The 5 Biggest Cabinet Shopping Misconceptions (and how to avoid them!)

After more than three years of running our Ask A Cabinetmaker group, we've had conversations with thousands of homeowners shopping for cabinets. One thing we've noticed is that a few of the same misconceptions keep popping up.

So I wanted to put together a quick guide to clear up some of the most common ones and hopefully make the cabinet-buying process a little easier.

Let's jump right in!

Solid Wood Is Always Best

While this is sometimes true, it is not always the case. Veneer, specifically in the cabinet box itself, and slab or slim-Shaker doors, is actually superior to solid wood.

Design and photo credit: Alicia Roche

Solid wood will shrink and swell with the seasons, and veneer stays exactly the same year round. We do a deeper dive into veneer vs solid wood here.

Maple is Blotchy When Stained

This is just simply not the case. Maple turns blotchy when it is stained incorrectly (see below). Unfortunately, what we see a lot of is painters and cabinetmakers that don't have the right skill set attempting very complicated finishes. Those finishes rarely turn out well, so then excuses are made: "wood is wood", "maple is blotchy", etc.

While it is true that maple can be difficult to stain, it's by no means an excuse for poor work. There a bunch of different ways to stain maple without it blotching, spray-stain and a process called toning are two. These are most common, so be sure that whomever you have finishing your cabinets is plenty familiar.

This door below is an excellent example of toning on maple: very even color and tone throughout.

All White Oak Is The Same

White oak cabinetry has been the most popular option in North America for years now, but like most things in cabinetry, requires some nuance. There are different ways an oak log is milled, each creating a unique grain pattern:

Flat-sawn oak will have wider arching grain:

Rift-sawn oak will have tighter, parallel grain:

Quarter-sawn oak will have little squigly lines on top of the grain called "ray flecking":

Check out our complete guide to white oak cabinetry here to lean more.

Custom Means Quality

This could not be further from the truth. While there are lots of exceptional custom shops in the US, unfortunately, there seem to be just as many sub-standard ones. The majority of the disasters we see in the Ask A Cabinetmaker Facebook group have come from unqualified cabinetmakers biting off way more than they can chew.

Here is how to make sure you're working with one of the good ones.

Stained Finishes Are As Simple As Picking A Minwax Color

For whatever reason, finishing is a complete afterthought in many shops. Finishing, especially staining, is often an entire process, not just one product, and very complicated.

Inspo above, what was delivered below. This is a perfect example of someone that didn't really know what he or she is doing opening a can of stain and start wiping. The finish in the inspo photo would actually require about 10 different steps using 4 different products.

Any good finisher will be able to look at a few of your inspiration photos and come up with a few options using his or her tried and true process. Once selected, that finish system's formula (sanding, dyeing, staining, toning, top-coating, etc) is applied to two sample doors: one for them and one for you. The former acts as the finish control for the entire project, and yours is kept to verify that what was delivered matches what you were expecting.

We get into how the process to find the perfect stained finish should work here.

Bonus: Laminates are bad

Laminates have gotten really, really good over the last ten years. So much so, I would use them in my own home without hesitation. No fussing with stained/wood finishes, excellent durability and scratch resistance, and the newer 3D or 'high def" textured wood grain laminates look exactly like the real thing.

An excellent (and sometimes cheaper) option for slab/modern doors, and even some Shaker and slim-Shaker door styles.

The Value Of Unbiased Advice

Building new or remodeling a house can be an incredibly stressful and anxious process. Especially if you feel your builder, contractor, or cabinetmaker isn't as supportive as you'd prefer. That is why Ask A Cabinetmaker exists: to support you. We understand that you're not just building a house, you're creating a home, and every detail has to be perfect.

We invite you to explore our blog, receive free expert advice in our Facebook group, and download our Cabinet Buyers Guide and Checklist.