FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern European Kitchens, Custom Cabinetry & IKEA-Compatible Fronts
Beyond Kitchen designs and manufactures modern European-style kitchens and custom cabinetry with a focus on refined design, thoughtful functionality, natural materials, and premium hardware.
We work on complete kitchen projects as well as custom cabinetry, bathroom vanities, built-ins, and replacement fronts for IKEA systems. Our cabinetry is designed and made in California, and we work with homeowners, architects, interior designers, and contractors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our kitchens, materials, design process, manufacturing, installation, and IKEA-compatible products.
Complete Kitchens & Custom Cabinetry
Do you design and manufacture complete kitchens?
Yes. Beyond Kitchen designs and manufactures complete modern European-style kitchens, not just cabinet fronts.
Every kitchen is planned using professional kitchen design software, allowing us to develop the cabinetry around your space, appliances, storage needs, and the way you use your kitchen every day.
As part of the design process, you receive a clear and detailed kitchen plan that includes:
- Dimensioned cabinet layouts and elevations
- A complete schematic kitchen plan
- 3D visualizations to help you understand the space, proportions, materials, and overall design before production begins
A typical full-kitchen project may include base and wall cabinets, tall pantry units, islands, drawer systems, finished side panels, fillers, toe-kicks, integrated appliance panels, custom storage solutions, bathroom cabinetry, and other built-in elements.
Once the design is approved, the kitchen is prepared for production in our California workshop.
What makes a Beyond Kitchen kitchen different?
We approach every kitchen as an integrated architectural system, rather than a collection of individual cabinets.
Creativity is at the center of our design process. We look carefully at the architecture of the space, proportions, materials, appliances, storage requirements, and the way each client actually lives and uses their kitchen.
Our goal is to create a kitchen that feels intuitive and comfortable in everyday life while remaining minimal, refined, and visually cohesive.
Our cabinetry uses European-style frameless construction, which eliminates the traditional face frame and allows significantly more of the cabinet interior to remain accessible and usable. This maximizes storage space while creating the clean lines, precise reveals, and uninterrupted surfaces associated with modern European kitchens.
We use Blum hardware throughout our cabinetry, including premium LEGRABOX drawer systems. Smooth movement, durability, precise adjustment, and long-term performance are an essential part of how a Beyond Kitchen kitchen should feel every day.
Material selection follows the same philosophy. We focus on high-quality natural materials and exceptional high-performance surfaces.
Our wood kitchens feature real natural veneers such as Walnut and White Oak, carefully arranged using mixed and matched veneer layouts that preserve the natural variation and character of real wood rather than making the cabinetry look repetitive or artificial.
For high-performance surfaces, we offer materials such as FENIX, selected for both their refined appearance and exceptional everyday performance.
Depending on the project, we may incorporate continuous wood grain, integrated handles, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, concealed appliances, wide drawer systems, custom interior storage, and carefully aligned panels and reveals.
Every kitchen is designed around the specific needs of the people who will use it — how they cook, store, move through the space, entertain, and live day to day.
The result is an integrated architectural kitchen system designed around real everyday life — minimal, refined, highly functional, and deeply considered.
What style of kitchens do you specialize in?
Our work is focused primarily on modern and contemporary kitchens with a European influence.
We frequently work with:
- Minimalist kitchens
- Modern European kitchens
- Handleless kitchens
- Walnut kitchens
- White oak kitchens
- FENIX kitchens
- Mid-century modern homes
- Eichler homes
- Japandi-inspired interiors
- Contemporary remodels and new construction
- Our collections are intentionally versatile and can be adapted to different architectural styles while maintaining a clean and cohesive aesthetic.
Do you offer kitchen design services?
Yes.
We can work from an existing architectural or interior design plan, collaborate directly with your designer or architect, or provide kitchen design assistance through Beyond Kitchen.
Our design process can include space planning, cabinet layouts, material selection, front design, appliance integration, storage planning, panel and filler details, handle placement, veneer direction, and other cabinetry-related decisions.
The level of design involvement depends on the project.
Can you work with my architect or interior designer?
Absolutely.
We regularly collaborate with architects, interior designers, contractors, and homeowners.
If your design team already has a kitchen concept or construction drawings, we can review the cabinetry portion, develop production details, recommend materials and hardware, and prepare the cabinetry for manufacturing.
We can also communicate directly with your designer throughout the project when needed.
Do you work only in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Our primary market for complete kitchen projects is the San Francisco Bay Area, where we can provide the full Beyond Kitchen experience — design, manufacturing, project coordination, delivery, and professional installation.
