Reply by CessnaPilotBarry

Read up on inset drawers and doors, and mortised hinges, in solid wood face frames.

Unless you’re shooting for historical reproduction accuracy, and in the wrong home, this can actually HURT the value…

As far as boxes go, the plywood boxes used today are actually a preferable way to go, unless you enjoy spending lots of time for no gain. Once upon a time, cabinets were built in place, of solid wood. While that sounds romantic, glue and fastener technology has progressed to a point where composite boxes with solid wood face frames and doors are a better choice, performance-wise.

In the case of cabinetry, it’s usually better to use modern material in the boxes, like prefinished plywood, and to make the exterior LOOK old, than to truly duplicate old construction. There is lots of nice, reproduction hardware available today , from places like Horton Brasses, that Euro hardware is not a must.

Furniture is a different story, but you asked about cabinets.

-- It's all good, if it's wood...