Cabinet Box

Basically, there are two types of modular cabinet box construction. Face Framed and Frameless. The frameless (also called euro style) is constructed so that the cabinet door hinges are attached directly to the side wall of the cabinet box. The doors and drawer fronts are almost touching each other. When the complete kitchen has been installed, you will see very little cabinet box….only doors and drawers showing from the front. This gives a clean contemporary look. Frameless cabinets can be found at the lowest end of the scale and the ultra high end.

The majority of the cabinets sold here use a framed or traditional box. A lighter gauge box is used but has an added face frame attached for looks and to hold the cabinet “square”. The cabinet door is hinged on the face frame rather than the side panel of the box. This allows a slightly smaller door while still showing a finished face. When looking at a completed kitchen using framed cabinets, you may notice a busier, more intricate look. A popular trend today is to use a “full overlay” door on a face framed box to get the
“Contemporary” look along with the framed sturdiness and reliability.

Because of the changes in the average kitchen’s humidity levels, the box is usually made from a material that can “breath” or adjusts with temperature and moisture changes. Rarely made from solid wood as larger wood spans tend to warp. The “carcass” is typically made from plywood, particleboard, flake board, or fiberboard. These “Engineered Woods” are used because they are extremely sturdy and warp resistant.