We want to redo our kitchen and are willing to spend the necessary $’s. We’ve gone to 3 kitchen specialist shops and seen a bunch of nice hi end cabinets.
We’ve see the following brands: DBS, Premier, Dutch Made, Rutt, Wood Mode and Heartland.
They all seem to have excellent quality and some do appear to be a bit better than the others.
The question is, how do you really know the difference and get a fair price of these fairly small brands (excl Wood Mode)? It’s hard to shop and compare b/c there are very few shops that carry these.
THanks.
Replies
No expert on ready-mades, but anybody can make a good-looking door/drawer front. The major differences reside inside. Compare there.
Good luck.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Why don't you find a local cabinetmaker and get a true custom jpb. His prices will probably be comparable.
LOL... I am, I did, and they were.
But you probably were talking to kitchenbon, not me.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Yea I agree with Cb if $$$ aient a issue and your concerned about quality..as you should be. Go find custom cab makers for about the same price you'll get some high quality re: mat'ls, construction ect. In fact the smaller thhe cab maker you'll find that they are the more innovative and they will give you the personal touch rather thann a here is what we offer take it or leave sort of thing.
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As a cabinet maker I get really frustrated when clients come to me asking for great quality cabinets at knock down prices. It is wise practice to assume custom cabinetry will be more expensive, and to be pleasantly surprised if they turn out to be the same or cheaper than knockdown. As with everything, if its custom made, its more expensive, and you should expect higher quality. The last thing we need in this business is people saying you can get custom for the same price as inferior cabinets.
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As a fellow cabinetmaker, I absolutely agree.
Custom cabinets are NOT and probably will NEVER be equal in price to off the shelf units. They can't be because they're built better,better materials by someone who has a vested stake in being known as doing good work in the community.
Like any builder, if he/she does fly by night work, they'll be out of business real quick.
I looked high end ordered from a designer then I looked local at a cabinet shop. Small place in Deep Gap, North Carolina. Couldn't be happier with the material (hickory), design (we made several modifications), installation, and follow up. I even hired one of the installers to help me part time with other trim, etc around the house that I'm finishing myself. It's Appalachian Cabinets. I don't get a kick back or compensation, but I do think good work should be recognized. I'm happy to have something in my house that is made locally and in this case harvested locally.
You wrote:
As a cabinet maker I get really frustrated when clients come to me asking for great quality cabinets at knock down prices. It is wise practice to assume custom cabinetry will be more expensive, and to be pleasantly surprised if they turn out to be the same or cheaper than knockdown. As with everything, if its custom made, its more expensive, and you should expect higher quality. The last thing we need in this business is people saying you can get custom for the same price as inferior cabinets
and I agree but the orginal poster wrote:
"We want to redo our kitchen and are willing to spend the necessary $'s. We've gone to 3 kitchen specialist shops and seen a bunch of nice hi end cabinets.
We've see the following brands: DBS, Premier, Dutch Made, Rutt, Wood Mode and Heartland.
They all seem to have excellent quality and some do appear to be a bit better than the others.
The question is, how do you really know the difference and get a fair price of these fairly small brands (excl Wood Mode)? It's hard to shop and compare b/c there are very few shops that carry these."
What I read he posted was he had $$$$$ and he was looking at high end cabs. If i read his post correctly he didnt mention knock down cabs. If he would of mentioned knock down then of course I wouldnt have told him to go to high end cab maker.
Im not familar with those brands. If they are knock down then "My bad" if not well...
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Edited 6/20/2005 2:13 pm ET by Sancho Ron
thank you for clearing up my reply. i've installed cabinets in a custom house, ordered from a "kitchen design speciality store" and was less than impressed. i work on and off with a cabinet maker who runs a little one man shop and i know what his prices are. that kitchen ordered from him would have cost a little more and been lots nicer.
Hear - hear, gecko!!
I make custom cabinets and can safely say that there's virtually no way I can be cost competitive with a "real" cabinet shop. Even their high end stuff benefits from economy of scale - they will make 100 units (or more) for each one I make.
stop pinching the pennies.
find a design place or contractor that'll give you the best design and install for the money ... and get on with life.
there's more to selecting cab's than pricing the finishes.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Be sure to check the hardware, particularly the drawer slides. See what the weight rating is, and if they are full extension. Also look at the wood used for the "non" public parts, ie the drawer bottoms, cabinet sides etc. Is it solid wood, plywood, press board, or what?
BTW, the pull-out pot drawers are GREAT!! Greatly reduces stooping and crawling on the knees to check in the back corner for the small sauce pan that is actually in the dishwasher, or being used to feed the cat.