What To Expect

Once drywall is complete, the walls of your home become a useful tool for planning and installing cabinets, closets, and built-ins. This is because finished walls serve as consistent and stable resources for taking exact measurements of what will be built. While you may have plans for the size of a cabinet, what matters is the measurements that are taken in the actual room.

Millwork vs. Casework

Homeowners might hear the terminology millwork, casework and carpentry on the building site. Both millwork and casework are types of carpentry and refer to built-in woodworking elements of the house.

Millwork refers to custom-made elements such as shelving, trim, moulding, cabinets, vanities, floating night stands, etc. These are designed and made for the home specifically and typically take considerable time to complete and install.

Casework refers to box-style woodworking elements that are factory-made, usually with templates, and installed in the home. These can be cabinets, desks, dressers, vanities, etc. Because they are not custom, costs can be lower, and in the case of cabinets, modules can be assembled to create a design unique to the home.

Cabinets

It’s easy to think of cabinets just in a kitchen. However, cabinets can be useful in other parts of the house and it’s worth considering how cabinets are designed, installed, and used in many locations.

Most cabinetry is built by specialists and not the carpenters on the team. Your GC will be able to recommend options and people who can help. While all cabinets play the same role in a home, there are a variety of options and related costs to consider.

In the best-case scenario, cabinets are built after the drywall is complete and as the plumbing and electrical is being finished. This way, the cabinets can be installed soon after the finish work is complete.

For this process to work smoothly, everyone will need to be working with the same information regarding your choices of fixtures and appliances. Again, the best option is to print spec sheets for each appliance and share them with the cabinet maker or carpenter. This will ensure that your cabinets and appliances look great and work smoothly together. 

Cabinets are a permanent part of most homes and getting the design right will provide years of usefulness. Having a drawer of the right size in the right location will bring you years of joy. The cabinet maker and your designer or architect will be able to help with these decisions, but you should have a handle on your desires before the design begins. 

For inspiration, look at your current kitchen and consider what works, or doesn’t work.

• Are you constantly trying to find a can of soup on the back of a deep shelf?
• Do your pots and pans fit neatly in your cabinets or shelving?
• Do you love how your utensils fit in a drawer?
• Are you storing some items outside the kitchen because there is no room?
• Is your current chopping, kneading, prepping station useful? Why?
• Are your utensils in a handy location? Are your knives hanging on the wall or in a drawer?
• Do you use tall stock pots or need a place for a long-handled pizza peel?

These are all examples of what to consider in your future cabinets. When at a friend’s house, ask them for a tour of their cabinets. What works for them?

Your cabinets can be configured to your desires. Don’t worry about what seems to be popular or standard from your childhood home. You will use the cabinets, so they should fit your needs and your lifestyle.

Cabinet Plan and Design

Your architect or designer will help design and develop a set of plans or drawings that will help the cabinet team create the cabinets you want. These plans are your best resource for ensuring livability and usability. Study them closely and make any changes before the work begins. This is an elevation of the kitchen.

This information was provided to the cabinet maker who created a set of drawings that document exactly what they plan to build. These drawings are very important because they are the owner's last chance to make changes or corrections.

Other Kinds of Plans

Cabinet makers will want to have as much detail as possible and appreciate the precision that comes from a professional. However, the plans can take a number of forms. The example below of the primary bathroom cabinets was made with presentation software and was enough to get the cabinet makers started. In some cases, a hand-drawn sketch can do the trick, too.

Another example is 3D models, which can bring the cabinets to life.

The Major Players

Cabinets can be designed in whatever configuration you need. However, they generally use a common set of major features.

Uppers

These cabinets are mounted on the wall at eye level, often over a countertop. They usually have swinging or folding doors and shelves inside. In some cases, it can be helpful to use shelves that can be pulled out of the cabinet for easy viewing.

