Modern frameless kitchen cabinets are frequently the most prominent ornamental component in a kitchen, displaying the homeowner’s design aesthetic and serving as a backdrop for gatherings with family and friends. Consider the variety of kitchen cabinet alternatives to pick one that meets your taste, budget, and DIY skills, whether starting from scratch or upgrading your existing kitchen.
What Factors Should You Consider When Purchasing Kitchen Cabinets?
Kitchen cabinets are classified into stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets, the least priced and frequently the lowest quality option, are offered in limited sizes and combinations. The most common form, semi-custom cabinets, come in various sizes, configurations, finishes, and colors. Custom cabinets have virtually limitless possibilities because they are created and produced to the homeowner’s specifications.
Here are some things to consider:
● Frameless cabinets offer more storage space and accessibility than framed cabinets, as there is no center stile or rail to block the opening.
● Frameless cabinets are usually more expensive and less sturdy than framed ones, requiring thicker and more robust materials to support the hinges and drawers.
● Frameless cabinets may need more maintenance and adjustment, as the hinges can loosen over time and cause the doors to sag or rub.
● Frameless cabinets have less variety in styles and materials, as they are mostly suited for contemporary or transitional designs.
What Is the Definition of Frameless Kitchen Cabinets?
Modern frameless kitchen cabinets epitomize the concept of less is more. They’re simple and stylish, appealing to minimalists looking for a luxury look. They are named frameless because they are created without a face frame on the front of the cabinets.
Frameless vs. Framed Cabinets
Framed cabinets have always been manufactured and preferred in the United States. They have a 1.5-inch face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box, and the doors are mounted on top of it. When the doors are closed, they rest on the 2-inch stile in the cabinet’s center.
Frameless cabinets, however, do not have a face frame. Instead, the doors are attached to the cabinet box directly.
Kitchen Cabinet Material Types
The choice of cabinet material—plywood, MDF, or particleboard—influences the cost and long-term performance of the cabinets.
● Plywood: Cabinet-grade multi-layer plywood makes the highest quality kitchen cabinets. Plywood cabinets are more durable, easier to install, and lighter in weight than MDF or particleboard cabinets. While more expensive, plywood cabinets are an excellent choice if you plan to stay home for a long time.
● MDF: Medium-density fiberboard cabinets are environmentally friendly since they employ fibrous leftovers of wood milling. Because MDF does not accept paint well, it is frequently faced with laminate or thermofoil.
● Particle board: The least expensive material for kitchen cabinet boxes, particle board fractures readily and expands and contracts with environmental changes. However, particle board cabinets are an excellent alternative for short-term residences, cabins, or rentals because they are affordable.
Installation of kitchen cabinets/DIY friendliness
While most novice DIYers can reface and refinish cabinets and install dowels and pocket screws, other cabinet projects necessitate woodworking abilities, such as mortise-and-tenon joint fitting. Because mortise-and-tenon joints are the most robust technique to attach wood, cabinetmakers frequently employ them on all stiles and rails for cabinet doors. Slab cabinets and kitchen doors are the simplest to construct since they are created from a single piece of wood.
Are you thinking about refacing your current cabinets? Refacing is a do-it-yourself project. Material and build quality vary in cabinet box construction. Aside from that, a cabinet box is a cabinet box.
Conclusion
If you intend to install the cabinets yourself, remember that frameless cabinets are generally more challenging than framed ones. This is because any flaws will be visible. This makes it more challenging to install them on uneven walls, which is common in older homes. In these cases, hiring a cabinet installation business may be advantageous.
