Styles

This cheat sheet features some of the most enduring cabinetry types. Featured doors: DeWils Industries,
available at EMEE Kitchens & Baths and HPM Building Supply. For a complete list of local dealers, visit
dewils.com/dealer.
Photos: Courtesy of DeWils Industries

Modern or Contemporary

“These are typically flat-panel doors. The style is very clean and creates a simplistic, contemporary-to-modern look, depending on the details and style of the kitchen,” Cowan says. “The doors consist of an MDF (medium-density fiberboard) core as the base with wood veneer applied to make them look like solid-wood doors. Other finishes are numerous, such as metal and solid laminates, glass, paint ... the designs are endless.”

Traditional

“These are typically your raised-panel door styles,” Cowan says. Traditional cabinetry features intricate detail, often in the form of several edges constructed around a raised-center panel. Traditional cabinetry is both balanced and ornate.

MISSION

Mission cabinetry is a form of transitional style. “It is a bridge between the traditional craftsman look and contemporary,” says Brianne Wilson of DeWils Industries. “It's a good choice for people who don't veer too strong in either direction.”

TRANSITIONAL

Transitional cabinetry “is the blending of contemporary details with traditional styles,” Cowan says. “A traditional door style is selected but married with modern or contemporary details ... Transitional style is also what we call plantation style. The traditional details are apparent, but minimized or simplified.”

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Bonus Tips

Keep them up.

“I strongly urge people to look for cabinet boxes that are on legs,” Anderson says. “That way, you can protect your cabinets from flooding.”

Get cabinetry that comes with a warranty.

“The simplest warranty is one-year for parts, hardware and finishes for normal wear and tear,” Cowan says. They go up from there: five-year, 10-year and limited-lifetime. “Ask your cabinet supplier what his or her cabinet lines offer and what the warranty covers.”

Check credentials.

“Look for a KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association) certification,” Cook says. “This means your cabinet has been tested for quality in materials and workmanship.”

Look for puzzle pieces.

“If you are going to get wood boxes, do not get ones that are screwed or stapled when they’re fitted together,” Anderson says. “Get dove-tailed materials, fitted like puzzle pieces.”

Open the drawers and flip them upside-down.

Some of the best details are hidden in construction. Check all angles to ensure you're getting a well-built product. "Pull out the drawer and turn it upside-down to check the quality of workmanship," Cook advises.

Treat your solid wood.

Solid-wood cabinetry should be treated using a heavy clear coating (usually polyurethane-based). Also, don't go for painted-wood cabinetry. “Because wood expands and contracts with humidity changes and paint does not, the paint will crack,” explains Anderson. Stick with stained-wood cabinetry instead.