Builder grade all the way. KM is 10x better. And I bet only 30% more costly.

Thank you Sophie. That is what I suspected. I'll look for other ways to save $. I really like my KM design and don't want to start over with another line. I just felt with the budget overages, I should reevaluate everything to save costs. Time to look at other line items...

Do you live near any Amish cabinet makers?

Do you live near any Amish cabinet makers?

I wish!! I had some custom furniture made by the Amish community at our previous house and it was lovely. I can only imagine how nice their cabinets would be!

Don't buy Kabinart cabinets. After replacing my maple-raised panel cabinets after 8 years of falling apart, I learned today that the cabinet frame is the only part that is maple, and the raised panel is MDF! My contractor pushed me into Kabinart when I was already designing a Krafmaid kitchen. Im sure the cabinet shop he purchased from must have given him a kickback or discount on something.

" and the raised panel is MDF! "

As are most cabinets today. They use either a veneer plywood or MDF. Not sticking up for Kabinart, just stating that what they are doing is is industry standard and actually better as it is more stable.