Types of kitchen cabinets
According to the layout, the common types of kitchen cabinets are one-line, L-shaped, U-shaped, double one-line, one-line + center island. The main difference is based on two size designs: table size 600mm/450mm, aisle size ≥800mm. The counter-tops that need to place appliances and sinks need to be more than 600mm in size, but the counter-tops for storage and home appliances need to be more than 450mm. Aisle space is the distance from the edge of the countertop to the wall or to the edge of the countertop on the other side. Usually, 800 is enough for one person to cook. If there are more than two people at the same time, it is recommended to reserve a larger size according to the size of the space, more than 1000mm is appropriate.
Kitchen Cabinet Material
The kitchen environment is not only humid, but also heavy with oily smoke. So how to choose a practical kitchen cabinet, material and hardware are very important. Material is like skin, and hardware is like joints.
The main materials of the kitchen cabinet are particle board, multi-layer board, large core board, solid wood, stainless steel and aluminum alloy. Most of the materials made by custom brands are particle boards, which have relatively stable comprehensive performance and high cost performance. The load-bearing performance and moisture-proof performance of multi-layer board and large-core board are better than particle board, but the cost of multi-layer board and large-core board will be more expensive for boards of the same environmental protection level. For homeowners who are very concerned about environmental protection and pursue zero formaldehyde, they will choose stainless steel kitchen cabinets. Aluminum alloy kitchen cabinets are popular materials in recent years, with strong plasticity and better load-bearing performance. The cost will be more expensive than stainless steel. The thickness of the market panel is usually 18mm, which can meet the daily load-bearing needs.
The main types of kitchen cabinet door panels are pvc board, blister board, paint board, solid wood board. The cost increases successively. There is no good or bad, it is purely a matter of personal preference, and the texture of each type of board is different. Decorative panels, varnished panels belong to flat panels suitable for modern styles, blister, covered solid wood belong to modeling door panels and are mostly suitable for European and American styles. The veneer is the most scratch-resistant and wear-resistant, and the paint is the most squeamish. Edge sealing is the most important process, otherwise cracking, expansion, deformation, no matter how good the plate is useless.
Countertop Material
Kitchen countertop materials are mainly acrylic, quartz stone, slate.
Hardness and high temperature resistance: Slate > Quartz Stone > Acrylic. If you are worried about the color bleeding of the countertop, you can refer to the water absorption rate of the stone. This is related to the stone production process. The cheap stone is model-infused slurry, and the good stone is vacuum pressed. Good water absorption can reach 0.01%. In addition, the thickness of the countertop is very important. There are also 16mm and 18mm top brands in the market with a thickness of 20mm, which is too thin and easy to break. The front side of the table is usually a front skirt of about 45mm, so the thickness of the table top is mainly the connection position of the basin under the stand or the thickness of the rear water barrier.
kitchen cabinet hardware
- The door hinge is the most important hardware accessory, which determines the service life of the kitchen cabinet. A good door hinge has its own damping, buffering and mute effect, anti-corrosion and anti-rust, and quick assembly and quick disassembly. Common imported brands are Blum from Austria and Hettich from Germany.
- Functional hardware can meet our daily storage and easy access. Drawers, pendants, dishes pull baskets, seasoning pull baskets, lift pull baskets, corner pull baskets, high cabinet pull baskets. High value and high price.
- Stainless steel basins are generally used for sinks, there are integrated basins and handmade basins, and the integrated basins have no joints and are easy to take care of. The handmade basin has a stronger texture and welding, and the cost will be higher than the one-piece basin. There is also a granite sink, which is beautiful and easy to take care of. Looks great with slate counter-tops.
There will be no sound when the water flow of a good basin hits the body of the basin, and there will be no accumulation of water at the bottom of the sink cabinet. Because there will be silencer stickers and anti-temperature difference condensation on the bottom of the basin, there will be no water droplets that will affect the cabinet due to the alternation of hot and cold water. In the selection of water basins, in addition to knowing the material and craftsmanship of the basin, the supporting water is also very important. Whether there is an anti-backwater design, the sewer pipes with hot and cold connections are easy to age, and stainless steel rings are selected for reinforcement, and those with a diameter of about 5 cm are not easy to block and age.
Things to consider when choosing kitchen cabinets:
- Regarding the lighting of the kitchen, in most cases, the lighting of the kitchen ceiling lamp often hits the back of our head. It is recommended to add a light strip under the wall cabinet. Add down-lights in front of the hanging cabinet to avoid back-lighting during operation and when taking things.
- The price of kitchen cabinets is denominated in linear meters. There are basically standard depths and heights. Other dimensions are non-standard. Non-standard costs will fluctuate. Under-counter basin connection fee, process fee, corner cutting fee… In the early stage of purchase, let the salesman simply plan and make a detailed budget according to the size of the unit and his own needs, understand the detailed algorithm and the costs that may be involved in the later stage, so as to avoid the later stage It also prevents budget overruns.
- The span of the laminate should not exceed 1200mm as much as possible, it is easy to deform if it is too wide. The movable type is adopted, and the required height can be fixed in advance before installation, and the items can be placed reasonably. Separate shelves can also be purchased separately.
- The side panels of the backplane of the bottom plate must be edge-sealed because the holes for the sockets are routed, and the substrate is easily deformed by moisture after being exposed to the air for a long time. The normal processing methods include sealing and adding rubber rings.
- The sink cabinet should be treated with a waterproof process, which is usually in the form of aluminum foil board and stainless steel.
- It is recommended to buy imported moisture-proof and mildew-proof glue for beautiful seam treatment in the place where quartz stone is spliced.
- The customization cycle of kitchen cabinets is about 30-50 days. It is necessary to purchase kitchen cabinets at the start of construction, and determine the electrical appliances, water heaters, water purifiers, garbage disposals, etc. that will be used in the kitchen. Small appliances can also be used first. Make a list for the designer’s reference, in case the sockets are not enough later. It takes about a month and a half to choose a kitchen cabinet manufacturer, come up with a design plan, and go to the water and electricity tiling. The wall tiles are pasted on the kitchen cabinet and placed on the door, and the order can be placed. Before placing an order, you must determine the model and size of the electrical appliance to avoid Installed kitchen cabinets can not plug appliances.
- Functional hardware, such as drawers and pull baskets, are recommended to be movable and removable, which is convenient for cleaning the cabinet later.
- The work surface of a small apartment is very compact. It is not recommended to use a high and low table, because the place where the high and low are handed over wastes the space for placing items. If it is a two-section countertop in the disconnected position, you can choose to lower the stove-top position. (830-850mm), the position of the sink should be higher (870-900mm). In this way, you don’t have to raise your hands to cook, you don’t have to bend over to wash things, and the cooking process is more comfortable and enjoyable.
The quality assurance of hardware and counter-tops is very important, because they are the most frequently used parts and require good after-sales protection. Imported Blum door hinges are basically guaranteed for life, and good counter-tops are guaranteed for more than ten years.