We also work on complete kitchen projects in the Los Angeles area, depending on the project scope and location. Contact us to learn more about available services for your area.
Outside the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles area, we work with clients throughout the United States through our custom cabinet front program.
We can manufacture and ship custom doors, drawer fronts, panels, fillers, toe-kicks, and other exterior cabinetry components flat-packed anywhere in the U.S.
These fronts can be made for:
- IKEA cabinet systems, including SEKTION
- Cabinet boxes manufactured by your local cabinetmaker
- Other custom cabinetry built to your project specifications
This allows clients outside our local full-service areas to use Beyond Kitchen materials, finishes, and design language while working with a local cabinetmaker for cabinet boxes and local installation.
If your project is outside California, contact us with your location, drawings, and project scope so we can recommend the best way to work together.
Cabinet Construction, Materials & Hardware
What type of cabinetry do you manufacture?
We specialize in frameless European-style cabinetry, designed to maximize usable interior space while creating the clean, precise appearance associated with modern European kitchens.
Unlike traditional face-frame cabinets, frameless construction does not require a large frame around the cabinet opening. This provides better access to the interior and allows more of the cabinet volume to be used for storage.
It also works particularly well with modern slab doors, integrated handles, wide drawers, concealed appliances, minimal reveals, and floor-to-ceiling cabinetry.
Our cabinetry is designed as a coordinated system so that cabinet boxes, doors, panels, fillers, appliances, interior storage, and hardware work together both visually and functionally.
We use Blum hardware throughout our cabinetry, including Blum hinges and premium LEGRABOX drawer systems, selected for their smooth operation, precision, durability, and long-term performance.
What materials do you use for cabinet doors?
Our most popular wood fronts are made using engineered hardwood cores with premium real wood veneers, including Walnut and White Oak.
For many projects, we use custom mixed and matched veneer layouts to create a natural, varied appearance rather than a repetitive or overly uniform veneer pattern.
This allows the cabinetry to retain the character and richness of real wood while still creating a refined and cohesive overall composition.
For painted cabinetry, we use durable HDF substrates.
We also offer premium high-performance surface materials such as FENIX NTM and other carefully selected finishes depending on the collection and project.
Do you use solid wood for slab cabinet doors?
For large slab doors, we generally use engineered hardwood construction with real wood veneer rather than building the entire door from a single piece of solid wood.
This provides significantly greater dimensional stability and reduces the risk of warping while preserving the look and tactile quality of natural wood.
Our wood doors incorporate solid wood edges and structural elements where appropriate, particularly in areas used for integrated handle details.
This construction allows us to create larger and more stable doors, including tall floor-to-ceiling panels that would be difficult to produce reliably from traditional solid wood slabs.
What is engineered hardwood?
Engineered hardwood combines real wood with engineered structural materials to provide greater stability than a traditional solid wood panel.
For our slab doors, solid wood is incorporated into the perimeter and structural areas of the door, while the visible surfaces are finished with premium real wood veneer.
For certain door designs, approximately 1/4-inch solid wood is incorporated around the edges. Side edges can be constructed with end-grain solid wood aligned with the direction of the surface veneer, while the upper handle area may use a deeper solid wood section that allows us to create integrated handle profiles.
This construction gives the cabinetry the warmth, grain, and character of real wood while allowing us to create large, stable doors and panels with a significantly reduced risk of warping.
Can you continue the wood grain across multiple cabinet doors?
Yes.
Grain continuation is an important design detail in many of our Walnut and White Oak projects.
When specified, doors and panels can be laid out so that the veneer pattern visually continues across adjacent fronts, creating a much more architectural and intentional appearance.
Grain direction and matching requirements should be established before production.
Can I request a custom paint color?
Yes.
We can match colors from brands such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Farrow & Ball, and other paint manufacturers.
We recommend reviewing an approved physical sample before production, since paint colors can appear different depending on lighting, surrounding finishes, and screen settings.
What hardware do you use?
We use Blum hardware throughout our kitchen cabinetry, including premium Blum hinges and LEGRABOX drawer systems.
Hardware is one of the areas where we intentionally do not compromise. There are less expensive alternatives available, but the difference in movement, adjustment, stability, and long-term performance is noticeable in a kitchen that is opened and used hundreds of times every week.
LEGRABOX drawers provide smooth full-extension movement, soft closing, excellent load capacity, and a refined slim-sided design that works particularly well with modern European cabinetry.
For us, premium hardware is not simply an upgrade — it is part of how a well-designed kitchen should feel every day.
Are your materials environmentally friendly?
We prioritize responsible materials and finishes whenever possible.
