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MODERN WALL CABINETS: THE WOOD SPECIES AND MATERIALS IN CUSTOM CASEWORK

CABINETRY’S “WORKHORSES”

Cabinetry solutions are usually classified into categories such as wall cabinets, tall cabinets and base cabinets. As you plan your remodel, use this overview to learn about wall cabinets and the kinds of things you can do with them in your home.

It’s exciting to choose cabinetry for your new kitchen or bath, but with so many different types of cabinets to choose from, how do you know where to begin?

While it’s great to have choices, it can be overwhelming without a basic understanding of the types of cabinets, doors and drawers that are available, and how you can use them to make your remodeling dreams come true.

CUSTOM MODERN WALL CABINETS: TYPES OF CASEWORK CABINETS AND MATERIALS

Out of all the storage spaces in your home, you use the wall cabinets the most. They are located at eye level, providing the most ease-of-access to the things you use most most often. Wall cabinets are, also, the focal point of a room and, therefore are instrumental in setting the atmosphere of the environment.

Wall cabinets are commonly found in the kitchen and bathroom. But, custom wall cabinetry is also used in other areas of the household, like entertainment centers and garage workshops. The materials you choose for your cabinets should depend, in part on where they are being installed. 

Standard upper cabinets measure 12-inches deep, and custom wall cabinets can go as deep as 17 or 18-inches deep. Custom casework is designed in, either, a species of pure hardwood, or a combination of wood and manufactured material.

TYPES OF HARDWOOD FOR CUSTOM WALL CABINETS

Each different species of hardwood offers a unique design aesthetic to your cabinetry. The characteristics of the wood grain, color tone, and abnormalities, like knots, are different in all hardwood species. And, these unique characteristics are the very thing that custom casework highlights.  

CHERRY HARDWOOD

Cherry hardwood is versatile and attractive, making it a popular choice for custom casework. The lines in the wood grain sit very close to one another, and have a distinctly curly characteristic. The color of Cherry hardwood cabinets varies widely, from pale white, to rich ruby red. 

The heartwood of a tree is where the lignin is most dense and strong. Cherry heartwood becomes darker over time and from light exposure. 

The heartwood of cherry varies from rich red to reddish-brown and will darken with age and on exposure to light. In contrast, the sapwood is creamy white. The wood has a straight-grain, a fine, uniform, satiny and smooth texture, and naturally may contain brown pith flecks and small gum pockets.

Cherry is a close-grained, multicolored hardwood with occasional pin knots and fine grain variations appearing as curls and waves. Features described below are typical and not considered defects:

  • Small sap pockets, pin knots and streaks
  • Color ranges from pale yellow sapwood to deep reddish-brown heartwood, with occasional shades of white, green, pink or even gray
  • Staining reveals subtle variations and colors that typically darken over time
  • Variations within a single door
  • May accept nicks and bumps over time.

MAPLE HARDWOOD

Maple is an exceptionally hard, finely grained wood species with a fine, even texture. Darker stains will moderate the color variance; lighter stains mellow with golden hues over time. Features described below are typical and not considered defects:

  • White to light blonde tones to dark reddish-brown tones
  • Small mineral streaks of light blond or reddish-brown that darken with stain
  • Wavy, curly bird’s-eye or burl graining as well as worm tracking across the grain that will darken when stained
  • Variations within a single door. 

OAK HARDWOOD

Oak is a prominently grained hardwood with pattern variations from straight grain to arcs. It is durable and forgiving of nicks and bumps, and mellows with golden hues over time. Darker stains provide a more uniform appearance. Features described below are typical and not considered defects:

  • Oak colors range from light tans to deep reddish browns
  • Streaks of yellow or black mineral deposits
  • Noticeable differences in color between open and close-grained areas which may be more evident with light-colored stain
  • Variations within a single door

FINISHING STYLES FOR CUSTOM CASEWORK

PAINTED FINISH

Painted finishes combine hardwoods and engineered materials including solid wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), high density fiberboard (HDF) and similar materials to achieve a product with superior stability, consistency, coverage and durability. Features described below are typical and not considered defects:

  • Joint lines caused by the natural expansion and contraction of wood
  • The natural aging process may change the tone of paint colors over time

THERMOFOIL MDF

Thermofoil is thick vinyl film bonded to warp-resistant medium density fiberboard (MDF) which allows cabinet doors and drawer fronts to exhibit the same styling and detail found in solid wood doors.

  • The color is consistent throughout the film
  • The core is medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a melamine back
  • The surface is durable, easy to clean and especially resistant to chipping and cracking

DURAFORM MDF/HDF

Duraform uses a highly-technological manufacturing process to bond foils and coatings to medium density fiberboard (MDF), high density fiberboard (HDF) and similar materials to achieve a product with exceptional stability, consistency and durability.

  • The color is consistent throughout the coating
  • The surface is durable and easy to clean
  • Finishes are resistant to heat, humidity, and fading

PERSONALIZE YOUR HOME WITH CUSTOM CASEWORK 

If you want to have a complete control over types of kitchen cabinets materials, types of kitchen cabinets wood, and of the types of kitchen cabinets designs, choose Custom Kitchen Cabinets. Out of all other types of kitchen cabinets, custom cabinetry is guaranteed to meet all your functionality, storage, and style requirements. Choose cabinet door styles, choose wood type, finishes, accessories, and colors. Be ready to pay a higher price tag because custom cabinets are the most expensive out of all other types of kitchen cabinets. Price is higher because custom kitchen cabinets are 100% customized option. They offer tailored sizes, superior hand-built cabinet construction, diversity in materials, finishes, accessories, and styles.