Our Kitchen Cabinets: Choosing White KraftMaid Thermofoil

Last week we got the call: our cabinets are on their way. They’re scheduled to arrive on Monday the 26th, which means we can finally lock in the installation dates. With any luck, we’ll have a functioning kitchen before the end of the year—definitely a reason to celebrate.

Why White Cabinets and Why KraftMaid

From our first trip to Home Depot back in September, two things were clear: we wanted white cabinets and we wanted KraftMaid. White cabinets were a visual must for the kitchen we imagined—bright, clean, and timeless. KraftMaid came highly recommended by both a friend who works for a home decorating magazine and by Nancy Kulik, CKD, who helped guide our decisions. Though KraftMaid is near the top of the price range at both Home Depot and Lowe’s, we were persuaded that spending a bit more upfront would pay off in longevity and durability.

Nancy demonstrated how robust the cabinets are—literally showing that a child could hang on an open door without damaging the cabinet. That kind of durability resonated with us. Considering how much money goes into a kitchen remodel anyway, investing in durable cabinetry made sense.

Thermofoil vs. Painted Solid Wood

At first we were tempted by the charm of solid oak painted white. It sounds luxurious, and “solid wood” has a classic appeal. Nancy, however, pointed out an important trade-off: if we chose white painted oak, we’d be paying roughly a 15% upcharge to have KraftMaid paint the oak, and that painted surface would be more vulnerable to chipping and showing the wood grain beneath over time.

Instead we chose Thermofoil. Thermofoil is essentially a durable plastic coating that’s heat-bonded to the cabinet surface, producing a finish that resists wear and holds up longer than painted wood in many everyday kitchens. It also kept our costs down by about 15% compared with painted solid oak. It’s not as romantic-sounding as “painted oak,” but Thermofoil mimics the painted look very convincingly and has superior resistance to chips and scuffs—an appealing combination for a family kitchen.

Picking the Door Style: Bel Air or Monticello?

Once we’d chosen the brand and finish, our next challenge was selecting a door style. Initially we both loved the Bel Air. Its clean lines and slightly modern character fit the aesthetic we envisioned. The Bel Air felt subtle and timeless—exactly the understated look we hoped would stand the test of time.

Still, we explored other options. The Monticello caught our eye as well: more traditional, with thicker grooves, rounder edges, and a slightly more ornate profile. It was a bit less expensive and looked attractive in the showroom display, so for a while we leaned toward it.

Bel Air …………………………………………. Monticello

Changing Our Minds and Final Decision

As we reviewed photos and revisited the showroom, Sherry and I realized we were concerned about the “horsiness” of the Monticello—the style felt a bit fussy and not as timeless as the Bel Air. The in-store Monticello display also read a touch shabby to us, which made us nervous about how it would age in our home.

When we discussed this with Nancy, she reassured us that upgrading to the Bel Air would only add a few hundred dollars to the total. In the context of a full kitchen remodel, a few hundred dollars seemed a small price to pay for a look we truly loved and that felt right for our space.

So we went back to our first choice: Bel Air it is; Monticello is out. We feel confident that the Bel Air door style will deliver the clean, refined appearance we wanted.

Final Thoughts

Overall, choosing cabinets turned out to be more nuanced than we expected. Even when you think you know exactly what you want, the details—finish, durability, door profile, and how the style ages—matter a lot. We’re relieved to have made the final selections and excited to see our white Thermofoil KraftMaid Bel Air cabinets arrive next week. Here’s hoping they’re as perfect in person as they were in our heads. We can hardly wait to see the kitchen come together.

Image credit: KraftMaid