Glossary
These are common terms that are seen throughout our website. Use the table of contents to the right for easier navigation. We routinely update this page. It was last updated in November 2023.
If you would like to see a term added, please feel free to contact us.
Table of Contents
A
Applique
An decorative wood carving.
B
A cabinet that sits on the floor that is designed to be covered with a countertop. Can have any combination of drawers, doors, shelves, or other storage options.
A cabinet with a face designed for another cabinet to cover the blind section. This allows all the space in the corner to be used.
C
A hinge not visible when the cabinet doors are closed.
A decorative support for a counter top or shelf.
A cabinet for use in a corner of a room.
A decorative molding that is attached to the top of cabinets.
Cabinet lines with the most available options including combinations of finish, style, and other features not found in semi-custom or RTA cabinets.
D
A method of corner joining that creates strong joints using a “dove tail” shaped tab and hole.
The drawer box is the structure of the drawer not including the drawer front.
The decorative front face of a drawer.
E
A wood product where pieces of woods such as fibers, strands, or chips are bound together to create an engineered wood.
A hinge that is visible when the cabinet door is closed.
F
A piece of material to match the cabinet style to fill gaps in cases where cabinets are not the perfect width to match the required dimensions.
The paint or stain that a cabinet is finished with after it is constructed.
Also known as European style cabinets, these cabinets do not have a front frame or stile. This creates a more open look and allows easier access.
G
A decorative finish that either accentuates the edges of a cabinet or creates an antique look.
The wood texture specific to the species of wood used to construct a cabinet.
K
A handle to open a cabinet door that is clasped around to grab. Usually attaches to the cabinet using one hole.
I
A section of cabinets and countertop not attached to the rest of the layout and is floating in the middle of the room.
L
A material created using layers. Usually a veneer attached to a structural layer.
A cabinet featuring shelves on a rotating base. Generally used in a corner base.
M
Medium density fiberboard. A more dense than plywood engineered wood product. Chosen for it’s strength over particle board.
The strip of material inside cabinets used to screw the cabinet into position.
A cabinet door with glass to allow the contents to be seen.
P
Cabinets with no walls behind it similar to an island, but a Peninsula is connected to the rest of the cabinet layout. Usually in an L shape acting as a room divider.
A cabinet door or drawer handle that is design to be reached through. Usually attaches to the cabinet using two holes.
A rectangular column resembling an embedded pier.
R
The loss of shape of a cabinet (twisting/warping) due to improper installation and/or handling.
This door and drawer style has a raised center section that is commonly surrounded by decorative details.
A door / drawer design that has thicker material surrounding a recessed center section that is flat.
S
A cabinet line that has more choices than the basic RTA cabinets, but at a price point lower than custom cabinet.
A cabinet style featuring 4 pieces of wood surrounding a squarely recessed center panel. Creates a very clean and simple look.
Small wedges of wood to help level cabinets during installation.
A wood finish used to color but maintain the wood’s natural grain.
The vertical pieces of a cabinet’s front structure.
The combination of finish and construction that create the look and feel of a cabinet.
A strip of wood that covers inconsistencies between the cabinet and walls or ceiling.
T
The recessed space under the front of a base cabinet.
V
A decorative piece that generally hangs below wall cabinets.
A thin layer of usually wood for decoration that is glued to another surface that creates the cabinet structure.
A cabinet designed specifically for a bathroom. A vanity usually includes a mirror, storage, and a sink. Oftentimes, bathroom plumbing is hidden inside the larger storage area of a vanity.
W
A cabinet designed to be attached and hung on a wall. Wall cabinets are also used in other places where a 12″ or 24″ deep cabinet is required.