Our material selections include NAUF — no added urea formaldehyde — options and low-VOC finishes where available.
Because material specifications vary between collections and projects, please contact us if you have specific sustainability, indoor air quality, or material requirements.
Can you make cabinetry for integrated and panel-ready appliances?
Yes.
Integrated appliances are a major part of modern European kitchen design, and we regularly produce custom panels and surrounding cabinetry for panel-ready refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, beverage refrigerators, and other appliances.
We manufacture these components based on the exact appliance model and manufacturer specifications.
Final appliance selections should therefore be confirmed before production.
Do you provide matching side panels, fillers, and toe-kicks?
Yes.
We manufacture the coordinating components required to create a fully integrated kitchen, including finished side panels, fillers, toe-kicks, appliance panels, and other custom finishing elements.
These details are planned together with the cabinetry so that the finished kitchen reads as one cohesive architectural composition.
Do you make bathroom vanities and other custom cabinetry?
Yes.
In addition to kitchens, we can manufacture bathroom vanities, tall storage cabinets, laundry cabinetry, wardrobes, built-ins, and other custom cabinetry when they are part of a larger project or fit within our design and manufacturing capabilities.
Design & Project Process
How do I get a quote for a complete kitchen?
The best starting point is to send us any information you already have about your project.
This may include:
- Floor plans
- Kitchen elevations
- Architectural drawings
- Renderings
- Appliance specifications
- Inspiration images
- Existing cabinet plans
- Approximate room dimensions
You can email your project information directly to info@beyondkitchen.com.
If your project is still at an early stage — or you would simply prefer to talk through your ideas first — you can also schedule a complimentary design consultation with us.
During the meeting, we can discuss your space, design direction, materials, project scope, process, pricing, and any questions you may have.
Book a Free Design Consultation →
Once we understand the scope of the project and the cabinetry requirements, we can prepare a detailed quote and recommend the best next steps.
Do I need a finished kitchen design before contacting you?
No.
Some clients come to us with fully developed architectural plans, while others contact us at the very beginning of a renovation.
We can work within either scenario.
If your kitchen still needs to be designed, we can discuss design services as part of the project.
Can you help with appliance selection and cabinet integration?
Yes.
We can help evaluate appliances from a cabinetry and integration perspective.
This is especially important for panel-ready refrigerators, dishwashers, wall ovens, cooktops, ventilation, and other appliances that affect cabinet dimensions and detailing.
Final appliance purchasing decisions remain with the client, but we can help ensure that the cabinetry is designed around the correct specifications.
How long does a complete kitchen project take?
The overall timeline depends on the complexity of the kitchen, the materials selected, the scope of cabinetry, and the stage of the project when we become involved.
A complete kitchen project generally moves through several stages:
Consultation → Design & Planning → Material & Finish Approval → Final Measurements → Production Drawings → Manufacturing → Delivery → Installation
The design phase varies depending on the project and the number of revisions required.
Once the final design, dimensions, materials, and specifications are approved, manufacturing and delivery typically take approximately 6–8 weeks.
A more precise schedule will be provided once we understand the scope and requirements of your project.
Do you install your kitchens?
Yes.
For complete kitchen projects in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles area, we work with professional installation partners who are experienced with our cabinetry and modern European kitchen systems.
Proper installation is especially important for frameless cabinetry, integrated appliances, continuous panels, precise reveals, and other architectural details that require accurate alignment.
Our installation partners can professionally install the cabinetry and coordinate the cabinetry-related portion of the project.
If you already have a qualified general contractor or cabinet installer, we can also manufacture the kitchen for installation by your own team and provide the necessary plans and cabinetry information.
Do you provide full remodeling services?
Beyond Kitchen specializes in kitchen design, cabinetry, manufacturing, and cabinetry installation.
Construction work such as demolition, electrical, plumbing, flooring, structural modifications, and general contracting is typically handled by the homeowner’s contractor or construction team.
We are happy to coordinate cabinetry requirements with your contractor, architect, or designer throughout the project.
IKEA-Compatible Cabinet Fronts
Do you still make cabinet fronts for IKEA kitchens?
Yes.
In addition to our complete kitchen systems and custom cabinetry, Beyond Kitchen continues to manufacture premium cabinet fronts designed for IKEA cabinet systems.
This is a separate product offering for clients who want to keep their existing or planned IKEA cabinet boxes while upgrading the exterior with custom materials, finishes, and design details.
Do you make doors and panels compatible with IKEA SEKTION kitchens?
Yes.
We manufacture doors, drawer fronts, cover panels, fillers, toe-kicks, and other exterior components designed to work with the IKEA SEKTION cabinet system.
