Horizonial Wood Grain on Cabinets

10 years ago

In the planning stages or my kitchen renovation. I really like the look of horizontal wood grain, but the brands I have seen so far are using an engineered veneer or thermofoil finish on the doors to achieve this look (DuraSupreme and the various MasterCraft lines). If either of these finishes are well made, I would consider it.

However, I noticed when I look at pictures where actual hardwood or veneer is used, drawers seem to have the grain oriented horizontally by default, and the doors are oriented vertically. Since my plan is all drawers for the base cabinets, and very few upper cabinets, I think I would end up with the desired horizontal look and not have to settle for a "picture of wood". When I look at the drawers on my bedroom furniture, all of the grain is oriented horizontally.

For those of you will all drawers on the bottom, which way does your grain run? What type of wood and finish do you have?

For the professionals, is it possible to specify that a hardwood or hardwood veneer door has horizontal grain on a slab style door? If it is, is there an upcharge?

FYIW - I am still deciding on going with a KD or interior designer. The interior designer I am working with does work with an Amish cabinet maker, but that option might be out of my budget for cabinets.

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Comments (6)

Fori
10 years ago
Check out Henrybuilt's website. They do a lot of the horizontal grain.

There are some nice examples on this forum as well and I hope someone links you to them because I just can't remember to whom they belong right no!

Veneer is nice because you can match the grain across drawers, but for a less artsy look, going with solid wood is an equally appealing (but different) look.

Don't do fake wood grain. I just don't like it. :)
jakuvall
10 years ago
There are a number of brands that will do horizontal on both doors and drawers. I know Showplace offers it since I sell em.
As you noted in the lower price points these will be man made veneers. It also will NOT be grain matched from cabinet to cabinet. Once you are at the Dura price and up there are companies that will do real veneer, horizontal or vertical. At higher price points you can bet real veneer with horizontal grain matching.

BUT a word of caution on matching horizontal grain.

While a damaged drawer in a vertically matched cabinet only requires 2-4 drawerheads, a damaged door or drawer in a horizontally matched veneer will either:
- look very out of place when replaced if not matched
-require replacing everything.
-Or a really talented repair person.

This post was edited by jakuvall on Tue, May 21, 13 at 15:05
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dljmth
10 years ago
I really liked the look of the horizontal grain too. But my cabinet maker talked me out of it for the reasons jakuvall stated. With kids and a dog, if something happens to the cabinets it would be easier to replace a door and have it still look good. I wound up with custom rift cut oak with a custom stain of walnut/black/grey wash. It is very similar in style to the Henrybuilt cabinets. You may also want to check out Latitude cabinets. They have some really nice ones too. Don't know about quality or price, but they certainly looked nice!

Here is a link that might be useful: Latitude Cabinets
texaspenny
10 years ago
My few upper cabinet doors are grain matched horizontally, but my lower drawers are not matched. Honestly, I don't mind. From no where in the kitchen do I have a wide view of the cabinets - it's only 10ft wide. It's not something I wished I'd spent the extra money on.
ginny20
10 years ago
Did you see TexasPenny's recently posted finished kitchen? I think she must be modest not to have shown you herself. The horizontal grain on her cherry slab cabs is gorgeous.

I have solid cherry doors/drawer fronts, too, although with raised panel doors. The grain is horizontal on the drawers and vertical on the doors, as you say.

Here is a link that might be useful: TexasPenny's horizontal grain cherry cabs
texaspenny
10 years ago
aw shucks...**blushes**

Horizonial Wood Grain on Cabinets

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Fori

jakuvall

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texaspenny

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