Kitchen facades: main projects, design options and combinations of materials and colors

Photo: elledecor.com

MDF facades

One of the most common and cheapest materials for creating a kitchen facade. Unlike wood, MDF is more plastic, which allows you to create original and wavy facades. MDF is a safer and more environmentally friendly material than chipboard, as it is made using steam treatment and gluing with natural resin. The advantage of this material is the ability to improve the appearance of the surface: paint it in your favorite color, cover it with PVC film or plastic. It is important to remember that a slab covered with film may begin to delaminate over time, especially in the area near the sink and stove, where the humidity level is high and there is always a temperature difference.

Advantages of the material:

• resistant to moisture, sunlight and temperature changes;
• does not lose shape;
• allows for decorative finishing.

Photo: hgtv.com

Chipboard facades

Chipboard slabs are produced by hot pressing of sawdust, where the binder is synthetic resins. This is precisely the biggest drawback of the material. Over time, it begins to release a toxic gas - formaldehyde, which is bad for our health. Therefore, when choosing a facade, check with the seller the emission class of the chipboard, that is, the level of formaldehyde emission. You need to choose emission class E1, since the state standard recognizes it as safe for use in rooms, even in children's rooms.

Advantages of the material:

• allows you to produce budget furniture;
• allows for decorative finishing;
• retains its shape well and does not swell.

Photo: elledecor.com

Facades made of artificial stone

Manufacturers offer facades made of two types of artificial stone:

• acrylic;
• quartz.

Acrylic facades are made by mixing mineral chips, acrylic resin and coloring pigment. Due to the plastic consistency, you can get facades of the most bizarre and unusual shapes. This material is environmentally friendly and hygienic; due to the absence of pores, it does not absorb dyes and is not susceptible to the formation of fungus or mold.

As for quartz facades, they include marble, granite or quartz chips and hard resins (epoxy). Due to the solid components, such furniture is more durable and reliable than acrylic.

Advantages of the material:

• not afraid of moisture, water and high temperatures;
• does not fade in the sun;
• environmentally friendly and hygienic;
• it is easy to clean.

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Photo: kitchenfindr.co.uk

Metal facades

A stainless steel facade is not a cheap pleasure. However, the high price is completely justified: metal surfaces are not afraid of water, fire, or sharp objects. The main advantages of this material are anti-corrosion, hygiene, immunity to moisture, hot objects and household chemicals. Often such facades undergo special treatment, which allows you to create beautiful effects, such as mirror polishing or darkening.

Advantages of the material:

• durability;
• stylish appearance;
• resistance to all types of adverse effects.

Photo: steelkitchenweb.com

Plastic facades

Plastic facades, unlike others, look brighter and more modern and can be used in such unusual styles as pop art or futurism. The surface of this furniture is mirror-glossy, which adds style to it. However, this feature also causes some inconvenience: fingerprints are very visible on the glossy finish, not to mention other contaminants, of which the kitchen is full.

Advantages of the material:

• high reliability;
• attractive appearance;
• long service life.

Photo: home-design.schmidt

Glass facades

Glass facades may seem fragile and unreliable at first glance, but this is far from the case. In the manufacture of such furniture, only glass tempered at high temperatures with impressive thickness is used. Moreover, for the production of facades they use triplex technology: two glasses are glued together with a polymerizing composition. The resulting “sandwich” is very durable and difficult to break. If the facade does break (although this requires a lot of effort), the fragments will remain on the mentioned adhesive layer and will not scatter in different directions.

Furniture with a glass surface is perfect for small kitchens, as it will visually enlarge the space due to its excellent reflectivity and create an atmosphere of lightness.

Advantages of the material:

• ease of care;
• versatility;
• reliability;
• resistance to all types of adverse effects.

Photo: deavita.net

Beauty and convenience of the kitchen

Before choosing a door covering, you need to think about exactly what tasks your future kitchen will perform. And what loads will your future furniture withstand? Do you plan to cook there all the time or will it be a studio kitchen combined with a living room?

While cooking, humidity and air changes appear in the kitchen, so furniture doors should be not only beautiful, but also practical. We advise you to study the process of making kitchen facades in advance.

Fine fraction

MDF facades for the kitchen are about two centimeters thick.

• Compressed small wood is the basis for the production of plates.
• Decorative PVC film can cover the plate and create the effect of steel, wood or change the color of furniture.
• Chipboard is also actively used for the production of kitchen facades.

