oak kitchen cabinets

Oak kitchen cabinets provide timeless beauty.

One of the most important decisions made when remodeling a kitchen is the material and style of the kitchen cabinets. Particularly in North America and parts of Europe it is natural to ask if oak kitchen cabinets a good choice. The answer is very simple, oak cabinets are always a good choice.

Oak has a very distinctive grain that is not similar to any other trees. Oak kitchen cabinets are desirable for a number of reasons:

Oak is very hard. English oak has a harder surface than many other varieties, making it especially popular for furniture.
Oak is known for its unique open grain.
Oak is synonymous with strength and sturdiness.
Oak is heavy.
Oak is strong and durable, making oak kitchen cabinets a very good choice.
Oak is often associated with dignity.
Oak is very desirable for furniture and for this reason oak kitchen cabinets are prized.

Types of Oak

There are nearly 300 varieties of oak throughout the world. At least 50 varieties grow in North America. Most oak is divided into one of two types or families: white oak and red oak. White oak tends to be less porous and more durable. It is believed by many to have a better color than red oak, and for this reason it is often preferred for furniture and kitchen cabinets. White oak has a finer texture and a more prominent figure. It is more resistant to moisture and fungus. This is a major reason oak kitchen cabinets are so popular. Red oak tends to have a reddish cast and a coarser texture.

Two Ways to Cut Oak

When building oak kitchen cabinets or oak furniture, it is possible to choose strait or plain cut oak or quarter-sawn oak. The difference will be very obvious. Oak has strips of a special tissue that radiates from the center of the tree or log out to the edge. These strips of tissue look a great deal like spokes of a wheel. When the log is cut through by quarter sawing, the boards will show flakes of smooth wood. The effect can be very beautiful. Quarter sawing does not produce the same effect in narrow strips, but it can be spectacular in cabinet doors.

Oak kitchen cabinets can create a truly beautiful and luxurious room. When matched with oak window and door frames, chair rail, and other trim, as well as oak kitchen stools, table and chairs, etc. the total effect can be breathtaking. Mixing the right varieties of oak can eliminate sameness and produce a result that is totally unique. This makes oak kitchen cabinets an outstanding choice for your kitchen remodel.

Wood Kitchen Cabinets

The beauty of solid wood kitchen cabinets.

Eight Advantages of Wood Kitchen Cabinets

Most realtors will tell you that nothing is more appealing to potential home buyers than natural wood kitchen cabinets. They bring a sense of elegance and warmth into any kitchen. There are a number of additional advantages of wood kitchen cabinets.

Natural wood cabinets fit any architectural style home and any kitchen style. There are certainly traditions about the woods and finishes most commonly used in different kitchen styles, as well as traditions about cabinet door styles. For example a darker wood like ebony, mahogany or cherry is most appropriate in a traditional, country or eclectic style kitchen. It would rarely be used in contemporary styles.
Wood kitchen cabinets are strong, durable and lasting. Wood base cabinets will easily support any type of countertop material, including stone (granite, slate, marble). It holds up well under heavy use and in steam and heat. Most small dings, dents or scratches can be easily repaired. Over time, wood can be repeatedly refinished, repaired, cleaned and even painted or stained.
Solid wood cabinets are clearly preferable to any material that is laminated, glued, or veneered. Cabinets that are made with glue must be very carefully maintained in a kitchen because the glue will be damaged by the moisture over time and the laminate or veneer will begin to curl or peel. Solid wood will not curl or peel.
Wood kitchen cabinets are available in a wide range of wood choices and grains, allowing a homeowner to select the color and grain that best match the style and décor of their home. Different woods can also be finished in different ways to produce a unique patina that can glow in the warm light of the room.
Wood kitchen cabinets are made with a large number of different door designs. These styles range from perfectly smooth and flat to the ornately carved designs chosen in some country and traditional kitchens.
Metal cabinets – somewhat surprisingly – often cost more than wood kitchen cabinets. Yet most people perceive high-quality wood kitchen cabinets as a costly luxury.
Wood cabinets are safe. Unlike metal cabinets, there is nothing in wood cabinets that can chemically alter the food stored in them. This is particularly important if there are children, elderly persons, or people with illnesses that compromise the immune system.
Wood kitchen cabinets will never go out of style. For this reason, as well as their beauty and warmth, they enhance the appearance and the value of a home when it is time to sell.

The three most commonly used woods for wood kitchen cabinets are hickory, oak and maple. However, in some kitchen styles cherry and mahogany are preferred. They are also more expensive. The least expensive wood is probably birch or pine. You can also choose more uncommon options, such as ebony, butternut, alder, walnut or bamboo (new to cabinetry but popular because it is a rapidly replenishing eco-friendly material).

Wood Kitchen Cabinets