Cabinet Guide

When shopping for cabinets, there really are a lot of choices that you may need to make. Learning more about cabinets can help you make the right decisions. On this page we have a few tips for interested shoppers. Come by our Rhode Island showroom to see the wide variety of choices in person and meet with our kitchen designer.

Window Shopping Tip: While you are getting started, look through home magazines and advertisements, collecting clippings in a folder of ideas. If you see something you like, this is a great start for communicating with our design team.

Cabinet Parts Overview

Understanding the anatomy of a cabinet can seriously help a buyer think through what they want. Initial shopping will attract you to some fundamental styles (colonial, arts and crafts, shaker) and colors. If you want to know more about your choices, take some time to learn more about cabinet construction. Cabinets have the following parts:

• Carcass: The carcass is the case of the cabinet. Carcasses can be constructed of solid wood, plywood or particle board or MDF. Solid wood is valued for its strength and authenticity, but it can warp and expand and is costly. Plywood is durable and cost effective. Particle board and MDF are very flat and easy to work. While its cost may be a deal, it is not very durable, especially when moisture is present in the application. Many cases feature adjustable shelves.
• Face frame: The face frame is often forgotten as a separate part of the cabinet. It sits on the front (or face) of the case. Face frames are typically made of solid wood. Face frames are available with both partial overlay and full overlay doors. Some European style cabinets do not have face frames.
• Doors: Most doors are frame and panel, meaning that there is a band of wood on the outside and another solid piece of wood in the middle. When shopping for doors, you may be interested in the frame profile and/or the panel profile (raised, flat, arched). You could also choose materials other than wood. Glass is a popular alternative. MDF and solid wood doors perform equally well.
• Drawers: Some nice choices with drawers to consider include joinery and hardware. Dovetail joints on the drawers will last forever. Full extension and self closing drawer slides are nice features to enhance your cabinets. Access hard-to-reach items by ordering large drawers and full extension pull-out slides.
• Hardware: some designers think of cabinet hardware as jewelry for the cabinets. Hardware includes hinges, handles, drawer slides, spice racks, half-moon shelves, trash bin holders, lazy susans and much, much more. Cabinet hardware can compliment a period look or create modern appeal. Our designers will help you select hardware that matches your needs.

All of these elements are a part of your selections when redesigning a kitchen. Come to our Johnston, RI showroom to see many choices in person and meet with our kitchen designers.