Your Fine Cabinetry: Which Wood Is Right?

Much like the trees from which they came, woods are all unique, with differing characteristics and choosing just the right one for your custom cabinetry can be confusing. Here is some information about the characteristics of different types of woods to help you choose:

Cherry can take on a deep red patina over time, but its natural color ranges from pale yellow to reddish brown. A warm wood, it creates an elegant appearance distinguished by mineral streaks, small pinholes, grain swirls and subtle shadings when it is sometimes called Rustic Cherry.

Maple is a durable smooth wood, has a color range from creamy blonde tones to dark reddish shaded browns, and mellows with age into a rich patina. This wood also features mineral streaks and markings, which shouldn't be considered defects, but assets as they create a unique look.

Hickory is a dense wood that is very durable and known for its dramatic color variations--from pale white to grey to deep red heartwood. With Hickory, no attempt is made to minimize discrepancies. Knots and streaks are part of the charm of this wood.

Alder is a tight and straight grain hardwood, getting more popular each year. Though it dents fairly easily, Alder accepts stain well, thus allowing custom color application. Since it is elastic, it also is good for carving intricate details and is sometimes uses as a substitute for cherry. Knotty Alder has the same characteristics, but is distinguished by knots, knotholes and pin holes, adding character to the wood.

Oak is known for its strength and durability. With a color range from tan to deep reddish brown, Oak takes on a golden glow with age. When finished with a light color stain, grain patterns (ranging from straight to arcs) will be easier to see. Darker stains make the difference in color between the open and closed grain areas more uniform and therefore less detectable. What recommends Oak for cabinetry is its ability to forgive nicks and bumps. Rustic Oak is like the regular wood but has more knots and pinholes.

Mahogany
 is a tropical medium-to-hard wood indigenous to South America, Central America, and Africa. Mahogany’s strength makes it an excellent carving wood. It's stability and resistance to decay makes the wood ideal for cabinetry. Ranging from tan to reddish brown, is may have ribbons, ropes, ripples, stripes or rings.

Lyptus
 is a strong hardwood that has similar graining to Mahogany with a mainly straight grain and occasional “ticking” to give it a distinctive look. As it ages, Lyptus mellows into a rich, deep color.

Pine
 is a light colored wood with brown to black colored knots which turn (with age) into a traditional yellow pin color. This wood is used to create a rustic feel and is often used in cabins and country homes.

Walnut is a rich premium hardwood, prized in North America for high-end cabinetry and furniture. Walnut provides strength, hardness, and durability without excessive weight. It has excellent woodworking qualities and takes finishes well. Walnut is light to dark chocolate-brown in color, with a straight grain in the trunk. It can be found in the United States and Canada, usually appearing as Black Walnut―smooth-grained with a dark brown color. (Lighter sapwood is never used in cabinetry.)

Bamboo is actually a grass that grows like a weed pretty much wherever it is planted, making it a highly sustainable natural resource and a good “green” choice. Bamboo is strong and hard (meaning it can take some punishment) and offers three different grains to add to its unique appeal.

Birch
 is a stiff, close-grained hardwood. It has good shock resistance, but its light color (predominantly a light yellow) and heavy texture makes it used less often in cabinetry.

Exotic Veneers: For those who like a veneer wood door style (considered a contemporary style), many exotic species are available,  such as lacewood, sapele, zebrawood, teak, beech, pearwood, anigre, and limba.

Reconstituted Veneers:  Recent developments in wood technology have given rise to “engineered” wood veneers. Made from real wood, these veneers are reconstituted products that have the grains of different wood species – from the common to the exotic – applied to them. They have all the warmth and character of the rare woods on which they are modeled, but are more cost effective with less environmental impact.

For recommendation on the perfect wood to choose for your fine cabinetry, consult with award-winning kitchen designer, Jason Landau at Amazing Spaces, LLC. Jason brings two decades worth of experience in space planning, kitchen design and working with the world's finest cabinetry firms to your project. Call him today at 914-239-3725 or visit www.amazingspacesllc.com.

