| Most kitchens today are already providing what used | | | | cabinets ran along the walls of the kitchen. |
| to be the living room's main purpose - entertainment | | | | With the new kitchen cabinet specialization came |
| and relaxation. These contain cabinets, which provide | | | | along new techniques, tools and materials to serve |
| storage and beauty to the entire kitchen space. | | | | the demand. New cabinet materials like hardwood |
| The pre-20th century homes did not have any of the | | | | veneer plywood, medium density fiberboard and |
| comfort, amenities and cabinets found in today's | | | | other man made sheet goods became readily |
| kitchen. The kitchens in America prior to the 20th | | | | available in most building materials stores. New cutting |
| century were equipped with closet pantries, built in | | | | tools, edge banding and joining tools also became |
| cold larders and freestanding furniture. Most often | | | | available. A lot of new hardware started coming out |
| there were tall hutches that served to provide | | | | of the market. Hardware used for hanging cabinets, |
| additional storage for food supply and dinnerware. In | | | | door hinges and shelf supports. Additionally, new |
| the center was a long harvest table, which usually | | | | developments were made for hardware used in |
| served as the food preparation area. A cast iron or | | | | hanging cabinet doors and for drawing the boxes in |
| large stone sink served as an area for cleaning and | | | | and out of the cabinets. New innovations were also |
| washing the dishes. | | | | made for various fixtures including slide out bins, tilt |
| With the advent of the 20th century came a lot of | | | | out sink trays, baskets and various shelving. All these |
| changes in the way people live. There was the | | | | new developments in hardware and fixtures added |
| post-war housing boom that created major changes | | | | to the convenience and adaptability of the 20th |
| in the way kitchens were built and furnished. The | | | | century kitchen. |
| eating habits of most Americans also underwent | | | | The new tools and kitchen building materials meant |
| changes. People became too busy and they wanted | | | | good news to woodworkers and enthusiasts who |
| quick food preparation. This resulted to the | | | | wanted to build their own kitchen cabinets. The wide |
| consumption of more packaged foods. Together with | | | | availability of these products made their work easier, |
| the post-war housing boom and new eating habits of | | | | quicker and more accurate. Mail order tool supplies |
| Americans, the kitchen's basic concept underwent a | | | | also became readily available. Tools including guide drill |
| major evolution. | | | | bits for fitting installation, jigs and biscuit joinery tools |
| Cabinetmakers began to specialize in building kitchen | | | | all helped for the quick assembly of the kitchen |
| and bath cabinets. Most of them abandoned | | | | cabinets. |
| traditional furniture making and focused on the | | | | The primary goal of most cabinetmakers is |
| newfound specialization. They began building kitchen | | | | construction efficiency. All the new tools, materials |
| cabinets made of plywood as the basic material. Tall | | | | and fixtures helped in providing cabinetmakers the |
| hutches, pantry rooms and the long harvest tables | | | | necessary requirements to build their kitchen cabinets |
| began to disappear and were replaced with cabinets. | | | | and attain their goal. Today, we all savor and enjoy |
| The 20th century America began to enjoy the new | | | | the comforts and functions of our kitchens. From the |
| face of their kitchen. It now consisted of contiguous | | | | very basic harvest table, hutch and pantry rooms, |
| runs of upper and lower cabinets with a work | | | | we now have well functioned and organized kitchen |
| counter most often made of plastic laminate. These | | | | spaces. |