We chose a local custom and semi-custom cabinet maker (Jay Rambo - they also have national distribution) after seeing several of their displays at a large local appliance store. The quality and options were unmatched by anything that we’d seen, so we asked their sales folks to come up with quotes and were pleasantly surprised. Once we looked into their work further, there was just no going back for us. We are about to move and are specifically looking for a house that needs a kitchen update so that we can work with them again. So outside of price, we were looking for quality, options (style, finish, custom sizes and design), a company that we felt would stand behind their work if there were any issues, and a local touch point so we felt like we had an easy method of communication (we could stop by their office anytime).

We looked for healthy cabinetry (i.e. not air pollution causing). So we aimed for Greenguard certified, CARB2 compliant wood, low-VOC finishes, etc. The first time, we used Exectutive Cabinetry in S.C. The second time, Executive was no longer making their Greenguard certified cabinetry line, so we hired a local cabinet maker experienced with such low-VOC construction. We were very happy with both experiences, and neither off-gassed VOCs into our home from glues, MDF, paint or stains. The cabinets didn't smell at all.

• Decide if you want frameless or framed cabinets
• If you select framed, then select inset or overlay doors
• This will eliminate some of your choices.
• Next select the door style, wood species, and finish you want. Look at actual doors so you can see how they are finished and the colors.
• That will further reduce the number of companies you can select between.
• Then get quotes from manufacturers comparing "apples to apples".

Thank you so much! This really helped me narrow things down.

We updated our kitchen back in 2020 and went with Shiloh cabinets. I'm not sure about the negative reviews people are seeing. We really love them and haven't had any problems so far.

Before (Aristokraft):

After (Shiloh):

Have Shiloh inset cabinets, am very happy with the quality. Kitchen design is as important as cabinet choice.

During covid they did experience some quality control issues. I just installed a HUGE kitchen....not one issue and it was painted.

Keep in mind when reading negative reviews - sometimes the issue is the designer or installer and sometimes it is something as simple as a damaged door that gets blown out of proportion. Other times it is a legitimate issue. There will always be a negative review - I would be suspicious if there wasn't! The problem is that no one ever writes a good review! Or goes back and comments on how issues were handled.

You will not often get a perfect order of cabinets - there seems to always be some little thing or sometimes a bigger thing - It is all about how that is handled that would make the difference.

I wish folks were as quick to compliment as they are to bash a company.

Good luck with your search

I decided that I wanted frameless and semi-custom cabinets, to maximize usable/accessible space in my small kitchen, but I also needed very affordable. Not much to choose from in 2013 that met all 3 conditions - Barker & Conestoga. But I did an online search for "frameless cabinets Ohio" and found my cabinet maker, 2 counties over and willing to custom match nearly any paint color - and his price was very competitive. Good references and reviews, too so it was an easy decision once I met him.