If you have a custom home, you might very well have custom cabinetry. Does that mean it’s attractive, functional for you, of the latest and best quality materials and construction?

No. As a matter of fact, I’ve been in custom homes that have really crappy cabinets.

Why? Because it’s likely dated and was perhaps built using old style/inexpensive hinges, glides, and design. Does the average homeowner realize this? Not usually.

Euro hinges, full extension glides, and especially soft-close hinges were not used nearly as often in homes years ago, and I mean 20 years ago.

Cheap, “Custom” Cabinetry Seen in Expensive Custom Homes

Take a look at some of the cabinetry I’ve seen in custom homes that truly is pitiful for the value of the house and neighborhood. Would this be something you’d want to replace if you remodeled? Yes.

So, think seriously about including it in your scope of work and expense if you are about to update your kitchen, bathroom, or cabinetry in your home and have this type of cabinets.

(BTW, not all these cabinets below were in custom homes, but most were. And these are all good examples of some of the not-so-great cabinetry I’ve seen.

*Dated custom cabinetry - These hinges are very old style and cheap*

Hinges On Custom Cabinetry

One telltale sign are these hinges. No one really uses these any more.

Most newer apartments even have better hinges on their cabinets than these. However, I’ve seen older custom homes with just these hinges on their cabinets.

You want your hinges concealed, typically, for a nice, clean look, unless the hinge is some kind of specialty product or adds to the character of the cabinet’s design.

For concealed hinges Blum makes good quality.

These Euro hinges are for cabinets with a face frame, to be mounted on top of the face frame.

This Euro hinge is for a frameless style cabinet.

If you absolutely cannot change out these type of cabinet doors then going to a knife hinge is better than the cheap hinges shown in the pics above.

Cabinet Door Style

Another sign of a lower end way to build cabinets are the door styles. This door style is cheaper to build than a paneled door.

*Dated custom cabinetry - These exposed hinges are cheap*

*Dated cabinetry with old style hinges.*

*Dated custom cabinetry - Sooo much exposed face frame, it just appears bulky and chopped up*

Why is this style cabinet door cheaper?

Because most carpenters can just cut the boards and mouldings to create this particular door style and did so, likely, on site when the house was built. A paneled door style requires special equipment, knives and assembling done by a more specialized shop.

Sometimes cabinet boxes are built by a local carpenter and then doors can be ordered from a special shop that has the equipment to make paneled doors.

That’s fine. I like that method if the local carpenter doesn’t have the equipment to do the doors I want.

These cabinets in my kitchen have a full overlay style; a style where the doors overlay the face frame, making for a clean, simple look with doors butted together showing only a tiny reveal. They achieve more storage room and accessibility with the cabinet.

These cabinets have Euro hinges and full-extension glides, some have soft-close. They have trash drawers, divided storage, pull-outs, deep drawer space for great storage, and, because of the full overlay…no center stile. :-)

*Divided custom storage with no center stile*

Here’s a center stile, seen when you open the double door cabinet up. The word stile refers to the vertical members of the cabinet face frame. See how that stile or middle vertical board limits the accessibility of that cabinet? It’s just more awkward to move dishes in and out.

Here’s a cabinet with no center stile. Nice, right? ;-)

*Upper kitchen cabinet with no center stile*

Refrigerator Cabinets

I almost always try to build a cabinet around a refrigerator when I do a remodel, because then storage comes out flush with the face of the fridge, making it much more accessible. It’s also a nice place to go to the ceiling with cabinets to get even more storage there.

Honestly, if you have an upper cabinet that just runs across your refrigerator at 12” deep, the same depth as the rest of your upper cabinets, how much do you really access that storage???? I’ll bet there are things up there you don’t even remember you own.

This is so much better, no?

*Cabinet enclosing refrigerator - Full overlay style doors*

*Divided storage above refrigerator with no center stile*

So, if you’re considering a remodel and think you might want to leave the cabinets and just paint them, consider this info I shared here.

Oh, and by the way...

You can see more about my kitchen cabinets’ interiors at this link.

Do you need a beautiful kitchen or bathroom designed just for you? If you’re in The Woodlands or far north Houston, you can contact me here.

If you need a specific question answered or just need a little help pointing you in the right direction about the design of your space, click through for this Q&A service.

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Why Your Custom Cabinetry Might Not Be 'All That'