{"id":2426,"date":"2025-03-24T15:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/2025\/03\/24\/remodeling-101-what-to-know-about-installing-kitchen-cabinets-and-drawers\/"},"modified":"2025-03-24T15:59:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:59:00","slug":"remodeling-101-what-to-know-about-installing-kitchen-cabinets-and-drawers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/remodeling-101-what-to-know-about-installing-kitchen-cabinets-and-drawers\/","title":{"rendered":"Verbouwen 101: wat u moet weten over het installeren van keukenkastjes en -lades"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Installing kitchen cabinets isn\u2019t a job for your average homeowner. Think about the total weight of all the ceramics, glassware, and appliances stored in your wall-mounted cabinets\u2014and how disastrous it would be if those cabinets came tumbling down. Enough said? Let\u2019s leave installation to the pros.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re planning a major kitchen remodel, trying your hand at designing your kitchen yourself, or just want to be in the know when talking with the contractors, it helps to have some basic cabinet info. We asked Scott Bird of Danish company Reform, which makes custom cabinet fronts for Ikea cabinets (and now has a Brooklyn showroom), for a cabinet cheat sheet, everything from how much of a gap to leave between the upper cabinets and the counter, to where not <\/em>to install drawers. Scott emphasizes that a lot of cabinet decisions depend on the style you\u2019re going for. But at Reform, he says, they like to have the upper cabinets mirror the dimensions of the lower cabinets, because, as he says, \u201csymmetry is good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are some rules of thumb to keep in mind when it comes to kitchen cabinets.<\/p>\n

Cabinet Measurements<\/h2>\n


Above: Reform outfitted a Copenhagen apartment with mint-green base cabinets; see Kitchen of the Week: A Copenhagen Stylist Reinvents Her Kitchen, Ikea Hack Included for a full look. <\/p>\n

How deep should the cabinet boxes be?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Standard wall cabinets (sometimes referred to as \u201cupper cabinets\u201d) are 12 inches deep; standard base (below-counter) cabinets are 24 inches deep. But these days, says Scott, more companies are making wall cabinets 15 inches deep, which gives more storage space.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the optimum cabinet width?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A wider cabinet means a wider door, which takes up more space when it swings open\u2014something to consider if your kitchen isn\u2019t roomy. \u201cYou\u2019ll see wider cabinets in bigger homes, with a more open setting,\u201d says Scott. \u201cThe most common width we do is 24 inches, which could either have one 24-inch door or two 12-inch doors,\u201d a workaround for those who want wide cabinet units in a smaller space. Scott says Reform sometimes installs 36-inch-wide cabinets; these could have two 18-inch doors that open from the middle out. Another space-saving idea: installing a door with a hinge on the top, rather than on the side, can work in smaller clearances for a wider wall cabinet.<\/p>\n

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Above: A well-proportioned countertop and base cabinets. Note also: the cabinetry with doors hinged on top that stash small appliances. Photograph from Kitchen of the Week: Practicality in White Marble. <\/p>\n

How high should the base cabinets be?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The standard height for base cabinets, including the countertop and the toe kick underneath, is 36 inches. But it depends on the different components: countertop, base cabinets, and toe kick. \u201cOur cabinet frames are 30 inches high, and the countertop varies\u2014we like a \u00be-inch countertop for a more modern look, and that allows for a taller toe kick. Most of the toe kicks we do are 4\u00bd inches.\u201d<\/p>\n


Above: The couple in this New York apartment took their double cabinet doors off of one unit. Fortunately, the cabinet boxes are frameless\u2014no framework or center panel divides the cabinet space. See Small-Space Solutions: 17 Affordable Tips from a NYC Creative Couple for a full look. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between framed and frameless cabinets?<\/h3>\n

Something you might not think about when shopping for cabinets, or having custom ones built: Some cabinets have a frame around the open portion that can get in the way of reaching in. \u201cReform uses European cabinets that are frameless\u2014that is, without an interior wood frame\u2014which gives you more storage space,\u201d Scott says. Look for frameless cabinets for a more streamlined, roomy option.<\/p>\n

Cabinet Installation and Placement<\/h2>\n


Above: Leave enough space between the countertop and wall cabinets to work, but not so much that you can\u2019t reach the upper cabinets. Photograph from A Food Blogger\u2019s Rustic DIY Renovation in Portland, OR, Dark and Moody Edition.,<\/p>\n

How high should wall cabinets be hung above the counter?<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe standard distance is 18 inches\u201d from the top of the counter to the bottom of the wall cabinet, Scott says. \u201cBut we subscribe to the Scandinavian design aesthetic, and we often put cabinets higher\u2014say, 24 inches above the counter, or even more. That creates a sense of openness and light.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, you want to be sure the cabinets are easy to access; Reform will put them lower so the height works for the client. But cabinets less than 18 inches above the countertop won\u2019t give you enough space to work underneath. And, a cabinet above a cooktop must leave the required amount of space for the range hood to work properly.<\/p>\n

And keep in mind: During an installation, the cabinets go in before the countertop, so the installer has to take into consideration the thickness of the countertop when measuring the position of the wall cabinets.<\/p>\n


Above: Drew Lang of Lang Architecture installed two levels of wall cabinets to take advantage of the tall ceilings in a Brooklyn brownstone kitchen. Note also: the concealed dishwasher. See more of this project at A House United: Reimagining a Brooklyn Brownstone. <\/p>\n

