2018 Kitchen Cabinet Rankings
Below are our kitchen cabinet rankings from 2018 for the top selling cabinet manufacturers in the United States. Cabinet brands are rated for construction quality and for value considering the price point of each cabinet line. Price point is rated from 1 to 6 with 6 being the most expensive cabinetry on the market.
If you are outside our service area, we are happy to answer any questions on this blog’s comment forum. But please do not contact us on our website’s contact page.
READ THE MOST RECENT 2024 RANKINGS HERE
Cabinet Reviews: Ratings for the top 100 cabinet brands.
All the designers that gave us input on the cabinet lines below have greater than 20 years’ experience in our industry. When possible, all construction specifics were double checked on the websites for each cabinet line.
Main Line kitchen design acknowledges that we are dealers for the following cabinet lines: Wellsford, Bishop, Brighton, Fabuwood, Legacy Presidential, and CNC. We could be prejudiced towards ranking these lines more favorably, but we have tried to be impartial. However, since the cabinet lines we carry were chosen specifically for their construction quality and value, our ranking them well should not be a surprise.
FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR SERVICE AREA OF WITHIN A TWO-HOUR DRIVE OF OUR BALA CYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE, BELOW IS A LINK TO RECOMMENDED DEALERS IN OTHER AREAS. GOOD DEALERS CLOSE TO YOU CAN BETTER ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT’S AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA:
Recommended Kitchen Designers and Cabinet Dealers Outside Our Service Area
OUR KITCHEN CABINET RANKINGS assume each line is upgraded to the top level of construction available. A grade of A for construction quality will not be equal across different price levels, as the more expensive price point cabinets will have far nicer finishes and construction options.
Note: The highest grade for Quality in any frameless European style cabinet line is a B. While frameless cabinetry is easier to access and is sleeker looking, it is also less durable than the best made framed cabinetry.
The value grade we give is not a rating about the quality of the cabinetry but a rating of how good an investment a cabinet line is considering its cost. For example, many of the most expensive well-made cabinet lines receive lower marks on value even though as designers we think the cabinetry is the best in its class. These lines receive lower grades on value simply because there are competitors offering the same quality at slightly lower prices.
Cabinet Lines
| Cabinet line | Price level 1-6 | Quality | Value |
| 21st Century | 1 | A | A- |
| 6 Square | 2 | B+ | B+ |
| Adelphia Kitchens | 3 | B | B |
| Adormus (frameless) | 3 | B | B |
| All Wood – framed | 2 | A | A |
| All Wood – frameless | 1 | C | C |
| American Woodmark | 3 | B | B |
| Aristocraft | 2 | C | C |
| Bertch | 4 | A | A- |
| Bishop | 4 | A | A- |
| Bishop Frameless | 5 | B | B+ |
| Bremtown | 6 | A+ | B |
| Brighton | 4 | A | A+ |
| Brookhaven | closed | A | B |
| Brubaker | 5 | A | A |
| Cabico | 4 | B | B |
| Candlelight | 4 | A | A |
| Canyon Creek | 3 | B | B |
| CNC | 1 | B+ | B |
| Collier | 5 | A | B- |
| Crystal | 5 | A | A |
| Decora | 4 | A | A |
| Desginers Choice | 4 | A | A |
| Design-Craft | 4 | B | B |
| Diamond | 4 | B | B |
| Durasupreme | 5 | B+ | B |
| Durasupreme frameless | 3 | C | C |
| Dynasty by Omega (frameless) | 4 | B | B |
| Dynasty Pinnacle (framed) | 5 | A | B |
| Echelon Cabinetry | 2 | B- | C |
| Executive (frameless) | 4 | B | B |
| Fabuwood | 2 | A | A |
| Fabuwood (frameless) | 3 | B | B |
| Fieldstone | 4 | A | B+ |
| Grabill | 6 | A+ | B |
| Haas | 3 | B | B |
| Hanssem framed | 1 | B+ | B+ |
| Holiday (frameless) | 3 | C | C |
| Holiday Kitchens | 4 | A | A |
| Homecrest | 3 | B+ | B+ |
| Homestead Custom | 4 | A | A- |
| Ideal Cabinetry | 2 | B | A- |
| IKEA (frameless) | 1 | D | C |
| Innovation | 2 | C | C |
| JSI Cabinetry | 1 | B+ | B+ |
| Kabinart | 3 | C+ | D |
| Kemper | 3 | B | C |
| Kitchencraft (frameless) | 3 | C | B |
| Kith | 3 | B+ | C+ |
| Kountry Kraft (framed) | 6 | A | B |
| Kountry Kraft (frameless) | 6 | B | B |
| Kountry Wood | 2 | C | C |
| Kraftmaid | 4 | A- | A |
| Legacy | 3 | B+ | B |
| LifeArt | 1 | C+ | A |
| Marsh | 2 | B | B |
| Marsh (frameless) | 2 | B- | B |
| Medallion | 5 | B+ | B |
| Merillat | 2 | C | D |
| Merit Kitchens | 4 | B+ | B |
| Mid Continent | 2 | C | C |
| Mouser | 5 | A | A- |
| Mouser (frameless) | 5 | B | A |
| Ovation | 4 | B | C |
| Plain and Fancy | 6 | A | B+ |
| Plato Woodwork | 4 | A | A |
| Poggenpohl (frameless) | 6 | B | C |
| QuakerMaid (frameless) | 4 | B | B |
| RD Henry | 4 | A | A |
| Rutt | 6 | A+ | A |
| Schrock | 3 | B | B |
| Schuler | 5 | B+ | B |
| Shenandoah | 3 | B | B |
| Shiloh | 4 | C | C |
| Showplace | 3 | B+ | B- |
| Siematic | 6 | B | C |
| Signature Custom | 5 | A+ | A+ |
| Solid Wood Cabinets | 1 | A- | A- |
| St. Martin (frameless) | 4 | B | B |
| Starmark | 4 | A | B+ |
| Stylecraft | 5 | A | A |
| Thomasville* | 4 | B | B |
| Timberlake | 3 | B | B |
| Ultracraft (frameless) | 2 | C | C |
| Village | 5 | A | A |
| Waypoint | 2 | B | B |
| Wellborn | 4 and 5 | A | A |
| Wellsford | 5 | A+ | A+ |
| Wolf | 2 | A | B+ |
| Woodharbor | 4 | B+ | C |
| Woodmode | closed | A | A- |
| Yorktowne Now an Elkay CO | 4 | B+ | B |
* Note: Home Depot can change who manufactures this line although Masterbrands has been manufacturing the line under the Thomasville name for over ten years.
