The kitchen is often spoken of as the heart of the home. As such, it is important that we have quality kitchens that work for us, designed for both our lifestyle and, of course, the space that is available.
WeCraft Cabinetry has built custom kitchens and built-in cabinetry since 2006, working directly through a few contractors in the wholesale market in the GTA and beyond. Not long after starting out, they were approached by a designer/contractor who was trying to create a niche for himself in the high-end kitchen market. He was wondering if they would consider building his kitchens exclusively out of solid wood. Initially, WeCraft was skeptical as wood tends to expand and contract depending on the humidity. However, they began working at developing a construction method that would accommodate slight movement in product. Although it took a year or so of experimentation, the result was successful. In the past number of years, they have had quite a number of repeat customers, with one kitchen even being installed on the Hawaiian Islands.
Located on a spacious country property just outside of Elora, they started with a 2000 sq. ft. shop. However, in an effort to diversify and expand their product line, they built a larger facility on the same property with a small showroom in 2020. Today, WeCraft will design and build cabinetry to suit any need, style or budget. You are encouraged to come into their showroom with your plans, however sketchy, and they will walk you through the different options available, explaining the pros and cons of different construction methods, and allow you to make your own decisions. In the end, they will bring everything together into a 3D rendering of your choice to help you visualize what the finished product would look like in your home.
If you’re thinking along these lines, but are unsure of where to start, there are a few things you can consider ahead of time to help the process along. The first has to do with style. Are you looking for a traditional style kitchen, with its rich wood tones (or bright, clean white), and sloping or curved edging and profiles, or are you thinking of something more contemporary, with clean sharp edges and smooth fronts? This may seem like a simple design point; however, it will help narrow down the later options which can save you a bit of time overall.
Another decision that you’ll have to make is the material that you want your cabinetry made out of. This has a lot to do with budget. As mentioned, WeCraft can build their cabinets completely out of solid wood. Alternatively, they can go the middle of the road with plywood core, or use melamine for a budget friendly option. With the latter two options, solid would is typically still used for the doors, trim and face frames, which we’ll get to in a minute. Out of the three, solid wood and plywood are the stronger materials, and therefore the ones to provide you with more lasting durability. However, for anyone who is looking to keep to their budget, melamine is always an option.
The thing to note with melamine is that it has next to no durability to withstand moisture and will soon succumb to water damage. This is why regardless of which option you choose for the overall kitchen, WeCraft will never use melamine to build the sink cabinet. Instead, they’ll use plywood core for this, every time. To that same end, they will always use solid wood on any parts of the cabinets that contact the floor. Whether it be a simple toe-kick or crown moulding, they will always use solid wood to provide the best durability in a water mess situation.
If you’re thinking of melamine, aside from the sink cabinet and toe-kick, the rest of your kitchen tends to have no problem staying dry, so while this should be a consideration, it doesn’t have to be a complete worry.
Finally, one more thing to think about is whether you prefer framed or frameless construction. WeCraft specializes in cabinetry with solid wood face frames, however, they are equally happy to do frameless as well. What, you ask, are face frames? Well, they are a solid wood frame that goes around the front of your cabinet, creating something like a picture frame effect. The face frame will help hold the cabinet together, adding a hard to beat layer of support to the structure. Typically, many higher end kitchens still tend to be framed, however frameless construction will always be the more budget friendly alternative and should provide you with many years of use.
As an important sidenote, WeCraft works only with suppliers that are conscious of the environment and active in the reforestation process. Our commitment to the environment means we do our utmost to conserve materials and avoid waste.
WRITTEN BY: JILLIAN KENT | PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL SPEARS
RESOURCES: WeCraft Cabinetry Inc.
