Cabinet Dealers and Kitchen Designers we recommend outside our service area

137 Replies to “Cabinet Dealers and Kitchen Designers we recommend outside our service area”

1. 

   Mos Ro

   Design and Build.
   just clarify what do you call a design and build?
   if they install but carry different cabinet lines and don’t build their own would you call that design and build.
   I would think that its the best combination as they sell a lot, have different option and you get the benefit of designer/ installer working together and nothing falling between the cracks.
   again would like your take.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Mos,
   Some kitchen cabinet dealers install too and these projects can run OK because the primary function of the company is to design and sell cabinetry. The designer is far more important than the contractor because any good contractor will do a good job installing the kitchen designed by a good designer. However most kitchen designers are not good at their job. Architects and interior designers are even worse at designing kitchens.

   If you listen to some of our podcasts you will learn that we rarely ever get sent a good kitchen design done by others. So finding a good designer is incredibly important. Since the cabinet dealers pay the really good kitchen designers so much more than Lowes, The Home Depot, or Design and Build Firms (that do all kinds of construction projects like finished basements, porches, additions and yes some kitchens) the best kitchen designers will be found at those cabinet dealers and showrooms most often.

   Most importantly since most customers can’t tell the difference between good kitchen designs and poor ones, unless they get to compare the two designs and have the advantages of one versus the other explained to them, it is very hard for them to find a good kitchen designer. That’s why having them work with the type places that are far far more likely to employ good designers is so important.

   If you are doing a kitchen yourself you should send your design into our free helpline on a Friday and have me critique it. The amount of mistakes I usually find on any design we get sent is surprising to the people who call in. Callers often think that maybe they need a tweak or small change when in reality the whole kitchen is terribly designed and wastes a ton of money.

   As Doug says in our funny video below the first job of a good kitchen designer is to convince the customers that they need the design help that they desperately need but resist getting. Watch video below:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxJgxCeeNTo

2. 

   Mos Ro

   you seem to not be a fan of design and build companies as you say they cant be good at both, I would think that even if one person cant be good at both, they could have expert designers in the design and order department and expert installers in the build department.
   also they have the benefit of having the highest level of communication between he designers and installers and you don’t have to worry that if there is a problem that the designer and installer will blame each other.
   would like your take on these points.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Mos,
   The reason there aren’t good designers in the “design department” of design and build firms is that the designers in these firms get paid only a fraction of what successful kitchen designers make at kitchen cabinet dealers and showrooms. For example, the designers that work for Main Line Kitchen Design make over 100K per year. On top of this most kitchen cabinet dealers carry several cabinet brands across several if not all price points so designers get a detailed understanding of the cabinet and countertop market. A designer working at a showroom might also work on 50 to 100 kitchens a year while a design and build designer would only work on a tiny fraction of that.

   Less experience and far lower pay means that anyone great at kitchen design will migrate out of the design and build sector as soon as possible.

3. 

   Doug

   Paul – I took your recommendation for Dallas and contacted Kitchen Design Concepts. However, against your advice, they are pushing frameless designs big time and they seem to carry either middling brands or very expensive brands (Wolf Classic, WW Woods Aspect, Kitchencraft, Showplace, WW Woods Eclipse, Ultracraft, WW Woods Shiloh, and 3 QCCI brands – listed in order of their pricing).
   Most of these brands have gotten very few asks or comments. For a high quality, with good value, in a stained cabinet, what would be your top pick of these and what upgrades would be needed to make it the top pick?

   Thank you.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Doug,
   You don’t say what door style you are considering. For a slab door style frameless does do look much better. However they are always less durable even upgraded to plywood than the Wolf Classic. So for styles other than slab door styles frameless cabinetry makes less sense – if durability is important.
   Cabinet dealers have different designers and while one designer might be pro frameless another might not. Designers that ARE pro frameless can be dangerous because they may not be considering the engineering limitation of a frameless box.

   With frameless cabinetry no drawer bases should be wider than 30″ and no doors wider than 18″ so that the hinges and tracks that are only attached to the sides of the cabinet with frameless construction (instead of the solid wood fronts on framed cabinets) don’t pull out of the sides of the cabinet. If your design has drawer bases wider than 30″ I would not work with that designer as this lack of understanding about cabinetry and design could be only the tip of the iceberg.

