Cabinets
Years ago the built-in kitchen cabinet was relatively rare. Food was stored in pantries and in freestanding cupboards, such as Hoosier cabinets, most of which are now considered antiques. Plates and silver resided in chests or in boxes stacked on open shelves. Today, you rarely see an American kitchen that doesn’t dwell in the shadow of large banks of built-in cabinets spanning floor to ceiling. But just as the kitchen furnishings have evolved, the cabinets themselves continue to change, mostly to reflect changes in style and design. It is also true that many cabinets installed in the last twenty or thirty years were, simply put, cheap.
If your cabinets are dated or marred (or just plain ugly) but still structurally sound, you may be able to get by with painting them or replacing the cabinet doors. But in most cases, the inescapable conclusion you’ll draw when you evaluate your cabinets is that it is time for them to go. Installing cabinets yourself is easy. If you just want to modify your existing cabinets, you’ll find quick-fix projects in this chapter.
Cabinet Selection
When purchasing cabinets, you have a number of decisions to make. First, you need to decide if you want to go with stock, semi-custom, or custom cabinets. Then you need to choose between faceframe or frameless styles. Materials, door and drawer styles, hardware and finishes must also be decided. Cabinets comprise three categories: stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets and some semi-custom cabinets are available for homeowners to install themselves; custom cabinets usually are installed by the cabinetmaker. There’s a growing trend in “unfitted” kitchen systems, too. Seen most frequently in European kitchens, the cabinets and shelves are modular—like pieces of storage furniture—rather than built-in or fitted.
Stock
Stock cabinets are available as either ready-toassemble (RTA) or ready-to-install. Ready-to-assemble cabinets, also referred to as knockdown or flat-pack, are shipped as flat components that the consumer puts together using connecting hardware. In other words, in addition to installing the cabinets, you have to assemble them. Your options will be somewhat limited if you choose RTA cabinets, but you will be able to achieve a slightly different look from readyto- install cabinets. Although some RTA cabinets are made with low-quality materials, not all are poorly constructed. Carefully inspect samples of assembled cabinets to check material quality and engineering quality. If possible, also look at assembly directions to check for clarity.
Ready-to-install cabinets are purchased already assembled. They tend to be lower on the quality level, but typical utility units are suitable for a workshop or a weekend home. Larger building centers typically carry
a single style of stock kitchen cabinets made from a relatively economical species of wood, such as red oak.
Semi-Custom
Semi-custom cabinets are also factory-made to standard sizes, but they offer far more options in finish, size, features, and materials than stock cabinets. These are typically sold through higher-end design showrooms, with prices much higher than stock cabinets but still less than custom cabinets. Semi-custom is the best choice for homeowners who want better-quality cabinets with some special features and a custom appearance, but at a lower price than custom cabinets. You should allow at least three to eight weeks of lead time when ordering semicustom cabinets.
Custom
Custom cabinets offer the most in terms of options. These cabinets are designed, built, and installed to fit a unique space. It is wise to shop around before settling on a custom cabinetmaker, as price, quality, and availability will vary widely. The minimum lead time for custom cabinet construction is six weeks in most markets. When you get bids, find out if the lead time is from acceptance of the bid or from when the condition of the kitchen allows the cabinetmaker to take accurate measurements. Remember that exotic or difficult-to-machine materials and intricate custom designs will end up costing you more.
Standard Cabinet Sizes
Base cabinets (without countertop)
Height 341⁄2"
Depth 24"
Width 6" to 42", in 3" increments
Wall cabinets
Height 12", 15", 18", 24", 30", 36"
Depth 12"
Width 6" to 36", in 3" increments
Oven cabinets
Height 83", 95"
Depth 24"
Width 30", 33"
Pantry cabinets
Height 83", 95"
Depth 24"
Width 18", 24"
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