kitchen cabinets by brand, please help

9 years ago

I would prefer frameless cabinets, but if all being equal the framed will be better and cheaper I will get framed. The following cabinets are pricing out pretty close to each other.
-Hanseem (frameless)
-Adornus (frameless, but alder wood is not very strong)

-Merillat classic (framed)

-st. Martin (frameless)
-waypoint
-aristocraft

Please share input as to which one would be better than the other. Any good brands that come to mind in this price range? Feedback greatly appreciated!

Featured Answer

OOTM_Mom

9 years ago

I can only speak to Waypoint. Had them installed roughly 6-8 months ago.

Positives:
-I think they look nice
-The hinges and roll-out hardware seem fine
-They did seem to keep trying to fix, well, my GC did anyway, and I didnt hear that waypoint pushed back about all the replacements

Cons:
-Their QC is poor, and I'm trying to be kind, I lost count of how many times some doors and drawer fronts had to be replaced, some arriving without the chocolate glaze, some with weird white stuff all over them, some much lighter, some much darker. I mean really, they should have a standard example door that they compare every piece to BEFORE they ship it out.
-Their drawer hardware was crap. I say was, because my GC tells me they have changed their hardware since my installation. We actually have a meeting to discuss what can be done about my drawers (not all, but several) that still dont close correctly. I had given up and figured we just had to live with brand new drawers that dont close, (they did try several times to fix, both replacing and doing some odd fixes) but I guess DH mentioned it to him again.

Having lived through the remodel, I wish I had just gone straight custom. And I wish I had done what you're doing, researched cabinets. They were literally the only item in my kitchen I didnt study, stupid I know. They do look nice, I guess I'm still not over all the pain.

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Comments (9)

User
9 years ago
You should move up to midgrade lines if you want higher quality. Upper builder grade/lower midgrade lines can still have issues that you generally do not get up the foodchain.

OOTM_Mom, thanks for your experiences with Waypoint. They've been looking for a dealer in my area, and are aggressively courting us to be it. I've been hesitant because of my past experiences with AW at Depot, etc. Your post reinforces that hesitancy.
linste22
9 years ago
I had St. Martin (cherry, Ridgewood) cabinets installed 2 months ago and there wasn't the slightest scuff or flaw to be found. I obviously can't speak to their endurance but they look beautiful and the drawer bases and Blum hinges perform wonderfully.
abekker
Original Author
9 years ago
OOTM Mom thank you for your feedback.

Live Wire Oak which mid grade brands would you
recommend I look into?

Linste, thanks for your input. I am considering St. Martin because quality seems pretty good and the price is also very reasonable. I loved the Ridgewood color, but the shaker door doesn't come in it ( I will double check with the dealer). Do you have a picture of your kitchen that you could post?
linste22
9 years ago
Here's a pic that looks true to life (we haven't painted yet because I'm being indecisive). They're cherry in "golden honey" and the style is Ridgewood.
linste22
9 years ago
Here is a night picture.
abekker
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks. I mixed up the door style and color. Your kitchen looks very nice, even upside down : ). How tall are the upper cabinets?
linste22
9 years ago
Oh, they're straight for me, lol. They're 42 inches. Our ceiling is 8 1/2 ft. and I didn't mind the way they look without the top moulding so we went without it.
abekker
Original Author
9 years ago
Linste, did you have any problems with stain color not matching or any replacements?
Thanks.