Our materials for
kitchen cabinets and fronts

Kitchen cabinets are an integral part of a kitchen. Without kitchen cabinets, kitchens would look quite cluttered as this is where the dishes and cooking utensils are stored. Kitchen cabinets are usually located under the countertop, but also above the countertop. To create sufficient space, the upper kitchen cabinets are usually shallower, while the lower cabinets are the same size as the countertop in depth. Kitchen cabinets have a kitchen door as a front, which is usually attached to the kitchen cabinet with two or three hinges.

Kitchens are increasingly equipped with large and wide drawers. Drawers have the advantage that you do not have to delve deep into a cupboard. Just pull out the drawer and you can directly access the kitchen materials. Kitchen cabinets are available in all kinds of materials. Ultimately, the materials chosen determine the appearance and durability of the kitchen.

What does a kitchen cabinet consist of?

A kitchen cabinet is also sometimes referred to by the Latin name for body, namely corpus. The corpus only includes the cabinet itself without the front. These are the two side walls, the bottom and top plates, the back wall and, if applicable, also the shelves. The front of the corpus is covered by a front. The thickness of the sheet material used for the kitchen cabinet may differ. This often depends on the brand of the kitchen. In most cases, sheet material of 16 or 19 millimeters thick is used. A front determines the front of the kitchen and is made of a certain material and in a certain style and gives kitchens the desired appearance. The side walls can also fulfill this role if they are visible. When choosing a new kitchen, it is therefore important to choose the right material that suits your needs.

Kitchen cabinets should be made of strong material. After all, they have to withstand a heavy load of pots, pans, crockery and possibly kitchen equipment. In almost all cases a type of wood is chosen. There are various types of wood and panels suitable for a kitchen cabinet.

MDF plates

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is the most commonly used material for kitchen cabinets. MDF consists of very finely ground wood fibers with glue that are steamed and pressed into MDF panels. The advantage of MDF is that the material is very fine, so splinters are not possible and the edges can also be finished smoothly. Because MDF is very easy to work with and can be milled into all kinds of shapes, the material is ideal for kitchen cabinets. Working with paint or varnish is also possible with MDF. And partly due to the bending strength and stability of MDF, this type of wood is one of the most chosen materials for kitchen cabinets. An improved version of MDF is HDF (High Density Fibreboard). The fibers in HDF are pressed even more strongly, creating an even stronger sheet material.

HPL plates

HPL stands for High Pressure Laminate and consists of pressed layers of fiberboard, plastic and a top layer of melamine, a synthetic resin. HPL is also widely used for laminate floors and can therefore also be provided with a decorative layer. The advantage of HPL plates is that it is a very strong and hard material that is wear-resistant and moisture-resistant. Processing HPL in kitchen cabinets ensures that the cabinets can hardly be damaged and can withstand a heavy weight.

The fronts usually determine the appearance and style of kitchens. That is why the front of a kitchen cabinet can also consist of many different materials that match the interior style.

Decolegno / Cleaf panels

Decolegno / Cleaf panels are ideal for kitchen cabinets and interior applications. Made of pressed wood fibers and resins, they offer durable and stable quality.

Available in a variety of textures and finishes, these panels suit a variety of styles. They are scratch-resistant, moisture-resistant and easy to clean. The panels are easy to machine, can be milled into all kinds of shapes and can be easily finished with paint or varnish.

In addition, Cleaf panels are often environmentally friendly due to the use of recycled wood fibers. Cleaf also offers HDF panels, which are even more robust and stable due to stronger pressing.

Decolegno / Cleaf panels offer aesthetics, durability and versatility for high-quality kitchen cabinets and interiors.

Plastic

Plastic kitchen cabinet doors are very commonly used. A distinction can be made between foil fronts and a front that has been treated with a melamine resin. Foil fronts are relatively cheap and the almost unlimited choice of colors and motifs also make foil fronts very popular. However, foil fronts are not among the kitchen cabinet doors of the highest quality. There is a risk that the foil will come loose over time and they are not very resistant to damage and heat. At Clear Kitchen we do not sell foil fronts due to quality considerations.

Acrylic fronts

Acrylic fronts are an excellent alternative to lacquer fronts. Solid acrylic fronts can be used, but also MDF with an acrylic plate on top. Acrylic fronts have a very nice gloss level and are available in all kinds of colors and designs. Acrylic fronts have a perfectly smooth surface, which makes cleaning very easy. A special anti-scratch layer can also be applied to it, so that scratches will not occur quickly.

Phoenix

This is a relatively new but already very popular material for the kitchen. Fenix NTM is a material with an extremely matte appearance. It has a massive appearance, but still feels silky soft. Thanks to the distinctive nanotechnology, fingerprints never remain on the surface, making it ideal for black kitchens. And with normal use, small scratches will disappear automatically due to the self-healing ability! It is easy to clean and therefore very hygienic.

Lacquer fronts

Lacquered fronts are very popular. In most cases, the front consists of MDF that is coated with a two-component lacquer. The two-component paint consists of a base layer and a layer for hardening the paint layer. The front will then be processed according to the customer's wishes until it has a matte, semi-gloss or high-gloss appearance. The quality of paint fronts is high and can be compared to car paint. High-gloss or a matte appearance give the whole a luxurious look and the possibilities of a lacquer kitchen are endless. We can have the kitchens sprayed in any desired NCS or RAL color.

Wood

A wooden front is timeless and can be used in modern, classic or robust kitchens. A wooden front can be designed in different ways. Firstly, there is the solid wooden front, where the entire front actually consists of a solid type of wood. The wood can then be treated in various ways by lacquering, plastering or sandblasting. A solid wood front cannot always be used as there is a risk of the door warping. It is much more common for a wooden front to consist of a frame of solid wood and the inside to be made of veneer.
Veneer is a thin layer of real wood glued to MDF, so you have the look of real wood without the disadvantages.

Stainless steel

A stainless steel front is often seen in professional catering kitchens. A stainless steel front is therefore extremely strong and virtually indestructible, so it guarantees a long lifespan. Stainless steel kitchens look very good in industrial settings because of their appearance, but stainless steel kitchens will also be an eye-catcher in other interior styles. A disadvantage may be that fingerprints will be clearly visible, as will scratches. Good maintenance is therefore necessary to keep a stainless steel front in good condition.

Glass

A front made entirely or partly of glass will look very nice in modern kitchens. In addition, all kinds of variations of glass are possible, such as milk glass, colored glass or sandblasted glass. In most cases, a glass front will be combined with another material, but a front made entirely of glass is also emerging. Glass also has very good properties, such as scratch-free and heat-resistant. A disadvantage may be that fingerprints are clearly visible.

Ceramics

With these kitchen fronts, a thin layer of stone is glued to a frame of MDF or aluminum. The 3mm top layer keeps the front lightweight, so the hinges are not overloaded. A ceramic kitchen has a very luxurious look and is easy to maintain. The material is scratch-resistant and can also be used as a countertop, making the kitchen completely unified. In general, these kitchen fronts are not used much as they are among the more expensive choices due to the processing.