Should wall cabinets go all the way to the ceiling? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cIn places like New York, where storage is at a premium, you often see cabinets that go up to the ceiling,\u201d says Scott. \u201cIt does give a nice clean look, and you don\u2019t have that area up top that\u2019s hard to reach for cleaning.\u201d We\u2019ve been seeing the (almost) floor-to-ceiling cabinet trend take off lately; take a look at Trend Alert: 9 Kitchens with Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinetry.<\/p>\n

But Reform does many kitchens with wall cabinets that aren\u2019t that tall. \u201cIf you have the space and want to create a more open feel, you can do shorter wall cabinets\u2014or in some cases, no wall cabinets at all. A lot of our kitchens in Europe have only base cabinets; they\u2019re incredibly open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, wall cabinets do put things within easy reach. \u201cAnd they don\u2019t have to go wall-to-wall,\u201d says Scott. \u201cYou can have a mix\u2014perhaps some floating wall cabinets, some open space, and some open shelves.\u201d<\/p>\n

,<\/p>\n

What to Know About Drawers<\/h2>\n

\u201cDrawers look great, and if your drawers are neatly organized, it\u2019s so easy to get access to what\u2019s inside,\u201d Scott says. \u201cEven if something is way in the back, you can easily grab it.\u201d<\/p>\n

But drawers do cost more than doors. \u201cA door just needs two hinges, but a drawer has to have drawer slides, and they must be heavy-duty to handle the potential weight of the stuff inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where should I opt for drawers (and where should I avoid them)?<\/h3>\n

The only place you might not want a drawer is if you\u2019re doing a cooktop: You\u2019ll need to see how much clearance the cooktop takes up in the cabinet unit below. The same goes for under the sink. And for obvious reasons, you don\u2019t want drawers in wall (or upper) cabinets.<\/p>\n

Installing Cabinets in Tricky Places<\/h2>\n


Above: A solution for awkward corners: a one-door cabinet on one side, flush drawers on the other. See more of this kitchen at Kitchen of the Week: A Hamptons Kitchen with a Custom Island Sourced on Etsy. <\/p>\n

Are there places where cabinets shouldn\u2019t be installed?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Only for aesthetic reasons, says Scott. For instance, you might not want wall cabinets around a window, because they cut off light.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the best solution for a corner?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For an L-shaped corner, Scott finds a single door easiest and recommends a wall cabinet on one side (with a small gap of a half-inch or so at the corner, for the door to open) and open shelves on the other side. But other solutions exist for corner base cabinets: Ikea makes a corner cabinet with one door that has attached semi-circular shelves (they call it a pullout carousel) and another with two doors that fold at a hinge.<\/p>\n


Above: A slim Reform cabinet makes use of a tight spot; see Kitchen of the Week: A Sixties-Inspired Danish Ikea Hack, Now Coming to America. <\/p>\n

What should I know about installing cabinets in an island?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

,<\/p>\n

\u201cIslands have to be appropriately scaled for the size of the kitchen,\u201d Scott says. \u201cAlong with that, you must plan carefully to ensure there\u2019s enough clearance between the cabinets and the appliances around them.\u201d<\/p>\n


Above: Toe kicks can also be an opportunity for clever added storage, as seen in A Tiny Kitchen Made for Cooking: Everything You Need in 26 Square Feet over on The Organized Home. <\/p>\n

What should I know about the toe kick?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The toe kick\u2014the recessed bottom part of the base cabinet unit, where your toes can tuck underneath while you\u2019re cooking\u2014may just be the unsung hero of the whole kitchen cabinet. \u201cOur toe kicks aren\u2019t an afterthought, they\u2019re part of the design aesthetic,\u201d says Scott; they tend to leave about 4\u00bd inches for toe kicks. \u201cThey\u2019re a bit more recessed than normal, and usually exposed at the corner. Instead of having the cover panel on the side go from the top of the cabinet to the floor, we install a panel that only covers the cabinet, leaving the toe kick exposed on the side. It makes the cabinet look more like a piece of furniture.\u201d The material is also part of the design\u2014Reform might use laminate, aluminum, brass, black waxed MDF, or a natural oak for an extra detail.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one tip to keep in mind when installing cabinets? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Invest in appliances that can be disguised by cabinetry. \u201cA panel-ready dishwasher is one of my favorite upgrades,\u201d says Scott. \u201cYou get a nice sense of simplicity from what looks like a matching row of cabinets, not broken up by a stainless steel dishwasher door.\u201d<\/p>\n

A panel-ready fridge also looks good but will be more expensive. \u201cSince we like big fridges in America, that can cost as much as $5,000 extra. But you can upgrade to a panel-ready dishwasher for a few hundred bucks.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more on Reform (and some other custom-front favorites), see Ikea Kitchen Upgrade: 8 Custom Cabinet Companies for the Ultimate Kitchen Hack. Choosing a cabinet style? Consult Remodeling 101: A Guide to the Only 6 Kitchen Cabinet Styles You Need to Know.<\/p>\n

And for questions answered when it comes to remodeling the kitchen, see:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Remodeling 101: Shaker-Style Kitchen Cabinets<\/li>\n
  • Remodeling 101: A Primer on Kitchen Countertops<\/li>\n
  • Remodeling 101: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Grout and Caulk (but Were Afraid to Ask)<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Keukenkasten installeren is geen klus voor de gemiddelde huiseigenaar. Denk eens aan het totale gewicht van al het keramiek, glaswerk en apparatuur dat in je kasten aan de muur is opgeborgen - en hoe rampzalig het zou zijn als die kasten naar beneden zouden vallen. Genoeg gezegd? Laten we de installatie overlaten aan de professionals. Maar als je een grote keukenrenovatie plant, is proberen [...]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diy-projects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}