The cabinets are one of the most significant choices you will need to make regarding your new kitchen. They establish the ambiance and are typically the most expensive item in the budget.
If you have begun exploring various cabinet choices, you may currently be experiencing uncertainty. Numerous pictures of distinct kitchens with various types of cabinets will inundate your screen. Should you choose painted or stained ones? A slab door or recessed panel? Perhaps a traditional, contemporary, or transitional style? This can be disorienting enough to cause you to reconsider proceeding with the project.
What should you look for in kitchen cabinets when remodeling?
Frequently asked questions on selecting kitchen cabinets:
- How much should good kitchen cabinets cost?
- Can we reuse my current cabinets?
- What are the different types of kitchen cabinets?
- What are the highest-rated kitchen cabinets?
- What are the best materials when selecting kitchen cabinets?
- What are the top features to look for in modern cabinets?
- What’s the difference between custom, semi-custom, and pre-built cabinets?
- What are the new features in cabinets to consider?
- What’s the difference between expensive and cheap kitchen cabinets?
- How do you make great decisions around stained cabinets vs. painted cabinets?
- Should you choose a trendy cabinet look, a personal taste, or something more timeless?
- How do you save money when choosing kitchen cabinets?
- What are the longest-lasting, highest-quality kitchen cabinets?
How do you save money when choosing kitchen cabinets?
As you decide on your cabinets, the initial decision you’ll confront concerns the type of door design. Presently, many people favor the selection of several types of shaker doors. These doors are characterized by flat panels without any ornamentation on their central panels, rendering them an economical choice for all. Conversely, doors that have a raised or reverse raised panel design are more costly than the aforementioned style. Additionally, doors with decorative beading or applied moldings are increasingly more expensive.
The next consideration is the type of wood and finish for the cabinets. Various species of wood, such as Oak, Maple, and Cherry, come with varying costs. Similarly, pricing starts with basic stain or paint options for the finish, but there are abundant alternatives to choose from, such as glazing over the paint or stain, dry brushing, distressing, and others, all of which result in extra expenses.
After finalizing the appearance of your cabinetry, you’ll have to focus on the interior details. Most flexible cabinet brands offer cabinets in “standard” sizes that increase in 3″ intervals (e.g. 15″, 18″, 21″, etc.) to lower your expenses. Alterations to these sizes will lead to additional costs, which, while not substantial, can accumulate over time!
Can we reuse our current cabinets?
Sometimes, kitchen remodeling projects don’t require replacing the cabinets if they’re in good condition and have a preferred style. Simplifying the project can allow for more cosmetic changes such as new countertops, tile backsplash, lighting, and so on. Occasionally, homeowners may opt to transform their current cabinets by either painting or gel-staining them. While this is achievable, it’s worth noting that on-site finishes are not as long-lasting as the factory finish provided with newly constructed cabinets. Suppose the remodeling project involves extensive space reconfiguration or wall removal. In that case, it’s unlikely the current cabinetry will be suitable for the new space.
What should you look for when buying kitchen cabinets?
To begin with, it is essential that the cabinets are created with utmost care. Top-notch materials should be used in the process and the workmanship must be such that it withstands the test of time. Additionally, the drawers ought to be designed as full extension, so that the entire storage space can be utilized when required. Moreover, it is important that the doors and drawers are equipped with a feature called “soft-close” to prevent them from making an unpleasant sound while closing. Lastly, no matter if you opt for a painted or a stained cabinet, the finish must be impeccable and able to endure the daily wear and tear. Meeting these basic criteria is a must for any cabinet.
10 Types of Kitchen Cabinets For a Home Remodel
- Beaded Kitchen Cabinets
The face-framed cabinetry, also known as beaded inset cabinets, is a popular style for a cottage-themed kitchen. The cabinets have minimal gaps between the doors and drawer fronts, classic paneling, and a 1/4-inch modern bead design around each opening. The design features rounded edges and incorporates beads within the frames to define the cabinet outlines. Depending on preference, the bead can either be attached to the face frame or routered out of it.
