Choosing your kitchen cabinets starts with deciding on the build, style, and material that work best for your kitchen’s design and project budget. The cabinets are the main focal point of the kitchen and can set the tone for the style you’re going for in the space, making them a big part of the overall design. What are the main different builds, styles, and materials of kitchen cabinetry?
Cabinet build pertains to how the cabinet and drawers are set on or in the cabinet box. There are three main builds that can each work with any cabinet door style.
Inset cabinets are set within the cabinet frame. Homeowners like this build because it creates a clean flat surface. The construction and assembly must be precise for the door or drawer front to fit perfectly within the opening, which can equate to a higher price tag. The hinges may be somewhat exposed if your builder uses a self-mortise hinge. However, if you’d like a more seamless look, opt for a surface mount hinge or a soft close hinge, which are mounted on the inside and concealed.
A full overlay cabinet door will cover the entirety of the cabinet frame save for small gaps, or reveals. This type also creates a clean look, but without a visible frame. This type may also be referred to as a frameless cabinet.
Partial overlay cabinets most visibly sit on top of the frame and are considered more traditional. This type allows for handleless cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
The style of a cabinet refers to the look of the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. These are the most commonly used today.
As the transitional style kitchen has risen in popularity, so has the Shaker style cabinet. It consists of a door with a flat panel with a flat frame that evokes the form of a traditional cabinet but with a contemporary spin. This is why Shaker-style cabinets are fairly versatile and can be used in several different style kitchens.
Flat-panel, or slab, cabinet doors are just as they sound. They are a flat, single surface of material that creates a simple, clean surface that gives a minimalistic feel. For this reason, contemporary and modern kitchens work well with slab cabinet doors. Some homeowners and designers choose to pair slab doors with minimalist hardware, or choose to have the doors and drawers feature an indentation on either the top or the bottom to be able to pull it open. The choice really depends on just how minimalistic you’d like your kitchen to appear.
Glass panel cabinet doors consist of a four-piece door frame with the center panel being glass. This could be flat and clear glass, textured glass, or frosted glass, depending on how organized you plan to keep your cabinets. Clear flat glass is great for showcasing collections of dinnerware or special glassware. Have your cabinets designed with interior lighting to create a nice glow in the evenings.
Mullion cabinet doors evoke a vintage feel and work well in more formal or traditional kitchens. They have the appearance of window grids and are also used to display whatever treasured kitchenware that’s inside the cabinet.
The raised panel cabinet door has a very traditional look. They consist of a frame and a center panel that’s layered with contoured edges. A raised panel can range from simple to ornate.
Cabinets can be made of many different materials, but there are three main material types that have become the standard.
Laminate cabinets are made up of a strong core material that consists of compressed wood or wood particulate and melamine. This hardened mixture turns into a very sturdy plank. A thin layer is adhered to the outside that can have different patterns, colors, or textures. Wood laminate cabinets will have a grain printed on this outer layer and even have the texture of wood.
Thermofoil cabinets are made using vinyl laminate that’s heated and pressurized into a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) core. This material can also be found in many colors, patterns, and finishes, including a wood look finish.
Corvallis Custom Kitchens & Baths has been creating beautiful and functional kitchens in the Corvallis area for decades. We know that every design detail in your kitchen is important and that’s why we start with an in-home consultation so you have the opportunity to point out your kitchen’s challenges and what your dream kitchen would be like. At Corvallis, you’ll have a partner in choosing the details, materials, and finishes that will result in your perfect kitchen. Contact us to schedule your kitchen remodel consultation.