Their tastes may have been dark cabinets with glass windows, but if the show or materials provider wanted to showcase light colored solid panels, that is what was installed. 

Solution: use common sense & prepare for clerk errors.Order of Operations:Clean outDemolition Plumbing roughElectric roughHeating FlooringSheet rock/blueboard (after rough is approved)PlasterPaintKitchen installationFinish work/Exterior deck workThings to keep in mind if you have NOT done a project yet:Do NOT start your demolition until you obtain your permitSome towns require that you have a dumpster permit as well (Webster requires a dumpster permit)Have your measurements for the kitchen cabinets, the sink and your bathroom sink BEFORE you have your plumber or electrician come outThe electrician will need to know: size & placement of your refrigerator, size and placement of your dishwasher and the dimensions of your cabinets, placement of your washer and dryer The plumber will need to know: size & placement of your refrigerator, size and placement of your dishwasher, size and placement of your kitchen sink(s), size and placement of your tub, size and placement of your bathroom vanity1.

The previous landlord placed cabinet locks on the mailboxes, and I replaced them with post office mailbox recommended locks.I assumed landlords changing the mail locks was common practice.

I'm trying to look beyond HD and Lowe's to generate more choices for a cabinet replacement I am doing in a 10 X 8.25 kitchen.

If you have the contractor do it then it seems like you are signing up a contractor, they order the cabinets, then they go away for 6-8 weeks it takes for the cabinets to arrive.  

Give me some time and I will post photos...but we touched everything except HVAC/water heater/ kitchen cabinets(painted them) and countertops.

Also, check on Craigslist, ebay, Amazon, Nextdoor, Facebook marketplace, and other local buy/sell apps for deals*  Cabinets - If you are going to rehab the kitchen and bathrooms, look for RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets.

If you are in city limits each city is different but in general homeowners don't need permits to change light fixtures, flooring, painting, repairing drywall, changing kitchen cabinets, replacing non-structural plumbing (faucet, toilet, showerhead), change light switches or outlets.

If they decide to empty the kitchen cabinets and crawl in there each night, that's their choice.

We need this done in October before we can install our new cabinets and countertops.