Can you make fronts for IKEA PAX, GODMORGON, or BESTA?
Yes.
We can manufacture custom fronts and panels for selected IKEA furniture systems, including PAX wardrobes, GODMORGON bathroom cabinetry, and BESTA storage.
Please contact us with your specific system and dimensions so we can confirm the scope.
Do I buy IKEA cabinet boxes and hardware from Beyond Kitchen?
For an IKEA-based project, structural cabinet components such as SEKTION cabinet boxes, hinges, and IKEA drawer hardware are generally purchased from IKEA.
Beyond Kitchen supplies the custom exterior components that define the finished appearance of the cabinetry.
Depending on the project, we may also assist with reviewing or preparing the IKEA order, placing the order on your behalf, and arranging delivery.
Can you make custom-sized fronts for modified IKEA cabinets?
Yes.
We can manufacture non-standard doors, drawer fronts, and panels when IKEA cabinets have been modified or when a project requires custom dimensions.
Accurate final dimensions are essential for custom-sized components.
Are IKEA-compatible doors pre-drilled for hinges?
Yes.
Standard IKEA-compatible doors can be prepared with the appropriate hinge boring for IKEA hardware.
Custom or unusual cabinet configurations should be reviewed individually.
Do you drill holes for decorative handles and pulls?
We generally recommend drilling decorative handle and pull locations during installation.
This allows the installer to confirm the final alignment onsite and helps avoid errors caused by small dimensional differences between the design and installed cabinetry.
Integrated handles that are part of the door design are manufactured as part of the front itself.
How do I conceal visible IKEA cabinet edges when using dark-colored fronts?
For dark-colored cabinetry, exposed white IKEA cabinet edges can be covered with matching or coordinating edge-banding tape before the fronts are installed.
Depending on the project, exposed areas can also be painted or otherwise finished to coordinate with the selected cabinet fronts.
Samples & Ordering
Can I order material samples?
Yes, and we strongly recommend it.
A physical sample is the best way to evaluate wood grain, texture, sheen, color, and material quality.
Natural wood will always vary from one piece to another, so samples should be viewed as a representation of the material rather than an exact preview of every finished door.
What is the typical lead time for cabinet fronts?
Lead times depend on material, finish, order size, and production schedule.
As a general guideline, unfinished fronts may be available in approximately 3–5 weeks, while painted, finished, or more complex orders may require approximately 4–6 weeks or longer.
Your specific production timeline will be confirmed with your quote or order.
Can I change my order after placing it?
Changes may be possible if the order has not yet entered production.
We can often accommodate changes within the first 24–72 hours after an order is placed, depending on its production status.
Once materials have been ordered, veneer layouts prepared, custom components manufactured, or finishing has begun, changes may result in additional costs or may no longer be possible.
If you need to modify an order, contact us as soon as possible.
Delivery, Warranty & Care
Do you ship cabinetry and cabinet fronts?
Shipping and delivery options depend on the size of the project and destination.
Smaller cabinet-front orders may be shipped throughout the United States.
For projects outside our full-service areas, custom fronts, panels, and related exterior components can be carefully packed and shipped flat-packed for installation on IKEA cabinets or cabinet boxes manufactured by your local cabinetmaker.
Complete kitchen projects are coordinated individually based on location, installation requirements, and project scope.
What is your return policy?
Because our products are manufactured specifically for each project, custom cabinetry and custom cabinet fronts are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
For this reason, we strongly recommend confirming dimensions, appliance specifications, materials, colors, and samples before production.
Do you offer a warranty?
Our products include a 5-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship.
The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, improper installation, misuse, water damage, excessive moisture, extreme temperature conditions, environmental factors, or damage caused after delivery.
Please refer to the warranty documentation provided with your order for complete terms.
What should I do if my order arrives damaged?
Please inspect the delivery as soon as possible.
If you notice shipping damage, photograph both the damaged product and packaging and contact us within 24 hours of delivery so we can review the issue and determine the appropriate next step.
How should I care for my cabinetry?
For everyday cleaning, use a soft cloth with a mild dish soap solution and dry the surface afterward.
Avoid abrasive pads, abrasive cleaners, harsh household chemicals, solvents, and aggressive cleaning products.
Natural wood and specialty finishes may have additional care recommendations depending on the material.
Still Have Questions?
Every kitchen is different, and many questions are easier to answer once we understand your space, design direction, and project scope.
Whether you are planning a complete modern European kitchen, custom cabinetry, or new fronts for an existing IKEA system, our team can help you determine the right next step.
You can send your project information to info@beyondkitchen.com or schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your project with us.