Your Cabinet Resource Guide
Everything you need to care for, understand, and get the most out of your DH Custom Cabinets.
Caring for Your Cabinets
Proper care begins with understanding what your cabinets are made of. Our custom cabinets are built from solid wood and premium plywood, finished with durable catalyzed lacquers or stains that are designed to last, but like all fine wood products, they benefit from thoughtful upkeep.
For day-to-day cleaning, use a soft, damp cloth and a mild dish soap solution. Always wipe in the direction of the wood grain, then follow immediately with a dry cloth to prevent moisture from sitting on the surface. Avoid abrasive scrubbers, scouring pads, and spray cleaners that contain bleach, ammonia, or harsh solvents, as these can dull the finish and raise the grain over time.
In kitchens, pay special attention to the areas around the stove and sink, where grease and steam accumulate. A weekly wipe-down of these zones will prevent buildup. For stubborn grease, a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water applied with a soft cloth works well, but always rinse and dry the surface afterward.
Once or twice a year, treat your wood cabinets with a quality furniture polish or conditioning oil to keep the finish nourished and resilient. This is especially important in Florida's climate, where humidity fluctuates seasonally. Keeping your home's humidity between 35% and 55% year-round will prevent the natural expansion and contraction that can stress joints and finishes over time.
Our Manufacturing Process
Every cabinet that leaves our shop begins as a conversation. Before a single board is cut, we meet with you to understand your space, your lifestyle, and your aesthetic. A cabinet built without that context is just furniture. A cabinet built with it becomes part of your home.
From that consultation, our design team produces detailed architectural drawings using CABINET VISION, the industry leading design and manufacturing software used by professional cabinet makers worldwide. These drawings account for every dimension, every appliance clearance, every plumbing or electrical consideration in your space. Once you've approved the design, we move to material selection, door styles, finishes, and hardware options that will define the character of the finished piece.
Fabrication takes place entirely in our Gainesville workshop. We mill our own components from solid lumber and premium hardwood plywood, using both CNC precision cutting and traditional hand joinery techniques. Dovetail drawer boxes, mortise-and-tenon frames, and solid wood face frames are built the same way Daiver's father taught him, with patience and without shortcuts.
Each cabinet box is assembled, sanded, and finish-applied in our climate-controlled shop before it ever leaves our doors. Our finishing process includes multiple coats of catalyzed lacquer, hand-sanded between coats, to produce a surface that is both beautiful and durable. After a final inspection, your cabinetry is carefully protected for transport and installed by our own crew, the same craftsmen who built it.
Understanding Cabinet Styles
Not all cabinets are built the same way — and the style you choose affects everything from the look of your kitchen to how much usable storage space you get. Here's a quick guide to the three primary cabinet construction styles we offer.
Frameless (Full Access)
Also called European-style cabinetry, frameless cabinets have no face frame — the doors and drawers attach directly to the cabinet box. This maximizes interior access and gives a clean, contemporary look. Full-overlay doors sit flush across the entire front, creating a seamless, modern aesthetic popular in transitional and contemporary kitchens.
Face Frame
The most common American cabinet style, face frame construction adds a solid wood frame to the front of the cabinet box. This frame provides structural rigidity and a traditional, furniture-like appearance. Doors and drawers can be inset, partial overlay, or full overlay depending on the look you want. Face frame cabinets pair beautifully with classic, transitional, and farmhouse design styles.
Inset
Inset cabinetry is the hallmark of fine custom woodworking. In this style, the doors and drawer fronts are set flush inside the face frame opening — fully recessed rather than overlapping. The result is a refined, furniture-quality appearance with tight, even reveals around every door. Inset cabinets require exceptional precision in both construction and installation, and are a signature of the DH Custom Cabinets standard.
Have More Questions?
Our team is happy to walk you through materials, finishes, and construction options in person. Schedule a free consultation today.
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