Remember, that choosing the designer, the cabinet dealer, and the installer you are working with is just as important as the cabinet line.
Do you need a more general review of cabinetry from 2015 explaining types of cabinetry construction?
https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/2015-popular-kitchen-cabinetry-brand-comparison/
For those interested in Cabinet Off Gassing, VOC’s, and Carb2 Compliance, here is our take on the fumes your new cabinets can emit:
Cabinet Off Gassing, Carb2 Compliance, and VOC’s.
1 Replies to “Kitchen Cabinet Rankings for 2018. Updated Reviews for the Top Selling Cabinet Brands.”
Jamie
We’ve received a few quotes on cabinets for our new house and have a bit of sticker shock. We’ve already put a decent amount of money into the home and only plan to stay here 5 years. I do spend a lot of time in the kitchen but I’m starting to realize we’re just not going to be able to do the dream kitchen I had in mind. I would like painted cabinets and one of my worries is longevity of the finish, I want the kitchen to still look nice when we go to sell in a few years. The two brands with decent ratings on your list that we’ve received quotes for are Homecrest and Fabuwood. Homecrest seems to be the preferred from what I’ve read, but the Homecrest quote is for basic cabinets with no upgrades (aka furniture board), and the Fabuwood are at least all plywood. Between those two options, would you recommend one over the other?
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Jamie,
If you are selling your home in 5 years and want painted cabinets here are the most important things to consider.
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We have noticed very little difference in the longevity of any one painted finish over another for major brands such as Homecrest, Fabuwood, or even the most expensive custom brands.
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In most areas of the US, painted cabinets can be touched up by professional furniture refinishers like Guardsman Furniture Pros. A 5 year old kitchen might cost $500 to make the finish look brand new.
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The design of your kitchen is the thing that will sell your home in 5 years and not the cabinet brand. Make sure you are working with the best kitchen designer you can find. If the design you want that you worry you can’t afford is your own creation then no matter how much you personally like the design it is unlikely to be one that an experienced professional would recommend for selling your home.
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Expensive appliances, interior cabinet gadgets, gimmicky pull outs, mixer lifts, magic corners, and ornate design features have little resale value.
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The most common problem with amatuer designs is forcing too much into the space. Getting a gigantic island could be your dream but if your home is too small for it then creating a space that’s too tight will be the take away from prospective homeowners. Keeping your ideas and your space in perspective is the most important job of kitchen designers.
Linda E.
Should I worry about the quality of Chinese made components?
I am considering 6 Square cabinets. I watched some scary videos about Chinese-made RTA cabinets, but don’t know whether
I should worry if the cabinets are put assembled in the US.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Linda,
I would worry about inexpensive US made cabinetry or about Frameless cabinetry made from particleboard. 6Square is not RTA it is built in a factory in Minnesota. There is a lot of misinformation and meaningless bad reviews of lots of well made US and other products on line. Finding a good kitchen designer and a responsible cabinet dealer is the most important thing. Although most customers sincerely and mistakenly believe that they “know exactly what they want and that their design has to be a certain way and that they just need to find the best cabinet.”
Deb
This is a great resource! I’m working with a designer that sources Starmark, Fabuwood and Wolf. We started out considering Fabuwood because budget, and because we may resell as soon as 4 years and don’t want to blow up the budget too much (at first we were just going to replace countertops but I’m sure you know how that goes). On the other hand we want a cabinet that will be good enough to help resale value and don’t want to cheap out. It’s a smaller kitchen and I really cook in it, so durable and easy to clean matter too. They have recommended Wolf Designer as a step up, but I was initially really alarmed by the bad reviews for Wolf Cabinets. My question is…. how much quality difference is there among the different Wolf lines? It’s hard to tell from Wolf’s site.
Lynn
I found the section on your site with recommended places. I contacted one. I also found the 10 step recipe for kitchen disaster, I am currently committing at least 6. I have read your blog many times but its just now sinking in after my design appt with Lowes.
