Wow I’m surprised no comments at all. Am I alone in this question or just completely off base??!!

I believe that's how it works. I'm not aware that installers or carpenters would be able to get a discount for you. You could have a cabinet maker price the layout and I think the best price would come from a very small company. I had my cabinets made by a couple of guys working out of a garage workshop in the "country" and the price was good. You probably have your heart set on that hood - but sounds to me that that's where you could save substantial money if you considered another option. Best luck!

Be careful Ryan - you get what you pay for.

and are now running around town getting it priced in different cabinet manufactures seeking the best value, but in the end most of these companies are resellers at retail

And why should they give you a discount for buying one item?

If you can't afford a wooden hood - buy a metal one.

I agree with Geoffrey. Most lines in the level of what you are shopping for are similar in price. You will make yourself nuts pricing out here pricing out there. we have clinets bring us different versions of the same things with changes everywhere and it is truly a waste of time for us because we have to ask them do you want version A with a mix of B and the cabinet in C...it's really not productive to either the client or the designer..not fair for the designers that are spending time with you designing, selecting, pricing..because some vendors you have to price by hand.. etc. Surprised they let you have a layout. Anyways, my best suggestion is get with a KD that you are comfortable with, the company is highly rated, they answer your questions...word of mouth etc, instead of shopping around. the $4000 grand for the hood is a good price and not high price. Think about it..it's nto a simple cabinet box..it is a large decorative piece that needs specific material and nto to mention the labor to fabricate....You are buying wood material with trims crown etc so that is a reasonable price for the hood. I am not sure about discounts etc because each design center is different in what they offer. If you are using Brookhaven you should know you will be paying good dollars for quality, a wood hood is not the time to scrimp on cost.

No you would not be better with an installer or carpenter...they install the cabinets...the carpenter is not a designer....you need a good Kitchen and Bath Designer with experience of different brands etc....let the installer install your kitchen once you buy them.

4K is average to low for a wood hood. If you don’t want to spend that, then don’t. Remove it from the design. Buy a metal one. You know the coool ones with the stainless bands and rivets. That are 9K.

Cheaping out on things at this stage will come back to bite you. That’s the #1 regret of most people post remodel. They went through all of the anguish and didn’t end up with what they really wanted. They settled.

Good feedback; I really appreciate it!! My initial post may have been misleading though. For me, it’s not about the hood per se, it’s about the overall approach/process that I was inquiring about. There are many many cabinet lines, with different pros/cons, warranties, and price points. Each kitchen designer works with a few lines. I feel compelled to comparison shop the cabinetry like I would for any other product; maybe even more so given the cost of the project. What happened to the old adage of getting at least 3 quotes for anything? Kitchens are exempt?

3 quotes has never worked well if you are searching for quality. 3 quotes is only focused on price. If you want the cheapest price around, you will certainly find it. And curse the day that you found it too.

Once you find a great KD, that’s the most important element to the whole project. More important than brand by far. At that level, there are lots of great choices. Pick the person, and the person will get you the best value.

There are many many cabinet lines, with different pros/cons, warranties, and price points. Each kitchen designer works with a few lines. I feel compelled to comparison shop the cabinetry like I would for any other product; maybe even more so given the cost of the project

I understand that the cabinets are important to you - but you are not the first person in the universe that has purchased kitchen cabinets. We bought Omega cabinets - looked at one other. You need to decide how much you want to pay - and then buy cabinets at that price range.

What happened to the old adage of getting at least 3 quotes for anything?

Sounds like to want to shop and shop. People like you actually raise the price of products, by asking for many bids.

sorry but I agree with all. You are "running around town seeing the best value" to me sounds like you are shopping around. Listen I understand, you want to make sure you get the best bank for your money. The best way you can achieve that is by educating yourself on brands. Google it. look at construction and reviews, then go look for a KD that is compatible to you and your needs. That is the best solution. You mention Woodmode, You mention Kraftmaid, You mention American Woodmark,,,they will know what budget to keep you at. There are too many brands out there that are great, You have to think about your budget since you are "shopping around" and let the designer know. You have Mercedes money they will keep you there instead of offering you Bentley money and waste you and their time.

Go to a cabinet shop and get a price on custom made cabinets and then compare.

