Neither of those are custom--you should talk to an actual custom cabinetmaker too.

Look at the guts and build quality of the particular cabinets. There will be a difference between the two lines you're looking at. But is the difference worth that much? Depends on you. The HD cabinets you're looking at are serviceable but I don't think they are in the same ballpark quality-wise as Fieldstone.

A few other things. The KD you're using will probably be a lot more helpful getting the project done since she is used to working with your contractor. That can be valuable. And as she HAS worked with you already, you have gotten some services from her that she won't get paid for, so be willing to pay a smidge more just for that.

If she's been good to work with, see what she can do to bring the price down--maybe a less expensive cabinet line or something?

Have her send it out to her custom guy. She has one. Get a quote for truly custom. You may be surprised at the result.

My kitchen designer is at an appliance dealer, she's not an independent kitchen designer. I'm talking with her later today, so we'll see what she comes up with to justify the price difference.

Home Depot cabinets aren't going to be of the most amazing quality. You'd be better off with something like Aristokraft or Shenandoah.

Fieldstone cabinets are lovely. Their painted cabs were a too high in luster for me. I'd look at HD InnerMost Frameless.

We used American Woodmark cabinets for our kitchen and bathroom remodel and they are extremely high quality. The finish was perfect, the measurements perfect and three years later they look and operate like new. We could not be happier.

Thanks for the feedback - I'm talking with another kitchen designer tomorrow to get one more proposal. My meeting with the first KD went well today, she's reconfiguring the bid for Kemper Echo.

Echo isn't really any better than American Woodmark. Which is Shenandoah at Lowes.