Lynn
I’m in the Phoenix area of Arizona. Any help is appreciated.
paul mcalary
Hi Lynn,
Thinking that there is little that can be done design wise with a large space, especially with expensive Cambria contertops, 64″ refrierators, and a 250″ long wall of cabinets means you are in desperate need of knowledgeable help.
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Moving plumbing shouldn’t even be a consideration in a design like that. You don’t say where you are located but we recommend places around the US. Please get help – you are way over your head here.
Lynn
You are exactly right that the Lowe’s designer isn’t very knowledgeable, after 7 hours in person thetevatevstill thingd that aren’t right. We have 250” of back wall cabinets where the stove will is. An island as Big as a jumbo slab if cambria quartz that has the dishwasher and sink and a wall that’s only big enough to house the 64” fridge. There’s really not much else that can be done without moving plumbing. Unless by poor design you mean the inner workings of the cabinets. Do you have an opinion on legacy debut vs Shenandoah? With legacy that designer recommended furniture board not plywood. Maybe they aren’t designers. How do you distinguish a real kitchen designer from one that’s not?
Kathy Mcgill
I like beaded inset decora Hutchinson style, painted maple. Are there any other inset brands that you recommend.
Kathy
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Decora is a fine line. Most of the more expensive custom lines will do any style door inset and beaded inset. Upgraded they will almost always be well made. Other lines like Starmark, Fieldstone, Medallion, and Brighton should be around the same price as Decora.
Lynn
I am so torn as to what to choose for my kitchen. Our remodel is a straight forward remodel removing brand new existing existing cabinets from our trac home builder and replacing and extending the kitchen along a bare wall. We are going with double stacked 42″ & 18″ to the 10′ ceiling. I have quotes for Legacy Debut in furniture board, Kitchen Craft in furniture board, KraftMaid in furniture board, Shenandoah in plywood, Jarlin (import) in plywood. Jarlin is the cheapest but I am hesitant on Jarlin because it is made in China. The most expensive is Kitchen Craft by far but the designer was by far the best. I was settled on Legacy but the place where I saw them the drawer was broken and the cabinet wasn’t screwed to the wall, just overall not a great impression. I cannot find any reviews on Legacy at all so it makes me hesitant. My latest quote was Shenandoah and I was surprised by how inexpensive they are, I was very excited until I got home and read all the horrible reviews. Our kitchen has a lot of cabinets so I cannot go into any very high end options, not stacking the cabinets isnt an option even though the 18’s are basically for looks. I dont want to end up with a kitchen that looks beautiful until you open a cabinet…
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Lynn,
Shenandoah upgraded to plywood construction is a good cabinet but the Lowes designer may not be knowledgeable. KitchenCraft I would avoid. Kraftmaid should be upgraded to plywood.
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Cabinet reviews are not reliable since the homeowners that write the reviews are not qualified to judge what the issues are and the reviews are written long before the durability of the cabinetry becomes an issue. Most importantly your layout is most likely poor even though you believe the design is “straight forward”. Typically the customer’s that tell us this are usually the ones with the worst designs. And the more adamant they are that the design needs to be a certain way the more likely they are missguided.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Kelly,
I agree that unless you are getting unusual finishes or customizations that upgraded Schrock to 1/2 inch plywood sides would be fine.
The most popular woods for kitchen cabinetry in order are:
Maple
Cherry
Birch
Hickory
Quartersawn Oak
Alder
Regular oak while incredibly popular in the 1970’s and 1980’s is almost never ordered now. Nor are the cathedral or arched doors that were popular up until the mid 1990’s.
Exotic and more expensive woods
Bamboo
Mahogany or Liptus
Walnut
Birdseye Maple
Zebrawood
Kelly Huber
Thank you for your response! What woods do you recommend to maintain resale valueon a home, and on that note, any concern with stains (light vs. medium vs. dark)?
Finally, we also have the option of Shuler cabinetry, but our designer said there was no point in paying more than shrock trademark as the construction was the same. Any thoughts on that statement?
Laura Perkins
Hi – I am enjoying and appreciating your information immensely. We are currently deciding between 6Square and Milzen. Do you know of Milzen? I noticed it is not rated by you so maybe it is not available where you are?? Also, I heard reviews in regards to 6square paint staining from spaghetti sauce – thoughts??
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Laura,
None of us have never heard of Milzen. Paint staining is most likely not unique to any cabinet line if you leave sauce drippings uncleaned for an extended length of time. We have noticed that the premium paint colors in 6Square chip more easily because the paint is thicker and that the colors like Navy Blue show chips more easily because the undercoat is white.
Tom
Did you end up with Milzen? Curious how it turned out! I think they are only in the Bay Area – specifically working with local contractors and Granite Expo.
Kelly Huber
Hello! After quite a long process, we have a kitchen design we are happy with. On to the cabinetry…our designer is recommending shrock trademark series (we would do the apc upgrade) for a stained oak shaker style door. I have read through this blog, and you do not appear to be a fan of schrock cabinets. Can you elaborate further? They seem to meet the criteria for durable construction.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Kelly,
I don’t know the trademark series in Shrock well but if they have half in plywood sides we would give them a better ratings than our last review. Probably a B+ for construction and due to the recent tariffs better marks for value. I would caution you that unless the oak cabinets you are getting are the more popular quartersawn oak, regular oak is very unpopular and would actually hurt the value of your home. Something to consider if resale value is important at all.
