Berkeley, Calif.-based Mod Cabinetry says it has launched the first ever U.S. platform for homeowners to design and buy eco-friendly cabinets entirely online. Part of the site’s service connects users with professional kitchen designers for a flat fee of $299.
“Customers who want a personalized cabinetry layout often don’t know how to choose the right designer for their project,” says Taja di Leonardi, co-founder and vice president of development. “Plus, it can be difficult to obtain pricing quotes without paying an upfront design fee. To bridge this gap, we’ve vetted professional kitchen designers for their experience and creativity. We have also created an online tool that gives the customer estimated pricing for all the finish options that Mod Cabinetry offers.”
Unlike the typical showroom experience, Mod’s design process and cabinet purchasing takes place entirely online. The site is user-friendly and easy enough for consumers, but the company says the platform is also targeted at professional contractors and designers servicing homeowners and clients.
The company says the process is simple: A user visits the site to sign up for the design package and complete the Kitchen Vision Interview, which asks them to describe their dream kitchen using a series of pictures to select from. A sample box with three finish options is then mailed to the client. Options include maple, walnut, painted alder, and high-gloss laminates.
Mod cabinets are not imported. Products are manufactured in South Carolina with 100 percent domestically sourced materials and are fabricated and assembled here. Unlike many web-based affordable cabinet lines that are shipped flat packed, Mod product are fully assembled before they are shipped out.
The company specializes in modern European frameless products that are made with ¾-inch Columbia Forest Products hardwood plywood, 5/8-inch solid wood drawer boxes, Blum full-extension undermount soft glides, Blum soft-close hinges, and water-based stains and finishes.
“We put the Mod Cabinetry line together to offer high-quality eco-modern cabinets at a very competitive price,” di Leonardi says. “The quality is equivalent to mid/high-level brands such as Columbia Cabinetry or Nickels, but priced closer to low/mid-level brands such as big box store options. We believe that it is much higher quality than Cliq, Ikea, and big box store brands yet similarly priced.”
The company’s lead-time is four to seven weeks depending on the finish selected.
