Kitchen cabinets

There are three main types of cabinets:

Base cabinets rest on the floor and support the countertop. Their standard height is between 34 ½" and 36" and their standard depth varies between 24" and 30".

Wall cabinets hang on the wall and do not touch the floor. Wall cabinets can be 12", 15", 18", 30", 36" or 42" high. Their depth varies between 12" and 18". They are typically installed 18" above work surfaces and 54" above the floor.

Tall cabinets, for example pantries, are 84" to 94" high and come in standard depths of 12" to 18".

While cabinets are always manufactured to a certain standard regardless of their type or size, the customer's choice will be influenced by budget, delivery deadline and chosen design. Cabinets are either stock (prefabricated), semi-custom or custom.

Stock cabinets

Sold ready-assembled in home improvement stores or kitchen centres, stock cabinets come in standard sizes.

Semi-custom cabinets

Semi-custom cabinets come in standard sizes but are made to order and offer more personalized options in terms of design, storage and style.

Custom cabinets

Custom cabinets are made by kitchen designers according to the client's specifications.

1- Face frame

Framed cabinets have a frame around the front of the cabinet box made of the same material as the drawers and doors. The frame stabilizes the box. Here, the hinges are visible and are attached directly to the frame. Framed cabinets work well in a traditional decor, and the doors can be replaced easily.

Frameless (or European-style) cabinets have no frame around the cabinet box; the doors and drawers cover the box's edges. The side panels of the cabinet box are thicker to provide stability. The door hinges are attached directly to the side panels, which offer greater storage space. Over time, the doors may become misaligned, however, and the hinges may need to be adjusted. Frameless cabinets are well suited to contemporary-style kitchens.

2- Sides
The sides of the cabinet are usually between ½" and ¾" thick. They are generally unfinished and are typically made of one of the following materials:

• Particleboard: widely used in cabinet construction, but susceptible to bending and warping.
• Medium-density fibreboard (MDF): less expensive than other materials but susceptible to water damage.
• Plywood: considered an excellent choice for cabinet construction due to its strength and durability.

3- Back panel and bottom of cabinet

The back panel and the bottom of the cabinet are key structural components. They support and ensure the rigidity of the whole cabinet. A back panel made of ½" plywood will prevent the cabinet from warping over time. However, a back panel of just ¼" thick is sufficient for a base cabinet, since it is not used to hold the cabinet to the wall.

4- Door
There are two types of cabinet doors – those made from a single piece of material, and those built from a frame and an inner panel. The latter is the most popular style and comprises a wood frame with a central panel made either of wood or of MDF covered with the chosen finish. Solid wood doors are more prestigious but may bend or warp over the years due to humidity fluctuations. However, the surface of solid wood will not peel and its colour will not fade.

When it comes to cabinet door designs, the options are practically limitless, though they can be grouped into six main categories to help make the choice easier:

5- Drawers
In addition to the size of kitchen drawers and their intended purpose, it is also worth considering how they are constructed, for this affects their durability. First, it is important to know that the sides of solid wood drawers are 5/8" to ¾" thick. Drawers made from particleboard are only ½" thick and are more susceptible to warping, so they may not be the best long-term choice. For drawer bottoms, ¼" plywood is the best option.

Though wood drawers are the most popular option, some manufacturers make models with metal sides. These are well suited to frameless cabinets.

Joints	Descriptions
	The mortise is a square hole made in one part and the tenon is the protruding peg on the other part that fits into the mortise at right-angles. For an extra-sturdy structure, the tenon may pass all the way through the mortise, although the finished look may be less aesthetically pleasing.
	Strong, high-quality joinery technique with superior resistance. V-shaped tenons are made on the end of one part and slotted into corresponding notches of the same shape on the adjoining part.
	This technique uses round wood dowels (pegs) fitted into holes to join two parts together. Dowels can also be used to strengthen a mortise and tenon joint.
	These joints are made by slotting a thin wafer of wood, called a biscuit, into slots on the adjoining parts. When the biscuit comes into contact with glue applied in the slots, it swells and stays wedged in place, creating a strong bond. This quick and straightforward technique is increasingly used in cabinet joinery.
	For this joint, a channel or groove is cut along the length of one piece and the projecting edge or tongue on the adjoining piece slots into it.
	Similar to tongue and groove, frame and panel joinery consists in machining two parts into shapes (stiles and rails) that fit together. Since there is a large surface area for gluing, this type of joint is very strong.

