Materials

Old Colony uses either solid wood or MDF for our doors, drawer fronts, and end panels.  Old Colony frames are always made of solid wood.  Wood is a popular choice for cabinet doors because wood is not only good looking but is very sturdy.  The natural properties of wood can affect design decisions however. Some woods are light by nature and some are dark. These details factor into how light or dark a stain your cabinets will be able to handle.

Before deciding on wood cabinet doors, you should be aware of the following: All wood doors have 'imperfections' which are characteristic of wood. (spots, shade variances, etc.)  All wood will change color when exposed to light, some more so than others. New finishing methods will help slow the process, but none completely stops it. Colored stains, paint and glazes will look different on different types of wood. Be sure you see the color on your choice of wood before you order.

We will most times substitute MDF for solid wood when a cabinet is going to be painted.  Our cabinet-grade MDF is sturdier than solid wood and will hold up better under paint than solid wood.  There are two great characteristics to Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).  First, it has no grain so it won't split like solid wood.  Second, it is extremely stable.  That means that it doesn't expand and contract like solid wood when the temperature or humidity changes.  These two characteristics make it a superior product to paint.

Old Colony offers as "stock" wood species of oak, maple, pine, alder, mahogany, cherry, walnut, and hickory. However, we will make cabinets out of any wood on the planet.  These "stock" species are just the most common.

Finish

The next item is the finish, which is critical to long term use. If the cabinets are finished in lacquer or urethane it will begin to breakdown in about three years. These finishes will start to turn foggy or orange which will distort the beauty of the wood. Also, the finish around the knobs will start to wear off. If you try a simple repair—like steaming a dent out—it will leave a white blotch or will blister.

The finish used by top-quality furniture manufacturers is a catalyzed varnish. This is the finest finish available, is fully repairable and won't discolor over time. It will not get soft and scrape off around the hardware, and will take the test of the most demanding kitchen usage. This is the finish Old Colony uses. We feel comfortable saying that in fifty years, the finish should look the same as the day it was installed, equalling or surpassing the finest handmade furniture.