Evelyn Cumberbatch
Hello. This has been a very helpful site. I narrowed cabinet lines down to ratings that were generally in the “4 A A” range and then searched in my area for the lines that have dealers within reasonable distances and went to look at them. I have narrowed it further to the Brighton and Crystal (Current, semi-custom) lines. I don’t need tons of choice (I just want white Shaker cabinets), but I am a regular, active cook and I want quality & durability. Can you tell me your opinion of Brighton versus Crystal-Current lines – in terms of quality, value and cost? Thanks very much!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Evelyn,
For a full overlay painted white shaker door you are probably paying more than you need to in these higher end lines. Certainly I don’t get less expensive versions of the expensive lines or compromise on durability if I am splurging on the line I select. So I would only get framed cabinetry and all plywood construction with upgraded drawers and soft close doors in these lines. They should be similar in quality and price once you do that. We like and carry Brighton but both are good lines.
Rich Klein
Paul, we live in Chicago but your website is so helpful. My wife loves the shiny European look and is insisting on buying acrylic slab doors. We’ve looked at Home Depot’s Thomasville Nouveau line, Mouser’s Euro-style frameless cabinets in both their Premier and Centra lines, and we’re interested in seeing Europa. Can you tell us anything about how the quality of these lines might compare to each other? Thomasville Nouveau is marketed exclusively by Home Depot but I’ve found online that it is manufactured by Kitchencraft in Winnipeg. Mouser cabinets are made in Kentucky. Europa is part of the Norcraft family, which is part of Masterbrand, and Europa cabinets are made in Liberty, North Carolina. Ultracraft cabinets are part of the same family and are made in the same place, so perhaps they’re pretty much the same and there’s some branding strategy going on there.
These brands may offer plywood construction for an upcharge – would you recommend that? Also, do you have an opinion on acrylic cabinets? Thanks so much for whatever guidance you can give.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Rich,
There are several issues here. First for the style that you like there is no question that you need frameless cabinets. Also the acrylic doors are beautiful but expensive and heavy so your designer should be extra careful not over stressing the less durable frameless cabinetry. This means no 36″ wide drawers cabinets. Cabinet doors 18″ wide at most and less gadgets like mixer bases, Pantry pull outs, and magic corners. Some of these features can be done safely but many can’t. Hafele makes the most durable gadgets for frameless cabinetry. A plywood box can help these issues but since the door finish you are getting will not lend itself to a plywood box you will need to either get a plywood core box or add acrylic panels to all exposed ends.
I am less experienced in this style and only know the lines we sell well and how to design accordingly in those lines. My guess would be that upgraded Mouser would be the safe bet. I would definitely stay away from Home Depot designers, Thomasville, and Kitchencraft when contemplating a particularly complex and structurally challenging design. You are going to pay a lot for acrylic doors no matter what you do. Getting the least well made cabinetry, and the less experienced designer, is not a smart choice when you are paying so much more for the style.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Ron,
Crystal Keyline and Dynasty Pinnacle are the top of both lines. I believe Dynasty Omega now also comes in a framed semi custom cabinet as is the Crystal Current line. You would need to talk to the dealers to get the exact specs and upgrades in the different lines, but both the lower lines can be upgraded to the better construction.
Ron
shaker doors in painted maple in kitchen and bead board door with distressed finish in the center island. the doors are overlay style. Is Dynasty the upgraded Omega company? is there a name for the upgraded Crystal? thanks for you help!
ron
Hi Paul,
We werre also going to use Woodmode until they went out of business. the job location is in Florida and our contractor came back with 4 names Omega,Smothport, Cabico and Crystal. we will visit each showroom but noticed you gave the best marks to Crystal. Is this cabonet far superior to the other names?
ITSAdmin
You don’t say the door style and finish you are looking. I do not know Smithport cabinetry but their web site shows two US flags and their cabinet construction page is blank. That combination and the fact that Tennessee is not known for having many better made cabinet lines would keep me away from Smithport. Cabico I don’t like as much as The other two brands. The Dynasty upgraded framed cabinetry and the upgraded Crystal are both very well made high end cabinet lines with their custom framed offerings on par with Wood-Mode custom cabinetry.
JB
Can you please tell me more about your opinion of Waypoint and Shiloh cabinetry? Where I live these are the lines they carry. I’m debating between inset and full overlay painted cabinets. What did you base your quality opinions on? I’m struggling to decide which is a better quality cabinet generally speaking and for the price. Thanks for any input you can provide.
Tiffany
Hi Paul,
I really appreciate all your research. We were ready to order Brookhaven cabinets this past week when the kitchen designer we were working with told us they had abruptly shut their doors. Needless to say my husband and I were so upset as we were confident this was the cabinet line for us. What do you know about Executive Cabinetry? The design store is now suggesting we use this line as it is a comparable line that they carry however they do not have any displays set up like they did for Brookhaven so we can’t see or touch any upper or lower cabinets as they only have a small base in the store. Also, she said it should be about the same price or slightly more and I’m wondering if that’s true as it seems like Brookhaven is a better line. I wasn’t able to find out much about Executive Cabinetry online. Appreciate any insight you may have. Thank you!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Tiffany,
Executive is a European Frameless line. Woodmode made frameless cabinetry but was better known for their framed cabinetry. You don’t say what cabinet construction, door style and finish you are considering but we only recommend frameless lines for modern and very contemporary door styles. If this is what you are choosing then that seems fine and the pricing could be comparable or at least close. However if you were getting framed cabinetry or inset cabinetry in a shaker or more traditional style I don’t like the trade at all.
