Cabinet Types: Custom, Simi-custom and stock, What the Difference?
November 5, 2014It can be somewhat difficult to traverse the world of home furniture, especially when this specific niche of products has a language all its own. One of the most common, if not integral parts of home furnishings is cabinets. Most homeowners would normally not pay cabinetry any heed, especially since most cabinets found in homes nowadays are of the pre-fabricated varieties. These can be drab in appearance. However, there are some cabinet varieties that are more than just the usual fare.
Custom cabinets are just these types – high-end cabinetry made with excellent top-class material and the finest in artisanal skill. The craftsmanship is makes it a whole other type of furnishing on its own, apart and unique from pre-fabricated cabinets that litter the current market. There is a clear-cut difference between run-of-the-mill cabinetry and custom cabinetry, although this tends to be somewhat vague for the newbie buyer. To help in this regard, here is a quick guide to what’s what in the world of custom cabinets.
A Sneak Peak into Cabinetry Types
When it comes to cabinetry, the most common varieties which are readily available on the market tend to be stock variety cabinets, although in the higher rung of the home-furnishing ladder, custom cabinets and semi-custom cabinets are also available. Here’s a quick look at the difference between the three:
Stock cabinets – as the name suggests, stock cabinets are prefabricated cabinets that are made of second-grade wood or compounded wood alternatives. Some are even made of mono-block hard plastics or metal. Stock cabinets are often made as a quick means to obtain implements to store or display things on. While they are not always made from the finest of materials, these are nevertheless serviceable, and some of the more well-known brands do actually last.
Stock cabinets may also be prefab cabinetry already pre-installed in houses. These types are usually coordinated with the given colour-scheme of the house. Cabinets of this sort are often very difficult to modify or customize, and may be made of low-grade material that, while functional, is nowhere near the quality of customized cabinets.
Semi-custom cabinets – semi-customized cabinets may either be cabinets that have been revamped from stock or prefab cabinetry, usually with the addition of other tiers or features such as sliding glass or wooden panels, or they may be a variant of stock cabinets which have been customized to suit a homeowner’s tastes. Such customizations are usually performed on pre-installed stock cabinets prior to the homeowners’ moving in.
Some semi-custom cabinets even come from second-hand prefab or stock cabinets that have been redone in some way or the other to make it more functional or aesthetically appealing. Semi-custom cabinets tend to be far more durable than stock cabinets, although the lasting structural integrity of these furnishings is still predominantly dependent on the original material that was customized.
Custom cabinets – custom cabinets are literally the crème of the crop of cabinetry. Made from high-quality material such as rare and / or costly hardwoods and other high-end materials, often executed with artisanal skill and masterful craftsmanship, these cabinets can range between midway-affordable to downright costly. However, they are a worthy long-term investment that benefits a home or or business location, especially if they are made by well-known craftsmen or from rare materials.
Not only are these types of cabinets extremely durable and long-lasting when made from high-end woods, their innate beauty also improves with age thanks to old-fashioned finishes such as French Polishing, which pale in comparison to modern glosses and varnishes. Custom cabinets are on an entirely different playing field from stock and semi-custom cabinetry, with their own set of superior aesthetics that make investing in them a worthwhile venture.
Cabinet Decor Pty Ltd.
56 Cubitt Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121
Phone: (03) 9428 6967
Mobile: 0417 286 967
Fax : (03) 9428 9425
Email: asher@cabinetdecor.com.au
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