   When we recomend places outside our service area it isn’t a blanket approval of all their designers of even the company itself. It means that from the designs they post on Houzz.com and from their web site, Google reviews, and the brands that they carry they appear to us to be a a promising place to work with. But designers are different, companies change, and we don’t know the company beyond what we can decern on line.

   I would consider calling into our helpline so that I can review you design and discuss cabinetry with you in more depth. Here’s the information:

   Call into our Friday helpline and podcast most Fridays between 2 and 4 pm Eastern Standard Time. We review designs and give design help. Call 61O-5OO-4O71 then leave a message and we will call you when a line opens.

1. 

   Doug

   Thanks for the quick feedback Paul. We’re just getting started, so a lot more questions to ask and details to suss out. Once I have a kitchen design to share, will definitely give the help line a call.

   We’re looking for more simple / light styling. Not sure if we’re 100% onboard with slab doors, but maybe something in the shaker vein on doors and slab fronts on the drawers. Based on that, of the lines they offer, which brand would you lean towards?

   If we do a frameless design, but have door and drawers with full coverage on top of, rather than inset to the cabinet boxes, does that change anything with the strength of the cabinets? It would seem to be no issues with sticking like on inset designs, but structurally the lack of the face frame and it’s corner bracing is still a concern? I’m not sure if this is even done as it’s difficult to get solid (haha) data from the manufacturers websites. But if it is and it’s a better option than inset, does that change the recommendation?
   On the 30” drawers, is that the outside dimensions of the box, the width of the box interior opening or the width across the drawer face?

   Thank you.

4. 

   Mary

   This information is so well explained and helpful. Doing a condo remodel in Denver. Using a designer and the cabinet source company carries Diamond, Waypoint and Homecraft for semi-custom options. This is a second home and we do not want to go fully custom but want decent quality. We will be using a maple, stained, slab door style.
   Thank you for your advise.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Mary,
   These are all good brands if you upgrade to all plywood construction. The price difference reflects how much customization each brand offers and how nice looking their finishes are. Upgraded they will all be equally durable.

   One warning I would give you is that if the designer you are working with is not working for a cabinet dealer you can not be working with a very good designer. The best kitchen designers will always work for cabinet dealers because they get paid so much more. Plus designers that work for cabinet dealers don’t charge for their time – it is included in the cabinet price. So generally the designer at the cabinet company you are buying from is far better than an independent designer or architect you might be working with.

   Independent designers often are making money on every transaction you make and have far less knowledge than the sales people at the individual stores you might be buying from. The independent designers are inflating your costs and not lowering them while the more knowledgeable cabinet, countertop, plumbing, tile, flooring, and appliance sales people are paid commission on their sales and don’t cost you anything for their help.

   It is incredibly frustrating to real professionals that home makers and industry wanna bees that have no formal training and no kitchen design experience pass themselves off as kitchen designers. HGTV personalities who are all clueless have made armchair home viewers who believe that they have “a flair for style” feel qualified to give kitchen design advice.

   This is why we have our free helpline and podcast. I would call in and have us review your design as even the better “real” kitchen designers working at real dealerships can be mistake prone.

   Call into our Friday helpline and podcast most Fridays between 2 and 4 pm Eastern Standard Time. We review designs and give design help. Call 610-510-2056 then leave a message and we will call you when a line opens.

   It is shocking to me nowadays how poor the people that attend industry events are, as a whole generation of non professionals has invaded our industry. These people are actually organizing and planning homeowners kitchens with no construction experience and no time spent training and working in kitchen showrooms. They just watch a lot of HGTV or are real estate agents.

   While being a certified kitchen designer was never an important credential in the past for the best kitchen designers it is now one way to help identify if the person you are working with is qualified.

   Below is an example of our podcast and an episode where I correct the mistakes made by an interior designer.
   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/calls-with-paul-the-kitchen-design-podcast-episode-19/

5. 

