Top 3 Essential Things to Know About Kitchen Cabinetry
When working on a cabinetry design for a new build or home remodel, consider how you function in the space and what will work best for daily use. There are many popular, highly functional cabinetry options, for example:
Pull-out pantry drawers
Deep drawers for pots and pans
Trash and recycling pull-outs
Pull-outs for herbs, spices, and oils
Built-in utensil caddies
Utilize an empty corner with a lazy Susan
But first, it helps to understand basic cabinet construction and design because it allows you to make selections that meet your practical needs and style preferences. Take a look…
1. Building A Strong Box
Cabinet boxes (the frame that holds your cabinet doors) vary in quality. Whether they are stock (from a big box store), semi-custom or custom, make sure the manufacturer uses proper joinery techniques.
Well-made joints make for durable cabinets. High-quality joinery techniques involve parts locking together, like mortise and tenon construction or glued dovetail joints supplemented by nails and screws for the most robust construction.
2. Framed or Frameless?
Cabinet frames can be framed or frameless. American cabinet makers typically construct a face frame which leaves a 1-1/2" frame around the outside of the cabinet door.
Frameless, considered a European design that is becoming more popular in the States, provides a clean-modern look as the cabinet doors are mounted inside the box, thus eliminating any outside frame. This door style is a "full overlay.”
An example of full-overlay cabinetry.
3. Countless Style Options
Cabinet doors come in different styles. Shaker style is considered contemporary with a simple rail detail versus traditional cabinetry with a raised panel and rail detailing. For modern, select a simple flat panel. Shaker is the most common because of its simplicity and economical cost.
Cabinetry is offered in various materials: solid wood, wood veneer, Thermofoil, and laminate. Of course, budget typically dictates the quality of your cabinetry, but if there is one place you can splurge, it’s quality-made cabinetry that will go the distance!
If you're ready to create a functional and fashionable home, reach out to us. We can't wait to hear about your cabinetry project.
Until next time,
Deanne