This type of storage, because of its height at eye level, is an opportunity to think about what should be seen or hidden. Clear glass doors or no doors at all leave items open for viewing and some homeowners will use it to add character to the room. Another style is frosted or some other kind of translucent glass that give a light appearance, but doesn't give away cabinet contents.

A style choice that is important is if the uppers reach the ceiling. If they don't, is it space for storage or left open? Will it collect dust that you don't want to clean? More traditional styles add moulding or some kind of trim along the top edge to give it a finished look. More modern style tend to keep that edge cleaner.

Thinking about the height of the bottom of the uppers can be important, too. For example, if you have small appliances that will live on the countertop, will they fit under the uppers? Think about working with your blender or coffeemaker - opening and closing, pouring and cleaning. This measurement is custom, so it's a chance to think about what height works for your cooking lifestyle.

Lowers 

Cabinets under the countertop or in an island are referred to as “lowers” and are often drawers or slide-out shelves. You are likely to have a variety of drawers in different heights and widths. In designing your kitchen, think about the drawers you’ll need for your kitchen supplies, larger items, cutting boards, pans and small appliances. 

Kitchen/Pantry Standard Finished Heights:

• Dining Table Height Range: 28"-32" (For reference)
• Counter Height: 36"
• Bar Height: 42"

Typical kitchen and pantry counter height is 36", and most appliances, like under-counter dishwashers and refrigerators, along with counter height stools and chairs are built for this standard.

If you plan for a bar height counter, the standard is 42" though it can range down a bit from there. Bar height chairs and stools are typically built for this standard. At bar height, foot rests are typically needed, either on the chair or stool, or with a foot bar along the bar cabinet, or both.

Most lower cabinets are designed with a toe kick of 4"-9" in height. This is where the cabinet meets the floor and allows space for your toes to slide under the cabinet front so you can stand closer to the countertop. In the plans, be sure toe kicks are where you want them, and note if there is a cabinet side that shouldn't have it.

The distances between cabinets, shelves and islands are easy to overlook, but they are critical. Imagine opening every appliance door or drawer, and add another person in the kitchen. Does the space work? Can you walk around the dishwasher door when it's open? Do all the cabinet and appliance doors open in the correct direction? Does anything need extra space to not consistently hit a wall or another cabinet? These are just some of the uses to check in the plans.

Floating Shelves

Houses often use floating shelves in the context of cabinets. These are shelves attached to the wall or to other cabinets and make the contents of the shelf visible and easy to access. Floating shelves are used for kitchen items like glasses and dishware along with items that are decorative, like cookbooks or vases. Another example is using a floating shelf in a mud room, like the one below:

As discussed in the Design for Blocking and Brackets Behind the Wall chapter, floating shelves can be installed with brackets that are attached to the studs behind the wall. These brackets should be installed before drywall. 

In designing your floating shelves it can be helpful to consider the items you’d like to place there. If you have a set of plates, for example, you’ll want them to fit. Measure the diameter of the plates to be sure the shelf is deep enough.

Design for Depth

At Flattop we have floating shelves in the bar area. Only after we moved in, did I realize that the shelf depth only allowed for three glasses at a time. If I could do it over, I would have made the depth enough for a set of four. 

Pantry

A pantry is like a walk-in closet for kitchens. It tends to be filled with shelves or drawers for storing whatever you need. For many houses, the pantry is for food storage, but it can be designed for a variety of uses.

Consider adding electrical outlets and lighting. Also, think about the vertical space between shelves so that the pantry can accommodate your needs. Ideas for pantries, in addition to normal food storage: 

• Bulk food (flour, rice, etc.)
• Beverage storage (beer, wine, liquor)
• Tall cleaning supplies (mops, vacuums, brooms)
• Paper product storage (paper towels, etc.)
• Kitchen supplies (towels, cleaners, sponges)

Features, Look, and Feel

Your cabinets will be visible and used often. It’s a good idea to focus on both aesthetics and hardware. These decisions fall into a few groups:

Style

Cabinets should fit into the design of your home and reflect your overall style. In general, cabinets can be classified into two groups that relate to how the cabinet box is constructed.