   Lindsay C

   Thank you for your ratings.
   This is our first kitchen. We live on the water and are looking at kraftmaid painted and Yorktown Mdf can you help? Kraftmaid looks like much better quality but Yorktowne mdf appears better for moisture and price
   What are the flaws and problems we might expect with Yorktowne

   What did you base your B+ ratings on what is lacking in being an A and Why?
   Do Yorktowne cabinets have issues with not lining up perfectly, it was like that in the showroom so I’m concerned

   We found 3 great designers but want high quality cabinets.
   It’s not a flip

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Lindsay,
   Non kitchen design professionals have a hard time understanding that more expensive cabinetry isn’t really related to the quality of cabinet construction. Particularly for painted cabinetry there may be ZERO difference in the cabinet quality as you spend more money. Brands like Kraftmaid and Yorketowne are both no better constructed than for example Fabuwood. However, they are almost 40% more expensive. The added expense is due to all the added design features, sizes, wood types, and finishes that become available in more expensive brands.

   Unfortunately most customers designs are simplistic and the door style and finish that they select common. Because of this the added money they are spending to get more expensive cabinet brands that offer things that they are not selecting is simply wasted. Spending the huge difference in money on construction changes like removing walls, moving doorways and creating a better design is a far, far, better investment.

   Without seeing a customer’s design and knowing the finish and door style they were selecting I couldn’t tell them if it made sense being in a more expensive brand. However if they were getting full overlay shaker painted cabinetry it would be very unlikely that getting Kraftmaid or Yorktowne would make sense.

   There should be not be much difference in price between Kraftmaid and Yorketowne, and in fact Yorktowne should be a little more. This makes me think that you are not comparing designs with apples to apples selections. One designer is including things the other is not. Possibly giving you a less expensive door style or less expensive upgrades or many of the other price saving things mentioned in the blog below.

   I would recomend reading the blog below and listening to the podcast below to better understand what you should be investing in. Sending your plans and calling into our helpline and podcast would also probably catch a lot of design errors. This is almost always the case when people show us their designs.

   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/price-comparing-kitchen-cabinets-and-why-it-is-a-bad-idea/

   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/calls-with-paul-the-kitchen-design-podcast-episode-28-finding-a-kitchen-designer/

6. 

   Elaine Hershey

   Have you heard of Choice Cabinets? They are located in Cleveland Ohio. Trying to decide if it’s comparable to KraftMaid. It is a painted cabinet. Choice seems to be a quality cabinet, but after waiting 25 years to finally get the kitchen done – I don’t want to make a mistake!

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Elaine,
   Choice is an inexpensive RTA cabinet brand that can be bought assembled too. It is several price levels less expensive than Kraftmaid. It looks like it’s constructed well, but they don’t give specifications so I can’t tell exactly how we would rate them. Kraftmaid offers many wood types, stains, paints, glazes and other finishes that a low-cost brand like Choice will not. For a painted shaker door choice, it may not be that different from Kraftmaid.

   However, their website is vague, and I’ve never heard of them so they could have other issues.

   We rate 130 brands. Why not pick from one of those? See reviews of brands below:

   Cabinet Reviews 2023: Ratings for the top 100 cabinet brands. ⋆ (mainlinekitchendesign.com)

7. 

   LJ

   Do you know anything about Vision Cabinets or Kitchen Cabinet Distributors? What about an inserted MDF panel in the painted wood door? How should that be finished?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi LJ,
   recessed center panels on painted wood doors are actually better made of MDF than wood. However Just on recessed center panels. The frame of the door must be solid wood. Unless you are flipping a home and so don’t care about durability. In that case save money and get an MDF door.

   Kitchen Cabinet Distributers and Vision are both online ordering companies. We DO NOT recommend ordering cabinetry online for many reasons. The biggest being that there are almost always physical locations that will have knowledgeable people to help you and to measure your home that will be the same price or a little bit more for the same, or better, quality cabinets. If you live in rural Alaska they might be your best option. But that’s seldom the case. See the reasoning from another post below:

   The reason we don’t review online cabinet companies and Costco is to protect homeowners from themselves. Were we to review these type brands favorably then consumers that don’t understand or value kitchen design would avoid the design help that they desperately need. My mantra, the podcast and the video below all try to make this understandable.

   My MANTRA is:
   People worry about cabinet quality and price far more than they worry about their designs. This is because they aren’t kitchen designers themselves and don’t understand how poor their designs usually are. If you listen to one of our podcasts this is usually a central issue. The Podcast below illustrates this point:

   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/calls-with-paul-the-kitchen-design-podcast-episode-20

   Watch our funny video:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxJgxCeeNTo

1. 

