Best bang for your buck cabinetry

Christopher Burns

13 years ago

Which brand delivers the best value in a high-quality semi custom kitchen cabinet?

Dura Supreme

Schrock/Medallion

Ultracraft

Diamond

Plain & Fancy

Cardell

Kraftmaid

Featured Answer

PRO

User

12 years ago

There are a lot of problems with this poll. Kemper, Diamond, Thomasville and Schrock are the same cabinets. Just different labels. Just like Kraftmaid and Merrilat, or Schuler and Medallion (NOT Schrock and Medallion) Cardell was builder grade and is out of business. Plain and Fancy is several notches above middle of the road semi custom cost. Ultracraft is frameless, whereas all the rest are traditional framed. Of the ones that you list, I know the least about Durasupreme as it's not offered in my area. It does seem to have a good reputation.

You're comparing a whole fruit salad instead of apples to apples!

I work directly with Kemper(Diamond.etc.) now, and I consider them to have a good product, with a great finish and wonderful customer service. One name I'd throw into the mix that you don't have on the list is Dynasty, which I also work with. They are the semi custom arm of Omega, and produce a pretty great product. If you're looking for something simple, often times a Dynasty quote will be very few dollars above a Kemper quote, with with plywood standard and a lot more options and degrees of customization.

Once you are at a certain price point, most of the differences in the actual cabinets will be about the ability to customize, and the quality of the finish. Any of the brands you mention will create a lovely kitchen in your home. Worry less about the quality differences here, and concentrate more on picking a design professional who can educate you and bring creativity to the process. Finding someone you mesh with is harder than finding white shaker cabinets! Everyone makes those. Not everyone who sells them is going to make your kitchen a better place to live your life in.

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Comments (35)

Emily Hurley
13 years ago
I wish I had an informed vote to cast! I would love to see the results. :)
Kristyn LeFebvre
12 years ago
where are the results?
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madisonct
12 years ago
Any votes for "Kemper"
PRO
A Direct Cabinet Distributor Corp
12 years ago
Kemper should be classified as "semi custom" with all of their options, but Diamond is Masterbrand's true "semi-custom" line.
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
12 years ago
There are some good brands there but if by value you mean quality for the cost then I would rate Deerfield cabinets at Kitchen Resource Direct better than Diamond, Schuler and Kraftmaid.
PRO
User
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Sorry, but I disagree. Import cabinets have their place, but can't compete with American produced ones for quality. They are by NO stretch of the imagination "semi-custom" Far from it. They are stock cabinetry. And they certainly can't compete with stability of their business and timely customer service support. When I need a replacement part because it was damaged in transit, I don't want to wait 3 months for it. Nor do I want a hassle dealing with customer service over the issue.
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
12 years ago
If people go to the kitchen manufacturers association website and look for manufacturers code, you will see lots of brands under different parent companies.
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
12 years ago
Deerfield is made in USA.
PRO
User
12 years ago
Please tell me where the production plant is located. I've visited many cabinet production plants and am always ready to add another during my travels.
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
12 years ago
Per their website "100% made in USA." Perhaps you should call.

But the poll/comments is supposed to be about VALUE.

Schuler and Diamond have good cabinets but seem expensive. Deerfield has the same quality materials and components. Maybe not as many styles or finishes but a reasonable choice. A lot less expensive than Schuler and Diamond, which to me means VALUE.
PRO
User
12 years ago
Hate to be a contrarian again, but value isn't always about low price. :) Otherwise, all anyone would buy would be generic brands of vegetables and toothpaste. The assurance of the tradition of quality behind a name brand is an intangible portion of assessing quality, which is one component of value.

And the OP was asking about "semi custom", which from what I can tell, Deerfield is not. Compared to other stock cabinet lines, it seems to be decent quality in description. But, like a lot of things, there are different grades of plywood and finishes used that can create vastly different end results. Especially over time and with use.

A semi custom line needs to have some modifications available to be able to call itself semi custom. If I need a 15 1/2" deep base cabinet with a drawer to fit underneath an angled stairwell, then I don't want to have to try to use a 12" deep wall cabinet set on blocking for a base and pulled forward again with blocking. All of the lines the OP listed have that ability, as well as the ability to do many other modifications to allow the cabinets to fit the space. That's what choosing semi custom is all about.
PRO
Bartlett Design Studio
12 years ago
What about conestoga? Is that a generic name?
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
12 years ago
As the Deerfield product listings indicate under specific cabinets, you can get options such as increased depth and mullion doors. They have both regular and full height base cabinets, lots of cabinet widths, wall cabinets 30, 36 and 42 tall, pantries 84, 90 and 96 tall, shelves or roll out trays.

They don't have the name (or price ) of Schuler or Diamond, and not as many specialty cabinets as those brands.

These are not off the shelf cabinets like you can buy at HD or Lowes. They are semi-custom.
PRO
User
12 years ago
Conestoga is a parts company that also sells some RTA cabinets to contractors, or through a reseller. They do not sell directly to the public. And they do require assembly, beyond the usual camlock Ikea style of assembly. You have to have actual tools, including a brad nailer. They are a great product if you have the ability to do the work needed to make them ready for install. They are not for a casual DIYer. You have to have some advanced skills.
PRO
Bartlett Design Studio
12 years ago
ProSource Memphis
Thanks for the info re: conestoga...
I have some of their RTA cabinets coming in two weeks.
I did find them online and have a contractor to assemble them.
I feel reassured that I did not make a mistake in choosing them.
madisonct
12 years ago
Candlelight cabinets? Any comment pro/con comments appreciated?
wkwdavis
12 years ago
i am thinking of choosing them. my parents have them and have had issues with wear and tear around the doorknob after only a few years of use......which I find concerning.
PRO
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
12 years ago
Here's a fun fact! Consumer Digest named Dura Supreme's Designer Cabinetry as the "Best Buy" in premium cabinetry in their March-April Issue last year. Here's a quote from the article explaining how they made their decision...