Dan
Just found this. Appreciate it so much, its hard to find out info about the cabinet business. In NJ and I’ve used Forevermark a few times as they’re local and have decent support. Now trying to actually figure out who makes/brands/distributes the “Hickory Shaker” product line. Cover Source seems to be one of the larger distributors, as does A&M Supply. But it seems to come from basically…. no where!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Never heard of a brand name Hickory Shaker
Elliot
I want to feel confident I’m getting the best possible design for my space, so any additional consultations will be done by providing a sketch and rough measurements of the empty space to enable fresh eyes and ideas. Our local source for Fabuwood seemed sort of sketchy so that’s not really an option I think; everything else locally that is mid-range is probably in the same ballpark so I’m not expecting to find a huge difference in price. Thank you so much for offering to take a look for any glaring errors in the plan I have.
Elliot
I’m eager to see the response to this. I’ve been working with a designer who carries 4+ lines, but seems to be pushing Shiloh (over Crystal Current). When I posed same question about the cabinet back, and mentioned doubts about the practicality of using alder in a kitchen, I feel that the designer’s response was inadequate. The designer has been out to do a final measure, but I’m having second thoughts about the usability of the design after reading this blog – for example how practical are 36” wide deep drawers? Can they support the weight of dishes? Pots/pans? She says sure! But really?? I’ve shared my concern with her that the budget is creeping over the target and the designer hasn’t been helpful as of late. Do customers ever drop designers over issues like this, this far into the process? And if so, how does one do it gracefully when the designer has invested a lot of time in the project?
ITSAdmin
Hi Elliot,
Crystal Current with all plywood construction is a well made cabinet and would get a B+ or an A- in construction using our rating system. My guess would be that your designer is pushing Shiloh because either she is simply more comfortable designing in that line and knows it better or she knows it will be more expensive and fears losing your business. I don’t worry too much about 36″ wide drawers with a framed cabinet it is only frameless cabinetry where 36″ drawers are a serious issue. I do prefer 33″ or 30″ drawers if the design doesn’t require 36″ drawers for esthetic or practical reasons.
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Customer tend to creep over their budget as they continue to add the extras that they “must have” such as panels on the sides of cabinets, roll outs, pull outs, or silly gadgets like mixer bases, tall pantry pull outs, or magic corners. Sometimes designers add these things too without explaining the exact cost of the extra. For example a tall pantry pull out is less functional than simple roll outs and costs double the roll out price. If you are going over budget it is better to save money by eliminating some of these extras or often changing the color or door style slightly can save as much as 20%.
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Leaving a designer can be problematic sometimes because all the conversations and choices you made the next designer was not privy to. Getting a better more experienced designer can make sense, but if the new designer is being asked to simply beat the price of the original designer for the same design, than most kitchen designers consider that unethical and so the designers that usually will give you better pricing for the same design are unethical themselves and may take advantage of their ability do cabinetry sleight of hand. The devil you know can be better than the devil you don’t know.
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If you send us a design and call us on a Friday between 2 and 4 pm EST we can take a quick look at your design and make sure we at least see no major mistake. Simply call ready to email us your plans within that time window that we take calls from outside our service area.
Ela
I have asked the designer about the hanging rail and cabinet back, and he said that Shiloh uses solid wood hanging rail and 1/4in plywood back, and that even though not the best in industry, is pretty standard, and mentioned that even very expensive lines such as Signature Custom use similar construction method. Is this true? Also, when I compared in price, Dynasty from Omega, which they sell as well, came in about 20% more in price. In your review, they are both 4 in price. He also mentioned that Omega has been sloppy lately and not very good in attention to detail. What would you do in my case?
Ela
Hi Paul,
Thank you for providing so much valuable info on your site. It is def helping me in my kitchen remodel.
I have been to a couple of showrooms, and finally met a great designer. They carry fabuwood, shiloh and omega (dynasty and pinnacle). I really liked shiloh inset, their options and doors and colors, and their price. However when I saw your rating ( C for quality and C for value), I must say I was surprised, because it looks like a very well made cabinet. The dealer even said they liked Shiloh over Omega Dynasty,and it also came in about 15-20% less than dynasty. Can you please explain why you rate Shiloh so low? I read through some of your posts but didnt really see any info on Shiloh. Thank you Paul
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Shiloh uses an insufficient hanging rail and too flimsy a cabinet back without a much better hanging rail. Add to that that their web site glosses over this and they are not being upfront which shades their review down. When they are trying to cover up one thing are there others we should know about? Getting inset cabinetry from a less expensive cabinet line especially one the is not built in a sturdy manner is particularly problematic because inset cabinets must say very square for the inset doors to look and function correctly.
Debbie
Hi Paul –
Which cabinet line would you choose between, Omega Pinnacle or Durasupream considering other things such as qualified cabinet designer and installer are the same? and why?
ITSAdmin
Upgraded they are both very well made.