   Ann Adams

   We met with a cabinet company that recommends KCD, Align, and Jarlin. They build these themselves in house, since they are flat pack. They also recommended Designers Choice, but feel the other brands are in the same quality range, with Designers Choice only offering more colors, sizes, etc. What are the quality of this brands? I did not see the first three listed on your comparison list.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Ann,
   We don’t really review RTA cabinets. While some can be well made they aren’t less expensive than the inexpensive brands that come assembled. I don’t know any good kitchen cabinet dealers that assemble cabinets themselves so while the cabinet could be built well the designer you are working with is probably not very knowledgeable. And working with a good designer is more important than the cabinet brand because as always-

   People worry about cabinet quality and price far more than they worry about their designs. This is because they aren’t kitchen or bath designers themselves and don’t understand how poor their designs usually are. If you listen to one of our podcasts this is usually a central issue. The Podcast below illustrates how different designs can be from what a homeowner might expect, while still staying within their budget. So, it makes little sense splurging on cabinets, appliances, and other expensive upgrades, when there are design improvements left on the table.
   Below is a podcast that focuses on this issue:

   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/calls-with-paul-the-kitchen-design-podcast-episode-28-finding-a-kitchen-designer/

   Removing a wall or moving a window or doorway can cost a few thousand dollars but make the kitchen and a home a completely different with a better layout. This can often increase the home’s value several times more than the cost of the renovation. Whereas upgrading to a more expensive cabinet brand or professional appliances like SubZero can add tens of thousands of dollars to a renovation and if the kitchen design is poor make getting back what you spent on the renovation impossible.

8. 

   Alicia Donovan

   Have you heard of Covered Bridge Cabinetry? I didn’t see it in your list but am very curious if you’ve seen these and how you’d rate them. We are looking at flush inset from them.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Alicia,
   Covered Bridge looks well-made. If you are getting an inset door style, make sure you get their Ultimate cabinet construction because the wall cabinets need to be 13″ deep to fit dinner plates inside an inset wall cabinet. The Ultimate construction is the only construction that comes that way.

   One thing that is concerning is that they only show one beaded inset door style on the website under door styles. And they don’t show ANY inset kitchens on their Gallery page of their website. This suggests to me that this is not something they are that comfortable doing. Much like the Bishop line is for our company. Yes, Bishop does do inset but we recommend customers getting inset spend just a little more and get the Brighton line we carry that specializes in inset.

   Inset is hard to do and it’s usually worth spending a little more to get inset from a cabinet brand that does the style regularly. Your kitchen designer should also be experienced selling inset as it is more difficult to design in.

   WARNING I would advise against getting Flush inset ovens when you are getting an inset or beaded inset door style. It is dangerous in my opinion. Read the blog below:
   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/flush-mounted-ovens-the-new-danger-appliance-makers-and-dealers-overlook/

1. 

   Alicia Donovan

   Thank you so much! It was great chatting with you on the phone on Saturday. 🙂

9. 

   Joan Wallack

   Hello,
   Your blog and website information are very helpful. Can you recommend a kitchen designer/ dealer in Rhode Island or nearby area? The kitchen is a small 1950’s mid-century galley with a heated sunroom addition on the other side of the original exterior wall. This addition blocks most natural light. A structural engineering evaluation has been completed; hopefully the wall will be removed ( a beam is needed) and some of the kitchen ( mechanics?) moved into the sunroom area.
   Thank you for your suggestions.
   Sincerely,
   Joan

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Joan,
   If you call in on a Friday 2-4 pm EST to our help line and Podcast, we can try to locate a designer in your area.

10. 

    Deborah Abernathy-Smith

    Looking reasonable designer’s and cabinets in metro Atlanta area.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Deborah,
   Since we don’t list an Atlanta dealer on this blog, we must have had trouble finding one in the past. This is something I can research for you on our Friday helpline and podcast. Call in 2-4pm EST to 610-500-4071 on a Friday and we can go through Atlanta designers on Houzz.com to find ones with good portfolios. Then we can and look up their reviews and the brands they carry, to hopefully find one that looks promissing.

