The Guide to Kitchen Doors

a resource for kitchen cabinets and accessories

Selecting the Perfect Kitchen Doors

June 28th, 2010

In today’s economy many homeowners are refurbishing their kitchens and other rooms in their homes. The kitchen can be remodeled by updating the cabinets, painting, adding staining or replacing kitchen cabinets and doors. Embarking on a kitchen remodeling task may seem daunting, but if you follow a few basic tips the remodeling can be a fun experience.

Finding the Perfect Door

The first step in selecting the perfect doors for your kitchen starts with your budget. See how much you have to work with and this will narrow down your options. Secondly, your finances will help you to decide whether you can afford to go with custom made, semi-custom-made or stock kitchen doors. Once this is decided you can determine the style, the type and the finish.

When choosing a door type it is best to take these rules into consideration: solid wood is the most expensive, veneer is a little less expensive, foils are a nice cheap option, vinyl is better, and steel is extremely pricey.

Kitchen doors come in several styles: glass, wood, lacquer, steel, laminate, veneer, high gloss, frame, frameless, aluminum etc. The doors can come with a flat panel, raised panel, or with moldings and valances. Kitchen doors can accommodate a particular style like a European look, a country look, modern, contemporary, classic and traditional.

kitchen cabinet doors

Glass cabinet doors

Finishes and Stains

Kitchen doors can come in so many finishes like burgundy cherry wood, glaze, oak, maple, harvest, natural, frost, dulce, espresso, RTF finishes, handcrafted moldings, fluted fillers.

Refurbish or Replace

When looking to refurbish old doors or replace them with new ones it is less expensive to do it yourself. Things like refacing can be done by anyone. Staining can be done by anyone, but once you get into the more difficult task of replacing doors, let the professional installers handle that. A Kitchen door remodeling project can be wonderful and unique; you can mix up the textures and style to make it your own. You can decide on flush, shaker, paneled, tongue or groove molding. The proper door care can help keep the beauty and lifespan of the doors longer.

Fluted fillers, sculpted or square valances, box stiles and trails, veneers, oak hinges, brass handles, whatever you want to do will be wonderful because it is all your idea. Enjoy the remodeling or refacing project and start with your budget do the research and you will be very happy with your final choice. If you do decide to have professionals install your kitchen doors make sure they are licensed, bonded and experienced

Installing Kitchen Cabinet Doors

July 19th, 2010

 

Kitchen cabinets are manufactured in many different styles. You can find them made of many different woods. The finishes on cabinets can come in as many varieties as you can imagine. To install kitchen cabinets you have to have knowledge of many tools. It is a process that can be accomplished by yourself, but it is a lot easier with help.

When you install kitchen cabinets you start with the upper units. Draw a level line around the kitchen at the desired height. Start in the corner and install the unit plumb and level. Bring the next cabinet in and pre-drill to hit wall studs and through the face plate to attach to the corner cabinet. Hold tight and flush to corner cabinet and put 2 screws through the face plate into the corner cabinet. Screw cabinet level and plumb to the wall. Do this around the entire room where you have cabinets.

After you have all upper cabinets in place, adjust the kitchen doors so they all set even. There are adjusting screws in the hinges of the kitchen doors to do this. You can also put the hardware on the upper doors now.

Kitchen Door Install

A Kitchen Cabinet being Installed

When you are done with the upper units you can start installing the base units. Start in the corner and level the cabinet in place. Make a level line around the room at the height of the corner cabinet. Measure and make sure the cabinets will all work to line. Install the corner cabinet by screwing it into the studs of the wall. Shim the cabinet level and plumb trying to keep it in a straight line with the upper cabinet. Bring cabinets in the order they will be placed. Drill holes through the face plate so it will be easy to screw to corner cabinet. Set in place and shim to line keeping it level and plumb. Screw face plates together and screw to wall. Repeat this process around the room keeping spots available for appliances.

When you have them all installed you can adjust the bottom kitchen cabinet doors so they are even and level. You are now ready to add the counter top and kick plates. You can also add crown molding if you desire.

Kitchen Cupboard Styles

July 12th, 2010

There are many styles to choose from when selecting the right kitchen door. I want to discuss some of the options that are available in style and overlay with which there are to choose from. With that being said lets start the learning!

Slab

This style has a flat look to it as it doesn’t have any moldings that accent it’s exterior. It is what its name implies – a “slab” of wood. This is great for a minimalist or contemporary look especially with a darker color cast such as black or dark blue.

Recessed

The recessed style is popular with contemporary kitchens similar to the slab style. The small raised border around the edges of the door accent the recess and give it depth while still being minimalistic.

Raised
 
The raised style has more of a picture frame look to it that is great for a more traditional kitchen. The border is a series of raised and recessed trim that gives it a matted or ornamental look. This style is typically coupled with a cherry or oak wood type.

Shaker
 
Shaker is very similar to the recessed style where it has a small raised border around a recessed area. But this style creates the illusion of two doors with its double recessed looked. This design is good for contemporary or minimalist kitchens.

Cape Cod

The Cape Cod style has a small flat border like the recessed style but the area within the border is made up of small plank-like pieces of wood. This gives the kitchen a very homemade or craftsman feel. This style is great for the rustic and do-it-yourself look.

Arch Kitchen Door Type

Arch Style

Arch

Arch is very reminiscent of the Greek architecture style with a rounded border at the top of the cabinet instead of a square border. This classic style is simple but very elegant.

Standard Overlay

This overlay allows you to see around the cabinets and drawers giving it a “framed” look when compared to the cabinet housing and other doors and drawers. They don’t completely cover the cabinet housing so that you are still able to see it in-between the cabinets and drawers. This is a more traditional look than the full overlay.

Full Overlay

The full overlay makes the cabinets and drawers hide the cabinet housing and make a more streamlined look. The overlay covers so much of the underlying housing that it appears that the “box” is made up of nothing but cabinets and drawers without a frame. This look is more minimalistic and contemporary in style than its standard brethren.