Kitchen Cabinet Box Styles

At first glance, cabinets often appear to us as a set of doors. People rarely stop to think about what else cabinets consist of, when in fact there happens to be a lot more going on behind those lovely decorated doors. The structure to which the doors are attached is the main component of kitchen cabinets. Without that structure, cabinets would have no function at all.

The structure of cabinets can be broken down into two main styles, framed construction and frameless construction. Each style represents a completely unique way of constructing the cabinet. Not to mention, the overall appearance and functionality is distinguished as well.

• Framed Construction: Often considered the traditional framed cabinet. It consists of a front frame with rails and stiles around the cabinet opening. The door is attached to this frame. They are easier to install compared to frameless cabinets. Glue, staples and dowel and screw construction are typically used in the construction of framed cabinets.
• Frameless Construction: This particular style is also referred to as European-style cabinets. It consists of a box without a front frame. This makes for a more contemporary style. Also, there are no rails or stiles blocking the way so access is made easy. Special hardware fittings are used to attach the door and pin and dowel is used in the construction.

Aside from the outside frame, the actual box undergoes its own construction. During its construction, special attention must be given to the kitchens frequent moisture changes. Due to these changes in moisture levels, the box must be made from a material that can adjust well. It is rarely made from solid wood because wood tends to warp under such exposure. Instead, it is typically made from plywood, particleboard or furniture-grade flakeboard, or medium density fiberboard. These wood by-products and synthetic additives are used because they are extremely sturdy and warp resistant.

Floating panels are another feature created to allow for humidity. The term “floating” is used to describe this type of panel because it literally floats between wooden grooves instead of being glued down. This allows the panel to move freely and adjust to the moisture changes frequently received in the kitchen.

The cabinet doors are typically made from a different material then the box they are attached to. In fact, solid wood is commonly used in the doors, such as hickory or maple. The warp factor can be resolved by using multiple strips of the wood in a variety of sizes. This gives the door more flexibility under humid conditions.

Although there are often several different materials used in the construction of kitchen cabinets, much can be done to unify the overall appearance. For a consistent look, a veneer can be added to the sides of the box to match the door and the same finish can be applied to both. Unless, however, a more contrasted look is desired in which you can use two different tones.

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