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Granted, this isn't the gospel- but they certainly has their merits.
I do generally trust JD Power but I have a problem with this rating. They have Armstrong as #1 ?!?!?!?! While a good box I don't know why it is first since 90% of their cabinets are in apartments and not often in homes.
Mills Pride junk is not even being made anymore. If they merged or were sold to another company then they ain't telling so we don't know who is making Mills Pride anymore
Kitchencraft and American Woodmark deserve to be up the top of the list. I like them both.
My beloved Merillat down in 6th place? Well as the largest and oldest cabinet company on earth I guess there are bound to be bigger numbers good and bad.
Kraftmaid takes 5th? Well since one if the top largest retailers, the big orange who only wants your little green pushes this brand, it's bound to get good ratings.
Why is Quality number 2? It's a piece of junk. Just very very cheap cabinets. Not horrible but just a no frills basic box.
Now for the real deal. Quality, Merilat and Kraftmaid (and Mills Pride where ever they are) are all made by Masco Companies. In fact they are all converting components so they are all interchangeable with eachother.
Aristokraft is a real good cabinet. Decora is an ugly piece of junk. Decora is mostly modern boxy look which you seem to want. Not very common in the west but certainly not unheard of. That look appeals to design magazine readers and Interior Designers but not the vast majority of homeowners. That look is loved in Europe and not the west but we here generally hate their modern full overlay look and prefer the partial overlay door style. I know I sure do.
OP lives in Vienna, VA. Upscale Washington, DC metro. If she needs to sell, she's going to have a sophisticated buyer. The design magazine readers you disparage, desertsun41. Also, this is an age thing. Younger buyers, esp. on the East Coast, like the more modern look.
Thanks, Jukesgrrl. I'm looking more for advice on quality of cabinets, rather than look. I actually like the Decora look better, but I wouldn't consider it if it's poor quality.
I do generally trust JD Power but I have a problem with this rating. They have Armstrong as #1 ?!?!?!?! While a good box I don't know why it is first since 90% of their cabinets are in apartments and not often in homes.
Mills Pride junk is not even being made anymore. If they merged or were sold to another company then they ain't telling so we don't know who is making Mills Pride anymore
Kitchencraft and American Woodmark deserve to be up the top of the list. I like them both.
My beloved Merillat down in 6th place? Well as the largest and oldest cabinet company on earth I guess there are bound to be bigger numbers good and bad.
Kraftmaid takes 5th? Well since one if the top largest retailers, the big orange who only wants your little green pushes this brand, it's bound to get good ratings.
Why is Quality number 2? It's a piece of junk. Just very very cheap cabinets. Not horrible but just a no frills basic box.
Now for the real deal. Quality, Merilat and Kraftmaid (and Mills Pride where ever they are) are all made by Masco Companies. In fact they are all converting components so they are all interchangeable with eachother.
Aristokraft is a real good cabinet. Decora is an ugly piece of junk. Decora is mostly modern boxy look which you seem to want. Not very common in the west but certainly not unheard of. That look appeals to design magazine readers and Interior Designers but not the vast majority of homeowners. That look is loved in Europe and not the west but we here generally hate their modern full overlay look and prefer the partial overlay door style. I know I sure do.
Quality is not junk, their basic Woodstar series is, but a mildly upgraded Quality cabinet is not bad.
As for the OP, unless you have crazy money, how the heck can you justify that much for a cabinet upgrade? Do you know how many homeowners I come across tell me they wish they just got the basic cabs? They cost more and in some cases, the more exotic the wood, the harder to take care of.....
Let me ask the question back to the group... What is a reasonable price to upgrade from Aristocraft ("select" line) to Decora for a 17'x15' kitchen with a large island?
Let me ask the question back to the group... What is a reasonable price to upgrade from Aristocraft ("select" line) to Decora for a 17'x15' kitchen with a large island?
Decora is not an upgrade. It is not a good box. If you want to argue it then I ask where's the face frame on Decora? I rest my case.
No one can answer your question. It's like asking a reasonable price to upgrade from your 3 bed 2 bath house to a 5 bed 4 bath house 5 states away.
It also depends on how much the dealer is soaking you. If you are paying list price or MSRP then you are being raped. If you are buying from the big box stores, they charge full list price and they are raping you. If you buy properly you should be buying from a dealer who discounts which is most of them.
Aristocraft is a good box. Trust me. Solidly built, great warranty, nice choice of colors and door styles and made in America and is KCMA certified. Decora is also American made. Not KCMA certified, good warranty, is a sister brand of a great cabinet line called Mastercraft. I just don't like their selections, not very stylish really.
If you have other choices, take a look at Merillat, Cardell, Kraftmaid to name a few. I'm very partial to Merillat. It's still best in my book.
Let me ask the question back to the group... What is a reasonable price to upgrade from Aristocraft ("select" line) to Decora for a 17'x15' kitchen with a large island?
You've asked a half question-
What a reasonable price- "Upgrade" from Aristo' to Decora;
are we talking construction/materials or finishes/styles?
I tend to favor construction/materials over finishes/styles- which I think ds was trying to construe. But, I think I "hear" what's a reasonable price to pay for Decora's finishes/styles. That answer will truly be your decision. Does one "function" better than another; or have more options. Does the "style" go with the overall style of the home? You have to live with it- not us.
And the "reasonable" part- Again, as ds said, no one here at CD can answer that question- it's your pocketbook. The only reasonable answer you will get is not reason but, opinion, conjecture, and disagreement.
Decora is not an upgrade. It is not a good box. If you want to argue it then I ask where's the face frame on Decora? I rest my case.
No one can answer your question. It's like asking a reasonable price to upgrade from your 3 bed 2 bath house to a 5 bed 4 bath house 5 states away.
It also depends on how much the dealer is soaking you. If you are paying list price or MSRP then you are being raped. If you are buying from the big box stores, they charge full list price and they are raping you. If you buy properly you should be buying from a dealer who discounts which is most of them.
Aristocraft is a good box. Trust me. Solidly built, great warranty, nice choice of colors and door styles and made in America and is KCMA certified. Decora is also American made. Not KCMA certified, good warranty, is a sister brand of a great cabinet line called Mastercraft. I just don't like their selections, not very stylish really.
If you have other choices, take a look at Merillat, Cardell, Kraftmaid to name a few. I'm very partial to Merillat. It's still best in my book.
desertsun41 - Decora is ABSOLUTELY an upgrade to Aristokraft with an all plywood box standard and has a face frame, so I have no idea where you are getting your information, but it is incorrect. Before you make these types of statements, get your facts straight. Decora has excellent quality with a lifetime warranty.
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Decora - what are you talking about?