Skill is necessary for adding the additional beads, which is a defining feature of truly customized cabinetry. Moreover, the beads offer a distinctive appearance to the beadboard cabinet fronts, with their upward lines contributing to a cozy and appealing paneling design. Opting for cabinets that feature inset drawers and doors with beads will yield a harmonious look in your cabinetry construction.
- Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
The popularity of shaker cabinets has risen among both classic and modern kitchens, thanks to its uncomplicated design and sleek appearance. These cabinets offer various possibilities as its doors are composed of a plain flat panel and five segments. The shaker-style kitchen cabinets are a minimalistic yet attractive addition to your cabinetry. Typically, shaker-style cabinet doors consist of cope-and-stick formation, incorporating flat panels, smooth exterior, and interior edges.
Contemporary cabinets known as Shaker doors consist of five parts which include rails, stiles, a recessed panel, and a center panel. These pieces are joined at 90 degrees to form the cabinet frame and are typically finished with light colors and basic hardware. Their minimalistic design makes them an excellent choice for kitchen cabinetry.
- Flat Panel Kitchen Cabinets
Slab cabinet doors, also known as flat-panel door style, are plain and lack any decorations or angles. Kitchen cabinets commonly feature designs that provide depth. With the frame and panel construction, the cabinets take on a dimensional appearance, as opposed to flat-panel doors. The dimensional designs lend a classic look to these cabinets. Nevertheless, both flat-panel doors and kitchen cabinet styles are ideal options for modern aesthetics.
Similar to glass and louvered doors, flat-panel cabinets are an excellent choice for displaying distinctive and striking hardware in kitchens. Despite having solid slabs and cabinet doors, this cabinet style can still serve as a remarkable showcase.
- Base Kitchen Cabinets
Base cabinets are kitchen cabinet types designed for countertops, sink arrangements, and cooktops. These base cabinets are installed on the floor to provide storage and define how the floor plan of the kitchen looks. They are regarded as permanent fixtures as they are attached to the wall. Usually, base cabinets have exposed legs, or the legs are covered with long strips of wood known as toe kicks.
In modern kitchens, laundry rooms, or bedrooms, the base cabinets are equipped with four kitchen cabinet doors, two functional drawers, and two non-functional cabinet drawers. Kitchen cabinetry is typically composed of both wall and base cabinets, which can be customized to match the style of your traditional or contemporary kitchen.
- Wall Kitchen Cabinets
Unlike base cabinets that are designed to rest on the floor, wall cabinets are installed above the countertop area in a kitchen. They are customized to match the particular style of the kitchen and are usually paired with base cabinets for a seamless appearance in a transitional kitchen. Although wall cabinets and base cabinets may share similar materials and construction, the primary contrast between the two is that wall cabinets are never fitted with drawers.
Kitchen cabinets commonly consist of a box frame, stiles on the sides, a hanging rail frame, and a cabinet door, which is necessary for wall cabinets to be classified among the different types of kitchen cabinets.
- Tall-Standing Kitchen Cabinets
Tall cabinets have become a common feature in modern kitchens, adding an impressive and noticeable touch to the overall design. These cabinets come in standard sizes but may require customization to fit the available space. They are typically floor-to-ceiling in height, offering ample storage capacity. Their vertical design creates a striking visual effect while also providing the option to store brooms and other tall items.
- Corner Kitchen Cabinets
Typically the most solitary type of custom kitchen cabinets is the one with a name indicating its function of maximizing the available space in corners. This cabinet box is created with a non-standard configuration as a result of the challenge posed by straight doors and the difficulty of accessing cabinets deeper than 24 inches. While usually constructed as a base cabinet, it is common for the corner cabinet design to incorporate upper cabinets as well.