1. 

   Amy

   Hi I’m in Atlanta and need this same information – did you ever find any reccomendations?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Same advice Amy,
   Since we don’t list an Atlanta dealer on this blog, we must have had trouble finding one in the past. This is something I can research for you on our Friday helpline and podcast. Call in 2-4pm EST to 610-500-4071 on a Friday and we can go through Atlanta designers on Houzz.com to find ones with good portfolios. Then we can and look up their reviews and the brands they carry, to hopefully find one that looks promising.

11. 

    Nina

    Hi. You have Builders General Supply in Little Silver NJ as one of the recommended cabinet dealers. This same company also has a location in Freehold which is closer to me. Do you recommend the company in general or only the Little Silver location in particular? Thanks

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Nina,
   We recomend the company in general but not a specific designer. Call first and ask to work with one of their more experienced designers.

12. 

    Deb Smith

    Hello,

    I live in Acworth, GA. We are looking all wood cabinets rating 2-3. Shaker or Shaker look. Semi-custom or box. We looked into Procraft and US. Cabinets. Please advise. Thank you.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Deb,
   I assume you mean Procraft and US Cabinet Depot. Both brands are well constructed and inexpensive. Price level 1 for both. If the designer is good either of these brands would be a good choice on a budget. We used to sell Procraft but didn’t have a reliable distribution center so we stopped carrying them. We have also considered US Cabinet Depot but are waiting until they get their a little better organized for our location. Very good value for both lines.

13. 

    romandenver

    Any recommendations for cabinetry dealers in Colorado? Have noted previous comments but am looking for an update.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Roman,
   We’ve had trouble finding companies in the past. If you call on a Friday between 2-4 pm and select my extension I can look for you.
   Paul

14. 

    Juan Jimenez

    Hi Paul,
    We recently went to Kabco Kitchens in South Florida and were told that the contemporary flat-front cabinet door we are looking for should be MDF, because a solid wood door could warp if not framed. We are very skeptical of MDF. They recommended a painted door made by Miralis. Do you have any experience with this brand?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   I would recommend a veneered painted door with an MDF core. An all MDF door would damage too easily, but a solid door painted would make little sense.

15. 

    Lucie

    I am new to your blog and am finding it very informative. You stress the importance of a good kitchen designer and indicated in an earlier post that you are not a fan of “design and build companies.” Are you referring to kitchen design companies that also act as general contractors? Thanks.

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Lucie,
   This is just generally as there are of course exceptions to every rule:

   Design and build firms tend to do one or the other well but not both. Usually it is the build part that they excel at. For kitchens I’d rather use a designer and cabinet dealer and send the designs to contractors to bid on. Then each specialty is separated. If an architect or engineer is needed then I’d use the professional the general contractor recommends. I think separating each discipline makes it more likely the overall job is professional.

   I firmly believe that thinking you can do everything well means that you can’t be great at anything.

   Our company creates great designs and sell quality cabinetry for a very competitive price, Our customers bid out installations with both contractors we recommend and ones that they find on their own. The result is that they usually hire experienced and knowledgeable contractors at a reasonable price. When they do need architects and engineers they get ones that are comfortable working with the general contractor running the job. Since they are being referred they don’t overcharge or make more work for themselves than is needed.

16. 

    california-kitchen

    Hello, I would love to get your advice on my kitchen designs. My KD is competent, but has limited experience. I feel I should get a second opinion. Are you still offering assistance to customers outside of your service area on Fridays from 2-4 EST?

    We are in CA; if we were in your area we would absolutely go with you. Your knowledge, expertise and care is obvious and appreciated.

    Thanks!

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hello California,
   Yes we offer assistance and answer questions free of charge Fridays EST between 2 and 4 pm. Leave a message if we don’t pick up we will call you back as soon as a designer gets free.

17. 

    Bela Bansal

    We are talking to a design/build kitchen company that utilizes Wolf and Kitchen craft. Another brand on offer is J & K Cabinetry. Which brand would you recommend?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Both Wolf and J&K offer inexpensive well constructed cabinets. However I am not a fan of almost all design and build companies. Generally they are only competent building and not designing and they do not offer great pricing for cabinetry nor do they understand the issues involved in ordering cabinetry.
   I would hire them to install and buy my cabinets from a true cabinet dealership with full time experienced kitchen designers.

