Kitchen Cabinet Types

November 17, 2010
Choose the best look for your kitchen with this complete cabinet and door style overview.
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Face Frame Cabinets

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Face frame or traditional cabinets are characterized by the frame, or face that masks the raw edges of each cabinet box. Hinges are sometimes visible from the outside. The doors and drawers can be flush fit (they are recessed into the frame of the cabinet), partially inset (doors and drawers are partially inset into the cabinet with a lip on the outer edge), or overlay (doors overlap the face frame.)

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Frameless Cabinets

Laurey W. Glenn

Frameless or European cabinets are a good solution when cabinet space is at a premium. These cabinets have a narrow veneer to cover the raw edges of the divider; this means that the opening is 1 ½-inches wider than a conventional cabinet. Doors and drawers mount directly to the inside of the cabinet and hinges are usually hidden when the doors are closed. Doors and drawers are no more than 1/4-inch apart, so very little of the frame shows.

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Glass Doors

Opt for glass-doored cabinets to give a lighter and more open feel than cabinets with solid doors would.

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Raised Panel Doors

Photographs Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Lisa Powell and Missie Neville Crawford

Raised panel doors and drawers have decorative panel either routed into a door panel or inserted into the frame of a door.

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Flat-Panel Doors

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Flat-panel doors and drawers are characterized by a simple, unadorned slab.

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Unique Materials

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

You can create cabinet door inserts using unique materials like louvered panels, hole caning, patterned tin, or wire grating.

Want More?
See more cabinet ideas in our Kitchen Cabinets video.

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