Cabinetry is built-in furniture installed in many kitchens for storage of food, cookware and table service items. It also houses appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers and ovens. Kitchen cabinets are available in a wide range of styles, colors and materials, including wood, plastic and metal. They can be painted, stained or glazed to enhance or alter the appearance. Cabinets may be face-framed or frameless, and doors can be hinged or sliding. Hardware and countertops complete the cabinetry.
The design of the kitchen is influenced by the cabinetry and the overall layout of the room. The layout is based on the work triangle, an efficient arrangement of cabinets and workspaces that makes it easy for the cook to move between tasks without losing track of what’s in or out of the oven. The layout is also influenced by the type of cooking being done and the space available in the kitchen.
Kitchen cabinets are constructed in the factory, boxed and shipped ready for installation. This approach offers the consumer a wide variety of options, but is more costly than custom cabinets. The quality of the cabinets depends on the construction method and materials used. The most durable cabinets try this feature solid hardwood drawer boxes with dovetail joints and heavy plywood bottoms. Lesser quality cabinets use butt or rabbet joints and particle board drawer bottoms.
To achieve a specific aesthetic, cabinetry can be distressed to produce a weathered or aged look. Techniques include exposing nail holes, rasping and dings as well as sanding through the layers of finish unevenly. The result is a rustic, old-world or country style kitchen.
While the work triangle is the most common cabinet layout, a parallel wall layout is ideal for a single cook. This layout features two walls parallel to each other in which cabinets and appliances oppose each other, creating an easy workflow. It’s commonly used in a galley kitchen and can also be applied to smaller rooms.
The back of the cabinet affects its durability and ease of installation. The best quality cabinets feature a 3/8-inch or thicker plywood back panel. Other less expensive methods use thin panels, metal hangs rails and brackets or picture-frame construction. The choice of back construction affects the cost, but should be based on the expected durability and stability in your kitchen.
Drawers and trays in lower cabinets are an important kitchen storage element for avoiding uncomfortable or painful crouching to access items. However, if the cabinet is face-frame construction, the drawer or tray must clear the face-frame stiles. This reduces the interior cabinet volume by about 2 inches. A solution is to opt for a frameless cabinet with drawers and trays sized close to the inside opening of the cabinet.
A wide selection of hardware is available for kitchen cabinets to add a finishing touch to the cabinetry and to provide additional functionality. There are knobs, pulls and handles in a variety of finishes and materials to match the decor. Some types of hardware are brushed bronze, polished chrome, satin nickel or antique brass.
Kitchen Cabinetry of Orlando
5036 Dr Phillips Blvd.,Unit #5208
Orlando, FL 32819
321-332-6882