadoah just ask for someone else. I went in a few years ago and met with one KD who pushed diamond. When I went back I decided to use a different KD. The other one saw me but who cares. I wanted a no nonsence person and that was what I got. Hang around the dept. when they are busy and eavesdrop. One thing I am thankful for was that the KD suggested he price out cherry instead of maple with a glaze. It was much cheaper and more of the color we wanted. He knew this was all diy and offered suggestions like not to buy the shenadoah beadboard for the sides of the island cabinet but to buy it in the lumber department and paint it black. Stuff like that. The drawers are fine. In my 3 drawer 36" cabinet I have one drawer with a 12 person dish set. 12 plates, bowls, etc. They are corelle so not too heavy but still there is a lot in that drawer. Another drawer has heavy casserole dishes. All my bases are drawer except for a flat pan cabinet, the sink, and the corner. I did not get the lazy susan as I just don't like them. The lazy susan would have been pricy but I think they are in most cabinet lines. We do not baby are cabinets and they have been fine.

I know nothing about Scherrs other than what I've read here. However, decorative side panels are typically just extra doors, so I assume they can provide those. For the 2 tier island, they are built in 2 ways. Most commonly, you build a pony wall, that comes up a few inches above the lower counter. The cabinets are attached to one side, and the upper counter goes on top of the wall. You can also get brackets that attach to the lower cabinet and the upper counter sits on top. The idea is that it creates a bar for sitting at. If you had taller cabinets on that side, there'd be no place for your legs.

frameless from various US companies will cost you quite a bit more than ikea. You don't really want to go with any cheap type frameless, as the specs to get a frameless cabinet right is not as easy as framed cabinetry, therefore the cost becomes an issue. Brookhaven has been doing it for a while I believe. I just think you may have some sticker shock if you compare a good frameless cabinet to Ikea. It is a European thing-their homes have been full of frameless for a while as you eek out more storage and improved access for their smaller kitchens. We have much larger homes and can spare the inches used in framing and center stiles.etc. But with Ikea coming here and the phrase"full access", people thing it's really something new to embrace......but our domestic cabinet manufacturing with framing has nothing inherently wrong with it. Don't get too caught up......but some people are living in smaller dwellings now and the downsizing of kitchens therefore can be a case for frameless. Maybe just look for those wall cabinet sizes where you stay under the size where you see the center stile appear[33 in wide or less I think]..... that can make a big difference with access into the cabinet. And going to base drawers even in a framed cabinet will give you such improved storage from older base cabinets, you should be good,