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Cabinetry

post #1 of 97
5/10/09 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
We're trying to make limited use of a custom cabinet maker, due to that being pretty damn costly. Our builder like Kraftmaid for the semi-custom stuff. I've seen some installs now, and they look pretty damn good. Hard wood, dove tail joining, hand rubbed finishes, and a million different styles, colours, and configurations.

Anyone have Kraftmaid? How do you like them? How have they held up?

www.kraftmaid.com

I love the swing up shelf for your big Kitchen Aid mixer stand, and the full height pantry cabinets that fold out shelves.
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post #2 of 97
5/10/09 at 7:05pm
Looks pretty cool to me. might be worth asking these guys: http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/ There are a few cabinet makers on there, that really put out some nice work. I'm building a nightstand at the moment, and they really come out with some great ideas/suggestions. I was fanning through some of the work on the project showcase and was amazed at some of the kitchens.
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post #3 of 97
5/11/09 at 8:49am
We installed Kraftmaid into our kitchen 8 years ago. It's OK. The cabinetsides are thin, and the slides on the drawers are not remarkable. It doesn't compare to the German stuff or even decent Amish work. I have used a carpenter to do some custom work for me, and I much prefer it.
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post #4 of 97
5/11/09 at 11:39am
I installed a set in one of the apartments of a building we own. Pretty nice for mid grade, ready-made cabinets. Be sure to get the "all plywood" option ( cases and shelves are plywood instead of particleboard). what it costs/what you get ratio gives a pretty good value IMO. I'll get them for the other units when we re-do the kitchens.
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post #5 of 97
5/11/09 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yachtie View Post
I installed a set in one of the apartments of a building we own. Pretty nice for mid grade, ready-made cabinets. Be sure to get the "all plywood" option ( cases and shelves are plywood instead of particleboard). what it costs/what you get ratio gives a pretty good value IMO. I'll get them for the other units when we re-do the kitchens.
That's good advice you give about plywood, from everything I've read. Same thing with mutli-layer, hand rubbed stains vs. cheaper machine applied stuff.
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post #6 of 97
5/11/09 at 1:09pm
Pio,

Check your PM.
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post #7 of 97
5/11/09 at 1:32pm
I've a bath vanity in cherry that I am pretty certain iirc correctly is Kraftmaid. For it's price it's good quality. Two years wear and no issues.
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post #8 of 97
5/11/09 at 1:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky7 View Post
Pio,

Check your PM.

Thanks
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post #9 of 97
5/11/09 at 2:25pm
Pio, thanks for starting this as we just went through this. Basically, I found the bg box brands (kraftmaid, american craftsmen or something etc) to be in the middle range. Not bad, but not great and definitely get the all plywood box. i would say that Kraftmaid is the top of that middle quality group. We went with the guys below, they are a custom shop (very pricey for us) but also have a "ready made" line they have introduced (greenfield) and we were still able to get some custom items (inlaid doors, special finish) with that line. In terms of the stuff we compared (HD, Loews, local guys), their stuff is an a whole other league. Price was very competitive and if you have access to them, please go see them:

http://www.corsicabinets.com/corsi.html
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post #10 of 97
5/11/09 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 
Nice stuff Ed, thanks. Did a dealer search. A local dealer, that did a big This Old House project, carries them.
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post #11 of 97
5/11/09 at 2:57pm
We are building a house right now and looked at Kraftmaid but chose to go with Medallion Cabinets instead. We thought the quality was much better. The gold and platinum level Medallion rival most high quality custom cabinetry. The prices do reflect that as well. We wanted to use Pedini cabinets but could not justify the price.

http://www.medallioncabinetry.com/
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post #12 of 97
5/11/09 at 3:04pm
I have found Garden Web's Kitchen Forum extremely helpful:


http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/kitchbath/
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post #13 of 97
5/12/09 at 12:52am
That medallion site is spectacular. Pio, there is place near me that can most likely cabinets for you in a one off exotic hardwood, or an american hardwood. They build some of the best furniture i've ever seen and the man behind the scenes is an old school cabinet maker. In there showroom is a table made from a cross section of Padauk with a hand rubbed finished, complete with a Wenge base. Its truly awesome. Had I the funding for it, and wasnt interested in doing it myself, I would no doubt have them build it. http://www.willardbrothers.net/
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post #14 of 97
5/16/09 at 9:55pm
I've been looking for cabinets as well. KraftMaid is INSANELY over priced. You can go to a mom and pop shop and get better cabinets for half the price. I got a quote for custom cabinets at just under what KraftMaid cost at Home Depot.

Can't tell you which brands are best yet, but I'll be probably getting pre-made mostly from a mom and pop.
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post #15 of 97
5/18/09 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba View Post
That medallion site is spectacular. Pio, there is place near me that can most likely cabinets for you in a one off exotic hardwood, or an american hardwood. They build some of the best furniture i've ever seen and the man behind the scenes is an old school cabinet maker. In there showroom is a table made from a cross section of Padauk with a hand rubbed finished, complete with a Wenge base. Its truly awesome. Had I the funding for it, and wasnt interested in doing it myself, I would no doubt have them build it. http://www.willardbrothers.net/
I've been to Willard's back in the day, and even met Ru. He does incredible heirloom tables and that type of furniture but I didn't think they made cabinetry.
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