There are a few different types of cabinets you can choose from when planning your remodel. Some are naturally occurring - wood! - and some are manufactured. There are a variety of perks to each choice. Wood cabinets offer character and charm, while man made options create the opportunity for pristine uniformity as well as the luxury of being flexible with design, color, and styling. Read along with us to discover which option may be best for you when choosing to update your cabinets!
Maple, cherry, oak, and alder are our most popular kitchen cabinet choices at Kitchens By Design. Each type of wood has different color characteristics that impact a cabinet’s finish.
Maple’s base color typically ranges from white to creamy white, with an occasional mild reddish tone. Since it has a subtle grain pattern, maple is an excellent choice for a smoother finish. Its relatively neutral tone makes it a great base for a stain, and the smooth finish is why it is typically the main wood choice for painted cabinets.
Cherry has an undertone that can range from white to dark brown, with the redder tones being the most common. The close-grained appearance makes applying an even finish to cherry cabinets simple. Cherry does age faster than maple and will appear darker within six months of installation when using a stain.
Oak is another favorite at Kitchens By Design. Its colors are interesting, and range from white to pink with underlying reddish tones. At Kitchens By Design, white oak and red oak are the most common choices. Oak is one of the types of wood where you can see mineral streaks more clearly.
If you are looking for guaranteed warm undertones, alder may be the best choice for you! The base color of alder wood typically ranges from light brown to light reddish tones.
Wood cabinets can come with characteristics that occur in nature. Most doors have a combination of two or more characteristics, and no two doors look exactly the same. All of these pictures are of doors available to view at our Kitchens By Design showroom unless otherwise specified.
Bird pecks and wormholes are one of the more common, smaller occurrences. Wormholes can be slightly oblong but are typically no larger than 1/16th of an inch.
Burls are what someone might typically think of when imagining the visual characteristics of wood. A burl is caused when a tree experiences some sort of sickness or damage. The resulting pattern is a visible twist and whirl in the wood grain without a knot.
Knots are caused by a branch integrating itself into the tree your cabinet came from. Sound knots are small and show no sign of decay. An unsound knot is larger, with a pith center. When a tree is alive, the pith is the part of the tree that delivers nutrients to the branch. Since it is softer than the surrounding wood, it creates a small perforation that makes it more visible once the branch is cut.
Streaks from minerals such as calcium or magnesium are also common. They create irregularities in the grain pattern, and can have green, yellow, or black streaks. Cherry wood is unique, and can have what is called gum streaks which are large, vertical streaks in the wood. While it is similar to other mineral streaking, it is typically only darker in tone instead of causing other colors such as green.
When a tree is cut into cabinet materials, there are also two different types of wood within the tree itself that can impact color quality. Sapwood is the younger wood closer to the bark, and it is typically lighter in color. Hartwood is older, extending from the sapwood into the center of the tree. It is darker in color, but not necessarily more sturdy.Â
Manufactured materials include medium density fiberboard (MDF), laminate, thermofoil (TFL), melamine, as well as acrylic and veneer.
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) serves as the base for most manufactured doors. MDF is a modified wood material made by breaking down pieces of wood into wood fibers, which is then pressed into a solid board. Since it is still wooden but machine made, it creates a more uniform door. MDF's uniformity makes it an excellent base for paint or to be combined with other manufactured alternatives.
Melamine is a resin based laminate that can be made to mimic wood patterns or into a flat surface. It is more scratch resistant than MDF and can be combined with other manufactured alternatives.
Thermofoil is a PVC material that is glued onto a medium density fiberboard with a melamine backing. The surface is seamless, and a great option for minimal wear and easy cleaning. Something to keep in mind while purchasing thermofoil cabinets is that if you use a steam mop, it can cause the thermofoil coating to peel over time.
Laminate doors are extremely versatile. Since they have a continuous wrap unlike thermofoil, laminate doors are less likely to peel, crack, or have any sort of delamination. It is also more resistant to aging, heat damage, staining, UV light, and moisture.
Kemper's Troxel door made with Laminate. In Arctic finish. Acrylic doors are flat and typically made with a 3/4" engineered core for the face of the door. The back is made with melamine for a more cohesive finish.
Dura Supreme's acrylic door style in Wired Mercury. Finally, veneer is a thinly sliced sheet of solid wood that is applied to a furniture core panel. The simulated woodgrain creates the visual texture of wood without the naturally occurring variations. It is also a great option for reducing deforestation of slow-growing species.
There are so many choices you can make for updating your cabinets. Ultimately, your budget, desired finish, and lifestyle will help you choose which is right for you. From wood options to manufactured alternatives, come to Kitchens By Design to find the right style for you!
Some images were sourced from Ultracraft.
Wood and manufactured door information sourced from Masterbrand.
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