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jordan_reese4

Experience with Mod Cabinetry, Berkeley CA?

5 years ago

Has anyone used Mod Cabinetry in Berkeley recently? It seems all their social media is outdated (more than a few years old) so I'm wondering if this may mean they aren't doing well.

Comments (20)

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    If you're unsure, I'd ask for a list of recent clients that you could call to ask about their experiences. Or you could look up their reviews on Yelp or Nextdoor.

  • 5 years ago

    I am in the preliminary stages of working with Mod. I just went to the showroom last weekend. I am very excited about their product and so far everyone I’ve talked to has been more than helpful.

    jordan_reese4 thanked D S
  • 5 years ago

    I haven't used them but had visited their showroom when they were EcoHome Imrpovement, offering environmentally sustainable cabinets, counters, flooring, paints, etc. Last year they reorganized to focus exclusively on cabinets (open letter from the company here: https://www.ecohomeimprovement.com/). I had the impression that the reorganization/refocus had to do with them not doing well financially as a one-stop-shop for sustainable products, but I don't know that for sure. But even if true, they could have found a more solid footing with the cabinets-only focus.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks for the info! I'm considering using Skipp Renovation, and they just partnered with Mod. Doing some vetting to make sure I pick the best options for my project.

  • 4 years ago

    I'm having the same questions regarding MOD. The showroom is very impressive (I visited mid-November 2021) and I purchased their design plans. I was very excited about my cabinets after a very long search!


    But now nothing seems to add up. Many of the things that I have been told and/or which are posted on their website and in their electronic catalogue turned out to be not correct. Show room was closed unexpectedly when I drove there to check out doors before ordering. Beautiful pictures on the website turn out to be discontinued items, or items not available through MOD, when I asked for more information. Why don't they have a Yelp page (recent disgruntled designer had to leave the negative review on EcoHome Improvement's page)? Recent reviews on Google are negative, and the positive reviews are from reviewers with very few reviews posted, which is odd.


    Lead time is 5 months now, and cabinets must be paid for upfront. What a huge risk!


    I agree with the comment above that everyone has been super nice. But I wonder if maybe they're having problems. I'd hate to be out $25k and 5 months' time by ignoring all these signs...


    One Google review - which MOD answers and does not disagree with - is that Mod Cabinetry's cabinets are manufactured by Executive Cabinetry in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Google reviews of Executive Cabinetry are EXTREMELY negative.


    I've searched all over, and no one has any recent experiences with MOD. Anyone use them recently and received cabinets?

    jordan_reese4 thanked P. T.
  • 4 years ago

    Thanks! Did you buy the boxes from IKEA (plywood grade), then get custom fronts? Have you received them yet?


    I never knew cabinets were such an underworld... At this point, I think I'm going with a custom cabinet shop, but the kitchen is so straightforward with slab fronts that it seems so silly. I haven't been able to find the quality I want, though, in modular cabinets.


    I generally am not a fan of IKEA, but this is a tempting direction to go. I'd love to hear how your experience was?

  • 4 years ago

    We were in the same boat. Couldn't find anything we really wanted that wasn't $30k, so we had to get creative. Yes, we are purchasing the boxes from IKEA, and getting custom walnut veneer slab fronts from Kokeena. We were ready to pull the trigger with Semihandmade for their fronts, but found Kokeena at the last minute. I liked their company profile better (trying to be as sustainable as possible, higher quality materials, etc.) I have my design finalized and I'm speaking with Kokeena tomorrow actually to double check everything and put the order in.

  • 4 years ago

    Thanks so much for the info. Best of luck!!

  • 4 years ago

    The negative review of Mod Cabinetry posted on Google in late 2021 is now removed. Very odd! I still have not found anyone with any experience with the cabinets. I'm hoping someone surfaces!

  • 4 years ago

    @P.T. We decided not to go with Mod. In a nutshell, we didn't like the 16 week wait time for the Naturals in Walnut. I didn't actually like the Naturals wood cabinet boxes. The bottom of the drawers seemed flimsy compared to MDF. Their Euro line, which is MDF boxes, didn't have doors I liked. We blew $400 on the designer who was, frankly, meh. Oh well. Meanwhile, I LOVE the staff at our local IKEA. They were awesome. I mean, I went through months of planning and became very familiar with Home Depot (our designer there was actually very good too. But the finishes on doors via HD are horrendously ugly and out of date.), IKEA, Mod, Plykea and Semihandmade. We ended up with IKEA boxes and Semihandmade walnut veneer. All the IKEA boxes got here within a week. We expect the Seminhandmade on 1/15/22. They took 5 weeks from ordering to arrival.

  • 4 years ago

    @D S We ended up on IKEA plus custom fronts as well (also walnut, haha) but we are using Kokeena instead of Semihandmade. They claim to be more sustainable and use higher quality recycled wood. Plus, after the horrible experience we had with Skipp Renovation, we decided to steer clear of the people they partner with (MOD, Semihandmade, etc.) We'll probably place our order this week - hoping we don't have to wait too long for everything to show up! I'd love to see your kitchen when it's done! Curious to compare walnut fronts from different companies. Happy to share ours as well, but we're looking at roughly 5 months of construction before the reno is done. Good luck!

  • 4 years ago

    I will do a post. It is definitely a long process. Just getting the appliances is 6 months for one of our wall ovens. It's going really well. Knock on wood! Good luck to you too!

