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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Metal cabinets – somewhat surprisingly – often cost more than wood kitchen cabinets. Yet most people perceive high-quality wood kitchen cabinets as a costly luxury.
7. 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.
8. 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).