One of the largest decisions to make regarding your new kitchen will be about your cabinets. What size? What color? Framed cabinets or frameless? The most important factors to consider when choosing cabinets can be boiled down to four categories: form (look), functionality, expense, and quality.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
Expense and budget. This is a great category to start your decision with, as it will narrow down the range of cabinets you select. Shop around and take note of the style, color, and functionality you like. Then determine your budget range for your cabinets. By blending your budget range and styles you prefer, you now have a good idea of what cabinets you should be looking for.
Quality. Cabinets can come in a continuum of varieties, from stock —>> semi-custom —>> custom.
Stock cabinets are pre-manufactured and have set sizes. The ability to instill custom features is limited.
Semi-custom cabinets are also pre-manufactured, but you will find a greater range of sizes and options than with stock cabinets.
Custom cabinets have no limit. You can choose the size, style, features, materials, and finishes.
Functionality. Part of planning your kitchen remodel includes knowing how you intend to use your kitchen, who will use the kitchen, and what inventory you already have. When you know what your kitchen will be mostly used for, you can begin to layout the best functionality for the kitchen. Do you have kids? Some appliances may need to be higher up, while other (such as the microwave) may need to be in reach of little hands. Which also means the plastic plates need to be in a reachable cabinet too. Or are you an amateur chef? You may want to strategically place your island and even have specific cabinets within your island to facilitate your fluidity while cooking a grand meal.
Finally, what appliances and “things” do you already have in your cabinets? How will these fit in your new cabinets? Use this kitchen inventory sheet to help you keep track of what your cabinets needs to hold and how often you utilize your equipment. Some appliances (like your turkey smoker) may see the light once or twice a year. These items can likely be put into the harder to reach cabinets.
Form. Two varieties of cabinets (called frame and frameless) denote the way the cabinets are constructed, and therefore affect the look and form of the cabinet at a core level.
FRAME OR FRAMELESS - What’s the Difference?
American cabinets have traditionally been constructed using a framed style. Framed cabinetry consists of a 1.0-1.5” face frame at the front of the cabinet box. The frame gives the box dimension. The frame resembles a flat picture frame that has been attached to the door front. When the cabinets are closed, you will see a slight space between adjacent cabinets, making the cabinetry appear larger in size and more spread out.
In framed cabinetry, the frame also serves to give the cabinet extra strength and sturdiness. The cabinet doors are attached by hinges to the frame face. These hinges are usually adjustable. Framed cabinetry provides you with many design possibilities, as partial and full overlay cabinet doors can be used with framed cabinets. Inset cabinet doors can also be used with framed cabinetry.
Generally regarded as the European way to manufacture cabinets, frameless cabinetry eliminates the face frame and relies on thicker box construction for stability. Also known as a “form and fit” style, frameless cabinets a sleek, contemporary design as the cabinets fit more tightly together once installed. All you will see are the flat door and drawer fronts.
Frameless cabinets are also known as “full access” cabinetry because without the presence of a face frame, less space is consumed within the cabinet and greater accessibility is achieved. This also means frameless cabinets tend to offer more storage space. However, the door runners and hinges attach directly inside of the cabinet box.
Frameless cabinet forms can easily be woven into design themes throughout the home due to the simple aesthetic nature of the cabinets.
To learn more about the difference between framed and frameless cabinetry, visit this site.
OUR PARTNERS
Enchanted Kitchens partners with Davis Mill & Cabinet, Decorá Cabinetry, Yorktowne Cabinetry, Aristokraft Cabinetry, and Europa Cabinets. Click the icons below to learn more about each cabinet line: