Purchasing Cabinets For The Kitchen
Much like many major life purchases, purchasing kitchen cabinets comes with a lot of decision making. There are copious options, from fully loaded all the way to completely stripped down. What is a homeowner to do?
Although options do abound, it's possible to wrap your head around what's
available in the world of kitchen cabinetry by breaking it down. Use
the information below to understand what you are getting yourself into
with your new kitchen remodel.
Custom Cabinets versus Stock Cabinets
Kitchen cabinetry comes in two forms: custom cabinets and stock cabinets. Custom cabinets are built specifically for you and to your chosen specifications. Stock cabinets, on the other hand, are purchased off of the showroom floor and are not created specifically for your kitchen. They are created using common measurements.
A major difference between custom cabinetry and stock cabinetry is that
because widths within kitchens obviously vary from house to house, with
stock cabinetry, excess space is filled with what is called “filler
strips”. Filler strips are essentially pieces of wood that fill
out the entire cabinet structure without actually adding another cabinet,
so many people consider them to be wasted space. Because custom cabinets
are built to fit measurements in your kitchen, this issue does not exist
with custom cabinetry.
Because stock cabinetry is already in existence when it is purchased,
it's more readily available and installation will happen at a swifter
rate than it would with custom cabinetry. And although many people think
that custom cabinetry will result in cabinets that more closely fit
the homeowner's style, the truth is that most stock cabinets come with
a variety of options by way of materials, colors, finishes, and options.
Special features, of course, do drive up the overall cost.
Cabinet Measurements
Regardless of whether a cabinet is custom or stock, standardized heights and depths are typically utilized. Base cabinets are generally 34.5 inches high and 24 inches deep. Meanwhile, upper cabinets are generally thirty inches high and twelve inches deep. Both framed and frameless cabinets use these standard heights and depths.
Customization affects the width of the cabinets, which when dealing with base cabinets also affects the size of the counter space.
Personalizing Cabinets To Your Space
When it comes to finding cabinets that seamlessly fit into your home, accessories are a great way to make sure that you're getting cabinets that fit your style and needs. For both custom and standard cabinets, additional options exist by way of materials, finishes, door styles, door panels, add on trim or molding, and appliance panels. Each of these categories gives you the opportunity to choose the types of cabinets and functionality you want for your space.
Quality is Important
Of course, you will always be faced with two options by way of pricing: economy and high-end. Keep in mind that not all economy pieces are built to last. Softer woods, less solid construction, and less attention to detail are what keeps the prices on such pieces so low. When purchasing kitchen cabinetry, it's important to consider the value of a piece. If you need something that is built to last, it may be well worth it to go the extra mile and purchase the more expensive, better constructed option.