1. Frameless or "European" Style - This style is considered more contemporary and accessible because the entire cabinet box is open. The doors are designed to cover the entire face of the cabinet and meet in the middle of the box with very little reveal. Contemporary cabinets often have flat fronts, simple designs and come in many different materials.
2. Framed or "American" Style - This style is considered more traditional and has smaller openings. Here, a frame is applied to the face of the cabinet. That face becomes the base for the door hinges and provides a vertical board in the center, called a "stile", where the doors meet. Traditional cabinets are likely to have more embellishment or design on the front face of the doors and large reveals between doors. 

You may be asked by the cabinet maker which style you prefer.

The image below shows the cabinet door hardware mounted to the inside of the cabinet box, which helps to conceal it.

The look and feel of contemporary cabinet design come from having small reveals between doors that cover the entire face of the cabinet, as seen below.

Color/Finish

Cabinet looks can be ordered in a wide variety of materials and finished. Popular ones are wood, painted, laminate and acrylic, and they range from glossy to matte finishes. This can be a vexing decision and it’s helpful to consider the colors and textures used on nearby floors, countertops, and appliances. Heavy usage can also steer homeowners to more durable finishes with kids and pets or patterns that perhaps hide drops and spills between cleanings.

Also, many appliances are available with panel-ready finishes. This means they are ready to have the same cabinet material and possibly handles or pulls applied to the appliance front. Homeowners tend to choose this option when a more consistent look is desired throughout a room.

Hinges, Slides, and Opening Systems

Think of cabinet hardware being interior and exterior. The interior hardware is mostly invisible, but important because it relates to how the cabinets operate. If you value smooth, durable operation, make quality hardware a priority. Your cabinet maker will be able to help with these options. 

• Hinges - The hardware that allows doors to open and close
• Slides - Tracks that allow drawers to open and close
• Opening Systems - Arms that allow a door to be pulled up, for example

Below is an example of a hinge and an opening system.

Many homeowners now choose "soft-close" systems that bring in the door/drawer slowly for the last inch or so. This is a quiet option that some say can reduce wear and tear. It is becoming more of a standard for cabinetmakers.

Pulls and Knobs

Exterior hardware options are called “pulls” and "knobs" and they are the handles you use to open the cabinets and drawers. These are mostly aesthetic decisions and should match the style of your home. If possible, use the hardware in a showroom before making the final decision. The same pulls can be used throughout the home.

Note that some cabinets are designed not to have exterior hardware. This is where the door is pulled by a hole or indention in the door, or it's pushed in to spring out and open. Many homeowners who opt for a design without exterior hardware will tend to choose a more durable finish because oils and scratches from handling the doors can wear down the finish faster.

Other Considerations

Most kitchens have a few exceptions to the normal cabinets and drawers. In planning your cabinets, it’s important to consider these spaces and how they may be used. Examples:

Garbage and Recycling

Many homes now use pull-out garbage and recycling containers that look like a normal cabinet door from the outside. These hide the containers and should be placed with care, likely near the sink and food prep areas.

Under-sink

The cabinet under the sink is not usually used as a normal cabinet because of the presence of plumbing and appliances like a disposal or water filter. Think ahead about this space and how you might use it. If you have a foot pedal device to turn on the sink faucet, which can be handy when hands are messy or full, be sure to let both the plumber and cabinet maker know.

Sink drawer

The space in front of the sink cannot be used as a full drawer because the sink basin takes up that space. Often, this feature is designed to look like a short drawer from the outside. These can be designed to tilt out and store small items. 

Other Cabinets

The kitchen is the primary location of cabinetry, but other locations are important to consider and can be built by the same team. These include:

• Bathrooms
• Laundry
• Utility
• Garage
• Exterior

Bathroom Cabinets

Bathroom cabinets that include sinks are called “vanities” and can be constructed to match the rest of the cabinets in your home, or purchased as a single unit.

