Are you talking about the doors?

Um honestly I think it's everything

Chess - I'm pretty sure no one NEEDS 1 inch cabinets. It's simply an esthetic design thing. I mean at least that what I seem to have taken out of it. The cabinets at 1 inch thickness do feel much more solid. But it's an upcharge. Darn I hope someone who knows more about this or has done it, or builds custom would weigh in

Molly..my last house had 3/4" sidewalls and 1" doors, drawer fronts, and front walls. They were very nice. The doors felt very substantial and solid. Are they necessary? No. Are they worth the increase? That's up to you, lol.

I've found a custom local company that is doing the same for (slightly) less money. I have my sample door if you want a pic of the thickness, let me know.

I don't think it adds anything significant to the structure except weight.

molly4669, That's my point. I don't think it buys you anything. My doors and drawer fronts are 1", but the rest is 3/4", and all very very solid. Maybe make sure they are talking about the boxes though, and not just the doors/drawers.

I have no idea what the size was on my old cabinets, but when I got new ones, they were 3/4". Imagine my surprise when my new 36" upper dish cabinet did not hold as much as my old ones did! Duh! I should have realized this but did not! ALL my cabinets are smaller than before. If I had 1", they would be ridiculously small. No one needs 1" cabinets - even 3/4 inch is a bit of overkill.

Chess - so you do have 1 inch doors and drawer fronts?

Hmmmm maybe it is just the doors and drawer fronts

ok chess if so do you think it adds a lot to go with 1 inch doors and drawer fronts

If you are doing inset, verify that the face frames would also be upgraded to 1". In many lines they are not. That leaves the doors proud of the face frames by 1/4", which with the right door profile, can be a great intentional look. But, it's one more detail that you need to study to make sure it is correct for how you want it to be. If you are doing it for that deliberate design detailing that it adds, like a beaded face frame, that's one thing. But doing it just because it's an "upgrade" is another. It adds zero to the cabinet's functionality, and is not an inconsiderable cost. Cost that I'd suggest that the customer spend on another useful upgrade like the servo drive for the trash, or better under counter lighting, or a specialty muntin door. All of that adds far more to the end result than 1/4" thicker doors.

molly4669, the width of the my cabinet doors are a hair over an inch thick. I just measured the drawer boxes - the front of the actual box is 1/2 inch, and the front itself, is 3/4". But that is just how my cabs are built - they were here when I bought the house. Would I pay to upgrade them from 3/4" thick to an inch? No, I would not. I just can't see where it would make one bit of difference, other than in my pocketbook.

Most of the time they refer to the fronts of the doors and drawers and in all honesty it is up to you, you will not gain anything by purchasing 1" thick doors/drawer fronts.

If you can use the additional cost for that toward something else then that is great too. Maybe an extra cutley divider, pull out spice rack, etc....

For ridiculous one upsmanship bragging rights only. It adds nothing at all to how you will use your kitchen.

I think whether to go thicker or not has to do with the door style, and I suppose some styles look good with a really thick door. A rustic kitchen or a very traditional large kitchen with the sort of cabinetry that would never have been put in a kitchen until the last couple decades...more like Library or Dining room built ins in style.

Personally I am going with an old fashioned partial overlay/partial inset, because I want the doors to look thinner...it's appropriate to my kitchen.

I handle a line that has some 1" thick doors. They also originally offered 1" thick face frames as an option, about two years ago they made that standard (QCCI a high end brand) When they changed from 3/4 to 1" frames the base cabinet size increased to 24-1/2" and wall cabinets from 13 to 13-1/2" (the face frame cabinets are primarily inset as they offer a frameless for full overlay)

My take is that either is entirely aesthetic. There are door styles that I like better at 1" since the framing bead can be more robust and in some cases longer. (not the one pictured but some more contemporary styles.

The one place that 1" frames matter is when using a decorative edge on the frame other than a bead, with the door slightly inset. To me these are best used sparingly, as features or in furniture pieces.