Changes in cabinetry have followed advances in technology for wood products i.e. development of veneer plywood and particle board, developments in shop tool technology, and technical advances in hardware for doors and drawers. There has also been an attempt to provide a new level of satisfaction by accommodating new consumer products in the kitchen and the living room. As a result of these advances today’s consumer is provided with a wide array of sometimes difficult choices between price, quality, and the reproduction of historical styles. What kind of criteria does the consumer use to decide the value between shopping at IKEA and hiring a custom cabinet maker for a new kitchen? The following is a very brief overview of various generic cabinet styles and their relative costs and benefits so that you can be more discerning in your cabinet choices. Keep in mind that in most cases the use of particle board in cabinet construction will result in cheaper initial costs but a much shorter life span due to moisture expansion, reduced fastener retention qualities, and the inability of repairing or refinishing particle board parts. These are important trade offs.

Traditional cabinetry, or face frame inset, is distinguished by solid wood face frames overlaying interior solid or plywood casework. The Inset door is hinged to the inside edge of the frame with a mortised butt hinge and has a separate catch to keep the door closed. The Inset drawer with an integral front was traditionally mounted onto wood slats or runners that sat inside the frame, although the contemporary version can use modern runners. This style is very labor intensive and therefore expensive to produce well. Besides the extra expense the downside of the traditional cabinet is the inefficient use of space by using intervening frames between the doors and the drawers. This can be very problematic in a kitchen where storage space is extremely valuable. Other drawbacks include keeping doors and drawers straight, true, and functioning due to an excess of paint build up over time and the occurrence of foundation distortions due to earthquakes and settlement. Despite these shortcomings some clients want the traditional furniture look as a timeless aesthetic statement, especially in the living room, dining room, or the island and the hutch with glass doors. This style is especially compatible and suitable in older historical homes.

Face frame overlay cabinetry has adopted modern self closing hidden hinges, and mechanical drawer runners applied to the traditional face frame construction to lower labor costs. This style in pre-made stock sizes is used primarily by large industrial factories in order to lower costs and reach a wider market. While less costly than the inset style the downside is that the use of space is still inefficient and the look can be describes as “clunky” due to the large gaps (1/2” to 1”) between the overlay fronts.  

Flush overlay sometimes called “European” is distinguished by the lack of solid wood face frames except at walls, finished ends, crown, and major cabinet breaks at corners.. Doors and drawers use modern hardware and are flush with each other with small (1/8”) gaps. The European front usually overlays interior boxes made with ¾” banded plywood. Less expensive versions use particle board interiors. The use of the frame and panel door and finished end in wood or paint can create a pleasing traditional aesthetic while the use of veneered panels for the fronts can lend a contemporary seamless look to a kitchen. In either case the overlay cabinet with no intervening frames is by far the most efficient use of space. A well crafted flush overlay cabinet usually costs more than a face frame overlay cabinet because of the higher skill set required to accomplish a consistent 1/8” gap between all the fronts and the greater difficulty in installing such a precise product in an imprecise older home.

The choice of a cabinet style is a matter of personal taste relative to the space you are remodeling and the quality and longevity of the finished product you desire. We have learned over many years that it is alright to mix and match different cabinet styles within a specific home given the sometimes conflicting needs of efficiency and aesthetics as long as it is done with care and attention to detail.