Cabinets

Cabinets, which typically account for 60 to 70 percent of a kitchen's cost, come in three varieties: custom, semi-custom, and stock. They can be made from wood veneer or solid wood. And although they may look similar, the solid woods are better suited to high-traffic areas because veneer cabinets are subject to chipping.

Cabinet exteriors may be laminate, wood veneer, or solid wood that is either stained or painted. Custom finishes are also available with glazes that add a vintage look. Distressing wood fronts with faux worm holes, dings, and wear is popular, as are glass front panels with a variety of clear, frosted, and patterned glass. Along the top edge of the kitchen might be crown molding, taller cabinets, or glass-front display cabinets.

Custom cabinetry is built to precise specifications and measurements, either on-site by a carpenter, or at a custom manufacturing facility. Since it offers the most options in materials and design, custom cabinetry is the most expensive and has the longest delivery time. Yet if budget is no consideration then it is a wonderful way to get just the features and amenities you desire.

Semi-custom cabinets are manufactured to buyer specifications for size and interior fittings. Sizes, however, are based on predetermined increments, sometimes necessitating the use of spacers to mask unfilled wall space and resulting in less usable storage area than custom cupboards yield.

Because they come in standard sizes, stock cabinets are the least expensive version of cabinetry. Even so, they come in a variety of qualities and prices, and manufacturers continue to add amenities. Adjustable shelves are standard; lazy Susans, pull-out drawers, pantries, and even wine racks are available.

Traditionally popular because of their easy-clean quality, laminates come in a wide array of colors and simulated wood patterns. Because some grades of laminate are more impact-resistant than others, enlist the help of a certified kitchen designer to help you select the right laminate.

In addition to cabinet materials and finishes, the accessories and features of a cabinet are what really make a kitchen function. Look for built-in turntables, pot drawers, spice racks, knife blocks, flatware trays, and other organizing components. Lighting, both under-cabinet and interior lighting, is another popular option.

Kitchen Cabinetry Slide Show

Cooking Essentials Slide Show