"The Designer is the least expensive cabinet to combine all-plywood construction with a lifetime
warranty. It also is the only cabinet that has a one-half-inch plywood back panel, which is more than twice as thick as those of cabinets that cost at least $40 more. It also has more style options than does any other cabinet that's on the market." - Consumer Digest

Our Alectra line is very comparable to our Designer line the main difference is it is frameless/full-access, where Designer is framed. The study from consumer digest only covered framed cabinetry products.
Kristyn LeFebvre
12 years ago
After a lot of research, we decided to pay a little more for quality premium Dura Supreme Cabinets. Our kitchen remodel was just completed and we couldn't be happier with the results. The full overlay Kendall raised panel in classic white with platinum glaze and Kendall flat panel in storm gray island are absolutely gorgeous!!
momdotcom41
12 years ago
Kl1260... Could we see a pic??? :)
PRO
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
12 years ago
kl1260 - That is so exciting! We would love to see photos of your final project! The Kendall door style is a beautiful transitional option and is becoming a more and more popular choice for homeowners.

For anyone who'd like to see what the Kendall door style in storm gray looks like, here's an image from our Houzz page.

Dura Supreme Cabinetry Kendall Panel Cabinet Door Style · More Info
Kristyn LeFebvre
12 years ago
A couple of before/after phone pics (not the best quality), but you'll get a good idea. The kitchen is 99% finished today, just a couple more finishing touches.
lbodnar2
11 years ago
I am currently considering the DuraSupreme Kendall in Zinc for the laundry/mudroom. kl1260, since you have had them, have you experienced any quality issues with the construction, mechanicals, etc? Thank you!
Kristyn LeFebvre
11 years ago
No issues, we're very pleased with the DuraSupreme construction, softclose hinges, pull out drawers, etc. I couldn't be happier with the Kendall raised panel for our cabinets in classic white/pewter accent and Kendall panel in storm gray for the island. The Zinc sounds beautiful, post a pic when done!
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
10 years ago
We wound up using Conestoga Wood Specialties all wood RTA Maple front cabinets. Twin I-beam construction on base cabinets. Blumotion full extension soft close drawer glides. Fully customizable 1/16" in height, width and depth. Vertical space between pantry ROTs adjustable WITHOUT TOOLS. Shelves 3/4" thick plywood. 18 total cabinets, including two 34" wide pantries with 5 ROTs each, 4 30" drawer bases, 40" refrigerator surround, top and bottom finish panels for uppers, light rail, gallery rail, toe kick. 178" of counter on one wall, 85" (excluding fridge surround) on the other, plus 68" wide double pantry. Cabinets and trim just $13,000. Great value. Took less than 20 hours to assemble. Saved more than $10,000 compared to preassembled with similar specifications.
PRO
Hal Braswell Consulting
10 years ago
Forgot to mention all out CWS cabinets have 1/2" plywood backs (not just hanging strips).
lblake
10 years ago
kl1260 I LOVE your kitchen remodel!! We're in the beginning phases of remodeling our kitchen and looking at white painted maple Dura Supreme cabinets. Have you noticed any cracking in the paint at all from the contraction/expansion of the wood? I know this happens with painted cabinets, just trying to see how long until this may happen. Also, I LOVE your countertop, is it granite or marble? Do you mind sharing the name of it? Thanks!
Kristyn LeFebvre
10 years ago
lblake, thank you! It's been a 1 1/2 yrs since our kitchen remodel and I still walk in the room everyday loving my kitchen! The countertop is granite and it's called Blue Ice. Keep in mind, no two "blue ice" look the same - our granite is a creamy white with beautiful waves/movement of blue, gray and black, but I know someone else with blue ice and her's has sharp jags of blue/black all over. We shopped a long time before we found "the one." Good luck and enjoy your kitchen remodel!
Kristyn LeFebvre
10 years ago
btw, we have not seen any cracking or wear in the paint.
lblake
10 years ago
Thanks so much for the reply! Your kitchen is beautiful, I just hope ours turns out so that I love it every day also. It's nerve racking putting the time, effort, and money into a big project without really knowing what the end result will look like!
cmjmck
10 years ago
kl1260 can you share what the approx. cost was ?
Kristyn LeFebvre
10 years ago
It was an expensive renovation, we gutted the kitchen down to the studs and removed a load bearing wall -- $32k for cabinets, $8,500 for granite and backsplash, $9k for appliances, $2400 new windows, $20k labor, plus another $2k for lighting/hardware/cabinet pulls/knobs and I'm sure there were other expenses.
2girlz
8 years ago
Have had Dura Supreme cabinets in my kitchen for 12 years, and have no complaints. Have not had to fix a thing, and still in great shape
John Patrick Salalima
8 years ago
Kraftmaid works for me. Most of them are well made

Best bang for your buck cabinetry

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