Since cabinetry is the most defining characteristic of most kitchens, I've been doing a lot of research on the subject lately. Most of our projects in the past have been constructed with custom cabinetry, which has its advantages and disadvantages. With a good cabinet maker (such as Jason Bedre's work in the Seagrass, Copper & Mesquite project) we receive shop drawings to review and approve, and every detail is considered. We also have oversight of the exact wood selection, how to orient the grain, and the quality of the finish.
We run into problems with cabinet shops that do not provide accurate shop drawings. Many times, center lines are missed, proportions are off, and we end up with larger gaps between drawers (we prefer 1/8" maximum). Sometimes, the entire layout is different than what was designed. Needless to say, this is a situation we try to avoid!
So that has brought me to the option of factory made cabinets.
This week I visited Alno Kitchens, and was very impressed with the quality of the finish and organization systems available with this line. One of the biggest advantages of a product like Alno is the factory finish. Doors and drawer fronts are available in laminate, real wood, veneer wood, lacquer and glass finishes. Which means that after it's installed, it's done! No additional expense for painting, staining, lacquering, or sealing (which can, in some cases, cost as much as the cabinet construction itself).
Alno cabinetry and fittings are constructed in Germany, if that gives you any sense of how well-engineered these things are. The horizontal gaps you see in the dark cabinet above? Those are the hand pulls, cleverly concealed but still recognizable at the top of the drawer.
Tom and Andrea Wilkinson are the husband and wife team who run Alno Austin, and they have a beautiful showroom in the Penn Field complex on South Congress. And to make my visit that much more special, they actually cooked for me in their beautiful kitchen!
Alno offers plenty of ways to organize cleanly and efficiently, such as with these above-counter systems for hanging objects and cannisters:
The drawers can be outfitted with Blum's Orga-line or with their own custom accessories. Below is a drawer with a clever pegboard and wooden dowel system - I love the simplicity and elegance of this solution:
But back to the German engineering... Alno features some of the smoothest, sound hardware elements I have ever operated. Their corner cabinet (known in layman's terms as a 'lazy susan') glides out effortlessly to present a generous surface for storing items. The upper cabinet doors slide up and out using hardware that one might expect to find on a Maserati:
Alno seems to have the market cornered with their machine-like operability, but I was glad to see that they offer some softer finishes, such as this brushed pine door in grey:
Each project begs for a different solution to cabinetry. Some clients will enjoy the process of working with an experienced cabinet maker and appreciate fine wood details that can't be obtained otherwise. Some clients know they want that lacquered, high-gloss finish that can only be achieved through factory production. And other clients will appreciate a laminate product, made of sustainable materials and available at an affordable price. I think all of them can be designed well to create a personalized, beautiful kitchen space.
For more information about Alno kitchens, contact Tom Wilkinson at 512-383-9906 or visit 3601 S. Congress, Building C, in Austin, TX 78704.
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