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[shopqvcless]

Need advice!!!!

We are finally doing our kitchen (lots of unrelated kitchen setbacks). We have found a construction company to do the total project (gutting). I'm going with white cabinets - still not sure of bead board look or shaker style. My questions is....the ones we looked at yesterday were thermofoil - didn't know what that was so have been doing research and sounds like there could be some problems.

Anyone that has a white kitchen and has bought cabinets through a company - not custom built, please let me know what brand and if they are wood/thermofoil or whatever. The crew we are working with uses Mid Continent, Timberlake and not sure the other brands of cabinets.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

[LooPY]

Hi shop--when my husband gets home this evening, I'll ask him about thermofoil. Our family has been in the kitchen business for almost 70 years and he's been designing them for 46! Some answers I know by osmosis! but not this one. Our own kitchen cabinets happen to be white! Ask your contractor for the names of all the brands they supply, and I'm sure we can lead you in the right direction, as some are more challenging than others in terms of mistakes, quality, etc. including one of the ones mentioned.

[shopqvcless]

Thanks Loopy, the two I definitely know are Mid Continent and Timberlake. Mid Continent is the Cottage style I believe and the Timberlake is the Tucson BUT I think I've decided against the bead board look - just afraid it will be too busy so I'm also looking at just a shaker style. In Mid Continent I think it is called Concord. When I talk to the designer later this week I'll ask what other brands.

I have waited 35 years to redo this kitchen so I just want to make sure I get something that 5-6 years down the road the finish isn't coming off.

[terrier3]

I got solid maple painted light olive...Shaker style.

I made sure the cabinets I got could be easily painted later if I ever want to change it up.

[LooPY]

OK shop--I got the scoop from the source! He said that thermofoil has come a long way, and there are some very nice choices available now! It's easy to keep clean (a plus in the kitchen!) Some of the patterns and finishes are stunning! I can vouch for that because I have three samples here (I forgot they were thermofoil!) for a project we're going to be doing, which have a beautiful driftwood look--we're just waiting for some new colors coming in May. It used to be that all wood cabinets were a step up in cost and some prefer them, but with cabinet imports today, some wood choices are much cheaper--some fine, others not so much. The shaker style is beautiful and timeless and is a perfect backdrop for an infinite number of hardware choices! Ours our inset cabinets in a style similar to shaker, with an oversized matching oval wood knob set into the door. I know what you mean about our dream kitchens--when we've waited such a long time, it has to be just right!

[lolakimono]

Have you checked out Wolf?

http://www.wolfleader.com/products/view/category/cabinetry

[LooPY]

Hi shop--I was just curious whether you found out the brand options available to you for your kitchen reno! I was so super busy last week, that I'm afraid I didn't have enough time to explain what the problems were with thermofoil many years ago. Originally, white doors were sometimes subject to yellowing, peeling and some melted! No wonder they got a bad rep!! But as I mentioned, they've come a long way since those early incarnations, and now you can be confident in having an excellent long lasting product.

That doesn't diminish wood cabinets in any way--I have them, and wood is a thing of beauty and a joy forever! But, like anything else there are all grades of wood cabinets--the majority of what we carry are made right here in the US, but a few are imported. That doesn't necessarily make them inferior products--the craftsmanship can be excellent. I just wanted to point out in my other post that they may or may not be less expensive, as shipping costs are factored into the price. Serving diverse customers means providing everything from custom cabinetry to apartment grade for some builders. Somewhere in between lie a host of choices as I know you've discovered!

I don't get over to the showroom as often now that we live further away, but could take a peek at the Mid Continent Concord in the next few weeks, or ask my DH for some input if you'd like. We don't carry Timberlake, so I'm afraid I can't help you there--I'm sorry! I'm sure you'll get excellent guidance and service from your designer and contractor as well. I'm sure you're looking forward to beginning your project--creating a new kitchen is such an exciting event! Use it in the very best of health!

[nyc1]

We're doing ours as well and thinking of going with dark stained cabinets on the bottom and painted light cabinets on top. My concern is about painted cabinets. How well they will hold up. Will they chip? I don't want to be sorry a few years down the road. Can anyone tell me if they bought painted cabinets and how well they have held up? Good luck shop with your remodel.

[Ms X]

I love white kitchen cabinets. I replaced my cabinets over 10 years ago and used Bertch in the eggshell color, which is a creamy white as opposed to a bright white.

The store's salesperson wanted me to go with a smooth wood and strongly advised me against getting the oak because she said the grain would look awful. I went with my gut and LOVED it. The soft grain makes all the difference. Since they're real wood, they looked like wood, which the smooth cabinets didn't. I got a raised-panel design, very classic and traditional.

Think about longevity when you're picking them. I think wood lasts longer and can be sanded and painted in decades to come more successfully. I'm no expert, but that seems logical to me. I put in real wood floors as well as opposed to engineered wood because they can be sanded many more times. These things matter if you want to sell your house in the future, as it's easier to spruce up big-ticket items before you put your house on the market.

[shopqvcless]

Loop, thanks.......I think we are going with MC Concord (shaker style). For a while I thought I wanted the bead board - but really that would be too busy for the size of my kitchen. We are doing the painted maple. I really like the look of thermofoil and I think it would be easier to keep clean but if anyone everyone wanted to paint them, think that would be a pain. The guy we have been working with said everything can be painted these days - Sherwin Williams has a way of covering everything. Even though he said that, he was really encouraging us to do the painted maple. But yes, if your husband knows any really bad things about MC, please let me know!!!!

Now my only hold out is placement of appliance garage and a couple minor things. The lady that is in charge of designing, I'm just not fond of and I think the feeling is mutual.