Custom Cabinets – The Devil is in the Details

We’ve all heard the saying, “the devil is in the details.” And that couldn’t be truer when it comes to custom cabinets.

Stock cabinetry is built to standard sizes and often has limited choices in wood types and door styles. But a design expert can help you make the right choices for your home.
Solid wood

Solid wood cabinets offer a rich, warm aesthetic. However, they’re also pricier than other materials. They can withstand moisture and temperature changes, which is important for kitchen cabinets. Solid wood also resists warping, which is a problem with some engineered woods such as particleboard.

Brighton Cabinetry offers several solid wood options, including red oak, cherry, maple, walnut, red birch, rustic alder, and hickory. They can be stained or painted, and they come in a variety of grain patterns: reverse slip match, pleasing mix, and random mix.

Hard maple is a fine-grained, light color hardwood that takes stains well. It’s a popular choice for light contemporary and farmhouse styles. Cherry is a durable, sturdy wood that has a natural elegance and works well with many stain colors. It’s also a popular choice for semi-custom and custom cabinets. Birch is a durable, versatile wood that’s slightly more affordable than maple but still has a premium look. Its color is a bit more consistent than maple.
Finishes

Cabinet finishes are a big part of the design process, as they set the tone for the room. Beyond appearance, they also protect the cabinets from daily use & wear.

Choosing paint or stain is a major decision. While paint covers the natural wood, stains slightly darken the color and bring out the grain pattern.

Brushed glazes are another option. These are applied by hand, giving the cabinets an artisanal feel. They add a sophisticated touch, as seen on these Santa Fe style cabinets in maple wood with willow stain and chocolate brushed glaze.

For the best protection & durability, choose a quality topcoat like Conversion Varnish (CV) over lacquer. It is resistant to heat, water, wear, solvents, and acidic cleaners. It has high solids content, which reduces the number of coats needed to build a quality film. It dries fast & is easy to clean. This topcoat is so good, architects rely on it to specify quality custom cabinets and architectural millwork.
Design

The design options for custom cabinets are endless. A quality designer will be able to guide you through the many choices and help resolve any confusion. Cabinet styles can range from modern farmhouse to urban industrial and traditional. They will also offer a variety of decorative elements such as raised or flat panels, glass doors with or without grids, a hood that’s metal or wood, and more.

Cabinet materials include solid hardwood, high-density fiberboard (HDF), medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood. Solid hardwood is the strongest option and can be stained or painted, whereas HDF and MDF are engineered wood products that utilize different kinds of softwood and hardwood veneers glued together.

The number and spacing of cabinet shelves is another area where customization options are available. Custom designed shelves can be built to fit specific storage needs such as storing beauty equipment in the bathroom or cooking equipment in the kitchen. These designs can add to the functionality of the space as well as create a more refined look.
Installation

Custom cabinets are a great investment that provide a luxury look and feel for your home. Your Holland’s Design Consultant will help you create a plan that works with your existing duct work, plumbing, electrical, and beams. They will also consider aesthetics and flow with adjoining spaces. They’ll also account for obstacles like doorways, windows, and other architectural features.

Expert cabinet makers take accurate onsite measurements and use state of the art technology to ensure precision cuts and designs. Once the cabinet parts are cut, skilled craftspeople assemble them by hand. They will then finish them with your choice of paint, stain or glaze. A quality finish is key to a beautiful finish that stands up to time. The finishing process also includes adding hardware. Cabinets can be built with either framed or frameless construction. The face framed design is more traditional and the frameless box design offers more space in the cabinet interior.