Wood species (listed from least to most expensive)
Oak (plain sawn)
Plain sawn oak has a strong open grain pattern that varies from very close weave to wide arch patterns. Its natural color can vary from white to yellow to reddish brown.
Maple
Maple is a strong wood that is usually off-white in color. It has a uniform appearance, making it ideal for a clean look. It is usually straight in fiber, but can be wavy or curly. Maple gives the kitchen a light gold look. This wood is naturally light in tones that complement the kitchen with a warm look. Tight-grain maple wood has excellent durability; it is fire resistant, dent resistant and crack resistant. There are only a few types of wood that offer the color flexibility of maple. Maple is well suited for painting and also handles stains of all kinds. You can stain the maple to bring out the spiral grain and install your custom cabinet doors in the family room or den, where they’re sure to be the talk of the town. If you want to add a more solid pattern to your kitchen, pair maple cabinet doors with a marble floor or countertop. It would be an exceptional kitchen look.
Birch
Natural Birch is a medium density wood with a distinctive grain pattern. The predominant color is white to creamy yellow, but the heartwood can be dark brown or even reddish brown.
Hard nut
Hickory is a strong, open-grained wood with a flowing grain pattern and dramatic color variations. American hickory often contains mineral streaks and can range from light brown to dark brown in color, making each hickory kitchen unique.
Oak (Quarter Sawn)
Quartersawn oak is cut along the growth rings and its grain pattern is finer and straighter than that of plainsawn oak. Quarter Sawn has a more traditional look.
Cherry
Cherry is a very rich, multi-colored hardwood, often used in fine furniture. It has shades of pinkish-brown with shades of white or gray. May contain small bags of pitch and knots. It will darken naturally as it ages.
Materials:
- Solid Veneer Plywood (Best)
- Solid Veneer Faced Particleboard or Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) – second best
- Paper faced plywood, melamine or thermofoil or MDF (lower quality)
- Solid wood (rarely used in actual cases. Used for front frames, doors, drawers, and occasionally shelves.)
Cabinets are made from a variety of wood species and materials. These can vary depending on the look you want and your budget. They can also vary in appearance based on the hundreds of stains, glazes, and paints applied. These are some of the most common materials used to build kitchen cabinets.
