Cabinet Design 101

Talk like a cabinet design pro

While choices are great, they can also be overwhelming if you don’t have a basic understanding of the products and their differences. We’ve gathered some information on key product elements to give you an overview of the details of cabinetry.

Putting Together the Design of a Functional Kitchen

As you begin to look at different cabinet lines, you’ll notice that they are usually classified into categories such as Wall, Tall, Base, Vanity, Other Room and Accessories. These categories are intended to provide quick reference points to help you navigate the breadth of the lines and number of cabinet options that are available to you.

Wall category consists of cabinets that are hung on the wall, sometimes called upper cabinets
Base, Tall, and Vanity are designed to rest on the floor, sometimes called lowers

Cabinet Construction Types

How a cabinet is built determines how it looks and functions. Hinges, shelving and even finishing options can vary greatly depending on the type of construction used. These basics will help you determine what construction type is best for you.

Our Framed Cabinets

Framed is the more traditional construction type, with rails and stiles forming a “frame” at the front of the cabinet box. Framed cabinets attach door hinges to frame face and wall shelves are usually adjustable. Partial, and full overlay door styles can be used with framed cabinets.

Cabinet Door Style Details

Raised panel - The center panel of the door is elevated
Recessed or Flat Panel – The center panel of the door is set lower
Full Overlay – The door of the cabinet overlays (or covers) the entire face frame
Partial Overlay – The door of the cabinet only partially overlays, leaving part of the matching frame exposed

Innovative Organization Design Ideas

Unlike other cabinet brands, Diamond doesn’t just build cabinets to store things, we engineer our cabinets for intelligent organization. From extra storage for bulk shoppers to roll-trays for easy visibility, these innovative features clear clutter and make your life easier. See Innovative Organization for more details.