A:
I am going to buy my kitchen cabinets now,but I don't know what kind of kitchen cabinets should I choose? My primary concerns for my kitchen cabinetry are strength and price.
1. Should I choose plywood cabinetry over pressed wood? Cost to upgrade: $1350
2. Should I choose raised center panels and door frames over recessed panels? Cost to upgrade: $1500.
3. Should I upgrade #2 above to doors that completely cover the cabinets, hiding the rims? Cost to upgrade: an additoinal $1350 over #2.
The cabinetry in question is Maple from Brandom Cabinets.

Q:

A possible economy, if it did not involve the exterior appearance, would be to have the lower cabinets made with plywood, and the uppers with "pressed wood"; this is because the lower cabinets are more likely to be subject to water leakage and/or infiltration, which is much more harmful to those wood products that to plywood (MDF less than particle board, which is a veritable sponge).

The strength of a frame-and-panel door is in the frame. The choice of panel is strictly cosmetic; for contemporary work I prefer the flat, recessed panel.

The "full-overlay" look is usually associated with the frameless cabinet, a European innovation which requires that style of door; it is a more contemporary or "modern" style. Face-frame cabinets can have either full-overlay or separated doors; the latter are less finicky in their adjustment.
So:
1. Spend the $1350
2. Save the $1500
3. Your choice, but I'd save the $1350 unless you really prefer the full-overlay look.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites