Stay away from anything white from American Woodmark/ Shenendoah/ Timberlake/ Waypoint. Way too many issues with poor protection during shipping and poor production and quality control.

Contractor probably has "credit" at HD...but not at Lowes. He may also get a discount (on certain items) which is determined by how much money he spends there during the year. HD will give you 10% off (before tax) on everything, everyday, if you're a veteran...just bring your dd214. To my knowledge, Lowes only gives the discount on Veteran's Day. Look at the construction specs for both lines of cabinets...where and what thickness of plywood, how the drawers are constructed. If they are comparable just choose for the style / color you want.

Most importantly, have all the materials on site (opened and inspected for damage) before the start of demolition. There's nothing worse than having a long delay because one of the cabinets was damaged and you didn't discover it until it was ready to be installed.

At least check with a kitchen design business before going with a big box store. You might be surprised. When we redid our small kitchen in our previous home, it was actually less expensive to go with the kitchen and bath place than it was to go with Lowe's for the same brand of cabinets. I also got the added benefit of working with a kitchen designer and not just someone trained to use software at a big box store.

Minor point but, Lowes has the veteran every-day 10% credit (I'm a veteran) and the HD discount is only on certain holidays unless you're active duty or retired. Sign up online and after that, simply mention you're a veteran and give your phone number when checking out to get the discount. Lowes has replaced HD as my favorite big-box store.

I've learned from contractors, to stay away from HD and Lowes! I go there for Ice Melt, Mulch, Spray Paint, etc., but never for items like cabinetry! You can get better quality and prices from local kitchen/bath suppliers!

IMO your contractor is not the person to choose cabinets , spend a bit of money get an actual KD not a cabinet salesperson and get the best you can afford .

Sophie, Jan, and Patricia are the most overall knowledgable commenters on Houzz. Take time to consider their advice and explore their recommendations. Even if you end up going in a different direction than what they suggest, at least you will know you have asked all the right questions and explored your options thoroughly.

BS. You can get good quality cabinets from HD or Lowes and you can get cheap ones. Get a good line and get the upgrades. Hire the KD and take your time double checking everything, measuring it yourself, get involved. Or find a cabinet maker that fits your budget.

I don’t know about quality so can’t comment on that but I can tell you we worked with someone at HD, had a whole plan made up and the cabinets alone cost $17000 and we have a small galley kitchen! We saved more than half of that by going to a private cabinet place. Just price it out before you commit.

My sister got Cherry Diamond cabinets from a KD, I had the KD from Lowes put mine together, and I am getting painted white maple. They both look to be built the same quality. I am going to take my design to a private cabinet place and see what the difference wil be, and for peace of mind. Stay tuned, and thank you for the tips!

A local cabinet company usually better priced. If it's not in the big box stores it's a special order with a higher price. 4-6weeks wait. 1-2weeks other places. If there is an issue, 4-6 weeks to get more product. My friend saved over 30% going with a local company compared to big box stores.

I'm in the middle of having cabinets made too. Many on Houzz encouraged me to shop around, go to local cabinet stores and "kick the tires". I visited a few places and made sure to get the names of the cabinets they carry, then came on to Houzz to get recommendations and reviews on the brands. Remember there is a difference between a local cabinet maker and a local cabinet shop, which likely is a distributor for national brands.

Many people have recommended Ikea kitchen cabinets. I don't like shopping at Ikea for many reasons so it isn't the right choice for me. However, I have heard excellent things about their cabinet's durability, longevity, their customization, and quality. Again, no first hand experience here but just something to explore.

"Semihandmade IKEA Kitchens" makes semi-custom facings for Ikea cabinetry. They have reviews on Houzz you may want to explore. I don't know anything about them but remember this photo catching my eye a while back because it is in a ridiculously posh suburb near my house and was shocked to think of an Ikea kitchen there. Maybe this is the maid's quarters! I think it looks great.

Ty, r you getting these Ikea cabs? If not, what have you chosen.