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All other things being equal, I would select the Omega Pinnacle. Being a DuraSupreme dealer for a very short while made me not trust DuraSupreme as a company. And after the closure of Wood-Mode companies that give myself and other dealers pause I would recommend staying away from.
Subha Dhesikan
Hi Paul,
I really appreciate you providing the information and responding to questions.
We are remodeling a kitchen in Dallas suburbs. We are looking at white cabinets on maple. We went to HD and worked with a designer. She has been pushing Thomasville (Jansen door style, full overlay). When I asked about Kraftmaid, she dissuaded me saying it will cost almost 50% more. She is pushing me to wrap by tomorrow saying HD 30% off is going away. I am really concerned about the finish and durability after reading your reviews and some others. Looking for your suggestions on what my alternatives are. Thank you.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Subha,
I don’t worry about finish and durability issues between the two lines as long as they are both upgraded. However, if you upgrade Thomasville and Kraftmaid to all plywood construction they should be only about 10 or 15% different in price. The 50% statement along with the 30% sale tells me that this designer does not have your best interest at heart. Couple that with the fact that home center kitchen designers are usually less qualified than designers from independent showrooms and I think I would shop elsewhere. Especially since you are outside a major city and should have lots of choices. We reviewed this place favorably in Dallas:
Kitchen Design Concepts Dallas/Ft. Worth TX https://kitchendesignconcepts.com/ 214-827-9881
Nick
I’ve gotten designs from both fabuwood and jsi showrooms. Both lines seem to have some limitations on things i was looking for, they are both very similar designs and importantly in my budget. JSI being a little cheaper. My carpenter recommended jsi over fabuwood in terms of value/quality..
I know you recommend fabuwood over JSI due to blum hardware, but what i’m wondering is, due to the tariffs if you still feel that way in terms of value?
Also due to the tariffs, are there any US made cabinets that comparatively are a better value now?
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Nick,
This is a good point to bring up.
Just so everyone gets this…..
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ALL THE INEXPENSIVE LINES ARE IMPORTS!
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This is true even when they say “built in the USA” “American made” etc.
Most of the very inexpensive cabinet lines ARE United States companies they are just having their cabinetry built in other countries. Most presently in China and soon many will switch over to production in Vietnam. Some were going to Mexico but with even further political ajita that may change.
So to be clear US companies like Fabuwood, JSI, CNC, Wolf (owned by the family of the Pennsylvania Governor) are all importing most of their materials from China. Simply the price of their cabinetry makes it a certiany. Completely US made lines will be at least 20% more to get the same quality of construction and that’s after tariffs.
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Companies that try to mislead consumers with American flags waving on their web sites are usually being dishonest about this and who knows what else.
When they start playing the “green” card or “family owned” card on top of the flags you really have to watch out.
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Even major US brands like Masterbrands are now importing some of their doors. In fact no one in the kitchen industry is sure who is and who is not importing what. However,we can easily tell by the pricing of particular lines or door styles.
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As far as JSI vs Fabuwood goes it is a close call. I know the Fabuwood line far better so it’s not fair for me to judge.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Unlike the Heartland RD Henry line Evoke does not say how they are made on the RD Henry web site so we can not rate them. Medallion and Yorktowne are now made in the same plant so their colors may be the same. Possibly you will be happy with Kraftmaid. Kraftmaid and Wood-Mode’s Brookhaven were made in the same plant briefly 12 years ago.
amanda
In January I had asked for your opinion between Brookhaven and Evoke cabinets. We ended up going with Brookhaven over Evoke. However, the building of our house slowed down and we only signed the contract the Saturday before Wood Mode closed, so now we are scrambling around to try and find something. At the time you said you never heard of evoke but now I notice you have the company that makes them rated (RD Henry). I see that you give RD Henry good reviews but they have three cabinet lines. So I’m wondering if now you have more knowledge of this cabinet.
We also could go with medallion, but not a fan of their color choices. Next week we are meeting with a company that works with Yorktowne and kraftmaid. We were really happy with what we getting from Brookhaven and hope to find that with another cabinet.
Thank you
Andy
If you had to pick between wolf and fabuwood? Which one?
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Wolf Classic and Fabuwood are made similarly. Less expensive Wolf lines I wouldn’t get. After that I would pick the color and style I liked best. But of course who the better designer is is most important of all.
David K
Hi,
Woodmode/Brookhaven went out of business last week, and I see that you have indicated that they are closed. How would you compare Durasupreme frameless with Brookhaven?
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
I’m actually not a fan of either frameless line. Both these companies make and made well made framed cabinets but frameless is and was not their specialty.
Steve Smith
Just heard that WoodMode/Brookhaven has abruptly shut their doors. Were these good lines to begin with? if so, what manufacturers are comparable in quality and price point?
Thanks
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Steve,
Yes both Wood-Mode and Brookhaven were very well made cabinets assuming you upgraded their construction to their plywood box. Their finishes were very nice as well. Their are many high end semi-custom lines that are equal to or similar to Brookhavem such as Kraftmaid, Decora, Medallion, Bishop, Fieldstone, Starmark and more. Their are very nice custom lines like Brighton that are similar to Wood-Mode in quality and their ability to customize but less expensive. And their are many lines close in price to Wood-Mode that have as nice or nicer finishes such as Grabill, Pain and Fancy, Wellsford, and most of the price level 6 lines on our review.
