When shopping for kitchen cabinets, it is important to know that these are made up of different components, and that these components follow specific measurements that comply with interior design standards. These standards are followed mainly because of two reasons:
1. Manufacturers will be able to produce components that readily fit into existing installations, which is equally convenient for consumers.
2. These measurements are intended to give maximum safety and comfort as determined by rigorous studies and recommendations.
Components
A typical kitchen cabinet set is composed of several base and wall boxes which at times include a few trims and miscellaneous add-ons which serve a specific purpose.
A base cabinet is any storage box which rests on the floor by means of a base. A base can be a set of legs or feet like bracket feet, or an enclosed or scrolled base. These are installed against the wall, or as kitchen islands. A standard base cabinet has a height of 34.5 inches and depth of 24 inches. The following are examples of such that are included in a kitchen cabinet set.
• Drawer Cabinets - have 3 drawer levels instead of doors or shelves.
• Sink Cabinets - the base cabinet that is found directly underneath the sink.
• Corner Base Cabinets - are situated at corners and typically has a "Lazy Susan" or blind corner pull out units.
• Angle Cabinets - have boxes which are angled, rather than rectangular in shape.
• Spice Racks - have pull-out racks where small spice bottles can be organized.
Wall cabinets have a height of 30 inches and a depth of 12 inches. The width of both wall cabinets and base cabinets start at a minimum of 12 inches to a maximum of 48 inches, with increments of 3 inches between sizes. The width of the wall kitchen cabinets should always be the same as those of the base cabinets.
• Wall Blind Corner Cabinets - are situated at corners and have rectangular shaped boxes.
• Wall Diagonal Corner Cabinets - are situated in such a way that the door cuts across the 90 degree angle of the corner. This allows the door to open at a wider angle.
• Angled Wall Cabinets - have non-rectangular boxes, allowing for more storage space at corners.
• What Not Wall Shelf Cabinet - is a kind of shelf cabinet used more for displaying decorative items.
• Open Shelf Wall Cabinet - are shelves without doors.
