Cabinet Guide

Cabinet Guide

Launch your cabinet project with confidence!

There’s no better place to launch your cabinet project than Only Cabinets. Here, you’ll find one of the widest selections of top-quality, import cabinets in the industry. Choose from five styles and accessory options priced at the best value.
Unsure where to begin?
Follow our Step-by-Step Guide or simply contact our expert designer team ()—they’ll take the complexity out of the process and work with you one-on-one to understand your budget, needs, and style. You’ll feel confident in your decisions every step of the way from room measurement and layout to your cabinets’ material, finish, and hardware. Best of all, our design services are entirely free.
Contact us today to get started on your cabinet project!

Getting Started

Our wide selection, excellent values, and focus on quality puts new or enhanced cabinetry well within your reach. Launch your dream into reality with these common starting points.

Common Kitchen Layouts

A kitchen project requires careful consideration of its potential layout. You’ll want to create efficiencies in this command central where you cook, eat, socialize, and conduct life’s business.

The key to proper workflow in the kitchen is the positioning of its three main zones: the sink, the refrigerator, and the range. These zones should create a “work triangle” within the space so you can easily move from one to the next.

There are five main kitchen layouts: U-shaped, G-shaped, L-shaped, single wall, and galley. They each facilitate proper arrangement of work zones. Some layouts will work better than others for your particular space and needs.

U-SHAPED:
Continuous countertops and cabinetry surround the range on three sides to maximize workspaceLarger U-shaped kitchens can accommodate multiple workstations and cook Favored for their versatility; fit well in most spaces
 

G-SHAPED:
Like U-shaped, surrounds the range on three sides

Includes an additional partial wall of cabinets

Best in a home with an open floor plan

 

L-SHAPED:
Creates a natural work triangle with continuous counter space and workstations on two adjacent walls

Typically opens into a nearby room, making the kitchen a social space

 

SINGLE WALL:
Ideal for smaller homes

The one exception to the work triangle, instead creates a “work line” with all three zones positioned against a single wall

 

GALLEY:
Features a corridor layout that best accommodates a single cook

Work zones face one another on parallel walls to create a small work triangle

 

Successful design begins with solid measurements, which are easy to achieve with our step-by-step measuring guide. (Hint: There’s no need to pay expensive measuring fees.) Start here and remember: If you have any questions, our design experts are always happy to assist you.

To measure your space, simply use a white sheet of paper and follow these simple steps. Be sure to take all measurements in inches and focus on accuracy versus scale.

  1. Make a list.

Before you set out to measure your space, consider your goals. Make a list of the things you like and dislike about your existing space or what you hope to achieve in a new space. Do you dream about miles of countertops? Do you covet your neighbor’s kitchen island? Do you need an area in which to pay bills or do homework?

Think about what type of sink you’d like, as well as overhead, decorative, and task lighting. If you have already purchased or are reusing your appliances, you will need to list and measure them to ensure a proper fit in your new kitchen.

  1. Measure Wall-to-Wall

Your first step is to measure your room wall-to-wall.

  1. Make a Rough Sketch

On the grid make a rough drawing of the shape of your room. Be sure to include every wall, door, window, bulkhead or soffit, and any protrusions or recessed areas.

  1. Measure Wall Sections

A wall section is the point between one corner of the wall to the outside edge of a window or doorway. Measure all the wall sections in your room. Again, record these measurements carefully.

  1. Measure Windows and Doors

Measure each window and door from the outside edge of its casing or trim. Be sure to note the direction the doors open into the room.

  1. Find the Center of the Sink

Locate the centerline of the sink by measuring from one corner of the wall.

  1. Find the Center of the Range

Locate the centerline of the range by measuring from one corner of the wall.

  1. Measure Floor-to-Ceiling

Measure from floor-to-ceiling in several locations throughout the room. Record the smallest dimension (in inches) on your sketch. For bulkheads/soffits, record the distance from the floor to the bottom of the bulkhead. Also measure the depth of the bulkhead. For vaulted ceilings, record the smallest and greatest dimensions.

