Melamine cabinets

[lolalolalola]

This is probably more of a brain dump than anything. We are building a house. Our spec sheet says “6 cabinet styles with 10 colours to choose from”. We met with the cabinet company and their specs have changed. There is ONE style to choose from - flat panel eurostyle melamine cabinets. We had planned to upgrade to wood cabinets and prefer a shaker style. This is not an option. Would you raise a stink? Try to get the builder to let you go to another cabinet company? Or would you just embrace the style and also let go of the “real wood is better mindset?”

I think we are just going to do white cabinets and wood tone for the island but I’m feeling weird feelings about the fake wood tone.

Opinions? Here are 2 photos from show homes. 

Attachments:

[badgergrl]

I would not want flat panel melamine cabinets in my house. I would ask for a credit and order elsewhere.

[maudefindlay]

Agree with pp. Get what you want, kitchen cabinets in an open kitchen are something you will see every day and you will regret them if you don't get what you want.

[mrsukyankee]

You should have options or they should credit you so you can get a kitchen installed by someone else.

[deadwing]

Completely unacceptable. That is a very specific style. It can look great, but it's definitely not for everyone or every home.

Does your contract say anything about offering multiple styles/colors?

[dancingirl21]

I would not be ok with that. It’s such a specific look that not everyone likes. I would request a credit and find different cabinets.

[simpsongal]

Yeah, I'd ask to swap. However, be prepared to pay a significant premium, and get an insight on the impact on the schedule (delays are still massive in building right now). My builder quoted cabinets for our mudroom - I wanted wood and better quality and the difference for the few mudroom cabinets was over $8K.

[penguingrrl]

I would absolutely raise a stink. That is a very specific style. I like it for other people but it’s about as far from my style as you can get. I wouldn’t be willing to settle for something that isn’t my taste when it’s something that you’ll live with for a really long time.

[hazelden]

I wonder if wood cabinets aren't offered due to supply issues? I wouldn't be thrilled to have just this one choice and would try to work with the builder to come up with a solution.

[jlt19]

When my current house was being appraised, the appraiser was telling me that many people in my new neighborhood building new are having literally only a sink put in the kitchen by the builder b/c it has to be there by code. Then they're contracting out their own cabinets/counters b/c builder grade sucks and upgrades on a new build are far more $$ than hiring someone to do it yourself. Maybe that's an option?

[lolalolalola]

UPDATE

Thank you everyone. We talked to the builder and they will contract with another cabinet company upon our request.

[ellipses84]

Giving 1 option instead of 6 is ridiculous. I would ask them to provide another option, give you a credit back to go with the one, or give you a credit to install your own.

Faux wood is hit or miss. If you love it then go with it, but if you feel like the options are disappointing, I’d rather go with one non-wood color throughout.