WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Modular cabinets are available through a growing number of retail outlets, including home centers such as Home Depot and Home Base, larger lumberyards such as Parr Lumber, and a variety of other sources that sell building materials.

Selections range from inexpensive, paint-grade units constructed completely from unfinished particleboard to high-end cabinets made from a variety of hardwoods. Choices include oak, maple, hickory, birch, alder, cherry and others, in stain colors ranging from natural clear finishes to whitewash to dark walnut, all with a factory-applied lacquer finish coat for durability and easy care. There are also laminates and factory-applied enamels in white and several other colors.

COMBINING SIZES AND STYLES

Part of the fun of working with modular cabinets is designing a size and layout that perfectly fits your needs and your space. Your first step is to choose a cabinet style that you like, and then you can consult with the manufacturer's catalog for a complete listing of sizes. Many stores also offer computerized design services to assist with your design and layout, and can even show you the proposed layout in 3-D.

For bathroom use, most manufacturers offer a line of standard-size vanity cabinets. These cabinets are smaller in height and depth than the cabinets used in the kitchen, typically 30 inches high and 21 inches deep. Widths begin at 12 inches, and go up in 3-inch increments – 15 inches, 18 inches, 21 inches, etc. – up to a maximum of 48 inches. As often happens, if the space you wish to fill is a length that is not an exact 3-inch increment – 22 ½ inches, for example – there are filler strips of the same material and finish as the cabinet that you can use to make up that odd 1 ½ inches.

Vanity cabinets come in several different styles and combinations that you can mix and match to meet your needs. Options include a basic base cabinet, which has a door only; a base cabinet with a door and a drawer; a drawer cabinet, which has three drawers and no door; and specialty cabinets, which have pullout hampers or wastebaskets. There also pre-made combination units with two drawers and doors or other combinations.

To create your own custom run of cabinets, simply combine two or more modular cabinets in the appropriate sizes. For example, suppose you would like to create a 5-foot-long (60-inch) vanity that will accommodate two sinks. You could use two 30-inch base cabinets with doors, or perhaps two 24-inch base cabinets with a 12-inch drawer cabinet in between. If you only want one sink, you might place a 24 base cabinet in the middle with an 18-inch bank of drawers on each side, or use an 18-inch base cabinet flanked by a 21-inch hamper and a 21-inch wastebasket cabinet. The possibilities for cabinet combinations are practically endless.

For great storage in a relatively small amount of space, you might consider using one or more of the 24-inch-deep by 84-or-96-inch-high tall cabinets commonly seen in the kitchen. Place a tall unit on one or both sides of the vanity cabinet – the tall cabinet is 3 inches deeper than the vanity cabinet, so the counter top on the vanity dies very neatly into the side of the tall cabinet. Tall cabinets are commonly available in widths of 15 inches to 36 inches, again in 3-inch increments, and can be left open inside for storing brooms and vacuums, or equipped with adjustable or rollout shelves for storage of linens, toiletries and other items.

Because of the wide selection of cabinets available, most stores stock only samples of the cabinet lines they offer. Order time for most lines is anywhere from two to five weeks, so you'll need to plan your installation schedule accordingly. Delivery is also available from most stores.