How To Choose Fine Cabinetry

Cabinetry is usually the largest part of a carefully calculated budget for any kitchen design or remodeling project for very good reason―nothing makes more of a statement of style. But cabinetry is also the most functional part of a good kitchen design, helping store and organize, as well as contribute greatly to the flow and traffic pattern of a kitchen―and it is such function (combined with beautiful form) that makes any kitchen project a success.

But where to start when deciding on cabinetry? Here's a few tips that will help you work with your kitchen designer to get the perfect cabinetry for your new kitchen:

Do A Little Research: Flip through magazines, surf the net, and watch home shows to get an idea of the types of cabinetry available and mark those that appeal to your taste. Such advance “homework” can make the conversation with your kitchen designer go more smoothly and stay more focused (although a good designer may be able to surprise you with a few selections of materials you may not have considered.)

Look Around Your Kitchen: What you don't like about your present kitchen cabinetry can be as important as what you do want in your new kitchen. Keep a running list while you use your kitchen cabinets: Are they too deep and you never can get to anything in the back? Not quite enough room for all your glassware? Shelves too tall to reach? Now is the time to remedy all those defects.

Plan carefully for your space needs now and into the future: If you have a growing family, create maximum space, not only by using such storage as that space over the refrigerator, but overlooked storage available under the kitchen island. Consider pull-out floor-to-ceiling cabinetry for use as a pantry space. Or a closet can often be added and a cabinetry door used to match the rest of the kitchen. Wine racks, plate racks and carousel insertions can all help. Your kitchen designer will be able to suggest even more efficient storage as he/she is familiar with every type and arrangement of cabinets concievable.

Look Ahead: You may also want to plan for accessibility as you gracefully age along with your kitchen. How about raising the oven height so you don’t have to bend or lowering wall cabinets so you don’t have to reach? Shelves that roll out of cabinets or pivot down from above make storage of items much more accessible. Lever handles may be easier for arthritic hands than round knobs, cabinets that self illuminate upon opening help ease the stress on older eyes. Discuss more about accessibility options with your kitchen designer or check this space for an article on all types of “universal design.”

Pick Your Door Style: If you are planning a traditional kitchen, you may wish to Framed cabinetry which shows more of the cabinet face frame (meaning smaller openings for doors and drawers.) Full Overlay or Frameless cabinetry (where the cabinet door covers the entire cabinet box) may appeal to you if you are attracted to a more modern style. Drawers and doors are spaced 1/8 inch away from each other―giving you more storage space and a sleeker look. Cabinet doors can be ordered as flat panel (smooth, no design), raised panel, (which can have raised, recessed or even carved details) or glass-front (offering a large selection of glass with wood, leaded glass and even stained glass options.)

Hardwood vs. Softwood: A Hardwood comes from a tree without needles, such as Maple, Cherry, Oak, Ash, Walnut, or Mahogany (called broad leaf trees.) Hardwoods offer greater strength and stability than Softwoods which come from needle-bearing trees, like Pine, Spruce, Redwood, or Cedar. Our next blog will detail the types of woods used for fine cabinetry and outline the characteristics of each to help you make your selection.

Create a Reasonable Budget: Avoid sticker shock (and disappointment) by understanding one fact: Industry statistics show that on average, cabinets make up approximately 50% of the kitchen budget.--which is also the largest percentage of all overall expenditures for the kitchen. So plan accordingly and let your kitchen designer steer you towards choices that work within your budget.

Ask About Warranties: All kitchen cabinet manufacturers offer warranties and, with the cost of cabinetry, finding out what is covered and for how long is vital. Discuss this with your kitchen designer before you make a purchase and check this blog for a future article about everything you should know about cabinet warranties.

Keep An Eye On The Calendar: Remember when planning your new kitchen, fine cabinetry can takes weeks to arrive from the manufacturer. Creating a beautiful kitchen should not be a rush job. Good work takes time.

Going Green? 
Your cabinet choices can be green too, with options like bamboo, lyptus, reclaimed wood or wheat board. Manufacturers using FSC certified lumber is a must.

For expert advice and recommendations, consult with award-winning kitchen designer, Jason Landau at Amazing Spaces, LLC. Jason brings two decades worth of experience in space planning, kitchen design and working with the world's finest cabinetry firms to your project. Call him today at 914-239-3725 or visit www.amazingspacesllc.com.