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What does inset mean exactly and why is it so popular? Well inset kitchen cabinets very literally mean the door in built inside (or inset) into the cabinet frame. This is rather than the door being applied on top of the frame or 'overlay'.
Inset kitchen cabinets are available in a variety of finishes and styles, just as overlay cabinets are. Although they are beautiful, there are a few things to consider when selecting inset cabinets for your kitchen or bathroom.
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Is your house well climate controlled? Since wood naturally expands and contracts with the seasons, this can be an important consideration. A climate controlled environment with low humidity is the best location to use inset kitchen cabinets to prevent wood swelling which could cause the door to rub on the frame.
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Are you up to the task of adjusting your doors as needed? This goes hand in hand with the above mentioned discussion of a climate controlled environment. Inevitably, some wood expansion is bound to happen. When it does, this may require you to adjust your cabinet doors slightly to prevent rubbing. This is very simple to do on a concealed hinge as a few minor twists of a screw and the hinges are built to adjust the door in 3 different directions.
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Do you prefer exposed hinges or concealed soft-close hinges? Both options have their benefits. The concealed hinge offers more adjustability and the soft-close (or kid- friendly-anti-slam) feature and, of course, is not visible while the doors are closed. They do, however, take up more space within the cabinet. While the exposed finial hinges are available in a wide variety of finishes and add a ton of character to your space, but are not adjustable or available with the soft-close feature.
To bead or not to bead?
A beaded faceframe adds even more detail to an inst cabinet. This is really all personal preference as it does not effect the integrity of the cabinet whatsoever. It is one more area to clean and it may look better with some door styles than others.
Flush frame Rocheport inset door on Lyptus
with Slate and a Chocolate Glaze by StarMark
Beaded frame Knottingham inset door on Rustic Alder
with a Natural stain and Chocolate Glaze by StarMark
Even though inset cabinets may be a bit high maintenance, they can make a huge statement and be a beautiful focal point. They offer a more refined 'furniture' like finish to your space and can make it feel more custom since inset cabinets are built to fit your unique space perfectly.
We offer multiple custom cabinet lines that offer inset cabinetry, so if this is something you're interested, please speak with a Click Cabinets representative for more details.
So you've shopped around, you love a flat panel style door, but you don't like the idea of a thin veneer center panel. But, that's the only option right? Wrong!
Check out this video to understand what a Reverse Raised Solid Wood Center Panel is all about.
'Why should I care about this?', you ask. Well, unless you don't mind your kitchen having an oh a cool zebra effect in a few years, then by all means. Now, as I mentioned in the video, it's not always a point of concern. For example, if you choose a painted finish or a very dark stain, you are not likely to see any difference in the materials over time. However, if you choose a light cherry or maple, you WILL see a difference. That's not a question or a possibility; it will happen.
Don't believe me? Check out this natural cherry sample that I drove around with on my dashboard of my car for 3 days - 3 DAYS! Half was covered in foil and the other half was exposed. Now, this is an extreme over exaggeration of how cherry will actually age in your home (assuming you don't live in a greenhouse like setting with no walls and all windows). This is also not a veneer and is really it's own blog topic altogether, but I think it demonstrates how much wood can change color and gets my point across perfectly.
Now imagine for a minute if you will, a natural cherry cabinet door with a solid wood frame and a veneer center panel. And fast forward 20 years with mild sun exposure. Given the above photo demonstration, can you imagine how mismatched your cabinets would be???
Alright, I feel like I may be diverting off topic a bit here. Point being, you CAN love a flat panel door and a light color wood at the same time and not have to worry about mismatched coloration over time by purchasing a reverse raised panel door.
Flat Veneer Center Panel vs. Reverse Raised
Here is your typical flat center panel cabinet door with a 1/4" thick veneer center panel. You can see that there are no raised (or thick) panels on this door, indicating that the center panel is a thin veneer.
Here is a reverse raised center panel door. On the front, it is a flat panel style that you may assume to be a thin veneer. However, if you flip the door and look at the back you can actually see the thickness, which allows for the solid wood to be used, has been added to the back side. Essentially, it's a raised panel door built in backwards - brilliant!
Of course, both of my demonstrations above are shown in a painted finish where this, in my opinion, not a concern. So, unless you simply want the added piece of mind knowing you've purchased a thicker door, then it may not be worth the upgrade to you. Also, if this option is not available, it's a dead give away to me that you're not looking at a very high quality brand and may want to keep shopping.
Stay Educated & Happy Cabinet Shopping!
-Krysta-
Royal Sheffield is offering some new neutrals this year and we're in love!
White has been hot for a few years now, but at Click Cabinets, we are seeing the trend swing more to the off white and gray-beige scale. Royal Sheffield has hit the nail on the head! And, of course, who doesn't like a beautiful stain like their Pika? Reminds us of a warm walnut - pure beauty!
They have equally beautiful and calming names as well - Beach House, Colonnade, Elemental White, Meteor, and Pika. All are perfectly named in our opinion. We suspect these will all be a huge hit this year as well as next!
