Cabinet FAQ

A slab door — also called a flat panel door — is a cabinet door with a single smooth, uninterrupted surface. There is no frame, no raised center, and no groove detail. Its clean, minimal profile is ideal for contemporary and modern kitchen designs where simplicity and sleek lines are the priority.

Apex's Euro Frameless line features slab-style doors in matte, gloss, and textured wood-grain finishes — available in white, sand, gray, black, natural oak, and more.

A shaker-style door is a five-piece cabinet door consisting of four frame pieces (two vertical stiles and two horizontal rails) surrounding a flat recessed center panel. Its clean rectangular profile is one of the most versatile cabinet door styles — equally at home in traditional, transitional, and contemporary kitchens.

Apex's American Style line features full shaker profiles in white, gray, sage, walnut, black, and two-tone finishes. The Euro line also offers a slim shaker variant for a more modern look.

A raised panel door has a center section that is elevated above the surrounding door frame, creating a three-dimensional, sculpted appearance. The panel is fit into grooves cut into the door frame and may feature curved arches or square edges at the top.

This style is popular in traditional and formal kitchen designs. The raised contours create depth and shadow that complement rich stained wood finishes. Raised panel doors are often paired with ornate hardware for a classic look.

A recessed panel door (also called an inset panel door) has a center panel that sits slightly lower than the surrounding door frame. Like a shaker door, the result is a clean, relatively simple profile — but with a subtler, more understated appearance than raised panel.

The center panels are typically thinner than the door frame — often veneer over solid wood — which allows them to sit in the recessed area without affecting the finished appearance. Recessed panel doors may also incorporate arched tops or decorative beveled trim for added detail.

A V-groove panel features angular beveled cuts on the face of a panel — two opposing beveled edges meeting to form a visible V-shaped channel. This adds texture and visual interest to what would otherwise be a flat surface.

When the panel is stained, more stain accumulates inside the V channel, creating a naturally darker groove line that contrasts with the surrounding surface — adding depth and a handcrafted quality. V-groove is commonly used in farmhouse, cottage, and country-style kitchens.

A face frame is the visible hardwood border applied to the front opening of a cabinet box. It consists of vertical pieces called stiles and horizontal pieces called rails. The face frame reinforces the cabinet structure, provides a mounting surface for hinges, and gives the cabinet its classic, traditional appearance.

Cabinets with a face frame are called framed cabinets — the industry standard for American-style construction. Apex's American Style line uses solid face-frame construction on every unit.

Frameless cabinets — also called full-access or European-style — have no face frame. The door attaches directly to the cabinet box sides using heavy-duty concealed hinges, resulting in a sleeker, more contemporary appearance and greater interior access (the missing face frame eliminates the small edge that blocks the cabinet opening in framed cabinets).

The box walls in frameless cabinets are typically thicker to compensate for the missing frame. The result is a clean, seamless look ideal for modern and minimalist kitchens. Apex's Euro line features full-access frameless construction in matte, gloss, and textured finishes.

American Style cabinets use traditional face-frame construction with solid wood shaker-profile doors in classic painted finishes (white, gray, sage, walnut, black). The face frame gives a defined, architectural appearance well-suited to traditional and transitional kitchens.

Euro Frameless cabinets use full-access frameless construction with flat-panel slab or slim shaker doors in matte, gloss, and textured wood-grain finishes. No visible face frame means cleaner lines and a more contemporary, European look.

Both lines include soft-close hinges, dovetail drawer boxes, and plywood box construction as standard. The right choice depends on your kitchen aesthetic — come into any Apex showroom and see both side by side.

Dovetail construction uses interlocking wing-shaped joints to connect the corner pieces of a drawer box. Because the V-shaped "tails" interlock mechanically, the joint resists pulling apart even under years of heavy daily use — making it one of the strongest woodworking connections available.

Budget cabinets often use stapled or glued joints which fail over time. All Apex cabinet lines include solid wood dovetail drawer boxes as standard — no upgrade required. This is a key quality indicator when comparing cabinet lines.

Plywood is made from cross-laminated wood veneers — each layer's grain runs perpendicular to the next, which distributes stress across the entire panel. It is significantly stronger, more moisture-resistant, and holds screws and hardware more securely than particle board.

Particle board (also called chipboard) is made from compressed wood chips and adhesive. It is cheaper and heavier, but swells when exposed to moisture, strips easily at screw points, and sags under the weight of dishes over time.

All Apex cabinets use 5/8" premium plywood box construction — a meaningful durability advantage over particle board alternatives common in budget cabinet lines.

The toe kick is the recessed area at the very base of a cabinet run — typically 3.5 inches high and 3 inches deep. It allows you to stand comfortably close to the counter without your feet hitting the cabinet face, improving both ergonomics and posture during everyday kitchen tasks.

Toe kicks are typically finished with a matching trim piece in the same color as the cabinet finish. They can also be used to conceal plumbing, wiring, or floor heating elements.

Full overlay means the cabinet door covers the entire face frame, leaving only a minimal gap — typically 1/8 inch — between adjacent doors and drawers. The face frame is almost completely hidden behind the doors, resulting in a clean, seamless appearance across the whole cabinet run.