6- Shelf
Shelves are available in fixed or pull-out versions. They are typically made of plywood, MDF or particleboard covered with a layer of another material such as wood veneer or laminate. Shelf thickness can vary from one manufacturer to another, or depending on the customer's requirements, but the standard measurements are ½", 5/8" and ¾" thick. The thicker the shelf, the less likely it is to buckle under weight. Nevertheless, if the shelf is going to be used to hold heavy items such as cans and preserves, it's important that the sides of the cabinet be thick enough to support the load.

7- Toe kick
The toe kick is a recessed area for feet at the bottom of the base cabinet, allowing you to stand closer to the countertop when preparing meals. It is generally 3" deep and 3 ½" high, though it can be made up to 10" high for wheelchair users. Elements such as a central vacuum inlet or even additional drawers can be built into the toe kick. Decorative feet can also be added at the end of a line of cabinets to enhance the appearance.

8- Decorative mouldings and fillers
You can choose from a variety of decorative mouldings, corbels, mosaics or columns to match your cabinets. These enhancements add a touch of elegance and class that can totally transform the look of your kitchen.

9- Pulls, knobs and pendants
Drawer and cabinet pulls, knobs and pendants unify and enhance the overall look of the kitchen.
 

• Pulls are fastened with two screws. They are available in a wide variety of styles to match all decors.
• Knobs are attached with just one screw. They are particularly decorative.
• Pendants are handles with a hinged back plate. They suit more opulent decors. 

10- Hinges
There are many types of cabinet hinges. Your choice will largely be determined by the type of cabinet you have and its construction method. Some hinges are fitted with soft-close mechanisms, which a practical feature for families with small children; the door closes gently and slowly, no matter how hard it is pushed.
 

• Exposed hinges are partially or entirely visible when the cabinet doors are closed. They are made up of a pivot (knuckle) and two wings.
• Concealed hinges cannot be seen when the doors are closed. These hinges are purely functional pieces of hardware with no decorative purpose. Most of them are adjustable.
• Mortise hinges require a mortise (notch) to be cut in the cabinet frame so that the wings of the hinge sit flush with the surface.
• No-mortise hinges do not require a mortise to be cut in the cabinet frame; the wings are fastened directly to the cabinet surface.
• Swing clear hinges allow the door to swing completely clear of the opening, providing unrestricted access to the inside of the cabinet. 

11- Drawer slides (glides)
Drawers run on slides, and this hardware should also be chosen carefully. Some slides offer "full extension", meaning that the drawer can be pulled out fully, allowing easier access to contents. Length of extension will depend on the type of slide chosen. Some slides are fitted with a handy soft-close mechanism, which allows the drawer to be closed smoothly and gently.

Drawer slides can support loads of up to 75-100 lb. Choose the strongest slides for drawers that will hold pots and pans or small appliances.

• Ball-bearing slides are stable, simple and hard-wearing. The slides are mounted on each side of the drawer.
• Undermount slides are fitted underneath the drawer, which increases the drawer's load-carrying capacity. They provide excellent support and stability.
• Side-mount slides are mounted to each side of the drawer. They provide good support but their limited extension can prevent easy access to the back of the drawer. 

The material you choose for your cabinets will have a huge impact on your kitchen's finished look and is a key consideration in terms of quality and durability. Whether it is designed in a rustic, modern or traditional style, each type of material has its own specific characteristics that must be given careful thought.

The finish applied to a cabinet door enhances its beauty and its characteristics. There is a finish to complement every decor style and design. Choose from:

Natural stain
Natural wood stain lends a genuine, homey look. Colours range from clear to dark; all are designed to bring out the wood's natural beauty.

Glaze
Glaze is applied to softly highlight corners and other parts of the cabinet door, adding texture and warmth to the room.

Paint
Paint is available in an infinite variety of colours and finishes, from transparent to opaque and matte to gloss. Paint can also be used to distress cabinets and give them an aged or rustic look.

Heirlooming
Heirlooming is a type of distressing technique that uses selective sanding to give cabinets a naturally worn look.