What You Need to Know Before You Upgrade
When you’re planning a custom kitchen or built-in project, details make all the difference. At One Source Cabinets, we’ve noticed a rising trend in design consultations: more clients are asking about slatted and reeded cabinet doors. Our shaker and slab styles remain timeless favorites, but these newer options offer a chance to push design further without sacrificing craftsmanship.
So, what exactly are you getting with slatted or reeded doors—and are they worth the upgrade? Let’s break it down.
Slatted Doors: Subtle Structure, Endless Appeal
Slatted doors are built from flat wooden strips that create a clean, architectural look. Depending on the style, the strips are either:
Butted edge-to-edge for a sleek, uniform surface
Spaced about three-quarters of an inch apart for an airy design that lets light and shadow play through
The result is subtle texture that complements modern, coastal, or transitional spaces beautifully. Think of it as the “quiet confidence” upgrade: not flashy, but unforgettable once it’s in place.
Reeded Doors: Bold, Textured Drama
Reeded doors turn up the volume. Each panel features raised, curved ridges—about three-quarters of an inch wide and a quarter-inch tall—stacked tight across the door. The look is sculptural, almost wave-like, and instantly adds dimension to your cabinetry.
If slatted doors whisper, reeded doors speak in full sentences. They’re ideal when you want cabinetry to stand out as a design feature rather than just blend in.
What About Fluted?
You’ll hear the term fluted tossed around too. Fluting is essentially the inside-out version of reeding: instead of raised ridges, it’s carved grooves. At One Source, we stick to slatted and reeded designs because they deliver both the clean lines our clients love and the structural integrity that lasts.
How They’re Finished
Both slatted and reeded doors at One Source are hand-stained on real wood. We match the tone of your shaker or slab doors so everything lives in the same warm family, even though the grain and molding create natural differences. That’s what makes them special—your space feels cohesive, but with layers of detail that make it unique.
The Investment: Why They’re Worth It
Let’s be clear: these are custom jobs. They take extra weeks to build and a higher investment than standard doors. But they’re not about following a passing trend. They’re about elevating your project with details that make people stop and say, “That’s different.”
In short, slatted and reeded doors are the “why settle?” upgrade—perfect for homeowners and designers who want cabinetry that feels crafted, not just installed.
Final Word
Cabinet doors aren’t just functional panels; they’re design statements. If you’re weighing slatted or reeded styles against traditional shaker or slab, the question isn’t whether they’re better. It’s whether you want your cabinetry to quietly complement the room—or to anchor it with detail, texture, and character.
At One Source Cabinets, we build all three with the same solid craftsmanship. The difference comes down to the story you want your space to tell.