While small bathrooms may have a simple vanity with a sink, larger bathrooms often have cabinets, floating shelves, and other storage spaces. 

Bath Standard Finished Heights:

• Traditional Bath Vanity Height Range: 30"-32"
• Modern Bath Vanity Height: 36"
• Vessel Sink (above counter sink) Vanity Height Range: 26"-32"

When considering the finished height of bath vanities, note that modern vanities are taller than traditional so there's less bending over to reach the sink. If choosing vessel sinks, which are sinks that look like they sit on top of the counter, take the height of the rim of these sinks into consideration, as it can determine the finished height of the counter.

Primary and Secondary Bedroom Baths

Bathrooms for a household need to accommodate long-term needs and have storage for a wide range of items. Some items are best hidden in cabinets while others can be visible to anyone who enters the room. 

When considering these bathrooms, take a look at your current bathroom. What works, or doesn't? What items do you have that need better storage options? A few things you'll want to account for:

• Bath linens (towels, washcloths, hand towels)
• Health care items (medicines, prescription drugs, bandages, toothpaste)
• Shower supplies (shampoos, soaps, loofahs)
• Beauty and/or haberdashery (make-up, shavers, shaving cream, hair products, hairdryers, brushes)
• Cleaning supplies
• Hygiene products

Guest Baths and Powder Rooms

Guest baths can have a more limited set of supplies and storage. If the guest bath has a shower or tub, the room will need spaces for storing bath linens and basic supplies, like soap and shampoo. Powder rooms (bathroom with only a toilet and sink) should also be considered for cabinetry.

Laundry Cabinets

The laundry room is often considered a private room for utility and as such, may not need to prioritize aesthetics as much as other rooms. However, the laundry room is a place that can be optimized with cabinetry and shelving. 

A common complaint among homeowners is that their house lacks storage space. The laundry room provides an opportunity to solve this problem with cabinets or shelving designed to organize and hide supplies, recreational equipment, and more. Think about where vacuum cleaners, brooms, and mops will live. With a bit of forethought, these can have a home that keeps them off the floor and organized for easy access. 

Exterior Grill Cabinets

If you are planning for a built-in grill or outdoor kitchen, it’s a good idea to have a handle on the available options. Your construction team is likely to build the grill/outdoor kitchen and will need to build it according to the cabinets you’d like to use. Often, these are stainless steel cabinets and drawers that can be dropped into an opening with ease. Stainless often matches the grill and stands up to weather. Websites like BBQGuys.com have a wide range of options.

By considering all the options for cabinetry and using similar styles, you can create a look and feel in your home that is consistent and beautiful. The key to getting it right is to think ahead about your needs, the styles you want, and be able to clearly communicate those needs to your builder and cabinetmaker. This may be as simple as a sketch or a full specification from the architect.

Cabinet Manufacturing Options

To some degree, all cabinets are custom-made, meaning that they are built to fit into the exact specifications of your home. However, most cabinets are manufactured in one of two methods:

Custom

True custom cabinets are manufactured as one-of-a-kind builds. As such, they fit perfectly into the space and can be customized on a nearly unlimited basis. Custom cabinets tend to be the most expensive.

Cabinet Systems

A number of companies offer cabinets that appear very similar to custom cabinets but are assembled from mostly pre-made modules. These cabinets can be configured to work for your home, but may not be fully customizable. For example, some cabinet systems are customizable to 3" dimensions, which may not fit perfectly in your space. Not to worry, this is often resolved with spacers that blend into the look.

Closets

Like cabinets, closets are an opportunity to think ahead and design a space that fits with your needs. You’re likely to have a number of closets in your home and our focus here is bigger closets that can benefit from a bit of design.

Primary Bedroom Closet

This tends to be the largest closet in the house and one that can make a big difference in the livability of your home. Usually, these closets are walk-in, walk-through, or even separate rooms with plenty of room for clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. 