Unless you have an independent designer creating a kitchen plan for you, you can’t shop apples to apples anyway. If you simply must shop, then you need to spend money on the front end for independent design work. Because there can be 20K difference or more in one design in the same exact line when it’s fully detailed vs someone designing to the cheapest way to fill the room with cabinets. I know how that game is played, and you are doing yourself great harm trying to do it that way without an actual standard to be able to compare.

Freeoscar - thanks for that insight. Sounds like a sound approach that worked well for you. All of the kitchen designers I’ve encountered thus far only work with the few brands their company offers/resells. How did you find a designer who was more “independent” willing to create a design not tied to any one specific brand?

Yes I am near Lancaster; about 2hrs away in south jersey. Any referrals are welcomed!

Thanks again

Look for a local under Find a Pro. Or there are those who work online if you can provide accurate measurements.

Ryan, I’m going to throw a small wrench in the works. Many of the cabinet company designers are good, many are not. It’s kind of a crap shoot.

If you are really invested in a good layout, you should post it on here in a separate thread(I’m assuming you haven’t already). I’m always stunned at the iffy layouts put together by “pros” that have been vastly improved by the gurus around here. It’s a large expense in what many view as the most important part of the house. At the very least you’ll get input telling you you’ve got a great plan.

The kitchen shop I dealt with had designers, too. It also had two different companies, each with cabinets at two different price levels. I had innumerable meetings with the owner/designer. He came out to my house and took measurements. Then I paid him $1000 for a design and a detailed bid (I had a good ballpark figure already). For that money, I now owned the design and could take it anywhere, with all the specs as well. If I chose to go with this company, the $1000 would be credited toward my purchase. That is what actually happened.

I had considered using a local cabinet maker and might have saved some money, but I didn't for various reasons. First, he was a flake - constantly losing his cell phone, not showing up for appointments. Second, he was strictly a cabinet maker - I would have had to hire someone else for demo of the existing kitchen and installation of the new cabinets. I was already hiring someone to remove the soffits (I wanted it done before the demo - needed to find out what was up there and wanted the final demo/installation to be done in as short a period of time as possible). I had also hired someone to install a new ceiling and paint it, and a painter to paint all the woodwork and walls. I had all this done ahead of time. I had put new lighting in 12 years before, and the same handyman came back and removed the under cabinet lighting and later reinstalled it. He also added one more pot light in the ceiling and dealt with the electrical stuff that was revealed when the soffit was removed. So, I needed a company that would do the rest.

I used Shiloh cabinets and 18 months later, could not be happier. They are Shaker, painted in Repose Gray. They're wonderful and I'm thrilled with my kitchen!

If budget is a big concern (is usually is!), then nix the wood hood and go with a simple stainless one from Vent-a-Hood. It will be far easier to keep clean and cost about half what the wood one does.

The custom cabinetmaker you want won't bid. He will ask you how you were referred to him. If he likes the name of the previous customer you give him, he may put you on his waiting list if you qualify.

@geoffrey_b If I may ask, how long have you had your Omega cabinets and have you had any issues with them? Thx

About 10 years. No problems. I installed them with a helper.

I installed and finished a real maple floor - the entire kitchen. I laid the flooring, before installing the cabinets. IMO this makes are good install - very easy to shim the cabinets before the countertop people template and install.

Hi, Ryan,

You asked about how to approach your project. It's always good to begin at the beginning.

Start by defining your objectives. Your objective might be simply to refresh the look and feel of your kitchen or update your appliances or change counters or it might involve significant changes to the kitchen layout and even changes to your home's structure to better integrate the kitchen with adjacent living areas. Then determine what you'd like to invest to achieve the objectives.

Get a reality check. Your next step is to consult with folks who will be responsible for the entire project scope--from demolition to final clean up. Typically this would be a remodeler. Be candid with them about your objectives and budget. Comparing the two is an important reality check before investing anything in a design.

Get it on paper. If the budget and objectives are aligned, the next step is to explore design alternatives (there are usually more than one) to achieve your objectives. The remodeler you choose to work with may have design professionals on staff or they may refer you to a designer or architect. Keep the remodeler engaged during the design process to provide input on costs; they can guide to you a cabinet maker/seller appropriate to your needs and budget. The cabinetmaker/seller will most likely have in-house design folks who can work with you on the specfic details, finishes, etc. and should be able to help you tie all of your choices together into a pleasing end result.

Best wishes for a successful project.