Kitchen Cabinets Explained

Buying and installing kitchen cabinets can expend a large chunk of your kitchen remodeling budget, and the range of cabinet styles and materials on the market may seem overwhelming. As a helpful first step, check out the photographs in home design books and magazines and in kitchen design brochures. Identify which styles you like as well as which would look best in a kitchen like yours.  Remember that while cabinets may be the biggest investment you'll make in your kitchen remodeling project, there are quality kitchen cabinets to suit a budget of almost any size.

Kitchen Cabinets Explained

There are three basic kitchen cabinet price and installation choices: stock, semi-custom and custom. 

Stock Cabinets Offer Good Value and Style

If controlling costs is your top priority, stock cabinets are the the most budget-conscious option. These mass-produced styles and sizes are offered in popular designs and materials. If you like, you can personalize them by painting them yourself in a color of your choice. One advantage of stock cabinets is that they are readily available in stores, so the turnaround time from selection to installation is quick. Choosing a stock kitchen cabinet doesn't mean settling for cheap construction. They can be the same high quality as custom cabinets. The trade-off is that they will probably not be an exact fit for your kitchen, and you may have to use "filler strips" to mask gaps between the cabinets and your wall or ceiling.  

Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets Let You Choose Specific Features

While semi-custom cabinets are also pre-assembled and come in standard sizes, you can choose how you want them configured for your own kitchen, and you can swap out one feature for another. For example, instead of a standard shelved cabinet, you may decide you want a lazy Susan, or you might install pull-out shelves for easy access to certain items. You can modify the cabinet interiors in any storage configuration you prefer, such as vertical stacking. Semi-custom cabinets offer a wider range of style finishes, such as glass-paned doors or specific moldings, without the steep price of custom cabinetry.

Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Custom cabinets are best for those who want and can afford the top-of-the-line. They are made-to-order to fit the exact dimensions of your kitchen with the exact configuration, standard or special features, style and materials you prefer. They are the most expensive option but can be a worthwhile investment if you plan on being in your home for a long time. Custom cabinets can be built to a specific height to accommodate the needs of your household. And you can have a custom unit designed to fit an odd space or to accommodate a particular need, such as special shelving for a cherished set of cookbooks or a display cabinet for decorative plates and glassware. When opting for custom kitchen cabinets, your design choices are limited only by your preferences, needs and imagination. However, because each unit is made-to-order, the time between planning, design and installation may span many months.

Be Familiar with the Range and Quality of Kitchen Cabinet Materials Available

Plastic, wood and metal are the most common kitchen cabinet materials. Laminate (plastic) finished kitchen cabinets can be an exciting choice as you will have an endless number of colors from which to choose. As a practical matter, laminate is easy to clean. The primary drawback is that laminate can chip or peel off the surface of the cabinet door, though repairs are inexpensive.

Metal cabinets mimic the look of sleek and stylish commercial kitchens. They are an affordable option that deliver a "high end" design look. Furthermore, modern metal cabinets are non-toxic, scratch resistant, and easy to clean. Metal can be personalized with copper, glass or brass door pulls, or can be fitted with glass front inserts. One word of caution: metal cabinets can be noisy when they are opened and shut.

With wooden kitchen cabinets, all wood is not created equal. It can be inexpensive like pine or costly like cherry. Consider the physical properties of each type of wood. For example, oak looks very grainy while pine is soft and easy to dent. Cherry has major color variations ranging from yellow to deep red, so look at a sample large enough to show how your own cabinets might turn out. Wood can also be stained to any shade. However, stained wood shows dust and scratches easily, as the lighter wood beneath shows through.

Some good news is that there's no need to sort through your options on your own.  Most kitchen cabinet showrooms have computer software that can help you plan your design and choose the perfect materials, layout and finish for your kitchen cabinetry.