Use a cabinet line other than what your builder recommended?

10 years ago

(This is a cross post from the kitchen forum, but thought that it might be better suited to an audience that is building not renovating.)

Has anyone done this? I am getting the hard sell on the Merillat line that my builder uses (and includes in his plans) but have found that shopping around gets me a design I prefer.
I would love to hear from others who have decided to go against the builder's recommendation. I want to respect the fact that they have a relationship with this company, and that they must find them easy to work with, but at the same time I find that it will be hard to swallow the enormous amount of money that I'm spending if I feel like I'm not allowed to choose the option that seems to suit me the best.
I have been told what my allowance is for cabinets and I'm willing to work with it and apply it to these other cabinets. But I'm wondering about the logistics of having cabinets coming in from a dealer that they aren't used to working with and installing. Is that likely to be a tricky thing? Or are cabinets all the same and shouldn't make any difference as long as I'm sure they'll be there in time?
I don't know how to handle this and would love advice from anyone who has it!

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Comments (2)

carsonheim
10 years ago
It's your kitchen. You have every right to get the type of cabinets you want. I can't imagine the builder would be that offended.

Simply say, "yes, I looked at the Merillat cabinets and while they are nice, I've absolutely fallen in LOVE with the ABC Cabinets "Grand Avenue" line. Since I expect to have these cabinets for many years, I want to be sure I get something I love."

Let us know how it goes!
autumn.4
10 years ago
swfr-I am in a mildly similar situation. Builder is my brother in law. He always uses X for cabinets - they have a good working relationship. I had a meeting with X, had to send a follow up email, then had to call just to get the initial quote. I finally received the quote and it was nothing like what we had discussed in terms of layout and wants (I saw him take notes??). Ugh! So he revised it fairly quickly but since I have sat down with him and discussed a few other MINOR changes - haven't heard a peep in 3 weeks now. I am done. He is OUT. DH was really pushing to use him because of his brother but understands my side as his communication is about non-existent. We did break it to brother in law and he seemed fine with it. "Don't feel like you have to use him..."

Time will tell.

Good luck. Your kitchen looks like it's going to be so nice. I hope you find a good solution and get the kitchen you have planned.
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