Often times, the best way to start a new project is to get smart on the terminology and processes involved. This is especially true in the world of home renovations, where much of the language is not something you come across in everyday life.
A professional can certainly explain what you need to know, but conversations will be easier if you have the same fundamental understanding of terminology. It will also help you get the results you deserve!
We’ve compiled a list of what we consider to be essential cabinetry terms to know. Keep these in mind when talking through your design:
Adjustable shelves – Moveable shelves that can be placed in a range of locations using shelf pins that are inserted into pre-drilled holes. This type of shelving that comes standard inside cabinets.
Base Cabinet – Cabinetry that sits on the floor.
Center Panel: The raised or flat panel in the middle of a cabinet door that is enclosed by “stiles” and “rails”.
Concealed Hinge – Any hinge that is not visible when the cabinet door is closed. Door hinges attach to the back of the cabinet door and to the inside edge of the cabinet. Almost all modern day cabinetry comes standard with concealed hinges.
Crown Molding – Decorative molding that mounts between the ceiling and the top of the wall cabinets to provide a finished or decorative look.
Edge Profile – The shape or detail put on the outside edge of the cabinet doors or drawers.
End Panel – The visible outside end of a run of cabinetry. They can be decorative or plain and in the case of islands, can also support a countertop overhang.
Fixed shelves – Shelves that can’t be moved – this is sometimes the case with built in cabinetry.
Flat panel – A non-raised center panel of cabinet door that is flat with no detail.
Framed Cabinetry – Cabinet box that has a face frame that resembles a flat, empty picture frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. The doors can either sit on top of the face frame (overlay) or inside of the face frame (inset).
Frameless Construction – A cabinet box without a face frame. The full overlay doors attach directly to the inside of the cabinet box and cover the edge of the cabinet box completely.
Inset Cabinetry – A framed cabinet with door and drawer fronts set “inside” the frame itself. The frame is not covered by any portion of the door and/or drawer.
Overlay Cabinetry – Doors and drawer fronts that overlap the face frame when closed.
Rail – The horizontal pieces that frame Shaker-style or 5-piece cabinet doors.
Raised Panel- A term used to describe a door style where a thick center panel is machined to have depth and detail.
Stile – The vertical pieces on the left and right side of Shaker-style or 5-piece cabinet doors.
About Maine Cabinet Company
Our mission is to provide beautiful, custom kitchen and flooring designs to transform your home into the perfect living space you always wanted it to be. With your inspiration and our expertise, the sky’s the limit.
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