This is the sapelle veneer. We have a midcentury modern house designed by Wharton Esherick and all of the trims are a golden/reddish oak. We are planning on white-ish marble looking porcelain floors, white stove canopy, white back splashes, white quartz countertop, white uppers and built-ins wall, And this sapelle in the base cabinets which include rounded peninsulas. Copper sinks, toe kicks, I have tons of copper pots and pans- oh yes, and an 87 inch yellow Lacanche stove. I think the sapelle will tie the 'new, modern' kitchen with the oak trim and hardwood floors throughout the house, and the white will maintain the minimalism I like throughout the house with white walls.

that finish and that veneer is where the money is at. agree with above.

use the fancy stuff sparingly and talk to the Toronto based vendor about the price issue you are having and be honest about the budget.

remember that Toronto is the largest and most expensive city in Canada, it is a very high end market, the housing does not act like a roller coaster ride because the economy there is more stable than in the US.

Good points, thank you.

I think your design sounds fabulous for that kind of house. But...have you tried a sample of that sapelle with your yellow stove? I've only seen them in pictures, but I think the undertones might be off. Which could be another impetus to cut your budget. :)

One thing to keep in mind when you go for a top end maker like Pedini (I'm unfamiliar with Irpinia), is that they expect you to have someone to handle the details. The showroom will order what you ask for, but you had better be sure the space is prepared and measured correctly before you order. I've heard too many stories about people who order a kitchen from overseas, and then hear that it's about to arrive in three weeks, and start looking for a contractor to tear out their old kitchen and install the new one. Nobody told them they have to have the measurements of the gutted kitchen or plan for fillers, or that it takes a lot longer to hire a contractor. Never mind the dry rot that has to be fixed, the pipes that should be replaced while the walls are free, the floor that needs to be levelled, etc., etc. Folks like Pedini expect you to have a contractor or designer who is used to working with them and who will take care of the details.

BTW, have you looked at all the offerings at Pedini, like the gizmos that hide in the backsplash, and other whizbang features? They may be current, but they fit the ethos of mid-Century.

You can also look into local cabinetmakers. They usually cost a huge amount less than the name designers. There are often ones with small factories, where they have the equipment and expertise to do things like your curves, but are still a small local business. Some even specialize in knockoffs of a certain kind of look. If you can find one who can source the sapelle, you might be able to get it at a much more reasonable price. The cabinetmaker might be able to get it at the expensive veneer price, rather than the hooked a live one so let's soak her for everything we can get price. :)

I know this is an old post but I must say that Irpinia cabinets are NOT good quality and they do not back them. We have had the veneers peel, chip and our hinges on our lift up cabinets failed and will not stay open. Their solution was to charge us $3,000 to replace the hinges on 7 cabinets. They failed after 4 years of use. I will never buy from this company again!! Buyer beware!

yellowstove - Not sure about that stain on the sapele. My monitor shows a lot of yellow. Sapele is a naturally dark reddish-brown. I would expect that sample to darken somewhat over time, but I can't say for sure. Ask the cabinet maker if they can show you samples with some age on them, at least a couple of years with light exposure.

Sorry, the old thread bug just bit me. I wonder how this project turned out.

Avoid them at all cost.

After paying for a kitchen in full we waited over 2 years for missing panels. When we called the owner, he hung up the phone. Terrible installation job. Border line criminal what they got away with. Don't give them a cent.

Which ones, Brad? Pedini or Irpinia?

Spoke with Amy Medeiros-Tanti , Worst company ever. Wanted to charge 14k to replace two shelves and extend a gable so we could install a coffee machine. Minor stuff! They then expected us to do all the removal of the old shelves. Once we saw the quote for the little they were doing we said forget it. They kept our deposit ($1200) for 5 minutes worth of work (measuring) then said too bad on your deposit you signed a waver. These guys are brutal and rude. Avoid a all costs.