Choosing Kitchen Cabinets For Your Remodel - Part 1
Most kitchen remodels involved having new kitchen cabinets installed. Kitchen cabinets are usually the portion of a kitchen remodel that cost the most. This is a two-part guide that will provide some guidance to help you select great kitchen cabinetry for your home. PRO-TOPS complete kitchen and bath design studio is the perfect place to get some inspiration for your kitchen remodeling project and to speak with one of our designers.
Style and Function
When reviewing kitchen cabinets, consider both style and function. Your kitchen cabinets should make things easier for you – simplified storage with pull outs, tilt outs, and rollouts are in. You should pick a style that is of age, but also that matches the overall style of your home. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, kitchen styles include contemporary, transitional, traditional, mid-century modern, farmhouse, craftsman, eclectic, beach, industrial and glam.
More and more homeowners opt for custom color cabinets for a unique look that makes a statement and gives their kitchen character. Neutral colors in the grey, yellow, off-white and soft green are in. Also in styles are much darker colors like blue, black, and emerald green.
KITCHEN CABINET TYPES
There are different types of kitchen cabinets available depending on your budget. Stock cabinets are usually the least expensive option. They come in the most standard sizes (no size customization), limited styles, and color options. Semi-custom cabinets are more customized. Semi-custom kitchen cabinets are built to order. There are more options available in regards to style and color. The construction quality is usually higher than stock kitchen cabinets, but so is the price tag. Full-custom kitchen cabinets offer the most options as everything is customizable.
FRAMED VERSUS FRAMELESS KITCHEN CABINETRY
Kitchen cabinets are constructed in one of two ways – framed or frameless construction. Both construction options offer numerous design possibilities and their own sets of benefits.
Framed cabinets – this is a construction method that has been used for years in the USA to build traditional cabinetry. With this type of construction, the rails and stiles form a face frame at the front of the cabinet box. This provides added strength to the front of a cabinet. The frame looks like a flat picture frame that is attached to the door front and gives an added dimension to the door front. With framed kitchen cabinetry, the doors are secured to the frame for strength and sturdiness. Framed cabinets attach the door hinges to the frame face and shelves, and are usually adjustable. Partial, full overlay or inset cabinet doors and drawers can be used with framed cabinets, multiplying design and style options for a more unique look
Frameless cabinets – this is the European construction method to build cabinets. It is a popular choice among homeowners who seek simple, more contemporary cabinet designs. It is sometimes called “full access” cabinetry because it offers greater accessibility by eliminating the face frame. Instead, it relies on thicker box construction for stability. Only full overlay doors can be used, with hinges attached directly to the sides of the cabinet box. Door hinges are not visible and are installed inside the cabinet.
Because frameless cabinets do not have a face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box, all you see once installed are the flat door and drawer fronts. This is a very modern and sleek look. Frameless cabinets do not have a center stile coming down in the middle of two cabinet doors which makes access to items inside a lot easier as well as allow for the storage of larger items. Shelves are usually adjustable and drawers tend to be larger because of the space saved by not having a face frame attached to the front
For all your kitchen remodeling needs, call the Complete Kitchen and Bath Design Studio today or visit our showroom to speak with a design consultant. The Complete Kitchen and Bath Design Studio carries and installs a large variety of kitchen cabinets, solid surface countertops, and flooring.
