Learn the language
From mullion doors and tall cabinets to Thermofoil and toe-kick, our glossary of cabinetry terms is designed to turn the novice user into a well-versed contributor to the design of any project.
The Basic Cabinet Elements
Cabinet Joinery Methods
Dovetail Joint: (Slide 01.)
Dovetail joints are considered one of the strongest joints in the industry and are a fine solution for cabinetry drawer boxes.
Mortise & Tenon: (Slide 02.)
Commonly used for 5-piece cabinet doors and drawers, this joinery technique is known for its strength and versatility.
Mitered: (Slide 03.)
A joint made by beveling each of two parts to be joined, usually at a 45° angle. This joinery technique gives cabinet ends a seamless appearance and adds strength to cabinet doors.
Cabinet Door Construction Types
Full Overlay Cabinets: (Slide 01.)
This is a cabinetry door construction style where the cabinet doors and drawer fronts are sized to cover most of the cabinet face frame, leaving minimal space (reveal) between adjacent doors. This option creates a more custom look and is one of our most popular styles.
Standard Overlay Cabinets: (Slide 02.)
Also known as Traditional Overlay, this construction type has a more exposed face frame (wider reveal) compared to Full Overlay cabinet doors when the doors and drawers are in the closed position.
Inset Cabinets: (Slide 03.)
This cabinetry construction method is crafted by hand-fitting the door and drawer front within the face frame of the cabinet, giving a full view of the cabinet frame, and having the doors/drawers flush with the face frame. Inset cabinetry is a popular and distinctive look inspired by early American furniture makers and offers an authentic, hand-crafted look with timeless appeal.
Raised Panel Doors
This type of door style has a raised center panel with a specific profile or contour or both. Raised panel cabinet doors work well for traditional and transitional looks.
Cabinet Finishes & Materials
Glaze Finish:
An artistic, hand-applied finish technique where a semi-transparent color is applied over the entire stained or painted finish for added depth and dimension by highlighting and accentuating the carved details of the cabinetry. Dura Supreme offers two types of glazes: a full-coverage glaze which is sprayed over the entire surface and tints the base stain color, and an “accent” glaze that is hand-applied with a small brush only along profiles and edges.
Distressed:
This finish technique is hand-detailed by a finish artisan to create a weathered, aged, or antiqued appearance.
Acrylic Cabinets:
This offers either a reflective, high-gloss finish with a smooth and glossy sheen to your cabinetry or an ultra-matte finish with a soft and flat finish. A preferred option for high-end modern or contemporary styled designs.
Veneer Cabinets
In addition to Dura Supreme’s standard veneers, we also offer a selection of exotic veneers including Bamboo, Walnut, Shale, and White Oak.
Laminate Cabinets:
This is a man-made cabinet finish made with carefully crafted layers of Kraft paper impregnated with melamine resin, providing a truly consistent color and texture. Dura Supreme’s High Pressure Laminate (HPL) finish is infused at high pressures resulting in a finish which is extremely versatile, durable, and consistent.
Thermofoil Cabinets:
Also known as “foil cabinets,” these cabinets use a flexible vinyl finish material which is applied by heating and molding the vinyl over the cabinetry wood. Many are attracted to Thermofoil cabinets because of their easy care and maintenance.
Cabinetry Storage Terms
Pull-Out: (Slide 01.)
A cabinet storage accessory that can be opened with one motion. This is where opening the cabinet door or drawer also “pulls out” the storage accessory at the same time.
Roll-Out: (Slide 02.)
A cabinet storage accessory that can be “rolled out” after the cabinet door is opened, allowing the user to easily access items stored in the back of a cabinet.
Soft-Close
Also known as “Quiet-Close,” Soft-Close drawers and doors include hardware with a built-in ability to be silent and self-closing. The Soft-Close feature softens any slamming noise and helps prevent damage to the cabinetry.
*All of Dura Supreme’s product lines automatically include Soft-Close cabinet drawers and doors.