Full overlay is the standard for contemporary kitchens and all Apex American Style cabinets. It gives a more uniform, polished look compared to partial overlay.

Partial overlay (also called "standard overlay") doors cover only part of the face frame, leaving approximately 1/2 inch of visible frame around each door. This gives the cabinet a more traditional appearance — you can clearly see the frame rails and stiles between each door and drawer.

Partial overlay cabinets are generally more cost-effective than full overlay, as the doors are slightly smaller relative to the opening. However, the visible frame gaps between doors are more noticeable.

An end panel is the decorative finished surface applied to the visible end of a cabinet run — for example, where the last cabinet meets a doorway, open hallway, or the side of a refrigerator.

Since cabinet box sides are built from unfinished substrate material (not meant to be seen), end panels provide a polished, attractive surface that matches the rest of the cabinetry. They are applied without altering the structural cabinet itself.

Note: Apex cabinet collections ship with unfinished sides. End panels — also called skin panels — are needed wherever the side of a cabinet box is visible in the finished kitchen.

An island skin is a decorative panel applied to the exposed back and/or sides of a kitchen island. Because island base cabinets sit away from walls, their backs are often visible from the dining or living area — an island skin conceals the unfinished substrate and gives the island a polished, finished appearance from every angle.

Island skins are available in wood finishes matching the cabinet doors, as well as specialty materials like stainless steel or copper for a premium look. Vinyl and laminate skins are also available but are generally discouraged as they can lower the perceived quality of the surrounding cabinetry.

Skin panels are thin sheets of finished material — typically 1/4 inch thick — in the same color and wood finish as the cabinet doors. They are applied to any exposed cabinet side that would otherwise show raw, unfinished substrate.

You will need skin panels in these situations: the last cabinet in a row where the side faces an open area; a dishwasher end panel; an island (all four sides if freestanding); and refrigerator side panels where the cabinet meets the fridge.

When ordering from Apex, ask your design team to identify all exposed cabinet sides in your layout so skin panels are included in your quote.

Soft-close hinges incorporate a hydraulic damping mechanism that slows the cabinet door in the last inch or two of its closing motion, allowing it to close quietly and smoothly without slamming. This protects both the door and the cabinet box from impact stress over years of daily use.

All Apex cabinet lines include soft-close hinges as standard — there is no upgrade or add-on charge. The hinges are concealed (fully hidden when the door is closed) and adjustable in three axes for precise door alignment.

Full-extension drawer slides allow a drawer to travel its complete depth out of the cabinet, giving you full access to every inch of the drawer interior — including items stored at the very back. Budget cabinets often use 3/4-extension slides which leave the rear quarter of the drawer inaccessible.

Apex cabinets include heavy-duty full-extension slides rated for smooth, reliable daily operation. Combined with soft-close drawer dampeners, every drawer closes quietly and precisely from any position.

Adjustable shelves can be moved to different heights within a wall or tall cabinet by repositioning metal shelf pins in pre-drilled holes along the interior cabinet walls. This allows you to customize the interior layout for items of different heights — tall appliances, stacked plates, bottles, cutting boards, or food storage containers.

Apex wall cabinets include 3/4-inch thick, full-depth adjustable shelves as standard. The thicker shelf material resists sagging under the weight of dishes and cookware over time.

Yes — Apex's most popular cabinet styles and sizes are in stock at multiple California showrooms and available for same-week pickup. This includes both American Style and Euro Frameless lines in our core finishes.

Call your nearest showroom before visiting to confirm your specific style, color, and size is currently available. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Saturday.

Yes — free 3D kitchen design is included with every quote. Bring your kitchen measurements to any Apex showroom and our design team will create a full layout showing your chosen cabinets and countertops together, at no charge and with no purchase obligation.

This service is available walk-in during showroom hours, Monday through Saturday — no appointment needed. You can also start online using our Kitchen Design Planner and our team will follow up within one business day.

Apex carries two main cabinet lines across 20+ styles:

American Style — Face-frame construction, shaker-profile doors. Available in White, Gray, Dune Gray, Sage, Walnut, Black, and two-tone finishes. Classic and transitional aesthetics.

Euro Frameless — Full-access frameless construction. Flat-panel slab and slim shaker doors in Matte White, Sand Matte, Angel Black, Textured Gray, Natural Oak, White Oak, and more. Modern and contemporary aesthetics.

All lines include soft-close hinges, dovetail drawer boxes, plywood box construction, and full-extension slides as standard.

RTA (Ready to Assemble) cabinets are shipped flat-packed and assembled on-site — similar to flat-pack furniture. Assembly requires time and some skill, but reduces shipping costs and allows for easier transport to job sites.

Fully assembled cabinets arrive built and ready to install directly. They cost slightly more to ship but save significant labor time — especially on larger projects.

Apex carries pre-assembled cabinets for faster installation. Confirm availability of your specific style with your local showroom, as stock levels vary.

Yes. Apex has dedicated contractor accounts at all California showroom locations with volume pricing, priority pickup scheduling, and flexible payment terms. Contractors, builders, and interior designers are welcome to set up an account.

Contact your nearest showroom directly to discuss project-specific pricing, lead times, and account setup. Walk-ins are welcome for a same-day consultation.