What is Custom Cabinetry?

Cabinetry is one of the most influential, costly, and meaningful investments you’ll make in a home. It defines how a kitchen functions, how a bathroom feels, how a mudroom handles the day-to-day, how organized your entire home can be, and how a space performs for decades. And like any major investment, the quality, performance, and cost of your cabinets can vary dramatically depending on the materials, construction, finishes, hardware, and organizational features you choose. So what truly sets custom cabinetry apart?

Custom Cabinets Overview

Custom cabinetry is built without shortcuts, limitations, or predetermined sizes. Every cabinet is crafted specifically for your home, your lifestyle, and your design vision. Unlike stock or semi-custom lines, which rely on fixed dimensions and preselected options, custom cabinetry allows complete control—wood species, joinery, storage solutions, layout, finish, hardware, and architectural detailing. Because they’re crafted from high-quality materials using superior construction methods, custom cabinets are built to stand the test of time. It’s worth noting that the made-to-order nature of custom cabinetry means longer lead times—often several weeks to a few months—as each piece is built exclusively for your project.

Construction

At Crawford Cabinets, we start with 3/4” thick premium plywood box construction, not the thin particleboard or low-grade plywood commonly found in mass-produced options. Every cabinet box is crafted for long-term structural stability, with hand-inspected panels, reinforced joinery, and construction methods that hold up for decades—not just the first few years.

While semi-custom and stock cabinets may look similar on the surface, the difference becomes obvious with use. Lower-grade components, limited joinery, and weaker materials tend to show wear far sooner—sometimes in just a few years. Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) cabinets take this a step further: they ship flat in boxes, and the assembly is left entirely to the buyer. That means your project’s durability depends on how well the pieces are put together, which can lead to misaligned doors, loose fasteners, and weak structural support. Even small mistakes during assembly can cause long-term issues.

Custom cabinetry avoids all of that. Every cabinet is fully built, square, aligned, and inspected, eliminating guesswork and ensuring the kind of longevity and performance that simply can’t be matched by mass-produced alternatives.

Drawers

Our drawers are crafted using 3/4" furniture-grade plywood as our standard—chosen for its exceptional strength, stability, and resistance to warping. For clients who prefer it, solid maple drawer boxes are also available, though many homeowners are surprised to learn that high-quality plywood’s cross-laminated structure helps it stay straighter over time, making it an ideal choice for long-term durability.

Each drawer is assembled with precision dovetail joinery, the gold standard for cabinet construction, ensuring a tight, lasting connection at every corner. Paired with full-extension, soft-close undermount slides, every drawer glides smoothly, supports heavy loads with ease, and provides complete access to its interior.

Hardware

Precision Motion — Soft-Close Everything

Every door and drawer is outfitted with soft-close mechanisms that eliminate slamming, reduce wear, and create a smooth, controlled close. Whether it’s a large pantry pullout or a small utensil drawer, the motion stays consistent, quiet, and effortless.

Full-Access Drawers — Built for Strength

Our drawer boxes feature precision dovetail joinery paired with full-extension, soft-close undermount slides. This combination allows:

  • Full visibility and access to every inch

  • Higher weight capacity than standard slides

  • A gliding motion that stays smooth year after year

The result is a drawer that feels solid, balanced, and engineered—not just built.

Refined Door Function — Hinges That Last Decades

Every door is fitted with premium concealed soft-close hinges designed to handle thousands of open-and-close cycles without sagging or loosening. They maintain perfect alignment and contribute to a clean, seamless look inside and out.

Advanced Hardware Enhancements

For kitchens that demand more, we offer a full range of specialized motion technologies, including:

  • Lift systems for overhead cabinets

  • Push-to-open mechanisms for ultra-clean, handle-free designs

  • Integrated organizers with smooth-slide functionality

  • Heavy-duty pullouts and pantry systems

Each option is selected to fit your layout, accessibility needs, and the way you use your home.

Custom Options

When you choose Crawford Cabinets, nothing is predetermined—not the size, not the layout, not the finish, and definitely not the style. Every detail is crafted from scratch to elevate your home and match your exact design vision.

From a rich, timeless walnut island to a modern gallery-style kitchen in a designer-matched Benjamin Moore shade, we can create any color, any style, any configuration you can imagine. If you’ve seen it, saved it, or dreamed it—we can build it.

Limitless Colors & Finishes

Unlike brands limited to a preset color palette, Crawford Cabinets offers true unlimited color selection, including full matching capabilities with:

  • Sherwin-Williams

  • Benjamin Moore

  • Farrow & Ball

  • PPG

  • And any custom-mixed or designer-specified tone

Choose from:

  • Solid paints

  • Stains

  • Custom glazes

  • Rub-through effects

  • Wire-brushed, cerused, or hand-applied textures

  • High-clarity clear finishes

  • Matte, satin, or high-gloss sheens

Your cabinetry isn’t restricted to what’s “off the shelf”—it’s built around your style.

Custom Layouts for Any Space

Odd angles, tight corners, and unique architectural features aren’t obstacles—they’re opportunities.
Every cabinet is measured, engineered, and constructed specifically for your room, offering far more freedom than semi-custom or stock lines.

We design and build:

  • Non-standard cabinet depths

  • Extra-tall or extra-wide units

  • Custom appliance garages

  • Beverage centers, hidden bars, and coffee nooks

  • Built-in seating and specialty millwork

  • Matching finished interiors

  • Glass-ready doors with custom framing

Tailored Details That Make the Difference

With Crawford Cabinets, you can personalize every aspect of your cabinetry, including:

  • Hinge placement

  • Shelf spacing

  • Interior materials

  • Door profiles

  • Crown and trim details

  • Integrated lighting

  • Specialty storage solutions

  • Unique architectural accents

The result is cabinetry that fits your home—and your lifestyle—perfectly.

Custom Cabinet Pricing

At Crawford Cabinets, custom cabinetry is an investment—one that delivers far more value than lower-end stock or semi-custom options. While the initial cost of custom is higher, the long-term savings and performance often outweigh the difference.

Unlike mass-produced cabinets that need replacing or repairing after a few years, our cabinetry is built to last for decades. You’re not just paying for cabinets—you’re investing in:

  • Premium materials built for long-term durability

  • Precision fit that maximizes every inch of your space

  • Limitless customization that eliminates the compromises of stock sizes

  • Fine-furniture craftsmanship that stays beautiful and functional over time

  • A seamless design-to-install process, reducing costly mistakes and rework

Stock cabinetry may appear less expensive upfront, but its shorter lifespan, limited sizing, and reduced functionality often lead to added costs down the road—especially when you factor in replacement, filler panels, lost storage space, and on-site modifications.

The True Cost Difference

Instead of simply comparing price tags, compare value per year:

  • Custom cabinetry is built once and built right.

  • Stock cabinetry is built fast—and often built again later.

Custom ultimately delivers the best long-term return by outlasting and outperforming lower-cost cabinets.

A Better Investment for Your Home

Whether you’re building your forever home or upgrading with long-term value in mind, custom cabinetry ensures:

  • Better materials

  • Better construction

  • Better functionality

  • Better beauty

  • Better longevity

And ultimately, a better experience and better investment.