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C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2598
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 1:33 pm: | 
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We're getting close to the point of taking the plunge. A tag team of a decent designer and good contractor would be terrific since they already know how to play well together. Would appreciate a designer who listens well and looks to support the homeowners' aesthetic rather than simply fulfilling the designer's fantasies.
thanks |
Boomie
Citizen
Username: Boomie
Post Number: 316
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 2:53 pm: |
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I know a great one. We just did this last year. Email me at silly.boomie@gmail.com |
knak
Citizen
Username: Knak
Post Number: 153
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 4:36 pm: |
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And - would any designers/ architects work with a budget of $20,000 - 25,000 for a kitchen?
I'm thinking Lowe's mid-range cherry or maple cabinets, better vinyl floor, lower end stainless appliances, sheetrocking over old paneling. Some new windows too. Am I out of range for anything but do-it-yourself? (Not really an option, too much old Ikea stuff still in the boxes)
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7601
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 4:52 pm: |
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We got our cabinets from Kitchen Expo on Rt. 22. They have designers there who appear to work with all budgets.
Your budget will all depend on your cabinets and appliances. |
mark james
Citizen
Username: Nutsbolts
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 7:30 pm: |
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We used Built Two Last (973)632-6281. They did the design, construction & took care of all that town stuff in 5 weeks. They carry a line of cabinets that beat Home Depot & Lowes price.
Good luck |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 548
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 8:24 pm: |
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We too have kitchen cabinets on order from Kitchen Expo on 22. Can't tell you how wonderful they'll be because they haven't arrived yet. What I can tell you is that the woman who worked with us, Kathy Hunter, was delightful. She was extremely knowledgable and easy to work with. I hope our cabinets are beautiful! I think they will be. Can't wait. |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 514
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 11:34 pm: |
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We really enjoyed working with Alison at Jaeger Lumber in Madison. Don't have the number handy, but she's a Maplewood resident and was great to work with. We ended up with Diamond cabinets and have been very pleased. Lowes also sells Diamond, but the line is a bit different and Lowes didn't offer painted white wood cabinets, and that's what we could get through Jaeger. She recommended a contractor, Matt's Home Improvements, and he was great. Neither number is handy at the moment, but I can get it to you if you PL me. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 549
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 6:32 am: |
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Phyllis, we started off working with Alison @ Jaeger and I thought her professionalism (or lack of) was extremely poor. Our first few meetings, I really liked Alison. Her personality is very warm and friendly. But warm and friendly does not a good kitchen expert make! Alison REFUSED to come to our home and measure for the Diamond cabinets we were ordering from her, and made up every excuse in the book on why she had not done so. She knew the time line of our massive kitchen remodel, but yet, she held firm on whatever her reasons, for not coming to do this most important task. It got so bad that even our contractor was like "ah...where's the kitchen lady? we really need her in here." Alison stated that she was in contact with our contractor (not!) and that she would come to the house as soon as possible to do the measuring. Needless to say, several lost weeks later, Alison still never came to measure. She was also constantly out of town (so she said) and very poor at following up with us via phone and/or email. I was angry to say the least. I was talking to friends about Alison severly dropping the ball on our project and they told me about Kitchen Expo and how they loved working with them. I gave them a call, and VIOLA! Everything was back on track. I had better designs than what Alison had for us (although hers were good, I have to give it to her), and Kathy Hunter was right on top of everything, even staying in contact with not only us, but our contractor. Alison did us a favor by not taking our project seriously -- our Diamond cabinets were were going to order through Jaeger were almost $4k more than the KitchenMaid cabinets we have on order. And it's funny how things work out because although I really liked the Diamond cabinets, I secretly wanted the KitchenMaid, but Mr. Kibbegirl was on the fence. Thanks for saving us money, Jaeger! |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11450
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:44 am: |
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Probably with a $25k budget you are talking stock cabinets and working with the designer/layout person at the store is probably the way you are going to have to go. Bring pictures of kitchens you like, details, etc. Talk to the designer before laying out a design fee to make sure you are on the same wavelength.
