Quality, price, and service -- you can pick 2, but it is virtually impossible to find all 3 together.

Saying "you're on a budget" means nothing without knowing what size of budget.........everyone's on a budget, but for some that's $200,000 and for others that's $20,000.

Here's a ranking.-

https://www.mainlinekitchendesign.com/general/kitchen-cabinet-ratings-for-2018-updated-reviews-for-the-top-selling-cabinet-brands/

Mid gets a C for both quality and value while in a second from highest cost level.

True but generally speaking and keeping at no more than the mid prices range, what are good quality and look options?

Too many variables to answer your question. The first one is regional. We see many reports on this forum of cabinets costing $50k in, say, the Boston area, and the same/similar cabinets costing $35k in e.g. a midwestern less urban area.

Also depends on your choices - are you getting corbels, a hood surround, tall pantry, mullioned glass fronts, stacked cabinets, appliances panels, and many other variables. The things, as you put it, that give "the awe! factor". You could have a mid-priced cabinet line become very expensive via the choices the homeowner makes in embellishments and add-ons.

Since your GC has already recommended a couple cabinet lines, it seems you already have a layout done? Who has done the layout? How the kitchen is laid out also impacts the cost.

IKEA is used a lot for budget conscious renovations and comes HIGHLY recommended. Do some searches on it, you might be surprised at what you find.

@shannon_wi: I'm in Maryland. My GC is directing me to cabinet designers. Infact he provided another one to me this morning that favors waypoint over Wolf.

@herbflavor: this new designer also said stain is longer lasting than paint

I wouldn't go anything lower in quality than a good, reputable mid-grade cabinet line: KraftMaid (PB or Vantage All Wood Series); Medallion (Gold or Silver Series); Shiloh (Standard or builder grade Aspect)....etc.. I'm not 100% sure but I think Wolf is lower end. I thought Mid-Continent was also a lower end, but I'm not sure. I just read the reviews on them here on Houzz. Not very good. But every cabinet line will have bad reviews online. Expectations (for the price) weren't met?

So you really need to read the specs, reviews at many different sites...just do some homework. I think most brands that use Blum guides would be considered a good mid-grade. Check those out first. If they don't use Blum, but some other off brand, then skip it. If they don't say it in the specs...then probably not Blum. Brands that use Blum full extension soft close, will definitely advertise that! https://www.houzz.com/browseReviews/midcontinent

You may want to look at Amish cabinet makers in your area. Here's one.

And here's a thread applying to your area. [Here.[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/amish-mennonite-cabinet-makers-in-the-dc-md-area-dsvw-vd~2689003) With one mentioned.

https://dutchwoodcabinets.com/