One of the biggest expenses in your kitchen renovation will be the cabinets. There are so many suppliers, all offering different materials, construction, and cool features… how do you decide?
\nIt’s important to compare apples to apples, so here is a primer on cabinet materials and construction and some of the elements that affect the quality and price.
\n \nMaterials
\nWhat are the cabinet interiors made of?
\nThe majority of cabinets are made of melamine, which is most often white. Many manufacturers also offer a maple melamine interior which looks like wood and usually costs slightly more. Melamine is durable and easy to clean and, in my experience, is suitable for most kitchens. Another option offered by higher end cabinet companies is a plywood interior, which will cost substantially more.
\nWhat are the exteriors of the cabinets made of?
\nTraditionally, cabinet exteriors were made of wood, often oak or maple, but there are now so many more options! Painted cabinets continue to be popular, not just in traditional white but also in various colors, especially shades of grey, blue, and green.
\nOak has made a big comeback in recent years, but not your parents’ 1980s honey oak! Rift cut white oak has a softer, more refined look and is currently one of the most popular wood species. Walnut is also a classic and beautiful wood.
\nIn recent years, prefinished materials such as thermally-fused laminates have surged in popularity. Because they do not require finishing (for example, painting or staining) the price point is usually lower. Manufacturers have really honed the quality of these materials and tuned in to popular trends. Unlike the “fake wood” of old, the new materials do a much better job of mimicking real wood both in texture and color. Solid colors are available in popular hues with soft matte finishes.
\nFinally, what are the drawers made of?
\nLike the cabinet boxes, the most common material for drawers is melamine. Other options include plywood, solid wood, and metal. Again, you will pay a premium for wood. The cost of metal drawers varies depending on the system used. And if you really want to impress your guests, you can get drawers with specialty sides like glass, or acrylic with pressed leaves (yes, really)!
\nConstruction
\nThe majority of cabinets sold in Canada today are frameless, European-style cabinets. These are the type with the hidden hinges and full-access interiors, where the doors completely cover the cabinet box (vs. the style more common in the 80’s with a frame around the outside and down the middle, often with exposed hinges). Many cabinets imported from the US still use the framed construction, and in some cases people prefer it if they have an older home and want the cabinets to reflect a more traditional aesthetic. The base price of framed cabinets is typically more than frameless.
\nDrawer boxes can also be made in different ways. Expect to pay more for the high-end look of traditional dovetail construction, or modern drawers made of unique materials.
\nFinally, the construction of the door and drawer faces will affect the cost of the cabinetry. A plain, flat (slab) door is the least expensive. MDF can be machine-routered with various designs, which will increase the cost. Five-piece doors (four frame pieces plus a panel) require more time to cut and build, so are the most expensive door construction.
\nHardware
\nHardware refers to the hinges, slides, and other opening mechanisms.
\nFull-extension soft-closing drawer slides are pretty much standard these days, as are soft-close hinges. Higher-end cabinets will have better-quality European hardware, whereas lower-quality cabinets use inexpensive hardware produced in Asia.
\nBesides slides and hinges, there are now so many more opening mechanisms available – lift-up doors, pocket doors, and sliding barn doors. Just know that all this fancy hardware will up the cost of the cabinets.
\nBells and Whistles
\nDo you want to add some decorative flourishes like crown moulding or glass doors? How about storage accessories like a pullout garbage, cutlery and knife drawer, or spice pullout? Maybe some undercabinet or interior lighting? All these items will add to the uniqueness of the cabinets, but know that they will also add to the price.
\nPersonalization
\nThis is where you can put your personal touch on things, and where you will really see a difference between inexpensive and high-end custom cabinets.
\nCan you pick any color you want? Can you adjust the sizes of the cabinets to best fit the space? How many storage accessories are available? How many door styles are available? Can they build the cabinets to fit your collection of sports memorabilia?
\nHow to Decide
\nPeople will argue which types of cabinets are “better,” but what you need to decide is what is important to YOU and what best meets your needs.
\nWhat is your budget? If you have just bought your first home and want to do a few updates for a minimal investment, look for modular cabinets that you can put together yourself. Give preference to prefinished materials for the exterior, and forego the bells and whistles.
\nWhat if you are buying a house in a higher-end neighborhood that you plan to sell in the next few years, but want to make a few updates in order to increase the future asking price? Then focus on neutral, popular styles, and simple materials and construction that won’t break the bank. This is not the time to put your personal touch on things or pay for upgrades like solid wood drawers.
\nOn the other hand, if you are building your dream home in the inner city and plan to stay for decades, then by all means spend your money on your biggest wish list items! Electric drawers that open at the touch of your hand – why not? Voice-operated cabinets (“Alexa, open the garbage!”)? Yes please! Glossy fire-engine red cabinets? Oh boy!
\nToday’s cabinets can meet any budget, from beer to champagne. Just remember that a Bud Light is not the same as a Stella Artois, and Baby Duck is not the same as Dom Pérignon.
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Jolanda has been designing cabinets for 20 years. She and her husband started their own cabinet company, Casa Flores, in 2006 and continue to build quality, locally-made cabinetry in their Calgary shop.
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