18. 

    Paul McAlary

    Hi Issac,
    Adding a flower box to fill in under the window on the outside of the house is an easy way to raise a window. Other questions we answer Fridays 2-4 pm. Call and one of us can see if we can find a place closer to you.

19. 

    Isaac

    Hello,
    I’m remodeling a kitchen in Bergen County, NJ and am looking for a cabinet dealer and kitchen designer to work with. I’m looking for a place within a 30 minute drive and your recommendations are all further away. Just from doing some research online I’ve found Alba Kitchen and Bath, Golden Source Kitchen and Bath, and Wholesale Kitchen Center. Do you have any insight into any of these places?

    Also, one of the windows on my kitchen wall currently extends below counter height. I’m toying with the idea of making the window smaller so that counter can be extended underneath it. The exterior of the house is brick. Do you know if this is something that is too complex/pricey to consider?

    Thank you!

1. 

   Bharat

   Hi Paul,

   Thank you so much for sharing your expertise & views. Just following up on this query. I live in Northern NJ (Millburn). I wonder if you could recommend a good designer in this region. I am in process of doing a new construction.

   Please advise.

   Thanks once again!

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Bharat,
   It takes a while to research and find potential dealers and designers. Below is a podcast where we describe the process. You can also call on our Friday helpline 2-4 pm and we can look with you.
   https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/calls-with-paul-the-kitchen-design-podcast-episode-39-shiloh-kitchen-design/

20. 

    Chantal

    Your website is so helpful.Do you recommend anyone in Orange County, California?

1. 

   ITSAdmin

   Hi Chantal,
   No but if you called on a Friday one of us could take a look.

21. 

    KevinStever

    Thank you so very much for the thorough and truly helpful response.

22. 

    LTimko

    Hi there,

    Working with a company that works with Ultracraft cabinets. They’re not highly reviewed here. Is there a reason they came in low?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Frameless cabinet construction with particle board and thin sides.

23. 

    Becky

    Are there any good designers in Spokane, Washington? The ones you have listed are too far away for us

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   We help people outside our service area free of charge on Fridays between 2-4 EST. This friday is crazy due to tariff price increases so only one of us will be manning the phones and it may be hard to get through.

24. 

    Judith Shill

    Thank you so much for your invaluable information. I am getting so educated by reading all your comments . We had planned to get a Woodmode kitchen at the cost of 70K for the cabinetry only! Woodmode no longer exists and I loved their quality but agree with you that the value is an A- . This has given me time to re think our project and want to find a company equal to Woodmode quality. I liked the kitchen designer that I worked with but found them very expensive at 160K for the entire project. In the Dallas , Fort Worth area you recommended The Kitchen Design Concepts and I consulted with them and there is no way we were going to spend that kind of money with that company. They were actually pathetic and their showroom and designer was not up to standard. Could you please recommend another company for me to work with and in your opinion what is the best cabinetry on the market? I know you said a designer was more important than the cabinetry but I at this stage don’t have either. Where should I start?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Judith,
   The cabinet companies we recommend on our site we do sight unseen based on their designs we see, their online reputation and the lines they carry. Individual designers can be good or bad at a particular showroom and what the showroom looks like has very little to do with how good a designer or a cabinet line might be. If you call 2-4 pm EST on a Friday one of us can see if we can find another place to recommend in your area. This Friday is fine next Friday will be too hectic as there are price increases in a couple of the lines we carry that are are making that particular day crazy for us trying to process orders before the increase takes effect.

25. 

    JKFred

    First, I found your website via a google search and have spent hours learning from the comments section. It is now my only “go to” site for kitchen advice/expertise. We have gutted a 1920’s ranch style farmhouse on my family’s farm in Northern Colorado and I have a kitchen/dining shell that is 23 x 14 feet. Based on your advice, I need to start with a great kitchen designer. I didn’t see any Colorado (specifically Northern Colorado, Fort Collins/Greeley area) designers in the Mountain Area region. Am I missing that list? Do you have any recommendations?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi JKFred,
   We tried to find dealers that met our criteria for good design, a stellar reputation on line, and quality cabinets across price points in every state and most metropolitan areas. However it just wasn’t possible in many cases. In fact we just had an embarrassing turn of events when the location we recommended in Denver went out of business.
   Just because we can’t find a place to recommend in your area does not mean that there aren’t great designers and dealers there. It just means that from afar there just wasn’t enough information about any company to meet our criteria.

   If you have a great experience with a particular company let us know and we can check them out and if we are comfortable recommending them it can be a boost to their business. It would be a favor to them just like a 5 star review on Google, Yelp, or Houzz. If you find our blog helpful and would like to leave us a good review that helps us equally well!

26. 

    Venkat

    Hello,

    Is there one in or around the San Jose, CA area that you recommend. San Francisco, CA is a long distance for many of us.

    Thank you!

    Venkat

27. 

    Susie

    Hello, this is wonderful! I’m moving to a townhouse in Santa Fe NM. The kitchen is very small.- one wall and an island. There is no ability to reconfigure the space so I’m pretty much stuck with it. Can you recommend anyone to help with this? Also, I’m looking for good quality mid-range cabinetry without a huge price tag. I currently have Woodcase cabinets, a local company in the Phoenix area, and love them. Unfortunately, they only sell locally. I’d appreciate any help you can give me!

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Susie,
   Unfortunately none of the kitchen design and cabinet dealers in Santa Fe meet our criteria to recommend. And of course there are always ways to modify and improve every design – you just don’t realize what is possible because you are not a kitchen designer. As Doug Mottershead CKD says in our funny video about this point, “people just don’t know what they don’t know” Video link below;
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxJgxCeeNTo&t

28. 

    LARRY MCALLISTER

    I really learned a lot from your blog. I building a new home in eastern NC and the two cabinet shops I’m working with offer the following in my price range: Shrock Kitchen and KCD baths or Green Forest throughout. All seem to have 1/2 in plywood construction. KCD showed staples and plastic braces. Any thoughts on these?

1. 

   pmcalary[ Post Author ]

   Hi Larry,
   Green Forest upgraded is the better construction. Schrock has the nicer finishes. There are better choices out there if you have Schrock amounts of money to spend.

29. 

    pmcalary[ Post Author ]

    Yes we rate Mid Continent pretty poorly in our most recent cabinet rankings. Link below:

    https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/kitchen-cabinet-ratings-for-2018-updated-reviews-for-the-top-selling-cabinet-brands/

30. 

    Karen Legreid

    Thank you so so much!!! I deeply appreciate your help! Any strong feelings about Mid-Continent? Thx again! You’re providing a wonderful service!!!

31. 

    paul mcalary

    Hi Karen,
    Some truth in what hes says but not all truths.
    .
    MDF is Medium Density Fiberboard. It is denser than particle board and has some properties that are good but some that are terrible. On base cabinets that sit on the floor it is fine for the sides of cabinets as long as the sides that are exposed are plywood. On wall cabinets that carry weight that hangs on the wall sides of cabinets are much better all plywood. And the backs of cabinets or hanging rails should NEVER be MDF. Because of this it is simpler to just make the cabinet all plywood if you want to make a good cabinet. The companies that sell MDF cabinets where you pay extra to get plywood often over charge for the option.
    .
    Yes all painted cabinets scratch more easily than stained cabinets and are ruined by water more quickly. This is true for expensive and inexpensive cabinet lines. It is why some cabinet companies get bad reviews on line from consumers. Because the home owners blame the cabinet company when the paint they chose doesn’t hold up to abuse. You must be careful with painted cabinets. They can be touched up easily by refinishers though for a few hundred dollars.

32. 

    Karen Legreid

    One more thing😊- the guy said that w the paint (cream/beiges) you have to constantly wipe dry by the sink or the paint will start to chip/come off. Is that true? It seems hard to believe if whites/beiges are so extremely popular. Again thanks so much.

33. 

    Karen Legreid

    So the two popular brands in our area are Haas Cabinets and Mid-Continent.
    The guy who is pushing for MC mentioned MTD or something like that. He said it’s so much different than the particleboard of old. He also mentioned about using plywood only for the outside services which sounds suspect to me. I have read what you have said about particleboard. Can you give me your opinion on those two brands? Thank you so much.