Kitchen Furniture: Why Ignorance Of Components Can Burn A Hole In Your Pocket.

When it comes to purchasing kitchen furniture, many people tend to overlook the importance of understanding its components, which can lead to burning a hole in their pocket.

In this article, we will explore the various components of kitchen furniture and how a lack of knowledge about them can impact your wallet.

The lack of component awareness can impact us in 4 major ways as below:

Table of Contents

Durability of Furniture:

Choosing the wrong material can impact the durability of the furniture.
The first and most crucial component of kitchen furniture is the material used.
Kitchen furniture can be made of various materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and MDF (medium-density fiberboard).
Each material has its own set of pros and cons, and the price varies accordingly.
For instance, Marine Ply is more expensive but lasts longer . In contrast, MDF is less expensive, adds more to the aesthetics of your kitchen but it is not as durable and may not withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
As understanding the materials used is very important, we are covering component wise details in below section seperately.

Work Inefficiency:

Nowadays, solutions are available for specific needs and problems. By knowing the available options you can use your kitchen more efficiently.
Consider for example if you are not using the Dado accessories, then your counter space will become crowded with spatula, spoons, glasses, spices etc. leaving little free space to work. Similarly, not using proper drawer partitions, the drawers will get messy.
When you have proper knowledge of the components you can pick and choose the right mix of the product that suits your budget without affecting the work efficiency.

Size & Layout of Furniture:

The size and layout of the furniture are also crucial components that can affect your pocket.
Before purchasing kitchen furniture, determine the layout that works best for your kitchen.
A poorly designed layout can result in wasted space, making the furniture less efficient and reducing its storage capacity. Moreover, a wrong size can result in the furniture not fitting properly, requiring additional modifications or even replacement, which can add to the overall cost.

Quality of Installation:

The quality of workmanship and installation is another crucial component that should not be overlooked.
Poor quality workmanship can result in a shoddy finish, making the furniture less aesthetically pleasing and reducing its durability.
Similarly, improper installation can result in damage to the furniture, making it less functional and reducing its lifespan.
Therefore, it is essential to choose a reputable manufacturer who uses high-quality materials and skilled craftsmen for both the manufacturing and installation processes.

Components of Modular Kitchen:

It is also important to understand the components of modular kitchen. This is important from two points of view :

The cost of the modular kitchen largely depends on the components used.
The durability, aesthetics, functionality are all dependant on the components of the modular kitchens.

While we will be covering the components in more detail in the coming articles, here, we are briefly sharing the various components that typically come together to form a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen.

Carcass:

In kitchen furniture, a carcass refers to the framework or structure of the cabinets, which includes the sides, back, top, bottom, and shelves
It provides the support and the strength to the kitchen furniture.
The carcass material should be strong, water resistant,
The quality and kind of the material used in the carcass, can’t be over emphasized since it is the carcass that decides whether your door and drawers will sag with time.
MDF Board/HDF Board, Particle Board are considered bad options.
Commercial Ply can bend with time, they are also not water proof and termite resistant.
PVC and Aluminium are not very strong supports
Granite, WPC Sheet & Kota Stone are strong but not good for tighetning screws as they are brittle and can chip off.
Marine Ply BWP/BWR grade and Galvanized Steel are relatively strong and water resistant too.

Hardware:

Hardware refers to the various components that are used to assemble the cabinets, such as hinges, handles, knobs, and drawer slides.
They are available in different materials, finishes, and designs to match the overall style of the kitchen.
There are various kinds of hardwares- soft closing (which softly closes automatically with slight push), normal types, lift-ups etc.
Hardware refers to the various metal components, such as hinges, handles, knobs, slides, channels, lift up channels etc. that make up the furniture. The type and quality of hardware used can significantly impact the durability and functionality of the furniture.
For instance, using low-quality hinges and channels may result in the doors/drawers not closing properly, leading to damage and reducing the lifespan of the furniture.
Similarly, poorly designed handles or knobs may make it difficult to open and close the cabinets, making the furniture less user-friendly.

Shutters:

Shutters are the front panels of the cabinets that cover the carcass.
They provide the beauty and external looks to the furniture
The life of the shutters depends on the kind of material used
They can be made of a variety of materials, such as wood, glass, acrylic, Marine Ply or aluminium, and come in different finishes, colours, and designs.
MDF shutters are not water resistant and hence not advisable, at least in bottom units.
Glass shutters can be added in small quantity for beautification purpose
Marine Ply shutters are the best options, they can be coated with PU Paint, Sunmica, Acrylic Sheet etc. to enhance the look along with aesthetic value.

Drawers:

Drawers are used for storing cutlery, cookware, and other kitchen essentials.
They come in different sizes and can be customized with various accessories, such as organizers, dividers, and soft-close mechanisms.
The wooden or ply based boards are not good for drawers
304 grade Stainless steel drawers are considered the best from durability and longivity point of view.

Countertops:

Counter tops are the surfaces on which food is prepared.
The strength of the top and the elegance of the kitchen are affected by the counter top.
They can be made of materials such as granite, quartz, marble, or laminates, and come in different colours and patterns.

Backsplash:

The backsplash is the area behind the countertop that protects the walls from spills and stains.
It is another important part of the kitchen which provides beauty as well as the looks in the long run.
It can be made of tiles, glass, or other materials, and can be customised with different patterns and designs.

Accessories:

Accessories are various components that enhance the functionality of the kitchen.
They are usually made of 304 grade Stainless steel, 204/202 grade Stainless steel.
Few of the accessories are pull-out drawers, corner units, bottle racks, cutlery trays, Grocery kit, Utensil kit, Cooking kits, Dish Kit and Thali Kit etc.

Dado Accessories:

They are used in between the lower units and the wall units and enhance work efficiency.
Dado accessories are also made of Stainless Steel 304 grade or inferior 204/202 grade
Dado accessories coming are: Cutlery Drainer,
Single/Double mutlpurpose rack, single/double corner rack, Paper/Foil Holder, Dado Glass/Plate Rack, Receipt book holder, S hooks, Detergent storage at Dado level, Water storage holder, wine glass holder and glass holder etc.

Hope now you have understood how the different components come together to form modular kitchen furniture that is customizable, functional, and visually appealing. We also hope that this article gave you better insights and will enable you to make more informed Modular kitchen decision.