Kitchen Cabinets – Basic Types and Options
Kitchen cabinets are the most common built-in-furniture found in most kitchens for storage of cooking utensils, food, and sometimes dishes and silverware for table service. Many appliances like ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers are also commonly integrated into kitchen cabinets. But how do you refinish them? This article will provide information on different methods to refinish kitchen cabinets.
When it comes to kitchen cabinets, there are many different types and styles from which to choose. The first option is to purchase ready-to-assemble (RTA) kitchen cabinets; these are cabinets that come with the frame, all the parts, the doors, and all the hardware already pre-assembled in the box. These are very inexpensive, but some people feel that RTA cabinets are lacking in variety. If you buy ready-to-assemble cabinets, your only options are to either buy new cabinets, or to DIY your new RTA kitchen cabinets. There are other cabinet options such as solid wood kitchen cabinets, custom cabinets, unfinished kitchen cabinets, laminated cabinets, etc.
If you decide to DIY your kitchen cabinets, you will need to determine the basic types of finishes available to you. There are several basic types of finishes, which can be used for both custom cabinets and for in-stock cabinets. When choosing a finish for your custom kitchen cabinets, it is important to pick one that you find appealing. Here are the different types of finishes you can choose from:
The most popular choice for custom kitchen cabinets is to use a wood veneer finish on the front face of the cabinet. This style of veneer looks great when applied to basic types of wood, like oak or pine. You can also apply a clear coat of lamination to your base cabinets and wall kitchen cabinets to protect them from stains and moisture. You can use a wood-on-wood glue to attach the lamination to the front of the cabinet, or you can purchase a specially-designed glue.
Another option you have for customizing your kitchen cabinets is to use one of several popular cabinet refacing techniques. The two most common options include veneer and invite cabinet doors. Pinvise cabinet doors consist of two vertical panels, with each panel attached to four corner pieces. The vertical doors slide into the holes in the corners, while the horizontal doors jut out at the top and bottom. Both of these main style options are available in a variety of woods and finishes.
One technique you can use to customize your kitchen cabinets is to replace your existing doors with new ones that have a particular drawer style or material. For instance, instead of replacing all of your kitchen cabinets with new ones, you could simply change the doors and drawer fronts to create a completely different look. This option requires that you cut out the existing doors and replace them with a new style, but it provides flexibility because you can choose a different type of wood (such as mahogany or maple) for the body of your drawers.
If you’d rather keep your current kitchen design but want to add a bit of variation, another option is to install different types of doors on the same cabinets. For instance, you can add a shaker style to an all-wood kitchen cabinet. Or, you might want to add a mirrored or frosted door to a solid wood cabinet. Glass and metal doors can also be added to your kitchen cabinets – although you need to keep in mind that glass and metals can damage your kitchen flooring. These are great for kitchen design when space is limited, because they don’t take up much room. They can however, become damaged if your kitchen gets a lot of traffic – a situation that we all know is inevitable in the kitchen.
The three basic kitchen cabinets are still available: slabs, boxes, and stock kitchen cabinets. However, these basic types don’t offer much in the way of design flexibility or variety. While slabs and boxes are still among the most popular choices, more options are available than ever before. Explore your options and find the kitchen cabinets that will work best for you.