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As always with the higher end cabinet lines, it makes very little sense splurging on these manufacturers unless the kitchen designer you are working with is experienced enough to take advantage of what these lines have to offer.
Suzannah Cain
Hi
I have been looking at JSI, Essex. The reviews are all over the place/ They are very affordable, but does that mean cheap and poor quality? I only want upper and the price variance between different vendors is really crazy. a 36×42 upper with glass doors painted white is around $433 (JSI) and over $650 with other vendors.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Suzannah,
The cabinets are very inexpensive but well constructed. They will not look as expensive as other brands but should hold up well. There is a big price increase any day due to tariffs
Wendy
Hi! We are starting our kitchen redesign and trying to pick cabinets. We came across FGM Cabinetry (Venus design) and like the looks but don’t see many reviews on them. We are also considering Fabuwood but I read they may use MDF and not plywood? Any thoughts on these two and which one to go with? We are looking for our kitchen to last for years to come! Thank you in advance!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Wendy,
I never heard of FGM. Fabuwood has all plywood construction so whoever said otherwise doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Polly
HELP!
I was about to place an order with a kitchen designer who works with Wood-Mode but the company closed. Doing white shaker framed look. Builder suggests Wellborn, Crystal, or Omega Pinnacle. What do you suggest?
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Polly,
Those are three very good choices. Your builder sounds like he knows a lot more about cabinetry than most. I would pick the dealer with the best reputation or the designer with the most experience when picking between three very good lines.
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Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples in each line and you have to be extra careful if a new company and new kitchen designer is selling you cabinets. All the conversations you had with the original designer did not happen with a new one. Make sure they measure the space and take responsibility for the design working and fitting.
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You don’t want one person ordering another persons design without going through at least some of the talks you already had with the first designer.
Patti
Hi, Paul,
I am a retired Kitchen Designer with 20+ years of design experience and have sold many of the cabinet lines you have reviewed and agree with your reviews. I could not agree more with you when you talk about getting good design and designer. Please, those of you asking questions and for advice, this is the most important thing you can do—get a great designer! There are so many little details that go overlooked that a great designer will take care of and your project will go so much better. There have also been quite a few comments about RTA cabinets. Again, please listen to Paul. DYI is not for everyone. The design shows on TV make it look a lot easier than it is and you may end up spending more than you save correcting your mistakes. That being said, I am using RTA cabinets for my kitchen remodel BUT I am a Kitchen Designer who knows how to measure and do creative designs, I worked in a custom cabinet shop where I had hands-on experience in the cabinet assembly, my husband and I have built our own cabinets in the past, and my husband is a contractor…and, yes, I’m still a little nervous about using them. I think I have done my research and picked a great company. 🙂
Thanks so much, Paul, for a WONDERFUL site and being so available and patient in answering all the questions as well as giving us some valuable resources.
Best wishes to everyone with their remodeling projects!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Patti,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Yes you are the exception to the rule and could more easily pull off an well designed and smooth RTA kitchen renovation. In fact if you are building the cabinets yourself and know what you are doing they could be built even better than in the factory.
Still I wouldn’t have done it myself only because while saving 20% or even 30% on cabinetry is a lot of money, your time putting the cabinets together also has value, and having a dealer to work with instead of buying direct usually makes things run smoother – even when you are an expert.
Good luck. I’m sure even if you run into a few extra hurdles going the RTA route you will be better prepared to get around them.
Cheers,
Paul
Trish Fletcher
Thoughts on covered bridge cabinetry? Tedd Wood? Also, when might Fabuwood costs increase? I am all over the place with cabinets. We purchased Yorktowne 13 years ago and we were extremely happy with the cabinets and I loved the finish. I feel like their finishes are now very shiny and I much prefer the matte. We had the color antique white with ebony glaze/highlights. Plan for Fabuwood in laundry area just really want a reliable kitchen cabinet (Looking at Decora, Crystal, Medallion/Yorktowne, Durasupreme). I’m open to suggestions!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Trish,
The Yorktowne of old was nowhere near the quality of upgraded Yorktowne today as we have just learned from Jonathan. You list all good cabinet choices. Prices for Fabuwood should rise shortly. My guess would be that Fabuwood would go up around 11% July first along with many other brands known to be imported as well as many brands thought to be US that are in fact not. Masterbrands and many other US lines that import cabinet fronts and doors will be hit.
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Just like the last wave of price increases expect even strickly US brands to increase in price as the pressure from the lower end of the cabinet market becomes less intense. My guess is that all cabinet prices increase at least 5%. Watch out too as lower priced cabinets switch to production in Vietnam from China. There are always bumps in the road when new plants startup.
Madeline
Do you recommend another cabinet line over JSI of similar price range, good plywood construction and door style as Yarmouth raised panel I can get in Massachusetts?
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
We like Fabuwood, and Wolf which are a little more expensive. However all of these lines are about to have price increases due to the tarrifs.
Madeline
I’m sorry I meant Yarmouth raised panel in ivory.
Madeline Tejada
Hello! I ‘m considering JSI cabinets assembled and delivered for my new home. I’m looking at Yorktowne door which is a soft ivory frame but am afraid of the lighter cabinets since I’ve never had light colored cabinets before only wood stained. As far as construction I have experience with JSI assembled cabinets for a remodel I did in my current kitchen 2.5 yrs ago. I ordered Georgetowne door in Cherry finish. They seem to be very sturdy cabinets. So far no problems. I’m just nervous about ordering the yorketowne because of the color. Do you have any experience with this line and door style??