These products can be laminated, veneered, and varnished with a matte or shiny effect. Budget is an important advantage of this material.

Veneer is the use of PVC film or laminate. The film can be easily applied to decorative surfaces and adapts to curves. Laminate is only suitable for flat surfaces.

Variety of choices

The modern furniture industry offers a wide range of materials for the manufacture of facades. The interior of the set is mainly made of chipboard, MDF or solid wood.

But the facades are distinguished by a large selection: wood, chipboard, plastic, film-coated MDF, enamel-coated MDF, veneer, metal, glass (painted or photo-printed glass). It’s up to you to decide what the face of your kitchen will be.

Basic designs

Based on the type of construction, the following types of facades are distinguished:

1. Straight - such facades have standard sizes, are considered the simplest of all possible, and are used in the manufacture of traditional cabinet furniture.
2. Bent - can be convex, concave, used for more sophisticated interior styles, must correspond to the frame of the product.
3. Radius - suitable for walls, cabinets, visually increasing the space.
4. Blind elements look original and are easy to use.

If radius or curved ones were chosen from the main types of furniture facades, one nuance should be taken into account. Their dimensions must be calculated to the nearest millimeter. Even a small error can cause rapid breakdown of the product. Moreover, in this case, minor repairs will not be enough; one or more facades will have to be replaced.

Direct

Bent

Radial

Louvre

Description of furniture facades

Let's briefly talk about each option.

Solid wood. The words themselves speak for themselves, made of wood. Solid wood doors are distinguished by their luxurious appearance, nobility and create a special cozy atmosphere. Classic style is always in price and in fashion. For lovers of country and classic style, this option is suitable.

Chipboard is a chipboard. Basically, it is used for making the interior of the kitchen, and not for facades, because... Chipboard swells from water. Therefore, it is covered with a protective layer. And the look of the slab is too simple.

Plastic. The technology is as follows: durable plastic is glued to a sheet of chipboard or MDF under high pressure, and the edges are framed with an aluminum profile or PVC edge.

MDF - chips compressed under pressure at high temperatures, mixed with wood resin. Strong, moisture-resistant, wear-resistant material. The MDF board is covered on top with PVC film, or enamel, veneer or acrylic.

Unlike chipboard, radius facades can be made from MDF. In the version with enamel or acrylic, you get a super glossy texture. Lovers of high-tech, modern, and minimalism styles will appreciate these facades.

Veneer. For veneer facades, wood up to 3 mm thick is used, i.e. The veneer layer is glued onto chipboard or MDF. It looks like the doors are made entirely of natural wood. The option is suitable for both lovers of classics and modern style.

Glass. The principle is the same, but the highlight is that you can print a photo on the glass with any design you like, even your own photo. Or paint it any color. Glass doors look light and airy.

Ceramics. Ceramic facades are the know-how of modern furniture fashion. Under high temperature, a thin sheet of ceramic is glued to the base, creating a super-strong material. Looks pretty solid.

Frame. Simply put, it is a tandem of a frame and an internal insert. MDF frame covered with film. Options for inserts are glass, rattan, thin chipboard, plastic. Frame facades are an economical option, but in appearance, with a successful combination of colors, they look very decent.

Dimensions for different types of furniture

Despite the rapidly growing popularity of furniture of non-standard shapes, most manufacturers focus on traditional models. This is at least economically beneficial. The demand for conventional rectangular, cabinet cabinets and walls has always been high. There are quite a lot of options for standard sizes of furniture facades, so you can choose a suitable element for rooms of any size.

Classification of furniture handles for cabinets, selection criteria

The indicated dimensions are relevant for facades made of all types of materials. Compliance with them guarantees convenient use of furniture. But it is worth noting that the data may differ slightly from different manufacturers, by 3–5 mm.

As for sliding wardrobes, the width of the doors can vary from 50 cm to 1 m, and the height can range from 220 to 240 cm. Each manufacturer sets its own parameters for facades.

MDF

+ Strong, durable, easy to maintain, resistant to moisture, the ability to produce radius facades.

- if MDF is covered with a film, it can peel off; if it is covered with enamel, protect from scratches and chips and do not use abrasive detergents.

Acrylic

+ super moisture resistant, huge selection of colors, does not fade, temperature stable, perfectly smooth surface.

- susceptible to impacts, fingerprints, scratches.

