| Accessories - Supplemental parts of the cabinet referred to as bells and whistles. Any nonessential component such as rollouts, pullouts, lazy-susans, organizers, etc. Angled Corner - A cabinet designed to fit on an end of an upper or lower cabinet creating a fixed angle. Appliqué - A carved or etched decorative piece of wood installed on the face of a cabinet. Also referred to as an on lay. Arch - Door style with an arched top. Base Cabinet - Any cabinet designed to install directly on the floor. Some form of a counter top is applied on-site, such as a laminate, engineered stone or granite. Bead Board - Paneling that incorporates beaded, routed detail and conveys relaxed, casual styling. Beaded styling adds texture and design to flat panel wood coverings. The beaded panels are typically 2½ or 3 inches wide, but there are many variations. Beaded Door - Beaded styling on the cabinet door. Typically is found in the recessed panel of the door. BERP (Base End Raised Panel) - A decorative panel, usually matching the door style, designed to be applied to the side or back of a cabinet, or an island for example. Bevel - A portion of material removed from the edge of a piece of wood. This technique can be used to create a natural finger-pull such as on a beveled-edge door. Also is used to create a specific angle when two pieces of wood are joined together. or example, when two pieces have a 45° bevel they create a right angle when joined. Blind Corner - Any cabinet type, upper or lower, installed into a corner of a room. Another cabinet will install directly adjacent to it hiding the blind portion. This gives access to an otherwise dead corner providing more storage. Bumper Pad - A small spongy material placed on a cabinet door designed to soften the noise as the door is closed. Bun Foot - A round, decorative, furniture grade foot used on the bottom corners of base cabinets. Butt Doors - Two cabinet doors covering a single opening, normally too large for one door. The edges of both doors nearly meet. The opening does not have a center mullion. Butt Joint - A term used when the edges of two pieces of wood are joined together. Carcass - Another word for the box of the cabinet. Center Stile - A vertical strip that is a component of the face frame. It usually divides a cabinet opening equally. Also referred to as a mullion. Concealed Hinge - A hinge that is attached to the inside of the cabinet door so that it is out of site. Corbel - A decorative wooden bracket used as a support mechanism for mantels, bar tops, etc. Corner Blocks - Any type of wooden, plastic or metal component used to strengthen any joint. Typical application is where a face frame and end panel are joined. Crown Moulding - A term for any moulding that is applied to the top of upper cabinets. Custom Cabinets - Custom cabinets are just that - custom-made. You can pick and choose from a wide range of options and have cabinets made especially for your taste. You can dictate the cabinet's dimensions, structure (framed or frameless), shape, wood species, finish, molding, and special detailing. Custom cabinets offer an endless number of options, but the cost will be higher than with semi-custom or stock cabinets. Dado - A 1/4" +/- deep channel or groove cut against the grain of a piece of wood. A dado joint is formed when a cross member is fitted perpendicular into the channel. Dentil Mould - A term used to describe a decorative tooth-like pattern on any trim moulding. Dovetail - A term used to describe a joining process of two pieces of material. Both pieces have wing-shaped notches that interlock. Generally considered the strongest joint typically used in furniture and cabinet drawers. Dowel - A small piece of wood that is about 0.25 inch diameter, used to join cabinets. Drawer Face/Front - Finished front panel of the drawer assembly. The pannel will match the door chosen. Drawer Slides/Guides - The hardware installed on drawers that supports the gliding motion of the drawer. End Panel - The wood panel on the outside (left or right side) of a base cabinet. Engineered Wood - A term used to describe several types of construction material. Engineered wood, such as MDF and HDF, is more dimensionally stable than solid wood. Exposed Hinge - A hinge that is showing on the outer edge when the cabinet door is closed. Filler - A piece used to fill any gaps in cabinetry design that are not filled by cabinets in order to make the design fit the room precisely. Finishes - A term for the surface treatment of a wood product to enhance the beauty of its natural wood color and grain definition. Usually applied in steps, such as stain, sealer and a clear top coat such as a catalyzed varnish. Five Piece Drawer Front - A drawer front that is made using a frame with a panel that floats in a groove on the inside edge of the frame. It is made in the same manner as a frame and panel door. Flat Panel - recessed center panel of a door or drawer design conveying Transitional, Shaker, or Arts and Crafts styling. Flute - A concave shallow groove that is routed into a wood surface. Fluting is usually applied vertically. Common use is as an overlay on a cabinet stile or filler for a decorative effect. Frame and Panel Door - door that is made using a frame with a panel that floats in a groove on the inside edge of the frame. Framed Cabinet - Refers to a cabinet with a frame joined to the front of the box, typically made from 1-1/2" wide material. The vertical pieces, called “stiles,” and the horizontal pieces, called “rails,” reinforce the cabinet structure and provide mounting space for the doors and drawers. Framed cabinets are available in Traditional Overlay or Full Overlay styling. Traditional Overlay styling has an exposed front frame beyond the area covered by the door, typically one to two inches in diameter. Full Overlay styling has larger cabinet doors and drawer fronts, so that most or all of the cabinet front frame is concealed. Framed Cabinets are more traditional than the more contemporary Framelsss Cabinets. Frameless/European Cabinet - Also known as a Full Access Cabinet or European-Style Cabinet. Refers to a cabinet without a front frame (or "face frame"). Instead, the front edges of the box are covered ("edge banded") with matching wood veneer. Because there is no front frame, the doors and drawers are fastened directly to the inside of the box. The absence of a front frame allows easier, unobstructed access into the cabinet and allows for