You might wish to research IKEA. I've see some sharp looking installations of IKEA cabinets. Or if you are truly trying to keep cost low, you may get lucky at a Re-Store for cabinets or a sink. Also re: granite you can consider pre-fab granite if you have a simple layout and your installer can tailor it to fit. My brother made an island top out of a section of reclaimed bowling alley for a few $s. So many choices, why not look at non-standard options?

We've decided on the major appliances. Going with Samsung stainless steel. Whether the fridge ends up being a French 3 door or 4 door is all that is left to decide. The guys in the family are all over 6'3 (all 4 of them) so putting the microwave in the island as much as that is where i would put it is not possible. We are also not moving the sink location. We are putting a 30" pantry to the right of the fridge on the end wall as there is no other storage for food in the kitchen-split level renovation. The island will mainly be used for prep location, hang out, I can see the college and high school kids sitting there to do homework or be while eating or just because its a large open space which will look out into the living room where one of the TV's are. This family is used to be being and doing things together and i see the kitchen island as being a huge gathering spot for them.

From the living room and front entrance we will be looking straight on to the kitchen and the outside wall that will house a stainless steel modern range hood flanked on either side by glass cabinets.

We have gone back and forth with doing a 2 toned kitchen which we do like the look of but are not sold necessarily on one particular color combination. We prefer an off white to a stark white (French vanilla in Homestead is great, but we are not sold on how their anchor looks on the maple wood). Also like a heathered gray from American Wood mark, and a cotton from Thomasville.

Additionally with all lines there seems to be a 10% savings by using a wood vs a stain so my thoughts were if that looks best then I'm good with that.

Reviews have seemed mixed on Thomasville depending on who is manufacturing their cabinets in any given year. And honestly am not impressed with the games the big box store plays with their pricing. Low price one day and high price the next on their own private label product. I do not intend to be taken advantage of. The granite prices we have priced from various vendors and tend to lean towards a white wave pattern, and even with paying for more premium the granite prices seem to be in the 3000 range fairly consistently from numerous vendors that we have priced it at.

The island offers additional issues.... we like the bigger surface (looking to go with approximently 85"x45" with seating along the long side. The granite would have to be supported with either additional cabinetry hence why we were going to put 12"wall cabinets on the backside of the 2 deep drawers on the opposite side but honestly seems crazy to spend money for something that we would have to climb under the granite to access. So alternatively was trying to assess what other way could we design the island to save money and accessibilty while still having a wow kitchen.

Final point.... need a wow kitchen that will add value to this house as it will be hold within 5 years when all the kids are 18 and while he purchased at the right price need to be able to regain as much as possible.

Out of the brands you list, I would consider Thomasville first, head and shoulders above the rest. Homecrest second, and American Woodmark third. I wouldn't consider the others at all. However, the budget is likely to not be sufficient for the size kitchen that you are describing. The island size is a big budget buster. I'd concentrate on doing the perimeter only at this point, and do something funky and creative for the island like a woodworking bench from Harbor Freight for the island, or a repurposed dresser with a butcher block top. It won't be the same size, but it will be affordable. Good luck!

5K for cabinets is not a particularly large budget. Mine were 9700 and my kitchen is not terribly large. Granted, I used 36" uppers and solid slab stained maple doors with lots of bottom drawers. I would take a serious look at IKEA. Their quality is very good and they have lots of wonderful storage options. If you're doing a 30" pantry, I would consider rollout shelves to make access easy to items in the back. Base drawers instead of doors, especially for a family of tall guys, will make it easier to keep things organized and provide a lot more storage as well. I had Homecrest cabinets in my previous kitchen and was fairly happy with the quality. They were about 12 years old when I sold the house and still in excellent condition. Your friend is very fortunate to have someone like you to help out and keep him from being taken advantage of.

That budget won't buy the island, or the perimeter cabinets. Not even with Cheepchinesecrapola or Ikea.

I'm not sure about other brands but deffiently can do an ikea kitchen on budget

I would keep fridge and stove on the sides they currently are on. Just moved all my appliances and it was over $2k in electrical work

Just so you know, I have read less than good stuff about that brand frig'...like ....very SLOW to make ice cubes. In that large kitchen, might want to consider an Ice machine. Also, no matter what quits in a frig like that, the cost to repair is HUGE. Motherboard> always links back to the Motherboard. But, the amenities are nice. And maybe the maker is a bit better at it now. Don't buy your appliances from the Big Box store, I have often been told.. Buy them from an appliance dealer, if possible. They may spell the brand name the same way, but the nuts and bolts and components can be more likely plastic vs metal vs rebuilt electronics...always possible. Good luck! As long as you can pull the appliance out and put the next model back in if standards don't change, that is a bonus..

I agree with keeping the appliances in the same place. I would add a bit more counter space to the right of the stove where it is now and then add the pantry. You could add a second, smaller pantry to the right of the fridge by the slider. Just be sure you have at least 42" all the way around the island for walking and working space.