Kitchen and Bath Cabinetry – Materials and Finishes

Cabinetry can be constructed in a wide variety of materials such as wood, metal, laminate and melamine and come in many different finishes.

Wood is probably the most common material for kitchen and bath cabinets. There are many species of wood as well as finishes to choose from.

Painted Wood

source: Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

Painted wood cabinets are typically made from a combination of either maple or poplar and MDF, all of which are hard woods that are nick and dent resistant and they paint up well. Painted cabinets can be painted any color, not just white and typically are finished in a semi gloss sheen.

There are also some specialty paint finishes that create more stylized and rich looks. Keep in mind, these specialty finishes will cost more than a standard paint finish because they require multiple steps to create.

Some of the more popular specialty painted finishes include the following.

Glazing source: Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

A glazed cabinet finish consists of a thin coat of sheer color over a base paint color. Often the glaze is brushed on then wiped off with a rag. Glazing works best on doors with more detailing such as raised panel doors because the glaze can settle into the grooves highlighting the moldings and features of the door. Glazed finishes give an antiqued or old-world feel.

Crackling source: Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

A crackle finish is created by applying a crackling liquid over a base coat of paint and then applying another coat of paint, usually in another color, after the crackle coat has cured. Crackling gives an aged, weathered look great for a country or rustic kitchen or bath.

Worn Paint source: Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

A worn or rubbed paint finish is created by sanding through a top layer of paint to expose the natural wood beneath. To give the appearance of a naturally worn look, more attention is given to corners, edges and around knobs and pulls. This look is great for a vintage or country look on yourcabinetry.

All paint finishes will require a top coat to protect them from water, chips and scratches. The most durable top coats include catalyzed lacquers and conversion varnishes which do a much better job protecting the surface of wood.

Natural Wood

source: Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

If you like the look of natural wood cabinets, the first thing you will need to do is pick a species of wood. There are a variety of wood species that are used for cabinetry. The most popular species are maple, cherry, and oak but there are many more species to choose from like, alder, walnut, birch, hickory and even bamboo.

source: Gemmill Custom Cabinets

Each species has it’s own characteristics such as color and grain pattern. Here are some descriptions of some of the more popular woods.

• Maple - A strong hardwood that can be used in both tradtional and contemporary designs. The color range of maple is on the lighter side with colors in the cream, tan and yellow hues. The grain pattern of maple is usually tight, uniform and straight but can also include curly or wavy patterns.

• Oak - Oak is a very durable wood with a heavy open grain and distinctive patterning. There are two types – white oak and red oak. White oak comes in cream to gray-brown hues while red oak has more cream to warm brown tones.

• Cherry - Cherry is known for its rich red brown color that darkens over time. It has a relatively straight grain pattern but depending on the way its cut can produce more unique figuring and patterning. It has a very uniform, satin-like texture which allows it to take finishes very well.

• Alder - Alder has no distinct grain pattern but has a consistenly smooth texture and takes stain very well, making it one of the most common woods used in furniture and cabinetry.

• Birch - The most common type of birch used for cabinetry is yellow birch. It’s a strong, hardwood that takes both paint and stain very well. It is fine grained and even textures and comes in hues of cream and yellow. Like maple, the grains can sometimes be curly or wavy too.

• Poplar - Poplar is a strong, durable wood that is resistant to warping. It is straight grained and even textured and takes both stain and paint extremely well.

Once you’ve selected the type of wood you want to use, you will need to select a finish. Wood cabinets can be finished with a clear finish allowing the natural color and grain to shine through, or they can be stained. Staining adds a sheer coat of color, enhancing the color and grain of the natural wood. Like painted cabinets, wood cabinets can also be glazed, where a layer of sheer color is applied over either a clear coat or a stain coat and then lightly wiped away. Glazing wood cabinets creates a depth and richness that lends itself to more tradtional styles.

Specialty Wood Veneers

source: Midland Cabinet

Wood veneer is a thin sheet of wood that is cut or sliced from a log. It is then layed up on plywood and used for doors and drawers front. Veneers come in many wood species and, depending on how they are cut and laid up, they have very distinctive patterning. Columbia Forest Products has a great guide to hardwood veneers that explains the different cuts and pattern that veneers come in.

Stainless Steel

source: Professional Kitchens

Stainless steel cabinets are gaining in popularity and mimic the look of high-end, stylish commercial kitchens. They have advantages over traditional wood kitchen cabinets because they are more durable and longer-lasting than wood. They are not affected by humidity or subject to warping like wood and they do not require repainting or refinishing. However, just like stainless appliances, stainless cabinets will show finger prints and scratches although powder coated stainless resists these better. Stainless steel cabinets are more likely to be used in modern or contemporary spaces than in traditional designs.

Laminate/ Melamine

source: MotherGuide.net

Laminates and melamines are durable, stain resistant and very affordable, making them an excellent choice for laundry rooms and garages. They are available in mutiple colors and also in simulated wood patterns. The downside is that door and drawer styles are extremely limited and they can chip or peel over time.

Thermofoil

source: Kitchens Cabinet

Thermofoil is a thin layer of vinyl molded to an MDF door through the use of heat and pressure. Thermofoil cabinetry is basically maintenance free and very affordable. It comes in a variety of colors and door styles.