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Basics Of Kitchen Cabinets Design: What's Best For Your Remodel?
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Kitchen cabinets design provides you with a lot of options if kitchen remodeling is in your future. Cabinets are one of the most impressive features that shape the personality of your room!
With all that's on the market today, you should have no problem finding the best kitchen cabinets that look stunning and meet all of your requirements.
Have you ever noticed that whenever you enter someone's kitchen, the thing that stands out to you the most are the cabinets? You probably take it all in as a whole but the cabinets and
countertops
are two of the most outstanding design elements that you pick up on.
Narrowing Down Your Choices
Cabinets play an important role in the overall appeal of your room. You want to put together a
cabinet plan
that will not only look great but also be functional, easy to use, and give you all of the storage that you need.
Because kitchen cabinets design ranges from one end of the spectrum to the other, you'll find that it's easy to quickly narrow down your choices to a handful of those you like. You'll probably know right away which of the cabinets will look best with the
interior design
you have planned.
Over time you and/or your designer will pull you kitchen cabinets and other finishes together and create a space that will work with the rest of your home.
If you are looking for help from a kitchen designer or remodeler, check out this resource to find providers in your area that are reviewed by homeowners like yourself. If this interests you, you can currently get 20% off by using the coupon code "premier."
European or North American Kitchen Cabinets Design?
Outside of appearance, another thing to think about is how the cabinets are built. Your thoughts may be more in tune with appearance and not that much with construction.
But really, it's a good idea to know what type of kitchen cabinets design you're looking at because it does affect the look and functionality.
One of your first choices that you'll make is whether you want
frameless cabinets
or those that have a face frame. Frameless and face frame are not built the same way. Because of this, they look different and one provides more usable access then the other.
You might be wondering why not keep it simple and just build one kind. Well, the thing is, the frameless type originated in Europe and face frame originated in North America.
Most cabinets you see on the market in the US are face frame. However, the European frameless design has been catching on in the US and now there are more and more of them turning up.
Frameless vs. Face Frame
Let's look at some of the differences:
On the front of the box on a frameless cabinet you'll see the 3/4" edge of the box.
On the front of the box on a face frame cabinet you'll see a 1 1/2" hardwood frame.
Frameless have doors and drawers that are closer together when assembled by the virtue of their design. Because there is only 3/4 of an inch for the door to attach to, the doors are closer to the edge of the cabinet box.
Face frame show more of the frame that is behind the door and drawers and this is done for aesthetic reasons. They have been used for years in North America and have more of a furniture look to them.
Frameless are often used with modern design because of their sleek and simple lines due to the doors and drawers being closer together.
Face frame are best suited for traditional design because they look more like furniture.
Face frame can be made to look more like frameless cabinets (with the doors and drawers closer together) by using "full overlay" doors and drawers.
It sounds a little confusing at first but it really isn't once you understand the difference. Some homeowners aren't concerned about which cabinet type they choose because they both look great. It's a matter of what looks best and the style you want.
It is a good idea to check and see if the installation charges will be the same for both types of cabinets. Some frameless cabinets require more assembly. Keep in mind that not all cabinetmakers produce frameless cabinets. If you want a frameless cabinet for a
contemporary kitchen design,
then the manufacturers are limited.
Choose Standard or Full Overlay in Face Frame Cabinets
If you like a "frameless look" but the cabinetmaker of your choice doesn't offer a frameless cabinet, you'll want to check to see if they offer a full overlay option.
Usually cabinetmakers offer their cabinets in a "standard overly" as shown in the photo to the left. They will often have a "full overly" as shown in the photo to the right for an increased price.
The full overly version shows less of the frame underneath (called stiles and rails) by making the doors and drawers larger. This will give you a very similar appearance to a frameless kitchen cabinets design if you want a more seamless look.
See kitchen cabinets design features and differences in this video.
Wood is Still Popular For Kitchen Cabinets Design
Wood cabinets continue to be the most popular when it comes to kitchen cabinets design. Wood species you have to consider include: oak, maple, cherry, hickory, poplar, alder, pine, walnut, birch, rosewood, teak, ash, and others.
Oak, maple, and cherry are among the most commonly selected and popular and alder are the most budget friendly.
The woods species mentioned above have distinctive grain patterns. The grain can be brought out in the kitchen cabinets design or made more subdued depending on the stain that you choose. Stain can range from transparent to opaque for the desired look you want.
It's best to look at them either online or in a retail showroom. You can get an idea of how different kitchen cabinet stain colors look on the wood species of your choice.
Also, you may want to look at painted, hand glazed, and distressed finishes that you may find appealing.
You might want to look at one of the latest trends in kitchen cabinets design,bamboo which is an eco-friendly choice.
If you are thinking about a modern kitchen design, stainless steel, laminate, or thermofoil cabinets may be right for the look you want. The choices are many and you'll be able to get exactly what you want depending on what your budget will allow...
You can think of your cabinets as your "kitchen furniture." The door style that you choose will make a big difference in the overall appearance of your space. Check out the special features that you want to look for! It's a good idea to give special attention to the drawers as well. What level of cabinet will work best for your cabinet plans and budget, and what features and accessories do you want to be part of your design?
Frameless kitchen cabinets have been used in Europe for decades and are often referred to as European cabinets. They are a natural for contemporary kitchen design but are cropping up in traditional kitchen design as well. One of the nice things about these type of cabinets is that they have no face frame and give a wider access to the inside of the cabinet and drawer interiors.
The quality of your kitchen cabinet construction will affect not only how they operate, but also how long they will last in good condition. As you know, cabinets are expensive, and knowing more about how they are built helps you understand what you are getting. Since there are different levels of cabinet qualities, it is a good idea to know the basics of how they are built.
Kitchen cabinets design provides you with a lot of options if kitchen remodeling is in your future. Cabinets are one of the most impressive features that shape the personality of your room!
Wood species you have to consider include: oak, maple, cherry, hickory, poplar, alder, pine, walnut, birch, rosewood, teak, ash, and others. 