Recommendations for selection

So which kitchen facades are better? A very frequently asked question. In previous chapters, we described facade options, pros and cons of materials. The choice is yours. In the beginning, ask yourself whether you want a solid kitchen for the long term or whether you like to change the interior every five years.

If you want a long-term project, then choose a model made of wood, plastic, veneer or ceramics. If you quickly get bored with everything and like to change things often, then choose all the other options.

What inserts can be used?

To decorate facades, overlays and inserts made from a variety of materials are often used. They allow you to get exquisite and bright interior items that have no analogues on the market. Framed facades are usually created from MDF, which is the base represented by a frame into which other materials are inserted. The most popular inserts are:

• Tempered glass or mirror surfaces, giving any furniture lightness and sophistication;
• Rattan or bamboo, suitable for unusual interiors in which preference is given to natural materials;
• Plastic, which has a low cost and imitates various unique modern materials;
• Metal, with preference given to forged fragments.

The facades of cabinet furniture are the primary elements on which the appearance of the entire product depends. For their production, different materials, combinations of decorative elements and coatings are used. The shape and dimensions must ideally match the existing furniture, so you need to correctly calculate these indicators in advance. With the right choice of designs, a long service life and attractiveness of interior items are ensured.

Glass

Plastic

Metal

Standard and custom sizes

There is another very important feature that must be taken into account, these are the dimensions of the kitchen facades. They are standard and non-standard. Let's take a closer look at each. Standard doors, from the word “standard”. There is a certain grid of door sizes that is taken into account when drawing up the project.

Non-standard doors are an option that allows you to order a façade of any size. Let's say you have decided on a style, chosen a material that suits you, and before you start designing a project, study the size range and find out if it is possible to use non-standard sizes.

It is easier to use a standard mesh when drawing up a project, but if necessary, resort to making a non-standard one. The only small nuance is that non-standard ones are more expensive in price.

Materials

Today there is a wide selection of materials of different textures and colors. This allows you to create any style in the interior using kitchen facades.

To choose an original print or a front of unusual sizes, order an individual model of the product from the manufacturer; there are also many excellent ideas for fronts presented in the IKEA store. Among the huge assortment you can easily find facades of any size for the kitchen.

Kitchen ideas

So where do you get kitchen ideas? Every year, the furniture industry is developing more and more, new ideas and new directions are emerging.

Until recently, most kitchens in houses and apartments were similar to each other. Now, with just one click, you can find a lot of amazing ideas on the Internet.

We also recommend going to furniture stores, looking and touching exhibition samples. To help you, catalogs of kitchen facades, which are available in every salon. Watch TV shows and flip through relevant magazines.

Where to buy kitchen fronts

Buying furniture fronts is not difficult. If you decide to assemble the kitchen yourself, then in every city there are wholesale centers from the manufacturer, where they will provide you with catalogs with photos of kitchen facades.

Buying it yourself is much cheaper. Also, in any furniture showroom, they will be happy to accept your order for the purchase of facades.

If you experience difficulties when choosing furniture doors, we advise you to contact specialists. They will help you with your choice, draw up a project for you, answer all your questions and you will have a guarantee.

Lighting requirements

Warm soft light is most suitable for natural wood.

Simple lampshades or sconces can most optimally accentuate the beauty of furniture facades, which should become one with the kitchen design.

• 
  Straight kitchen design with cabinets up to the ceiling

• What material are kitchen sets made of?

• Kitchens with patina: decor options and tips on color combinations

IKEA is your assistant

Do you want to have unique and budget-friendly kitchen furniture? We give advice: first, purchase ready-made cabinets of the required sizes; IKEA has a choice, and buy the front part separately.

Another option is to order the filling of the cabinets from a local manufacturer, and for the front part of the project, buy IKEA kitchen facades.

Shaker

Shaker style for cabinet fronts is the most popular today. In this case, the facade is divided into five elements - four of them are decorated with frames, and the fifth, central panel remains without a frame.

The shaker style got its name due to its unique fittings, which are distinguished by straight, clear lines and emphasized utilitarianism.

The popularity of these modern kitchen sets is explained by the fact that, due to their simplicity, they fit into almost any interior - from modern to classic - and also allow you to choose from a variety of finishing options: wood species, a palette of shades, and a variety of metal parts.

This classic style can suit any budget, depending on the type of wood. Some manufacturers may even replace the center panel with a more economical material. Ultimately, you can save up to 20% on your purchase.

Louvered facade type (Georgetown Development)

Photos of kitchen facades