What are antique kitchen cabinets called?

Author: Rene Stokes MD  |  Last update: Sunday, July 6, 2025

A Hoosier cabinet or Hoosier is a type of cupboard or free-standing kitchen cabinet that also serves as a workstation. It was popular in the first few decades of the 20th century in the United States, since most houses did not have built-in kitchen cabinetry.

What are the old kitchen cabinets called?

Most of the older free-standing styles of kitchen cabinets were actually made in or near Indiana and, therefore, can be rightly called “Hoosier Cabinets,” but they should also be identified by their specific manufacturer.

What are the three types of kitchen cabinets?

The three types of kitchen cabinets are stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets have the fewest options, making them the least expensive. Custom cabinets have the most options and are the priciest.

What is another name for a Hoosier cabinet?

They are also often called sow belly, pot belly and hoosier flour cabinet.

What is the most classic kitchen cabinet style?

Shaker Cabinets: Old-Style Simplicity

Shaker cabinets, rooted in the design philosophy of 1800s Shaker communities, continue to be a popular choice for modern kitchens. These cabinets embody simplicity and functionality, featuring clean lines and a minimalist look that complements various decor styles.

The Best Antique Kitchen Cabinets

What is the most expensive cabinet style?

Inset Cabinet Style

Although this style tends to be one of the most expensive on the market, it's a classic look that'll last for generations. The inset door gets its name because it is set inside of the cabinet frame – typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame.

What is a timeless cabinet?

Stick to a Neutral Color Palette

Classic cabinets are all about simplicity and timelessness, so stick with neutral colors, such as white, beige, or natural wood tones. These colors will never go out of style, and you can easily update them with different accessories or accents.

How can you tell a real Hoosier cabinet?

One of the defining features of an authentic Hoosier Cabinet is its built-in flour sifter – a testament to its baking-centered design. This isn't just a compartment to store flour; it's a functional sifter that homemakers would have used to sift flour directly into a mixing bowl.

Why is it called a breakfront cabinet?

The design dates from the 18th century and has remained popular. The breakfront was made in three or more sections, and the center section projected beyond the other sections, visually breaking the front line. Today we have breakfront bureaus, breakfront desks, breakfront cabinets and breakfront bookshelves.

What is a possum belly cabinet?

It's a country kitchen cabinet for storing flour and supplies for general baking.

How do I tell what kind of kitchen cabinets I have?

Cabinet brands that belong to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) will have a sticker on the back side of the sink door or side wall of the cabinet. On the sticker there should be a code or the cabinetry name in the middle of the label. For example, on a Bertch Kitchen+ door, the code is BCM.

What are the 12 cabinets?

These Cabinets include:
  • Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Department of Commerce.
  • Department of Defense.
  • Department of Education.
  • Department of Energy (DOE)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

What are traditional kitchen cabinets?

Defining Traditional Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinets that are traditional often make use of rich, deep wood tones like mahogany or cherry, and tend to incorporate slopes, curves, and easy edges as opposed to a modern design's sharper edges.

What makes a cabinet antique?

Some of these methods include: (1) Joinery: If a joint has only a few uneven dove-tails, it was likely dove-tailed by hand and is an antique. (2) Symmetry: Exact symmetry likely means that the piece is machine-made and hence, not antique. (3) Finish: If the piece is very old, it may be oil, wax or milk paint.

What are the names of the cabinets?

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the ...

What were the old IKEA cabinets called?

In 2015, IKEA replaced their AKURUM system of cabinets with a new system of cabinets called SEKTION. Both systems are very similar in appearance, but there are many differences that are easy to miss.

Why is it called a Hoosier cabinet?

The cabinet got its name because most of them were made in Indiana. The first Hoosier cabinets appeared in 1898, created by a furniture company called Sellers, in New Castle, Indiana. Popularity of the cabinet grew up until the late 1940's when the records for the cabinets became scarce.

Why is it called a Lazy Susan cabinet?

One speculation is that the name derives from servants in the 1700's who were referred to as “Susans.” Another popular theory is that Thomas Jefferson invented them for his daughter, Susan, who often complained that she was always the last to be served at the dinner table.

What is a hutch cabinet?

A hutch is an American English word for a particular type of furniture with a set of shelves or cabinets placed on top of a lower unit with a counter and either drawers or cabinets. Modern hutches are typically made of timber.

What brand of cabinet do I have?

Manufacturers Association (KCMA) will have a sticker on the inside of a cabinet door – typically on your sink base cabinet. The seal has a code at the bottom that helps you identify the manufacturer. Additionally, the KCMA website “Find a Manufacturer” tool can search for the company by name or code.

What is an antique Hoosier?

A Hoosier cabinet or Hoosier is a type of cupboard or free-standing kitchen cabinet that also serves as a workstation.

What color kitchen never goes out of style?

The classic white kitchen is sometimes criticized for being boring—but it will never go out of style! According to Houzz, 43 percent of renovating homeowners opt for white cabinets.

What is a Nancy Meyer's kitchen?

Warm and Comforting Neutrals

Consider the Nancy Meyers kitchen in “Something's Gotta Give”. The cabinets are a warm, creamy white with a sleek warm black countertop. The neutral color scheme allows these kitchens to be timeless, remaining stylish no matter what the interior trend cycle is calling popular.

What is the most classic kitchen cabinet color?

Timeless white is the most popular color for kitchen cabinets and will likely remain popular for some time.

Previous article
Does cinnamon get rid of gnats?
Next article
What should you not use to clean stainless steel appliances?