  1. Locate Outlets and Fixtures

Using a symbol ( outlet; $ switch; * fixture), mark the location of each electrical and phone outlet, switch, and light fixture. Indicate on your sketch the height from the floor and the distance to the nearest corner. Also note any additional cabinet interference, including heating vents, plumbing, etc.

  • A new home project is an opportunity to showcase your signature style. That said it never hurts to gain a little inspiration. Spark your creativity with these national design trends.
  • Simple, subtle cabinetry in classic colors headline kitchen and bath trends. Homeowners seem in it for the long haul, opting for flexible styles and colors that can evolve over time. Consider some of the year’s top trends, as you plan your design project.
  • Black and white will always remain popular—a contrast that is at once clean and dynamic. This year look for black countertops paired with bright, white cabinetry. To warm the scene, consider adding natural elements such as a wood floor or backsplash.
  • Dark, rich cabinets such as our espresso cabinets hang in many a home this year. Their deep coloring adds a dramatic feel that is perfect for an urban loft. To lighten the look, consider light or white backsplashes and countertops.
  • Everyone’s seeing blue and grey this year. These timeless colors are appearing on cabinets, walls, and accents. Cool and soothing, they are ideal for a bathroom. Lighter tones will enlarge a room, while deeper hues feel cozy.
  • Splashes of color add an element of surprise to the year’s neutral scenes. Consider hot pink on a ceiling or a cheery yellow accent wall. If color makes you nervous, confine it to accessories such as rugs and bath towels.
  • Farmhouse sinks are still at large. In fact they may become a design staple. Spacious, deep, and neutral in color, it’s easy to see why this trend continues.
  • Art deco dominates the details this year. Consider bold vertical and horizontal lines and silver tones when choosing cabinetry hardware. Why not incorporate a frosted-glass cabinet door and chrome fixtures?
  • Earthy cabinetry finishes in greens, greys, and graphite set a neutral color palette that remains ever popular. It’s no surprise why: When it comes to color, Mother Nature is rarely wrong.
  • Open shelves and glass-front cabinets are on the rise this year. Beautiful in and of themselves with various etched, layered, and textured styles they also display your beautiful things.

No matter what your budget, we guarantee you’ll have a wide selection of quality cabinets to choose from when you shop at Only Cabinets. Defining your budget upfront identifies your best value and ensures that you don’t get bogged down in unnecessary decisions.

Defining your budget doesn’t have to be painful. In fact it starts with window-shopping! Take in these top tips to working out a budget.

  1. Plan ahead. Before you take a wrecking ball to your space, go through the design process. Make all your decisions—cabinet type, appliances, lighting, etc.—and determine how much your selections will cost. Be sure to save 10 to 20 percent of your budget for any potential extras added along the way.
  1. Based design decisions on value and quality. The upfront cost of things is an important consideration as you design your space. But be sure to consider the long-term investment of your project as well. You’ll want the best quality you can afford to ensure your investment lasts.
  1. Work in stages. A big reveal is always fun, but it can be easier on the budget to complete your project in stages. Start with the cabinets and live with your old appliances or vice versa.
  1. Be creative. There is often more than one way to achieve your goals. Consult with our experienced in-store design teams. They can suggest products at varying price points that will all achieve your desired look.
  1. Consider enhancements. You may not need to reinvent the wheel. If you are happy with your layout and the arrangement of your cabinets, simply enhance or replace cabinet doors for a whole new look.
  1. Keep everything in its place. Moving plumbing, wiring, and jacks can get really expensive, really fast. If possible, maintain the present location of major fixtures, appliances, and utilities (think sinks, stoves, tubs, toilets…)
  1. Do it yourself. Some people get giddy over DIY projects, while others run for the hills. If you’re in the latter group: For the sake of your budget, we entreat you to reconsider. Simply painting your own walls or, if you’re feeling a bit braver, doing your own demo work, can save you thousands of dollars. And you never know—you may even find it fun!