Hi Lilac Hill Farm,

After going deeply down the kitchen cabinet rabbit hole, I decided to go with Brighton cabinets.

I looked long and hard at various cabinet lines and did a ton of research on what to look for in a quality-made cabinet. I also have a small kitchen, and lived with the home's original kitchen dating back to 1947. We bought our home in 1995 and while we made small improvements over the years, I always wanted the kitchen of my dreams and I wanted to get it right the first time.

The cabinets we chose are inset , not full overlay, with a recessed panel, in white.

Brighton cabinets are very well made. Very. I know you questioned the price difference between Fabuwood and Brighton. While they are both well-rated within their respective price points, if you can visit a showroom that has both on display, you will immediately appreciate the difference.

When I ordered the Brighton cabinets in November of 2021, I was told the delivery lead time would be about 5 months. Fabuwood was available in 6-weeks. To put this in perspective, the Bosch dishwasher I wanted had a wait time of 11-months. Both were worth the wait.

A wonderful website I came across is Mainline Kitchen Design. I learned so much from this website which is headed by the owner of a kitchen design company based in Pennsylvania.

The owner shares a tremendous amount of information about kitchen cabinets and kitchen design. He also reviews cabinet lines giving them a rating based on cost and price point.

He sells both Fabuwood and Brighton as well as a few other lines. I have not found the level of expertise he offers anywhere else. Period. You will learn all about what makes a quality cabinet at all price points.

Getting back to my kitchen, While I drew-up countless possible kitchen designs myself on graph paper for the better part of a year, once I brought in a professional KITCHEN designer, (their fee is often absorbed when you place an order) my ideas were tweaked by professional eyes and I cannot be happier. Mainline Kitchen Design continually repeats this advise: More than picking a cabinet line for a successful kitchen outcome, is hiring a professional kitchen designer who is experienced designing kitchens with cabinet brands in several price points.

While my kitchen is not yet done (my husband and I did all the demo and are currently laying a wood floor and installing the cabinets ourselves) I can see my dream kitchen becoming a reality.

Take your time, do your research and Good Luck!