a greater variety of hinge choices. Frameless Cabinets offer a cleaner, more contemporary look than the more traditional Framed Cabinets. French Leg - furniture-grade decorative leg used on the bottom corners of base cabinets. Full Extension Drawer Slide - A slide that allows the back of the drawer to come out even with the front of the cabinet. Full Inset - Door Style of cabinet door that fits inside the face frame (or "front frame") of the cabinet. Full Overlay Door - Style of cabinet door that completely covers the frame or edge of the cabinet box, giving prominence to the door and drawer design. Furr-Down - A drop down or "box-out" at the ceiling typically 12" high and 14" deep. Often used for heating ductwork. Kitchen cabinets are installed up to it creating a step effect. Also called a soffit or bulkhead. Galley Rail - Any moulding using tiny spindles to create a front retainer along a plate rail cabinet top. It gets its name because of its likeness to galley rails used on ships. Glaze Finish - An additional finish treatment that is applied to improve a standard stain, enhance door detail and smooth out wood species variation. Glazes also enhance wood color and tone. Glazes actually enhance and improve the beauty of the wood and the base finish color. Glaze treatments and techniques can vary from heavy to light, with lighter treatments lending themselves to a more subtle appearance. Grain Variation - A term used to describe the natural, dissimilar grain patterns of wood. Joint - A construction term used when two pieces of material are joined or attached together. Common types are:
Kerf - A saw cut that is made on the surface of a board to relieve stress. It is used to create a curve, such as with a toe kick around a curved base cabinet. Kiln Dry - A term used to describe the process of oven drying fresh cut lumber. The process removes excess moisture so raw lumber can be fabricated into a finished product. Knob - A hardware item, typically round in shape, attached to doors and drawers for function and decoration. Also referred to al a "pull". Knot - A hard node in any wood species where a branch once grew. Laminate - verb: To bind together a series of layers of wood, plastic, or other material using heat and pressure; noun: A product made of layers of wood, plastic, or other material, often used in the fabrication of kitchen countertops. Lazy Susan - A corner kitchen base cabinet utilizing kidney shaped shelves rotating on a center pole for easy access. MDF - Medium Density Fiber board. An engineered wood with a very tight and smooth surface. MDF consists of wood fibers glued together in a press under very high pressure. MDF is very stable and is favored for laminating with thermofoils and melamine. Miter - A joint made when two beveled surfaces form a specific angle. For example, two pieces of wood each beveled at 22 1/2° will form a 45° angle when joined together. Mitered Frame door - A door that does not use a rail and stile frame, instead uses four pieces of similar shaped wood with each end cut at 45 degree angles that join together in the corners, like a picture frame. Moldings - Trim pieces used to improve the aesthetics of a cabinet or set of cabinets. Varieties include crown, rosette, fluted and rope. Mortise and Tenon - A specific joining technique. The mortise (groove or slot) is cut into a piece of wood. The joint is made when an opposing piece cut with a tenon (a collared protrusion) is slipped into the mortise. Mounting Rail or “Cleat” - A piece of wood that extends horizontally along the bottom and top of upper cabinets and along the top of base cabinets used for securing the cabinet to the wall. Also the piece of wood on a base cabinet that runs from front to back at the top used for mounting countertops. Mullion Doors - Mullion doors have glass inserts in place of the typical solid center panel for a more stylish appearance. The inserts typically have horizontal and vertical dividing bars similar to those in windowpanes. Nomenclature - A string of letters and numbers used to identify specific cabinet types or accessories. Overlay - Decorative panels affixed to a cabinet surface or attached to the ends of upper or base cabinets. Partial Inset Door - Also referred to as a "lipped door". Style of cabinet door that partially rests inside the face frame and has a lip on the edge that partially overlays the face frame. Partial Overlay - Style of cabinet door found on a framed cabinets that overlays the face frame by 1/4" - 1/2", leaving most of the face frame exposed. Particle Board - An engineered material made od wood particles glued and compressed together. Peninsula - Similar in design to an island except open on only three sides. Often used in “L” shaped kitchens as serving bars that separate the kitchen from the dining or family room. Plywood Sheet - material that is made of thin layers of wood glued together so that each layer has an alternating grain structure. One or both outside layers of plywood can consist of a wood veneer, available in a variety of species. Typically there are between 7 and 13 layers of wood in plywood with a thickness of 1/2" to 3/4". Puck Lights - Lights mounted under or inside wall cabinets, often used to shed light on counter tops below. Pull - A hardware item attached to doors and drawers for function and decoration. Also referred to as a "knob". Rabbet - A technique for joining two pieces at right angles. A portion of material is removed from the edge of one piece similar to the thickness of the other piece. When the two are attached the joint is strengthened. Also called a half-lap joint. Slab Door - A door that has no frame, and is instead made of a solid slab of wood, usually made with several narrow strips of wood laminated together to achieve the desired width of the door. Some slab doors are made using a manufactured substrate with a veneer over it. Soffit - A drop down or "box-out" at the ceiling typically 12" high and 14" deep. Often used for heating ductwork. Kitchen cabinets are installed up to it creating a step effect. Also called a furr-down or bulkhead.
Substrate - The structural material beneath a layer of veneer or laminate. Tilt/Tip-Out Trays - A popular accessory item ideal for storing sponges and other dishwashing supplies. They are plastic trays attached to the back of false fronts at the sink area. Toe Kick - The recessed area at the bottom of base cabinets usually 4" high and 3" deep. |
Cabinetry Terms |