  • 4 years ago

    @D S I assume you live in the Bay Area? (maybe not...) If so, did you use Emeryville IKEA? I just called IKEA to check on lead times and half of the things we need to order are out of stock with no estimates on lead times. Curious how you got your order so quickly? We may have to go back to the drawing board if we can't get what we need.

  • 4 years ago

    I am in the Bay Area, I did go to Emeryville. I ordered 13 cabinets for delivery. The High cabinets (floor to ceiling pantries and wall oven cabs) were the only ones on backorder. Depending on who I talked to, I heard different amounts of time from few weeks to 3 months. I was able to purchase them on my second try (online) and they were delivered the same day as the rest of my order. If you want IKEA, it's best to make an appointment and go in for a planning session. It takes 2 hours and it's free. I went back for a few tweaks because I had Q's and I didn't want to figure out their software. I was really impressed with the planners. They really took care of me. Have you been for a planning meeting? From your estimate of 5 months of construction, it sounds like you have plenty of time. We did planning and drawings, submitted for permits, demo, electrical, plumbing, drywall, and floors before cabinets even go in. It's the appliances that are the backorder nightmare. If you haven't ordered them, I'd do it asap.

  • 4 years ago

    @D S We have our IKEA kitchen plan done (had a few planning meetings online) and our custom fronts already sized and ready to order. I have been debating whether I should drive down to IKEA (just moved to Petaluma from Oakland a few months ago) just to see if I can speed up the process a bit. I spoke to someone from IKEA on the phone this morning and she told me if it isn't in stock, I can' order it. I just have to check back daily until it says available. That seems like a horrible process, especially since our order has 100+ parts haha. Not sure there is another option, however.

  • 4 years ago

    You don't need an appt. to purchase. You just go. I'd go mid-day during the week, if possible. They let you take home whatever they have in stock at Emeryville, order what you can, and purchase what is backordered online. I got my 3 backordered High cabinets on my second try. It was no big deal. Like I said, I had a great experience at Emeryville. The only time I have had frustration is calling IKEA. You don't have to worry about ordering the 100+ parts. You order your cabinets. All the parts are automatic. I would definitely go there for ordering.

  • 4 years ago

    @D S I figured going there would probably make this process easier haha. Thanks for the info!

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Hello all, I am Taja the owner of Mod Cabinetry. I started Mod Cabinetry 7 years ago as a side business while running Ecohome Improvement, which was my first startup. I've been working every day since bringing together the best modern designers and cabinetry all into an online package. I care a lot about our customers experience with the product, designers, and employees so I carefully read everyone's comments and tried to address some concerns here. Also, I meet with clients at the studio and have actually met with many of you when you came in, so hi again ;-)


    Hello @D S I don't like the 16 week lead time either! The supply chain and labor chain ripples with American labor and wood has been difficult for us and other cabinet companies. I really hope that things come back to normal soon for my customers sake and the business too. We spend a lot of time on this marketplace material shortages and it's frustrating. I see that you were not impressed with your designer, I personally vet and hire each designer stand behind our work. Ping me here and I will get you a credit back.


    Thank you @P. T. Yes, lead times since the pandemic have been really stretch out for wood, appliances and labor. I certainly am unhappy about it and am working daily with the suppliers to shorten the lead time. I am sorry that it is this way and hope the American supply chain comes back to Earth soon. Yes, we do partner with suppliers to manufacture cabinets for us to our specification and Executive Cabinetry is one of our partners. As for the negative review you mentioned, we had an online competitor dropping negative review bombs on our review page and a number of other online cabinet companies. Google discovered the malicious behavior, alerted us and removed them. Whew!

    Finally, I would like to learn more about the discontinued things you are talking about. I personally work on our website and keep it up to date with current options. I have a hunch that you may be referring to our portfolio gallery on the website. Many of those pictures are there to show you our work and some of the finishes are no longer available today. I thought they would be of value so you can see our work, but now I see that it may be more frustrating than helpful. I am pretty sure our sample store is up to date with all that we offer. Anyway, let me know if I got that wrong and I will look to it.


    Thank you @cawaps for being an Ecohome Improvement customer. We decided to close Ecohome after serving the Bay Area for 15 years right after the shelter in place orders. There was so much uncertainty at that time and as a brick and mortar it was really difficult to know what to do. Mod Cabinetry was always part of Ecohome and we decided to focus just on Mod since it was all online and sold Nationally, it made sense at the time. And, really still does 2-years into this bumpy pandemic road.


    Hey @jordan_reese4 Yes, social got stale during the last 2-years. I was distracted with all the changes with the supply chain, labor chain, pandemic effects on my employees, family and self. Something had to bend and it was Social. Frankly, I liked the break from posting and decided to hire someone to do it instead of doing it myself. The good news is that I hired a Social Media manager who is done with training and as of last week we have our social engine on again! As for Skipp, I understand it was not a good experience and even though we are a separate company than Skipp, I understand your decision to not work with us nor Semihandmade. I am glad you found a good path with Kokeena, it's a good product with good people.

    I hope I captured all concerns and comments here, if not please ping me and I will do my best to be helpful.

    Warmly, Taja

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I had my kitchen cabinets done by them last year. The cabinets are beautiful. I did have a couple of hiccups. One regarding a mis-measured cabient, for which I actually blame more on my contractor since he is the one who checked their plans on-site prior to order. There was also one panel piece ordered that didn't make it from the factory with the rest of the shipment, but I did get it in time for the scheduled installation date. I am currently having a small issue with roll-out drawer hardware (which I believe they buy from a 3rd party), but their customer service has been responsive. They do offer a lifetime warranty, which was one of the reasons I took a chance with them.