Some accepted features of high-end kitchen cabinets help when you shop for such cabinets.
What are quality cabinets?
You can define high-end cabinets as a combination of three factors: quality materials, quality workmanship, and unique style.
quality materials
Kitchen cabinets are boxes that are attached to the walls and rest on the floor. So it’s no coincidence that the industry language for this part of the construction is “the box.”
With quality cabinets, the box should not be made of MDF or any other type of pressboard. Good kitchen cabinet boxes can be built from MDF, but the best cabinets are built from plywood and solid wood.
Plywood: The plywood used in quality kitchen cabinets is not the kind found on the bulk shelves at most home centers or lumberyards. Instead, it’s furniture-grade plywood that performs as well or even better than solid wood. The plywood will be in the box, not the doors or other finishing surfaces.
Solid Wood – Solid wood doors and drawer fronts are parred for the course in high-end kitchen cabinets. Cabinets made of solid wood are the best option for their quality.
Melamine Interior – It is often better to line the inside of cabinet boxes with melamine rather than leave them as-is wood. Wood can react with moisture or be stained by food. Melamine is easier to keep dry and clean.
The outside dimensions of the box vary. But inside each box, the recommended thicknesses of the panels are:
• Doors: 3/4″ thick
• Floor Panels: 1/2″ thick
• Ceilings (wall cabinet only): 1/2″ thick
• Back panel (wall cabinet only): 1/2″ thick