The objective of the kitchen cabinet designs is to maximize interior space while achieving an attractive exterior. Various shelving styles, ranging from drawers to custom cabinets, are accessible for these cabinets. The primary difficulty with this type of cabinetry is to choose the appropriate approach for affixing cabinet doors without disturbing the flow of inset cabinetry.
- Stock cabinets, custom Kitchen Cabinets, and Semi-Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinets offer various choices to suit your preferences, including the type of wood used and the ability to customize the cabinets to meet your requirements. These cabinets are constructed to match the homeowner’s exact specifications. With the adaptable nature of custom kitchen cabinets, it is possible to create cabinets that align seamlessly with irregularly shaped corners and extend along the walls.
Semi-custom cabinets offer a limited selection of customization options such as cabinet depth, drawer and door style, among others. The major distinction between semi-custom and custom cabinets lies in the level of personalization you can achieve.
- Pantry Kitchen Cabinets
Having pantry cabinets in your kitchen makes accessing items effortless, eliminating the need for stretching, leaning, or struggling when cooking. Butler’s, walk-in, freestanding, or a combination of these can be customized to your preference. Even in smaller kitchens, pantry cabinets are beneficial as they provide more storage space than typical cabinets due to their narrow design.
Custom-fit upper cabinets allow for the storage of spices and other groceries on top. Regardless of the chosen cabinet style, it should efficiently store everything in one convenient location, maximising the kitchen’s full overlay.
- Distressed Kitchen Cabinets
Distressed cabinets can be effortlessly created through the application of a faux finish. Your new and striking cabinetry can be turned into distressed cabinets based on your desired level of “distress.” For a complete loss of the new feel, consider using uncommon paint colors. The sand will be applied in strategic locations where natural wear and tear occurs. Additionally, a protective sealant can be used to finish them off.
To view additional severely damaged cabinets, experiment with causing dents by hitting them with hammers and chains. You may also consider sanding them to uncover the various colored areas of wood, producing an appearance of age and wear.
Stock, Semi-Custom, and Custom
If you’re wondering about the dissimilarities among stock cabinets, semi-custom, and custom cabinets, you ought to ponder over the various design alternatives and quality factors.
A: Cabinets that are pre-made and mass-produced, typically in standard sizes.
You can easily find stock cabinets that come in several popular styles, but they offer limited to no customization options. This implies that you have a variety of standard selections for design and finish to choose from.
B: Cabinets that are partially customizable.
Semi-custom cabinets provide greater design flexibility and employ premium materials. Compared to stock cabinets, a wider range of door styles are available, numbering in dozens. Additionally, instead of settling for “standard” finishes, there are several options to choose from, or even the possibility for a custom finish.
Custom-made cabinets.
Opting for the “custom cabinets” means getting the ultimate quality cabinets crafted from top-notch materials with endless design possibilities. Manufacturers of custom cabinets can produce an array of door styles and color shades that complement your preferences. Your cabinet preference should align with your requirements to determine which type of cabinet is suitable for you.
What’s the difference between expensive and cheap kitchen cabinets?
The price of different cabinet lines is influenced by numerous factors. Based on my experience, premium lines provide a broader range of options in terms of door styles and finishes, but cheaper brands may offer only a limited selection.
For some people, a basic cabinet line at a lower cost would suffice, as they don’t require an extensive range of options. Our advice to homeowners is to conduct research and prioritize their needs. We are confident that many high-quality cabinets are available – the only criteria being that the boxes should be made of at least ½” material, while the solid wood should be used for face-frames, doors and drawer fronts. It’s worth noting, however, that medium-density fiberboard is a great option for painted cabinetry.
When looking for furniture, it is essential to ensure that the drawer boxes are constructed using dovetail mechanism and can be fully extended. In addition, having high-quality soft-closing hardware should be a standard feature for all doors and drawers in contemporary times. These are some fundamental factors one should consider when shopping for furniture.
Leave a Reply