Cabinet box

Hidden sides will be made of either plywood or the most

common material; engineered wood.  Exposed sides will be

made of the same material chosen for the visible exterior.

Drawer joints

Doweled or dovetail

construction is a sign of

quality and is more

durable than nailed or

glued joints.

Drawer glides

Choose the standard

three-quarter extension

or the full extension,

which allows easy

access to the back of

drawers.  You can also

choose ball- bearing

rollers over nylon rollers

for longer life and a

smoother glide.

Shelves

Opt for adjustable shelves over fixed

ones and maximize the number of

positions to which they will adjust.  

This will greatly optimize your storage

flexibility.

Hinges

Depending on your preference, you

can have exposed, decorative hinges

or fully concealed hinges that are

adjustable and self-closing.

Standard overlay

As you can see, the face of

the cabinet box is visible,

giving a "frame" to the

cabinet doors.  This overlay

is used in more traditional

design installations.

Full overlay

In this case, the cabinet doors

completely cover the cabinet

box.  This overlay is often used

in more contemporary design

installations because it provides

a sleek, uninterrupted look.

Please note: the beauty of wood is that every piece is unique.  This means some pieces of

wood will have more pronounced grain patterns than others.  A variation in grain should be

expected and is not to be considered a defect.

Wood Types

Cherry

Premium wood usually with

rich, reddish tint; ideal for

traditional design styles.

Maple

Hard, tightly-grained wood;

ideal for styles with

furniture-like detail.

Oak

Strong, durable with golden

color and highly visible grain;

ideal for simple design styles.

Hickory

Similar in color to oak, but

with a finer grain imparting

a slightly more elegant look.

Pine

Soft wood with visible

knots and burls; ideal for

casual and country styles.

Thermafoil

Strong fiberboard

permanently fused with

advanced vinyl-like

material.  Seamless,

durable and maintenance

free in vast selection of

colors and finishes.

Laminate

Durable, economical and

maintenance free in vast

selection of colors and

finishes.

FINISH IT OFF

Wood tones

Ranges from natural

to medium to dark.  

Species and stain

determine how much

wood "shows

through."

Color casts

Options include

reds, yellows, blues

and greens.  Casts

are typically more

opaque than

translucent.

Glazes

Can be added to

finishes to highlight

recessed areas and

give an antique look

to cabinets.

Slab

A clean

canvas for

hardware;

perfect for

contemporary

designs.

Recessed

panel

Adds interest

and depth;

can go

country or

contemporary.

Raised

panel

A classic

style for

more formal,

traditional

looks.

Shaker

Known for its

no nonsense

simplicity,

favored for

its warm and

casual feel.

Cape Cod

Reminiscent

of bead-board

and ideal for

a cottage

look.

Glass insert

Turns storage

into display,

especially

when lighted

inside.

Door Styles