I would rethink the vinyl floor. Decent prefinished hardwood isn't all that much more expensive and would help resale, as would granite countertops (which I am personally ambivalent about) and now available for less than $70 per square foot installed. |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3690
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:31 am: |
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I took this directly from the Consumer Reports website:
1 Omega: Premium 1,055
2 Fieldstone 1/2-inch: Premium 1,020
3 Diamond Platinum: Premium 630
4 Ikea: Basic 290
5 Thomasville: Midlevel 500
6 Shenandoah: Midlevel 435
7 KraftMaid: Midlevel 510
8 Wellborn Premier: Midlevel 880
9 Mills Pride: Basic 260
10 American Woodmark Designer Series: Basic 350
11 Kitchen Classics Select: Basic 265
12 Premier: Basic 320
13 Merillat Deluxe: Midlevel 475
14 Kitchen Classic: Basic 350
We tested 14 kitchen-cabinet sets from six major manufacturers. MasterBrand and Masco make more than half of all cabinets, from basic brands like Kitchen Classics and Mills Pride to premium brands like Diamond and Omega. For each, we chose 21-inch-wide base cabinets--a common stock size--with one drawer and one pullout shelf, and 21-inch-wide, 30-inch-tall wall cabinets with fixed shelves.
Our major findings:
Price doesn't guarantee performance.
Salespeople will tell you that you get what you pay for, and to a degree, that panned out. Premium cabinets withstood heat, water, moisture, and other abuse best overall. Indeed, readers we surveyed who bought the least-expensive cabinets were likelier to have problems. We found strong lower-priced performers, however.
The ready-to-assemble Ikea (4) outperformed much more expensive units, despite its low price. High-quality drawer hardware and doors and a robust mounting strip helped. You'll also find reasonably priced, preassembled cabinets such as the Diamond (3), Thomasville (5), and Shenandoah (6), that offer more options. But any judged at least very good should weather most wear and tear.
Most offer upgrades. Like cars, cabinets often offer upgrades à la carte or as part of a package. Upgrades often include better drawer guides and shelves and a box made of plywood, not particleboard. The Omega (1) includes those upgrades in its high price. The basic Ikea (4), Mills Pride (9), and Kitchen Classics (11, 14) don't offer these upgrades.
Price quotes may vary. Most stores provide the total cabinet cost within your kitchen design. We've provided prices for individual sets of base and wall cabinets strictly for comparison. Home centers can also give you costs per linear foot or for a typical kitchen configuration--10 x 10 feet, say--to help you shop. Consider such figures rough estimates, since they don't account for upgrades and accessories. Price is likely to vary by region.
As you can see, Ikea cabinets did really well, and the price difference between any of it's close competitors is pretty impressive. Were I working with a $25,000 budget I would probably seriously consider the Ikea cabinets. I know they have kitchen designers at Ikea, but I have no personal experience with them. It certainly seems worth checking out. I'm pretty sure they've branched out in to other "kitchen" areas, like appliances and perhaps even flooring, etc. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2601
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 9:41 am: |
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We've been looking at Ikea for a long time and had read the article you referenced. While the basic cabinetry itself is fine, the finishes/styles/colors never felt like what we really wanted. The Diamond cabinets we're considering were rated one step higher than the Ikea and we like them MUCH, MUCH better. We found them at Lowe's and they were reasonably priced compared to other things we considered but if a contractor can get them elsewhere for a better price that's certainly fine with us. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7611
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 9:57 am: |
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Kitchen Expo has less expensive, stock cabinets with the premium-hardware and construciton features.
We took a chance and went with composite stock with the premium construction features. So far, so good. We've had some problems and had to tighten/adjust some doors,but that's because our ex fake-contractor used My First Screws to install the guide rails. That is being fixed by a new contractor this week. |
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