Let's talk Cabinets

Let's talk Cabinets

Okay so here’s the deal. We sell cabinets. So, naturally people assume there is bias there and that we only want to sell our cabinets in the projects we do. Here’s the deal, we only sell one cabinet line, Wood-Mode.

My experience with this line started 10 years ago while working for another designer in Portland. She sold these cabinets on the projects she worked on and it was a valuable part of the work she did. I had no idea how tedious and complicated it was when I joined her firm, but boy was I glad that I got the opportunity to learn.

Most of the other designers I know do not venture into the world of cabinets simply due to the complexity of ordering and the liability of how exact they need to be. But, those of us that do, understand the nuance complexity that goes into cabinetry fabrication and what it takes to meticulously plan a cabinet order. We just sent a cab package out to a client last week that was 47 pages of just the parts and pieces needed to complete their cab order. To say there is a lot that goes into it is an understatement.

So why Wood-Mode? Well, it was my first and only experience up until their rapid closure in 2019. Up until that point the vast array of options and finishes they offered left no reason to try to source elsewhere. With their closure, I delve deep in to alternatives and competitors to the extent that I negotiated new accounts for my former business partner (that’s a different story for a different day…). I struggled to find another line that remotely came close to their unique offerings and extras. Shortly after their closure, they were purchased and re-opened with the same commitment to quality and refined, elevated cabinets and they offered me my own account to bring cabs straight to our projects.

Is Wood-Mode for everyone? The short answer is no. And rather than bring in other lines to satisfy clients with different values than Wood-Mode’s, we decided to allow clients to source elsewhere should they prefer. Most the time it comes down to cost. Wood-Mode has two price points they offer, Wood-Mode being the highest and Brookhaven being the lower. Both are an investment and we recognize that.

What happens if I want to purchase from someone else? Totally fine! We get it. Again, we only sell products we can stand behind and put out seal of approval on. This really is the best of the best and we stand by that assessment.

So how do I know if Wood-Mode is right for my project? Talk to us! If you are not wanting to invest in quality craftsmanship and need to focus your budget on appliances, we get it. No shame or pressure. We are happy to help navigate that decision. I have Brookhaven in my home and LOVE it. But, we also have clients that used Semihandmade x Ikea and LOVE it too. It all comes down to value and if you are seeking long term, durable products.

I tend to believe that cabinets should be build like furniture pieces. You interact with them daily and they should function well, long term. There is nothing more frustrating to have your cabinet hinges breaking, finish wearing off, or general wear and tear that your cabinets cannot roll with.

In any case, we love these cabinets, we love putting them in our projects, we are very skilled at value engineering our orders to maximize your dollars and know that these cabs will elevate your whole space. But, in the event you want to put the funds in other things, we are certainly there to help give you some good recommendations.

Any other questions on cabinets or why we sell them? Drop a comment below!

Cheers,