Considering an update in your kitchen?

If you're thinking about updating your kitchen cabinets, but don't want to foot the bill for a whole new kitchen, there are still numerous options available to you for your upgrade.

Listed here are the three major styles of cabinet doors - slab, recessed panel and raised panel. If you're considering refinishing your existing cabinets, these will help guide you in your decision on finish options. If you're considering redooring, then these will help guide you on a style that best suits your personal taste.

To see a selection of available door options, please visit our door options page. You can also view available top mounted crown moldings.

Flat or "Slab"

Slab doors are constructed from multiple pieces of solid wood which are glued together to form a solid, flat surface. Slab style doors and fronts are common with contemporary styled cabinets due to their clean, minimalistic appearance.

Apart from being a stylish option, slab doors have the benefit of also being realtively inexpensive compared with the other door styles, due to the reduced construction costs associated with this less complcated style of door.

Slab doors work well in both stains and solid colour finishes, though they do not lend themselves well to glazing or other finish enhancements.

Slab style kitchen cabinet doors look great in any colour, and oversized handles in nickel, brushed steel, or black help to enhance the sleek look.

Recessed panel

Recessed panel, or "flat panel" kitchen cabinet doors styles are very common, the most common of course being the shaker. Recessed panel doors are constructed using a thin panel, usually 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick, with a solid wood frame.

Recessed panel doors have an appearance that is more casual than traditional or contemporary, and look fantastic in whites and cremes. Kitchens with this style of door look beautiful with smaller nickel or brushed steel handles and knobs, and some styles such as the beaded inset panel can look stunning with a glaze applied.

Flat panel doors work well in stain finishes, solid colour finishes and custom finishes. While a solid colour will give a more casual feel, a stain will lean more to the traditional side, and a custom finish such as a glaze or chalked finish will give a casual look a unique character.

Recessed panel doors are in the middle when it comes to price. They are more expensive than slab, but less expensive than the raised panel door styles.

Raised panel

Raised panel kitchen cabinet doors are the most traditional of all styles. Constructed of solid wood, the panel is the same thickness as the frame that surrounds it. Often this style will also have mouldings applied, giving it a much "heavier" look than either slab or recessed panel doors.

Raised panel doors work well in stain finishes, and solid colour finishes as well when glazes, antiquing, distressing or chalking are used in conjunction. This style of door also works well in black, providing a mysterious and rich feel and look, and is the best candidate for a rub-through finish. Use smaller, less pronounced hardware so as not to overwhelm the details of the door.

Raised panel doors are the most expensive of door styles, due to both the greater amount of wood used, and their more complicated construction methods.