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Home Cooked Cabinets: The DIY Homeowner's Guide to Types of Kitchen Cabinets
Monday, December 31, 2018 6:22:46 PM America/New_York
Home Cooked Cabinets: The DIY Homeowner's Guide to Types of Kitchen Cabinets
You can pay over $800 for a single kitchen cabinet to be installed by a professional, and that doesn't even include the cost of the cabinet itself.
So when you compare that to the price of doing it yourself, you're looking at saving a lot of money and the assurance that you can get exactly what you want.
But what are the different types of kitchen cabinets and which one will look best in your kitchen? This article covers everything you need to know from the terminology to the style.
Types of Kitchen Cabinets: First, Choose the Quality Grade
The whole purpose of DIY is to be able to have fun building something yourself and saving money. The quality grade is simply a metric to let you know how much you should expect to pay and what you can do.
RTA: Ready To Assemble
RTA cabinets are by far the most cost-effective option out there and still provide you with a fantastic range of options for your kitchen.
Once you find the style you like, you simply order these cabinets and they arrive with all the pieces and information you need to build them yourself. It not only saves you multiple trips to the hardware store but also lets you know that you're building something that has been created to work.
Be sure to read up on cabinetry installation as there are small hints and tips that can make the whole process even easier.
Stock
These cabinets are more expensive and come from manufacturers in fixed sizes and models giving you less flexibility and choice. If you want to forgo building it yourself or want an easier option then these are the type for you.
Semi-Custom
If you have more money to burn and want the same convenience but a little more choice then go with these cabinets.
They are often stock cabinets that come with options (for an extra price) so you can choose things like size, materials, and style. As the name suggests, you can customize some things but not everything.
Custom
You will pay a very high price tag but will also get exactly what you want.
The huge cost often also includes installation and delivery so you may be able to negotiate the price down if you want to install it yourself. This option provides unlimited flexibility meaning you can have any cabinet you can think of in your home.
Once you have your quality grade chosen, you can then decide on the framing.
Framed or Frameless?
There are two types of framing available for cabinets and both have their own advantages in terms of practicality and overall style.
Framed
Unless they've been renovated recently, most mid-century American homes will feature framed cabinetry as it was the preference of most manufacturers.
The best way to visualize this is like a picture frame being placed on the front of the cabinet providing the space for the door's hinges to be attached. This brings the door out and away from the cabinet and has overlay and inset options which we cover below.
Frameless
This European technique is continuing to be used in many American homes today for a variety of reasons.
The removal of the frame means there is no longer a small barrier for pots and pans to get caught on and that you get a little bit larger storage space. It also means that the cabinet needs a thicker construction making it more stable. However, only full overlay doors are available with these meaning you have fewer options to choose from.
When looking through different kitchen designs, pay attention to the overlay and what style resonates with you.
Think About the Overlay
The term 'overlay' simply refers to the way the doors of the cabinets rest on the front by either sticking out or being flat inside the cabinet itself. The different options are:
Inset
These doors are placed within the cabinet frame so that the entire cabinet appears flat when the door is closed.
Because of this, they require a doorknob or are designed with an indented space for your fingers to open with. If you want a completely flat look however than another option is to install doors that have "push-to-open" hinges. These allow you a flat aesthetic with doors that can still open easily.
Of course, this option is slightly more expensive so be sure to look into the costs before getting your heart set on a style.
Partial Overlay
These are the most common types of doors and also tend to be the cheapest as well.
They are 'partial' because the doors only cover the openings rather than the entire cabinet box itself. One disadvantage is that these doors need the dreaded verticle stile between doors which can really limit the efficiency of a larger cabinet.
As the most affordable option, be sure to look into how you can make this style work for your kitchen.
Full Overlay
If you like the inset look and also want more storage then full overlay doors are a good cost-effective choice.
As suggested by the name they overlay the entire cabinet allowing you to line them up to create the same flat design of inset. By being laid on top of the cabinet they offer more space as well as the ability to get to your kitchenware easier.
Start at the End
When starting your DIY project the best thing to do is find the exact look you want to have in your kitchen and work backward from there.
With a design in mind, you can start choosing the types of kitchen cabinets that work for you and your budget while also finding your own creative solutions.
If you want help getting the best visual possible, use our free design service to see what your dream kitchen can look like.