Before you decide on the dimensions of the closet, consider how you’ll use it and how it can be designed for your lifestyle. Take a look at the closet you have today and consider what could be better. For example, if a homeowner has a large collection of boots, they may need shelving space with extra height. If one person has a comparatively small collection of clothes, that could matter in dividing the space. Bedding and fluffy blankets can take up a lot of space. Plan for their storage.

Closet Systems

A popular option for primary closets is using a closet system that’s manufactured at a factory and installed in your home. There is a wide variety and most offer a useful set of options that can be installed in a single day. If this interests you, ask your GC and team about options. Review company websites and call the company to ask questions and get a pricing estimate. A ballpark estimate is often possible with a quick conversation.

A few questions to consider:

• Will you change clothes inside the closet?
• Do you want a full-length mirror in the closet? Where will it go? 
• Is a door necessary? 
• Could a motion-sensing light switch be helpful?

Smaller Closets

Closets can be very simple and built by your GC’s team. Examples include:

• Coat/Entry closet
• Guest bedroom closet
• Linen closet

Guest bedroom and coat closets often have a rack for hanging coats and clothes on hangers. This is a simple installation and accomplishes the basic needs of this closet. However, it can be useful to think about these spaces in sections, with a top and bottom.

• Top Storage Some closets have room for a shelf at the top of the closet that goes to the ceiling and serves as storage.
• Bar/Hanger Below the top of a small closet is almost always a bar for hangers. If you are storing long clothes like dresses and winter coats that require length, you may find that they take up the entire area, with some room for shoes at the bottom. 
• Bottom Assuming that you are hanging clothes that don’t require the entire length, the closet’s bottom section can contain a second rack for hangers, which doubles the storage space. Or, you can use the bottom section for a shoe rack and other personal items. This arrangement is often useful for a coat closet by an entry, where shoes and coats are most likely to be changed. 

Linen/Game Closet

This type of closet tends to be a space with simple shelves or drawers that offer quick access. A system with drawers could be a helpful option here depending on what you plan to store.

As seen above, a closet is also a handy place for a small safe. If you're planning to have a safe, be sure to talk to the cabinet maker and GC so that it can be secured correctly.

Built-ins

Built-ins are any element of your house designed to attach to the house and not be removed. Examples include appliances, cabinetry, furniture, shelving, and more. Kitchen cabinets are an obvious version of built-ins, but the idea can extend to multiple parts of the home. A few options to consider:

• Entertainment Center (TV, stereo, speakers)
• Bookshelves
• Display cases (trophies, dishware)
• Office organization
• Desks

With built-ins, homeowners have the chance to customize. This means taking standard heights, depths, widths, and possibly adjusting them to fit homeowners perfectly. If a built-in office desk is meant to serve a taller person, maybe a taller desk is appropriate. Or if there are significant equipment needs, maybe the desk needs extra depth with multiple holes for wires to reach receptacles. If there are mobility needs, maybe the height and width need to be able to accommodate special equipment. Take the opportunity to customize.

Imagine your main entry or a mudroom off the garage. These locations see a lot of traffic and often include a change of shoes. Having a place to sit would be convenient with space for a movable bench. Or, with a bit of forethought and the work of a carpenter or other artisan, you could have a built-in bench that matches your home's style.

Another example is the kitchen. Imagine that your kitchen has a corner that is mostly unused. If you could find the right kind of cabinet, it could become a place for storing and/or displaying kitchenware. The problem is that it’s not easy to find the furniture you need for that space. This is where a built-in cabinet can be useful. A skilled carpenter can build a cabinet that fits the corner perfectly and makes it useful.

This is an example of using the underside of a stairwell for built-in cabinets:

Because built-ins are designed to be permanent, it’s important to plan them carefully and look for opportunities to match the built-in to the style of your home. Your GC will have options for getting the work completed.

Overall

Cabinets, closets, and built-ins are an opportunity to make your home more livable by thinking ahead about your needs and designing for the future. Don’t wait until the GC asks what you want. Start thinking about these elements early and often so they’re part of the plan.