Inexpensive Kitchen Renovations: The Possibilities of Custom Cabinet Doors
By Leslie A.M.RefacingCabinet.com Columnist
Ordering custom cabinet doors provides the ultimate flexibility to achieve your custom kitchen look.
A Small Kitchen Tune Up for a Major Change
Replacing custom cabinet doors qualifies as a kitchen tune-up for two reasons: No demolition and no specialized skill required. But this relatively "little" project can bring a whole new look to your kitchen.
Custom Cabinet Doors: Variety Abounds!
First of all, you get to choose the material that your custom cabinet doors are made from--maple cabinets, cherry cabinets, MDF (medium density fiberboard), or something else. If the wood you want is different from your existing cabinet boxes, match them to the custom cabinet doors by refacing the boxes with veneer.
The door and drawer fronts you prefer are completely your choice. You can select raised-panel, flat-panel, an arch-style inset, mitered trim, and so on.
Your Custom Kitchen Look Hinges on Style
How your custom cabinet doors swing open is your choice, too. They can hang on unique hinges depending on your preferred look. Three common options are:
- Overlay Doors. These doors sit on the outside of the cabinet frame and the full thickness of the wood protrudes from the cabinet boxes. These can work to your advantage if you want to hide the frames.
- Partial Inset. A portion of these cabinet doors sit inside the frame of the cabinets. There is a notch on the inside of the door where it meets the frame.
- Full Inset. These cabinet doors lie flat and even with the frame.
Measuring methods depend on your choice of cabinet door. Ask a home center professional about appropriate hinges for your doors.
Enjoy your custom kitchen look that saved you time and money.
About The Author
Leslie A.M. Smith lives in a 1929 house in Long Beach, California. When she isn't fixing things and redecorating, she is a freelance writer and public relations consultant.
