Brent, after spending the last 15 years restoring historic homes, you’re the mentor I wish i had

You could write an entire book on this subject alone, and I wish you would.

As a small independent cabinet maker, I must say the advice you give at the end of the video is the reason I have been landing the biggest and best contracts so far. This was an awesome video

Pictures. I need to see lots more pictures of well-done cabinetry set in actual rooms, with closeups. Thanks. Very interesting.

Thanks Brent for your awesome videos. My husband and I own a small custom cabinet shop in Mills River, NC (Oak and Otter Woodworks). I’m so glad to have found your channel. You challenge my thinking and raise the bar. Your advice and perspective are in my thoughts now every time I work on a new kitchen project.

If one could combine Norm Abram, Tom Sylvia, Matt Risinger, Steve Basic, etc, it would still not equal Brent. I’ve been a builder and student for 40 years, and no one…NO ONE is better than Mr. Hull.

Inset cabinets are definitely the way to go. Surprisingly many cabinet shops try to talk you out of going this route.

That’s the number one reason i built on site traditional built-ins furniture grade cabinetry looks so much better built into the house not just screwed to the wall

There's a part of me that says just get some used stainless steel restaurant equipment, tile the walls, and make the kitchen an industrial space. This would force the socializing into the living room, which is the more traditional way to socialize. The fancier we make the kitchen the more we live in a modern way rather than a traditional way.

Never seen this type of educational video in the cabinet woodworking world. As a woodworker who has made a few cabinets, it’s nice to have somewhere to turn that serves as a catalyst for new ideas.

I just had this exact discussion with a client last week. Hearing Brent Hull reaffirming these same ideas made my day.

That kitchen hutch is absolutely gorgeous! Brent thank you! Inset doors look much better in my opinion.

Love it, glad you have a book coming soon too, we all need your help. I learned a lot about Craftsman built homes. I tore out the 1980 cabinets from a poorly done remodel and returned many of my 1910 Craftsman home’s details to original. There was one motivating piece left in the house, the butler’s pantry had one shaker bottom door and a few uppers plus drawer fronts and that created my hole plan. Bottom rail was 3 1/2 “ with 2” top rail and stiles. All upper doors had a 2” rail and stile all around. I designed and picked cherry wood for my custom cabinets in natural. I did, of course, have the doors inset. This revealed so much beauty to this home. It was also great to have furniture sized cabinets that could be a single base cabinet housing a 28” drawer base with a 26” base with drawer all in one. No filler panels as this was custom to the minute measurements. It made all the difference. I even added a lower height base cabinet near the ovens for rolling out dough. I still have pics if there is any interest. All my design, but happy to share or inspire others. I kept the base rail and stile concept throughout the house no matter the cabinet height. It just makes sense doing it with inset and true to form. Thanks again.

Brent, you are righ on the money - as always. Cabinets set the tone and are a great opportunity to elevate, not just the kitchen, but the entire house.

Thank you for yet another great installment.

I just came across you this week, and I am so impressed with your explanations and historical fidelity (based on useful proportions). It's sad we've gone nearly 100 years without really respecting and understanding that knowledge. I hope things are on their way back to better proportionality and quality.

Love your stuff, Brent. Can’t wait for the book! I just bought a condo from 1922 with beautiful moldings but the previous owners installed an IKEA kitchen (poorly, I might add). Until I can afford the renovation I’ll keep watching your videos to get my game plan in place.

Every Brent video is a must-watch!

One way to get the inset panel look while using a cheaper overlay box and door design is to use 3/4" spacers that are finished to look like end panels on the top and bottom of the cabinet boxes, and also between them. Bring the spacer forward so it is flush with the surface of the door and the overlay panel now looks inset. I've seen this done with Ikea cabinets and it makes them look like custom units.

Great video! I’d love to see a video on more of the detailing and material choices, hardware, glass, bench tops. 👍

The details are your punctuation! This is GREAT info!! You know when you start drawing? That's fun to see, but if you show some photos or drawings instead (up close details), I think the viewer will have a very clear idea of what you're describing and be able to describe that to their trim or cabinet designer. Can't wait to see your announcement your book is ready for pre-order.

Lovely presentation, thanks Brent!

Can't wait for that book!

Thank you for the video. Love the content.

So many great ideas about cabinets.

That was very educational! Thank you!

this video is over the top out of the park grand slam clear the basses good thank you

Yay! Looking forward to your book on cabinets and built-ins. Definitely will get that!

I love watching true craftsmen and professionals. Great work!

thank you!

Thanks for another great tutorial. Appropriate case goods for a given situation seem to be the most glaring aspect of design fails. I see this far too often in high-end projects and just wonder what they were thinking. Answer is, they simply don't know better...

