A Designer’s Guide To Creating A Cohesive Kitchen With Made-To-Order Cabinet Doors

From barely functional to just not your style, there are many reasons why you might be thinking about replacing your kitchen cabinets. Many of us dream about having a kitchen that sits at the heart of our home, so if now is the right time to invest in creating a space that reflects your personality and suits the character of your property, here's a designer-approved guide to getting started.

Why Should I Choose Made-To-Order Cabinets?

There are many advantages to buying bespoke kitchen doors for your new kitchen over an off-the-shelf option, particularly when it comes to the quality and seamlessness of the fit. We make all orders to the precise measurements you provide, so your new doors will fit your existing units perfectly for a highly professional and polished finish.

Opting for bespoke cabinetry also allows you to choose the right style, finish, colour and accessories for your home, so you can create a kitchen which reflects your personal style and tastes. Whether you're looking for a rustic or more modern look, there are a plethora of customisation options for you to explore.

Bespoke kitchen doors can also be tailored to meet your specific storage requirements, including pull-out cabinets and unusually shaped cupboards, which often can't be accommodated by an off-the-shelf solution.

Now that we've covered some of the benefits, let's run through the process of selecting and customising your made-to-measure cabinet doors to ensure you're delighted with your new doors when they arrive.

Finding The Right Style

The style of kitchen cabinet doors will play a central role in establishing the overall look of your kitchen space, so it's important to find the right option for you. Shaker style doors are some of the most popular, as they have a timeless appeal that strikes the right balance between traditional and contemporary.

Pro Tip: We stock a variety of Shaker kitchen doors, ranging from our classic Bella Richmond style to our more contemporary Bella Dalton doors, so this style offers plenty of versatility.

Slab kitchen doors have a sleeker and more minimal profile, as they're constructed from one flat panel with no superfluous accents. Our Bella Lincoln doors have a subtly bevelled edge which offers a touch of softness to the style, whereas our Valore doors have a crisper edge and a highly contemporary finish.

How The Finish You Select Affects The Look

Happy Doors kitchen cabinet doors are available in an array of different materials, colours and finishes, which all have unique characteristics that can impact the overall look and feel your cabinets will have.

When investing in new cabinets for your home, it's likely that you'll want something that will stand the test of time and continue looking their best for as long as possible, which is why our kitchen doors are made from materials that offer excellent durability and longevity.

For example, our Bella Venice doors are made from high quality MDF, which offers excellent durability and can cope really well with the additional levels of humidity that can occur in a kitchen space. This material also offers a smooth and sleek surface, which has a contemporary feel that can help to give the feeling of a more open and airy room.

Our Jayline Handleless kitchen doors are also constructed from high quality MDF and feature a full wrap laminate coating with matching melamine reverse, which offers a beautiful matt or gloss finish that's easy to maintain.

Pro Tip: Thinking about how easy different finishes are to maintain is key when deciding on your ideal finish. Glossy surfaces can show fingerprints more easily, but while some additional maintenance may be necessary, they're also easy to wipe down with a clean cloth as needed.

Add A Final Flourish With High Quality Hardware

If you're choosing a style that'll benefit from a chic handle or drawer pull, you can choose from a selection of different shapes and metal finishes to achieve your desired look. A T-Bar Handle in a matt black or stainless steel finish can be a great addition to sleek slab doors for an extra modern flourish and the gently curved design feels very luxe in the hand.

Alternatively, a shell style cup handle can be a beautiful addition to a more traditional style, particularly in a warm toned satin brass or a subtly patinated pewter finish.

Pro Tip: We also recommend choosing high quality hinges, as they'll help to give the professional finish that your kitchen deserves. Soft-close hinges have a high-end feel and will prevent doors from being accidentally slammed, which will also support the longevity of your doors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I provide measurements if I don't have any existing cabinet doors?

Start by measuring the width and height of each cabinet, making sure to include the full thickness of the frames. Then, simply take away 4mm from each of those measurements. Don't forget that if you're unsure about any part of the ordering process, you can give us a call or drop us an email, and one of our kitchen experts will be on hand to help!

Should I include hinge hole measurements?

While we don't require you to provide hinge hole measurements, it's something we advise, as it can help to speed up the installation process. If you don't include these measurements, you'll need to drill hinge holes yourself before you can hang your new doors.

What happens if I've measured incorrectly and my new doors don't fit?

This is one of the most common concerns we hear from people before placing an order with us, which is why we've introduced Happy Care. Adding Happy Care to your order offers an additional layer of protection against mis-measuring, as we'll provide a free of charge replacement for all incorrect doors that sit within a 25mm tolerance. Happy Care also covers incorrect hinge hole measurements within a 10mm tolerance.