Primitive Kitchen Cabinets

Some styles never get old, and the country kitchen is certainly one of them. Primitive cabinetry may have been a simple solution for turn-of-the-century farmers on the go, but today they bring a country feel and time-worn quality that many homeowners adore. Going for the rustic look? Here’s what you need to know.

Costs

The cost of installing primitive kitchen cabinetry depends on one question: are you installing actual antique cabinetry or the DIY variety? Obviously, the former will cost significantly more than the latter. If you plan on tackling the project yourself and distressing or refinishing your existing cabinetry, you could get away with only purchasing paint and sanding paper for less than $50.

For the antique-challenged, there are quite a few small cabinet shops that specialize in recreating the look and feel of centuries-old farmhouse finds—often from recycled wood, especially old barn wood and floorboards. Talk with a cabinet professional to get more accurate price quotes here.

Pictures

• Kitchen Cabinets
• Country Kitchen

Durability

Primitive kitchen cabinetry was created with stability in mind, so the style itself is very durable. In addition, with an appearance uninterested in uniformity, there’s not much you could do to these cabinets that wouldn’t make them look more antique and rustic. The more aged, the more primitive.

Maintenance

Materials

• Oak Kitchen Cabinets
• Maple Kitchen Cabinets

History

Primitive kitchens hearken back to the 18th and 19th centuries, where busy farmers and hardworking pioneers, with too many demands on their time and energy already, went for the simple and sturdy, building their own furniture (often from trees felled on the premises) with basic hand tools. But while primitive cabinets were first built with utility and long service in mind, their simple charm has won enduring popularity. In historic times, cabinets were usually made from whatever wood was most plentiful locally. Today, oak, pine and maple are all popular choices.

More Information

While the style has elements in common with Shaker and American Country, and can work well with either, it tends to be more simple and rough-hewn. Doors may have a basic frame or consist of a single slab of wood. Lines are usually straight; when curves come into play, they're rudimentary to the point of being blocky. Surfaces are often a bit uneven and often distressed. Rather than a machine-perfect precision, edges often show the irregular cuts of old-time hand tools.

References

• eHow

Articles related to Primitive Kitchen Cabinets

• Mission Kitchen Cabinets
• Country Kitchen Cabinets
• Italian Style Cabinets
• Asian Style Kitchen Cabinets

• Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
• Primitive Kitchen Cabinets
• European Style Kitchen Cabinets
• Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets