Materials And Styles In Millwork And Cabinetry

One of the things we love the most about making custom cabinetry is how unique each and every project is. There are so many materials available, and so many styles of cabinets to choose from, and that’s without even considering the different stains and paints we can use.

To help you better understand all of your choices, we’ve created this guide to cabinet materials; we hope it inspires you! 

Popular Wood Choices For Custom Cabinets

Custom cabinets are almost exclusively made from high-quality hardwoods. The hardwood you’ll choose will depend on your aesthetic goals; all of the hardwoods we list here are strong enough to be used in cabinetry for decades. 

You should also be aware that it’s possible to combine different types of hardwood; you can use one hardwood for trim, another for the doors, and another for the body of the cabinets. Typically, cabinets are made using only one species of wood, but variety is the spice of life! 

Oak

Oak is a gorgeous hardwood that is almost never painted; stains are used to let the natural woodgrain and colour shine through. Both red oak and white oak are popular choices for cabinets; their relatively straight grain and incredible durability make them perfect for cabinetry, both aesthetically and structurally. 

Cherry

Cherry wood offers a number of unique characteristics that make it a beautiful choice for custom cabinets. The soft, smooth grain pattern offers a subtle, luxurious texture to cabinets. The wood is lightly coloured at first; over time, it begins to develop a deeper, darker colour with reddish hues. Clear coats are often used on cherry to allow its stunning colour-changing traits to shine.

Maple

Maple is one of Canada’s national symbols; it’s also an incredible wood for cabinet-making. The surface of maple is incredibly smooth; this means that you can use a stain or clear coat to allow the look of the natural wood to shine, or use a darker stain or a paint to customize the look of your cabinetry. 

Walnut

Want a dark, natural-looking wood for your cabinets? Look no further than walnut. This richly coloured wood changes colours over time, much like cherry, but instead of getting darker, light, almost milk chocolate tones begin to develop. You’ll want to let the natural look of your walnut cabinets shine; clear coats are the most popular way to finish walnut cabinets. 

Birch

Birch is one of the most widely available hardwoods; like cherry, it develops colour over time, developing yellow and red tints. We love birch wood for painted cabinets; much like maple, it has an incredibly smooth surface, which makes it easy to paint. Birch is porous, however, so stains and paints must be applied carefully to avoid blotches. In terms of price, birch is one of the most affordable hardwoods on the market. 

Exotic Woods

Want to venture into more exotic wood grains and colours? There is an astonishing array of different exotic woods available that can fit any aesthetic. Pinks, purples, oranges,  bold stripes, swirling grains, and more—exotic hardwoods can help you create unique cabinetry that matches your vision. 

MDF

Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is commonly used for cabinet doors and may be covered with wood veneers to give it a natural hardwood look. MDF is made by breaking down wood chips into wood fibres that are mixed with binders; it is a strong, affordable option for cabinet doors.

We highly recommend using MDF over alternatives like particleboard; particleboard is made from sawdust and is far less durable than MDF.

MDF is incredibly smooth, so it’s an excellent choice for painted cabinets; we often use it for contemporary cabinets where prominent wood grain can seem a little out of place. 

Sustainable Wood Options In Millwork

In millwork—and throughout the home renovation industry—sustainability has become a top priority. All wood is sustainable in theory, as any trees that are cut down can be regrown. Not all wood is harvested sustainably, however, and finding sustainable options for millworking is a priority for ethical woodworking companies.

With that in mind, here are a few sustainable options for wood in millwork:

Bamboo

Bamboo is not a true wood; it’s actually a grass that is structurally similar to wood. The advantage of bamboo is that it’s almost impossible not to harvest it sustainably; just like your lawn, when bamboo shoots are cut down, they grow back thanks to their extensive root system. Bamboo can be used for non-structural elements in millwork, and even some structural elements in millwork that won’t bear a lot of weight.

Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood is wood that was used in other products; you can find reclaimed wood from ox carts, barrels, and more. This is one of the most sustainable forms of lumber because it reduces the number of trees that need to be cut down for millwork. Reclaimed wood also offers a unique appearance thanks to the patina that forms on old wood products. 

FSC-Certified Lumber

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an internationally recognized not-for-profit organization that aims to improve sustainability in forestry. When lumber is FSC certified, it means that:

• The forests where the lumber was harvested are managed responsibly to prevent deforestation and degradation.

• The workers who harvested the lumber were properly trained and paid fair wages.

• Steps were taken to protect biodiversity.

• People living in and around the forest were consulted before harvesting.

FSC-certified lumber is widely available for a number of different species; check with your cabinet makers to see if they can source FSC-certified lumber for your cabinets. 

Contemporary Vs. Traditional Cabinet Styles

Traditional cabinets are typically made of solid wood, and warm stains or clear coats are used to emphasize the natural look of the wood. There are a few other traits that most traditional cabinets share in common:

• Ornate, decorative hardware

• Raised panels

• Carved details

Contemporary cabinets, on the other hand, tend to be sleek and minimalistic. Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) or high-density fibreboard (HDF) may be used instead of natural wood. Much like traditional cabinets, contemporary cabinets tend to share a few traits in common:

• Painted (often neutral colours like white, grey, and black)

• Minimalist hardware (or no hardware at all)

• No details—sleek finishes

Both traditional, solid wood kitchen cabinets and contemporary, sleek MDF cabinets have their place in modern home décor trends. Our Winnipeg custom cabinets are available in both traditional and contemporary styles; when you contact us for a consultation, we can help you determine which style is right for your home. 

Understanding Painted Vs. Stained Finishes

We’ve already talked a lot about paint and stains—let’s take a moment to discuss the difference between the two:

The key difference between paints and stains is that paints are designed to cover a surface, while stains are designed to be absorbed by a surface. Both impart your cabinets with a level of protection against the elements, and both stains and paint can add colour to your cabinets.

Typically, stains are used on solid wood kitchen cabinets, especially when the wood you’ve chosen has a beautiful natural colour or grain. Conversely, wood veneer cabinets are typically painted; engineered wood isn’t always the most attractive in its natural state, and a coat of paint can truly elevate your veneer cabinets. 

How To Choose Cabinet Hardware: Knobs, Pulls, And Hinges

Of all the types of cabinet materials available, hardware may be the most diverse. You can get hardware in stainless steel, copper, brass, and other metals, as well as in plastic, and even in wood. Some pieces of hardware are even made using a combination of different materials; you’ll definitely be able to find something that matches your aesthetics.

Knobs and pulls are two of the most common pieces of hardware for cabinets. Knobs are rounder, smaller, and typically more ornate, while pulls are longer and offer a better grip. 

Both knobs and pulls can be used on either traditional or contemporary cabinetry, though knobs are more common on the former and pulls are more common on the latter. Larger cabinet doors are also more likely to be equipped with pulls, as they offer more leverage. In a similar vein, we typically recommend pulls for people who may find it challenging to grip knobs.

Hinges are the mechanisms that allow cabinet doors to open and close; you’ll typically want hinges that match the hardware of your cabinetry. Some cabinet hinges are made from the same wood that the cabinet itself was built from.

Finally, if you’re looking into contemporary cabinetry, consider cabinets without knobs or pulls. Push-to-open cabinet doors are fairly popular; they’re also a great choice for anyone who might not have the grip strength for pulls or knobs. 

We can incorporate any number of different materials into your cabinetry; if you’re looking for custom cabinet makers near you, you’re in the right place. Contact True Millwork today!