I think you're being too accommodating. If you wanted and agreed to a full overlay you should get it. I hate confrontations with people but we have to remember that we are giving them business that we didn't have to and we have paid a lot of money for what we want and should get.

Could you post pictures? I'm more of a visual person and need to "see" what it is you're describing!

[See link below for posting pictures]

But, this is what our full-overlay cabinets look like...

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

Pictures would help.

However, it sounds like the reveals are consistent and, if you're otherwise satisfied with the quality & finish, I'd let it go.

BTW, how did you come around to trusting a full custom job to an inexperienced cabinetmaker? Did you look at some of his other work?

The first pic shows a 1" reveal at the left end and countertop. The doors to the right have 1/8" between them and 1" at the countertop.

This pic shows a wall cabinet with 1" either side of the door but 1/8" to trim top and bottom.

Here the 3 drawers are spaced at 1/8" but the spacing is 1" between the 3 cabinets.

We chose this contractor after many recommendations.We have made many major alterations to our living areas and he has done a great job there. We knew he was just getting into cabinetmaking and so gave us a great price. Inexperience is showing.

I am worried that when the cabinets are stained discrepancies will look more obvious. The frame at the end of a run of cabinets is only covered by on door whereas between cabinets two doors cover the one frame. If the drawer fronts were remade the drawer box would be off to one side to ensure coverage of the frame. Would this look weird.

We could run trim down all gaps...but would this look too busy?

Thanks for your feedback.

Beuhl your kitchen looks fabulous!

I noticed the same thing on another GW'ber's cabinets the other day. Your cabinet maker mismeasured your doors. Period. He can reorder the doors or you eat it. It's that simple.

I just ended up redoing my kitchen and was installing the drawer fronts when I got to the very last bank of a four drawer stack, the guy I had hired to measure my drawers had measured two of the four drawers as your guy above. Of course, I had to reorder those two drawer fronts and paint them. I have a complicated paint job, too.

Bottom-line, full overlay are like Buehl's gorgeous cabinets. Your cabinets were ordered like a half-overlay or just plain mismeasured (saves the cabinet maker money, too, if they think you won't know the difference).

Here's a sample of my full overlay...kitchen still not done, but getting there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Photos of the other poster's cabinets

The 1'' reveal at countertop level is there for practical reasons. Laminate counter tops have a built up leading drip edge that hangs down in front of the cabinets. (Some solid surface & stone tops also have built up drip edges.) The reason for this, besides aesthetics, is so the counter can be shimmed & so you won't be able to see the shims. With full overlay, the top drawers would not open because they'd be hitting the drip edge. And, should a slab w/o a drip edge need a bit of shimming, the reveal provides some space to fasten some molding to in order to hide the shims.

With the second picture, because the cabinet is inset you have to have some space on the hinge side. Otherwise, when you try to open the door, that leading edge would hit the adjacent protruding cabinet.

The reveal between the drawer bases is for a similar reason. Because the drawer fronts overlay, if you had no reveal, then the inside edge of the drawer faces would hit one another & the cabinets would be gapped. Also, the reveal leaves some material that the installer can subtract, if needed, to get a perfect fit.

From what I can see from those small pictures, the cabs look great.

I agree that the "extra" space on top is needed for the countertop

This what mine looked like b/f countertop:

However, you do not have inset cabinets (which wold have a 1" to 1-1/2" reveal all around), you have full overlay. Yes, there is a very small reveal along the edges, but it is no more than 1/4" if that much (I wish I were home so I could measure it for you). No filler is needed b/w cabinets on a straight run, but it is needed b/w cabinets in a corner or next to a wall.

It is difficult to see the spacing b/w doors, drawers, & ends of your cabinets b/c the pictures are so small. Is it possible to post bigger pictures? I cannot really tell if the "extra" space around the drawers is b/c of the decorative door on the side of the cabinet on the end.

yeah. Those early photos were too small to really see. Sorry. The first two pics are the end of a run of cabs that are all spaced at 1/8" which looks lovely except for the ends and top edge which are 1" as you can see.

I went to home depot and looked at some cabs today and I feel we are in a mess with ours. Not sure what to do.

I'm wondering if- from the start- you and the cab maker had a clear understanding of what full overlay means to each of you. I'm not trying to make excuses, but your cab maker may believe that what he's producing is full overlay- or at least his version of it.
Sadly, it's looking like it's a little late to start confirming individual definitions.
I think your choices are pretty simple:
1) Tell him to re-do the cabs in questions.
2) live with it.
taking either road can have it's ups and downs.

If it were me (and I know it's not) I would try to strike a compromise. Learn why the cab guy made things the way he did. Re-affirm what your expectations were/are and see about a possible change in over-all cost.

Worst case is that he could refuse, remove the cabs and you start from scratch again. This is not the worst installation I've ever seen. You are right to find out where the drop in communication happened and look for an amicable resolution.

Just remember- it's not a kidney or heart transplant. It's just a kitchen.

Please do talk to your cabinet maker....what I see looks like partial overlay. He may have decided to do partial so you wouldn't need filler in the angled area...but he really should have consulted you first.

You are most likely paying quite a bit for these cabinets and you deserve what you contracted for & paid for (btw...full overlay usually costs quite a bit more than partial). If you decide to go w/what you've been given, I would at least ask for some "compensation" for not getting what you asked for. Also, you don't want to walk into your kitchen every day for the next XX years and be irritated/annoyed/unhappy with the results.

No, it's not a kidney or heart transplant, but it is a kitchen that you will have to live with for a long time and remember, the kitchen is often the heart of the home so of all rooms that should be the room you are happiest with! I would NOT just settle for what you have and let it go...I would have a very serious conversation with your cabinet maker. These conversations are not easy, I know since I've had a few during my remodel!

Good luck...keep us posted...we'll give you as much support as we can!

(He better get used to this if he intends to pursue cabinet making....and he better get used to meeting expectations...sorry to sound so harsh, but he's in business and taking $$ from people with expectations of product to be delivered.)

Your cabinets have extended stiles instead of fillers. Either would be needed for the proper clearances for door and drawer openings. Having extended stiles looks better, and is the more usual route with custom. The only place that I see that could be "trimmed" is that end run of base cabinets that is open to the room, and it looks like he made that the same extended stile for symmetry's sake. n fact, I would actually be concerned about those drawers at an angle not having enough extended stile to be able to account for the hardware once it is installed. Looks like that is gonna be tight.

Thank you Live Wire. That's exactly what I was trying to say!

While everyone else is reporting back to geometry class, I'll be checking into Cabinet Terminology Camp. ;)

I'm pretty sure I'm just repeating what Live Wire Oak and Ci Lantro are saying, but the drawers that are at angles to each other (not in a straight line) would surely pinch and jam into each other if they didn't have something in between. And if they have something in between and the rest doesn't, wouldn't it look different? I like the continuity and think they look nice, particularly liking the way the outside corner on the end of the base cabs looks, but as others have said, if it will bother you every time you walk in the kitchen, now is the time to see how it can be fixed so you'll like it. Best wishes.

Seeing the cabs close-up, it sure looks like the builder did a fantastic job. Miters and raised panels--this is a very difficult build. These are very nice cabinets. The only mark down that I see is that the wood in the door panel could have been better matched. Once stained & finished, the cabs are going to be impressive.