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Madeline,
We rate JSI well for an inexpensive line. The Yorktown door style is not on their web site. For what it’s worth all panted cabinetry is more easily damaged than stained cabinetry. However it is much more popular at the moment.
carol
Thank you for your response. In my case, the design was done professionally with very specific feedback on “requirments.” Mine is a big remodel job with a price tag for labor alone in the 25-35K due to flooring issues. The cabinets coming out are Brakaur custom solid cherry that have really not held up in the 15 years since the house was built. I am more into functionality and durability than making a statement with a “name” stamped somewhere–but resale is important. I really don’t want to waste hard earned money. My choices are All Wood Framed preassembled [18K on 30% off Costco special], All Wood RTA online [12K], J & K [20K], a local Chicago manufacturer “Builders Cabinet [??],” and Holiday Kitchen [26K]. I will probably sell the house in 5 years or so. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I am tired of agonizing over this, lol. Again, the design was not done by any of them.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Carol,
From designing kitchens and listening to customers for 30 years I definitely get the vibe that your design is likely to have problems. Why don’t you send it to us to look at and we can tell you the mistakes we see providing you call and email on a Friday between 2-4 pm EST. My email is Paul@MainLineKitchenDesign.com and you can call my direct line 610-500-4071 on Fridays between those hours to discuss the design. Anyone else outside our service area reading this is also free to call or email between those hours but we DO NOT take any calls or answer any emails from people outside our service area except during those hours.
Carol P
Hi. Please comment on where to get the “All Wood” framed cabinets that you rate. They get a 2/A/A. When I search, there is a company called “All Wood Cabinetry” in FL and one orders through allwoodfast.com. Costco offers an additional discount on these and the company provides design services to Costco members. This company appears to be owned by Ideal Cabinetry. There is also a second company called “All Wood Cabinets” out of NJ. They appear to be a distributor and sell rta cabinets that look like they are well made. I would greatly appreciate a clarification on which “All Wood” you are speaking about. Thank you for your time and help.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Carol,
All these cabinet places are selling the same cabinetry, we assume, since the Logo for the cabinets is the same. Costco design services are probably pretty rough. That is the real issue with these cabinets. Not how they are made but who is doing the design. There is no question that the less experienced and less professional the designer the less valuable the renovation.
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Becky,
Yes we can look at plans Fridays between 2-4 pm EST.
It is not the cabinet line that makes the paint get beat up it is paint itself. Paint is far more easily damaged than stains. It can be touched up easily by professionals. We haven’t noticed much of a difference in any of the cabinet lines in their durability of painted finishes. Except that some of the least expensive lines will paint over their light colors to make their dark colors and the pant just shows the scratches more dramatically then.l
Becky
Hi there,
I intend to send you my kitchen design for your feedback today between 2 and 4 if that is still something you offer? Wondering your thoughts between three well rated lines..starmark, decora or wellborn forest upgrades to all plywood. Shaker style, maple painted white with a contrast color on the island. I am really concerned with durability of the finish over time as I have seen friends with not so old cabinets that look pretty beat up after only a few years. Also important for me to work with a reputable company that stands behind their products. Thank you in advance!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Marissa,
Yes those lines are much less expensive and don’t do inset cabinetry or the finishes that Wood-Mode was known for.
Polly
Hi Paul, thank you for this very helpful blog! How would you rate the Sole Design Cabinetry line (www.soledesigncabinets.com/) compared to some of the other lines here? Also my designed mentioned that if I selected painted cabinets they could not be all wood due to warping and paint issues. Perhaps I’ve misunderstood what is meant by 100% wood? (I understand back/sides are plywood.) Thanks for your help!
pmcalary[ Post Author ]
Hi Poly,
All wood means Plywood sides, shelves and either a sold wood hanging rail or plywood back. Doors, drawers, drawer box, face frame, are all solid wood in aa “All Wood Cabinet”. There is no problem painting an all wood cabinet. If you are getting a recessed panel on your door style then having the recessed panel be MDF is fine – if not prefered. Otherwise no MDF or particleboard would be best.
Never heard of Sole Design Cabinetry and their web site is pretty skimpy and says nothing about cabinet construction. Usually if cabinet companies have something to brag about about their cabinet construction they tell you. Your either misunderstood your designer or they don’t know what they are talking about or worse they are making stuff up so that also does not bode well.
Marissa
Hi Paul, thanks so much for your response. From what I understand, the other cabinet lines carried by the dealer we were working with (Ultracraft, Hanssem) would not be as good quality as the Brookhaven would have been. We can look for another dealer, but the process feels a bit overwhelming now, so I think my husband or I may in fact reach out to you just to get a better understanding of our options. We can wait until your open 2-4 time tomorrow (Friday) to get in touch. Thanks again!
paul mcalary
Hi Bonnie,
I don’t know those lines and they give no specifics on their web site
Bonnie
Hi Paul so would Advantage by Bridgewood and Bridgewood Custom be ranked 4 and 5th after Collier, Kraftmaid and Wellborn Forest?
Thank you!