Cabinet Product Information

There are two basic cabinet construction styles: frame and frameless. Traditional American cabinets mask the raw front edges of each cabinet box with a 1 by 2 inch face frame. The doors and drawers then fit flush, offset or completely overlaying the frame. The face frame does take up space, which reduces the size of the openings for both drawers, doors and slide out accessories.

Frameless construction started in Europe and does not include a face frame but rather a simple trim strip that covers the cabinet box's raw edges. Doors and drawers usually fit to within ¼ inch of each other, exposing a thin strip of trim. Frameless cabinets have a cleaner look, increased storage, easier access and are more expensive than face frame cabinets. Door hinges are concealed and most interiors have holes drilled every 32 millimeters for interchangeable components such as door hinges, shelf pins, etc.

Door hinges are either concealed or exposed. While concealed hinges have a cleaner look, they only have a 110 degree access versus 180 degree access with exposed hinges. Also, consider the style of the cabinet. Certain styles may call for a particular hinge. For example, an old farmhouse style kitchen may be better suited to the exposed hinge while the contemporary kitchen is a better match for concealed hinges.

Door Styles

There are two categories of cabinet door styles: paneled and flat. A flat cabinet door or drawer is a simple even surfaced panel with no additional detail. Paneled cabinets can incorporate several different styles such as recessed, raised or arched, sometimes referred to as cathedral. Another style option is glass-fronted doors that can be combined with solid doors.

Finish: Hardwood Cabinets

Fashion's come and go but nothing is more timeless than the classic beauty of hardwood cabinetry. From oak to maple to cherry to hickory these hardwoods each offer their own unique characteristics but add warmth and beauty just the same.

Hardwood is a product of nature. Therefore, there are many influences that can affect the appearance of the wood. Weather conditions, insects, minerals, the tree's natural pruning process (creating knots) all contribute to and create the beauty of hardwood cabinetry.

Finish products are used to enhance and protect the wood's surface and to diminish the affects of ultraviolet rays. Exposure to sunlight, chemicals and smoke will cause the cabinet's finish to change colors over time. Cabinets with natural or light finishes will accent the wood's natural variations more than darker finishes.

In certain dry climates, some cabinets may experience shrinkage allowing the overlay panels to be exposed resulting in space variations. This is considered natural and is not a defect of the cabinet. In humid climates with high moisture levels, wood can expand causing fractures and variations in spacing.

Cabinets that are displayed in the design center and model homes are only a representation and will not exactly match the cabinets installed in your home.