 There
are four major components to a cabinet to be considered;
the box, shelves, doors and drawers.
The box should be of sturdy construction. They come
in the American framed design or the European unframed structure, where the doors and drawers slide directly
into the cabinet. Both designs are worthy of consideration,
the advantage of frameless being that it allows for
more useable space since there is no need for allowance
for the width of the frame.
Although some designers have created backless cabinets,
these are not recommended, as the back provides a
great deal of the cabinet's structural reliability.
Shelves, Doors, and Drawers
Shelves should be at least 5/8 in. thick to handle
heavy loads. Adjustable shelves should be held firmly
in place by sturdy brackets. Easily adjustable shelf
clips maximize the use of storage space and roll-out
shelves are a blessing in lower cabinets.
Door hinges are another concern. Hidden hinges make a cabinet look clean and uncluttered. You should
examine the hinges and catch mechanisms to ensure
that they are well made and they work without bending.
Hinges with a clip-on principle make door installation
and adjustment a breeze. Look for doors that close
automatically when within 2 or 3 inches of the cabinet.
This will help in avoiding accidents with partially
opened doors. As well, check to see the degree
to which the door opens: it should open 90 to 180
degree. Bumpers at the bottom of the doors will help
preserve the cabinet frame.  When examining drawers, ensure that they slide smoothly and close quietly and solidly. The drawer should be
double doweled or dovetailed rather than stapled or
glued. The glide system for the drawer should have
a stop mechanism to prevent falling and causing injury.
They should be rated to hold 75 lbs. Full-depth drawers
are a sign of quality and should be looked for when
making a choice.
The finish on the cabinet also merits attention.
Check the quality of the finish by rubbing your hand
lightly up and down the door panels. Any roughness
or difference in texture can be a sign of a bad finish;
also, you should not be able to see or feel seams.
The interior finish of the cabinet should equal the
exterior finish and should be an easily cleaned surface. Moldings are an easy way to give a custom look
to your cabinets. Under cabinet lighting, adjustable
pan rack dividers and a lazy susan are other things
to consider. Also, you can customize your cabinets
with decorative hardware. When making your final choice, remember these items:
classic design, careful craftsmanship, durable function,
and quality materials.
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