Hello Brent, That a great video! I then went onto your Instagram account & I really like your Window/Door Restoration recommendations!! Luckily, I did restore the original windows in my small Spanish Style childhood home 6 years ago. They look amazing, especially with all new brass hardware!!

Wow so much knowledge packed into this video, thank you for sharing this with us. Ive only been working on cabinets for 2 years and my passion for designing and giving my clients something unique is constantly growing. With all the videos on youtube about “cabinets” I have never seen a video like this, your knowledge about the history of these common designs we see everywhere now and your experience shines very clearly in the video. New subscriber here. Definitely need that book sir.

I like the subject or topic keep on inspiring us God bless u

Great video.

Thanks Brent! Great video! Cabinets are a huge investment and really display the quality of a home. It would be wonderful to see a more detailed video of good, better, best choices and how to get there. Great information and thanks for sharing. 😁👍

I am extremely interested in the book you are writing. I would love to know more about French style cabinets so I can reproduce them myself.

I have to remodel my farmhouse kitchen and will be making good use of these suggestions, than you.

Thanks Brent, 22 years ago I heard same excuses when I asked about inset doors. I am looking forward to your book!

I love your videos Brent, there very good, the jobs I work on people don’t want to spend the time and money, on really classy kitchen cabinets, or they can’t afford it , in America your spoiled for materials the kitchen cabinets in America are better than in England, their are people who make good quality kitchen cabinets in England, but it’s expensive you don’t see them very often.

Thanks for pointing out the inset. It’s why modern cabinets always look weird to me.

I feel like I learned something new.

Great video! What wood do you prefer for paint grade cabinets? All makers I've contacted are suggesting MDF for the door panel. Should I request wood? Thanks!

I enjoyed this video…. I originally watched it hoping to learn something which you didn’t address. Can you tell me what the trim under kitchen upper cabinet would be called and how it is done? I would like to do something to stock cabinets to make them look better and more timeless (plus being a short person I can see the ugly unfinished underside of the upper cabinets … and it is ugly> Perhaps there is a video (?)

Brent, is there a cabinet maker or brand where a customer could specify these elements in their custom kitchen cabinetry? For example, I prefer the French formal style of raised inset panels (and moldings) but don't know where I could go to make those choices...

It would be interesting if we could figure out how to make cheaper kitchens look better than the current methods. Would an inlay approach do it. Such as a face frame that is pre engineered or cabinets prebuilt with the face and a door that then fits into that as an inlay. The most expensive part of cheap kitchens is the fitting.

I really enjoyed this episode... the problem is that you have to have so much money to do cabinets in this way. If you want to build historical cabinets this way yourself, would you build out of solid wood or out of plywood? I will look for your book on the subject for sure.

What’s a good source hinges for French cabinets?

I like inset doors yet it takes inches away from any pull out shelf. Would you show us what you done as I assume it’s many inches you lose

6. Include an incised, or inset, bead on the cabinet face frames. And any cabinetmaker worth his salt-including those trained at NBSS-can account for the effect of seasonal wood movement on door fit. It's the very reason doors are built the way they are in the first place, with wider panels surrounded by narrower frames, to contain and accommodate expansion and contraction. Those other guys just don't like having to fit each door individually, instead of slapping on an overlay, with fit as no consideration.

Where do you recommend getting exposed butt hinges for inset doors? I am trying to buy some (DIYer here) and I can't find any. Its also difficult understanding lingo when shopping.

Any Kitchen Cabinet shops you'd recommend round the dfw area?

Where can we preorder the book? Thanks!

What can be done if you don't have inset cabinets? Ours are overlay...

Brent, without knowing everyone’s market, do you feel there’s opportunity for small cabinet shops to be the ones that don’t give the pushback you talk about and be successful? Is there a void in the market where the furniture quality cabinets are the standard? Also, thanks for putting out these videos. They really helped with my recent kitchen remodel and with my home design in general.

I showed my cabinet maker a picture of what I wanted for my kitchen. They were inset doors. He said okay, we signed a contract and then built overlay doors. I didn't even know the difference until I saw all the cabinets built and questioned the difference. He said, well...that would have cost more. I was so upset. He should have talked to me about the difference before finalizing the contract. He tried to tell me that type of door will stick and always cause problems. I've got old furniture with that type of door and haven't had any sticking. He is highly respected in our area but he lost some of those respect points for me after this project.

It would help to do close up, slow video of the cabinet you are addressing. We already know what you look like.

Mr. Hull, how do you accomplish soft close with the visible butt hinges? I love the look but also love a nice soft close.

Did you mention working on a book?

With the advent of much more capability in technology from when these styles were created why the style couldn't come back and be competitive as modern trash cabinets.

How did "use wood" not make it onto this list? Sawdust and plastic are everywhere. Maybe this is item 0? Use real wood!