Cabinets

Planning for a kitchen renovation is an arduous process. Not only it is time consuming and challenging, it all requires you to spend money that may sometimes exceed your expected budget. Proper planning and correct choices of all the elements necessary for the new kitchen are important in order to come up with a kitchen that is at par with your imagination and expectations.

Choosing the cabinet style is one of the most important decisions you have to make during the planning phase of your kitchen renovation. After seeing stacks of cabinets in the home center's kitchen and bath department, don't you just feel intimated and perplexed? How do you choose which cabinet style you want, something that will both match your budget and style?

Some knowledge about how cabinets are constructed may help you come up with the best decision. Kitchen cabinets can be divided into two main types. These are the framed and frameless cabinets.

Basically, framed cabinets are boxes with face frames where doors and drawers are attached. Generally, framed cabinets offer a more traditional look. If your choice is more towards the traditional style, you may choose framed cabinets. The building materials, drawer styles, doors and hardware used, can influence the overall look of the cabinets. Framed cabinets start out as boxes afterwards face frames are installed to the front. This is how cabinets are done traditionally for centuries. The frames are used to strengthen the box and keep the cabinet square. These are usually made slightly wider than the cabinets. Once two cabinets are placed together, the frames automatically form a tight seam. Since framed cabinets are stable, you can actually get stock cabinets as wide as 48 inches. If you have your cabinets custom-made, you can have these even wider. However, one known disadvantage is that framed cabinets make your box opening smaller. You have to make your rollout shelves narrow so that these can slip through the cabinet frames.

Frameless cabinets on the other hand are cabinets with no frame. The doors and drawers are directly attached to the box. Frameless cabinets are geared toward a more contemporary look. Frameless cabinets are products of newer technology. This is made possible through the use of a hinge that allows you to hang the door directly on the box. Additionally, this type of hinge is strong enough to support wide doors, even as wide as the cabinet, creating a clean undisrupted surface that gives a more modern look to the kitchen. Frameless cabinets provide easier storage because there are no frames that get in the way. Storage is also maximized and rollout shelves can have the entire width of the cabinet. Even though frameless cabinets do not have frames to provide stability, once installed, these become rock solid as they get their strength from each other.

Finally, both framed and frameless cabinets have their own advantages and disadvantages. Be sure to consider these factors. These will help you choose the best cabinet style you will have for your new kitchen.