Cabinets 101

Wood Species:

Cherry:Cherry Wood Sample

  • A rich and premium wood that can be used to obtain a traditional or contemporary look depending on the style of cabinet.
  • Distinctive for its rich red highlights and unique pin knot and streaked variations within the wood grain.
  • Offers a more subtle grain variation that deepens as it ages.
  • Is often associated with fine furniture and luxury cabinets.

Maple:

  • A hard and durable wood that offers a straight definition in the wood grain.
  • Can have a creamy white to light reddish- brown hue in its natural state.
  • Provides a subtle texture and a pleasant, even grain appearance.
  • Ideal for achieving a painted or glazed cabinet finish.

Red Oak:

  • A versatile hardwood with a reddish tint.
  • Has a pronounced open grain with dramatic grain patterns.
  • The amount of the grain in this wood absorbs more stain than other woods when using a lighter finish, and thus, will affect a cabinet’s overall appearance. 
  • A popular choice because it wears well and is reasonably priced.

Hickory:

  • A very durable hardwood with varying colors that range from a light to a dark brown.
  • Offers a heavy grain pattern that lends a country or rustic feel.
  • Best suited for those who desire strong wood characteristics.

Thermofoil:

  • Can be used to achieve a casual, traditional, or a contemporary appearance.
  • Produces a raised panel front that is the result of using routers to carve raised perimeter edges from medium density fiberboard.
  • The cabinet front is then covered in a strong thermofoil vinyl layer that is glued and vacuum sealed.
  • Provides a scratch-resistant surface that is easier to clean and requires less maintenance.

These are only a few of the most commonly used wood types. We would be happy to discuss other requests with you as we offer many custom options to meet your project needs.

Cabinet Profiles and Overlays:

Cabinets can be selected in a flat/recessed panel or a raised panel design.

Raised Panels:

  • Provide a dimensional profile in the center of each cabinet door.
  • Achieved by machining the central door panel so that it is flush with the elevated door frame.
  • Doors have a more traditional and furniture-like appearance.

Flat/Recessed Panels:

  • Provide a smooth and flat profile in the center of each cabinet door.
  • Achieved by inserting a thinner panel into the grooves of a thicker door frame.
  • Doors have a more contemporary and diverse appearance.

Cabinets can also be selected with a partial overlay design or with a full overlay design.

Partial Overlay Design:

  • Cabinet doors cover 1/2" of the cabinet’s frame.
  • The most traditional and popular framed cabinet style in the U.S.

Full Overlay Design:

  • Cabinet doors cover the entire face of the cabinet’s frame.
  • Gives the illusion of a frameless cabinet design.
  • A contemporary cabinet style and lends a European appearance.

Cabinet Configurations:

Our manufacturers offer various wall and base cabinet configurations to suit your kitchen and bath project needs. Corners often present some of the most challenging areas for homeowners to address during cabinet renovation projects. A few solutions for these areas include:

  • Blind Corner Cabinets – can be used to fill part of a back wall corner.
  • Diagonal Corner Cabinets – provide a cross-corner profile and can be outfitted with rotating shelves for full access.
  • Easy Reach Cabinets – fill a corner in an L-shaped configuration and have bi-folding doors for full access.