tooskinneejs, Somewhere in the contract should state that the house will be build as per drawings. You are selecting the one that looks pretty similar to the one on your drawings, right? This is what I'd do: I'd ask the builder to show me the door he had in mind when he estimated it, if it looks just as the one on the drawings and is by manufacturer XYZ, I'd be OK with it. If it turns out that XYZ also has a higher quality version of the same door (including T. and sidelites) and that is what I want - I'd pay the difference (but will let him know that I am on a budget and this can not happen again). If it is obvious that the contractor wants to install something that is not XYZ and does not look remotely like the one shown in the drawings, this will tell me that he is sleazy - and most likely he will do it again. I would not want to take advantage of not too clear wording to my benefit (karma - I eventually will pay) but I surely would not want the builder to take advantage of me asking for additional money every time. If this is the first time it happens and I know that he is a reputable builder and so far everything has been OK, most likely I'd split the difference. Good luck.

Two girls, I so know what you're going through. You've come to the right place to ask your questions and I know your kitchen will turn out great. I learned so much from this forum during my design phase...it's a great community of people who have been where you are now. Anyhow, yes, definitely go to Lowes and have them do a design. Take your blueprint and any concept pictures you may have from magazines, this forum, etc. Tell them what things you know you're looking for (pullout trash, etc) and let them do a design. I also did this at two large lumber yard type stores and one higher end company. In all I sat with 4 designers and let them have free reign. I gathered up some great ideas in the process, and the one KD really floated to the top. Didn't pay for any of the designs, although I wasn't allowed to take them from two places. In terms of budget, I assume your $5K allowance is materials only (not installation). I don't know if the $5K allowance is an indication that he can actually do your cabs for $5K or just a number. My contract allowance was just a number. The builder told me I could do cabs for "under $10K", but the quote from his company was $17K (at a 65% discount---yes, the "retail price" was over $50K). I quoted other brands like DuraSupreme in the low $20's, prior to any price negotiation. I did get a sizable discount on the cabs I chose from the first estimate I received---it was derived from a combination of true discount, some creative work on the part of the designer, and forgoing a few accessories I decided I really didn't need. So I can't tell you what the "true discount" was, only that it was within my budget in the end. Oh, and before you faint from the numbers, my kitchen is a fairly complicated design--lots of custom sizes, full paneled wrapped eating bar, all plywood construction, custom paint and glaze---all things that add up. Your prices may be much lower. That's the reason to get multiple bids---you'll not only see other ideas you can incorporate into your final product, but you'll know if you're paying a fair price. I'd try to get as many as I had the strength and time to do--my limit was 4 (DH's limit was 0...LOL). And please, keep asking away. This is exactly how I got through this process.

Kraftmaid replaced a batch of drawer fronts, and we'll see how they hold up over the next couple years. Of course the labor to install them was on me. I have a couple doors by the dishwasher that are now peeling up paint from the bottom. The side panel next to the dishwasher is also looking pretty bad. I really think the painted cabinets and panels would be best if far from the sink, dishwasher, or frequently wet countertop.

@Wes Hunt I believe Shiloh does an industry-standard post-catalyzed conversion varnish, so hopefully the finish will be more durable for you than Kemp would have been. As I'm sure you're aware, there are several different levels of pricing within the lines offered by W. W. Wood Products, Inc., Shiloh's parent company. Shiloh for some reason hasn't amassed many reviews around the web at the time of this writing outside of those on Houzz, but there are several threads here at Houzz that do discuss Shiloh's offerings and warranty fulfillment in depth. One of the things I've noticed is that people who went with the less expensive lines wished they had upgraded to the top Shiloh offering, and for people who did receive defective pieces, it was sometimes an issue getting satisfactory warranty service. If you are working with a reputable sales rep, hopefully they would take care of any issues you had promptly. Plenty of people have been very pleased with their Shiloh cabinetry. The tolerances on Shiloh's inset styles aren't as tight as you'd see from more expensive brands like Christopher Peacock or Kennebec according to some reviewers familiar with a wide range of brands, but for many people who want to save and yet still want that inset look, Shiloh does just fine for them. Of course, as you're aware, inset is not the only style Shiloh offers. I hope your project goes smoothly. Thanks for allowing the Houzz community to have input into your research process.