Insider's Guide to Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are the focal point of your kitchen. Choosing the right cabinet can make or break the look you are trying to achieve. So, where do you begin? With a bewildering number of choices and options, here are some considerations.

Not all cabinets are created equal!
 
Cabinets fit into three broad categories, stock, semi-custom and custom.
 
Each type has its strengths and limitations, and here are a few:

1. Stock:
   1. quick delivery,
   2. standard sizes and colors, little customization or inserts available,
   3. good for investment properties, multi-family and budget residential,
   4. many are cheaply made overseas and today are more expensive than American-made ones, due to current tariffs,
   5. contemporary-style doors may be laminated paper on MDF, not wood veneer on MDF, or a solid wood slab door,
   6. sides may be particleboard/laminated wood grain veneer, not plywood,
   7. doors are usually painted (some with standard highlight or glaze) or finished soft hardwoods like poplar or birch.
2. Semi-custom:
   1. turnaround is about 4-12 weeks,
   2. more options for finishes and box sizes, interior fittings/accessories, moldings,
   3. some will match painted cabinets to national brands, such as Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paints,
   4.  wood species are typically maple, hickory, quarter sawn or plain sawn oak, cherry,
   5. can be painted, glazed; contemporary doors feature thermofused melamine board or wood veneer over MDF,
   6. used in high-end multi-family or mid-range residential.
3. Custom:
   1. turnaround time could be 12 weeks or more,
   2. custom door designs, wide variety of interior fittings, custom moldings,
   3.  custom/exclusive paint matching,
   4. plywood box, not particle board,
   5. widest wood species availability: walnut, exotics, eucalyptus, plus the species noted above,
   6. used in high-end residential client who desires a fully unique look.

 
The bottom line – regardless of the cabinet level you choose, make sure your purchase meets industry standards, so you enjoy maximum durability, beauty and return on your investment.

How KCMA Separates the Good from the Bad
 
Confirm that the cabinets you intend to buy meet standards established by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMS).  Look for a KCMA label on the inside of a stock or semi-stock cabinet door.  Ask custom cabinet manufacturers if they meet KCMA standards.
 
Established in 1955, KCMA is the recognized education and research leader in the cabinet industry.
 
The KCMA has a five-point durability test all cabinets must meet to earn the KCMA stamp of approval. The tests measure cabinet/shelf strength, drawer slide and hinge durability, finish stability, and the ability to withstand temperature changes and high heat.
 
There are three weight tests that measure the strength of cabinet shelves, joint integrity, wall cabinet load bearing capacity, and a cabinet bottom’s ability to sustain common kitchen impacts, such as dropped cans.

How Cabinetry Addresses Sustainability and Safety
 
In recent years manufacturers and interior designers have worked together to develop products with an eye on sustainability and safety guided by the Environmental Stewardship Committee Certification (ESC).
 
Established in 2006, cabinet producers meet standards for manufacturing: 

1. Low formaldehyde-emitting components
2. Product provenance from sustainable forestry programs
3. Energy conservation, active recycling of post-industrial products

The Formaldehyde Question…
 
Designers get a lot of questions about the relative safety of formaldehyde a naturally occurring substance in plywood, an integral product in cabinet making.  Its effect on health is still being hotly debated, however, here are some important issues you need to be aware of when dealing with wood products:

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen.
• Since 2013, all pressed wood sold in US must be California Air Resources Board (CARB) compliant. CARB emission standards are world’s lowest
• Most formaldehyde off-gassing dissipates over two years’ time

Final Thoughts
 
Keep in mind that out of your estimated budget for kitchen remodeling, typically 30% -40% of your budget will be allocated to the kitchen cabinets Although bargains are possible, short-term cost savings may mean you sacrifice the quality and service you deserve in the long run.
 
Whichever approach you choose, it’s important to consult an experienced kitchen design professional like Lyons-Archer. We can guide you through issues of Sustainability / Safety, Quality, Style and Savings to ensure you create the kitchen of your dreams.

As Lyons-Archer Kitchen and Interior Design celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, I am proud to have created a design firm that offer a unique, curated kitchen design experience. I carry River Run stock cabinetry, Prodigy and Woodland semi-stock cabinetry, and Prevo custom cabinetry, so I can provide an individualized design, purchase and specification process for the discerning client.
 
Please contact me for other services, including bathroom and office design, space planning, couture draperies, window coverings and upholstery.  I can be reached at [email protected], or at 215-860-5059!

Prodigy Cabinetry
Prodigy Cabinetry which is carried by Lyons-Archer incorporates ¾” plywood cabinet boxes; its durable door offerings include textured thermo-fused melamine board over MDF. The slab door shown here is Syncron, Ice Cream Shown.

Solid wood slab door
Here’s an example of a solid wood slab door from Woodland Cabinetry, which I represent. This particular door is made from solid alder, and highlights the beautiful gentle graining that species provides. It is available in cherry, maple, oak and hickory in a variety of stains, paint colors and glazes.

Custom Kitchen
This Prevo kitchen is currently underway in a 100-year-old Cape Cod home. With Prevo, I completely customized the cabinetry to meet the home’s special dimensional needs.  I also was able to meet the client’s specifications for particular Benjamin Moore colors to match a favorite painting.