Marcato Glossary — High Woodworking Terms
Marcato's high-end carpentry technical and aesthetic vocabulary — a quick reference for architects, designers, and clients who want to understand exactly what goes into each piece.
Construction and structures
Custom high-end carpentry
Handcrafted construction on an industrial scale, with exclusive designs per client, personalized dimensions and finishes. Unlike ready-made modular furniture, each piece is designed for its final environment.
1mm by 1mm
Marcato signature. Each project is manufactured with millimeter precision, ensuring perfect fittings and exact adjustment to the environment. No gaps, no on-site improvisation.
MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
Medium density wood panel, ideal for machining and finishing. At Marcato, used exclusively for doors (20mm) in kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms because it allows for precise cuts, chamfers, machined handles, and a perfect paint finish.
MDP (Medium Density Particleboard)
Medium density particle board, structural and economical. At Marcato, used for all internal structures: casework (18mm in kitchens/bathrooms, 25mm in bedrooms), shelves (25mm), and backing (15mm).
Casework
External structure of the furniture — sides, base, top, dividers. Defines robustness. Marcato uses 18mm MDP in kitchens/bathrooms and 25mm in bedrooms (premium thickness — standard market uses 18mm).
Backing
Rear panel of the module. Marcato uses 15mm in all categories — well above the common market (which uses 3mm to 6mm).
Panels — suppliers
Duratex (Dexco)
The largest Brazilian manufacturer of wood panels. Marcato uses Duratex MDF and MDP in all constructions.
Arauco
Chilean panel manufacturer, a global reference in quality. Marcato alternates between Duratex and Arauco according to availability and project.
European hardware
Blum LegraBox
Premium drawer system from Blum (Austria). Applied in Marcato kitchens and bathrooms. Features:
- Full extension: the drawer opens 100% — you access all content, including the back. Unlike common partial slides on the market.
- BLUMOTION: integrated soft-close system — quiet and smooth closing automatically.
- Capacity: 70 to 170 lb per drawer.
- Available in M, C, and F heights.
Blum Tandem
Concealed drawer system from Blum (Austria). Applied in Marcato bedrooms and shelving units. Features:
- Full extension: same advantage as LegraBox — 100% drawer access. Note: many brands advertise Tandem but use partial slides; here it's full.
- BLUMOTION: integrated soft-close.
- Concealed runner under the drawer — clean look.
Salice Silentia Plus
Italian hinge system (Salice, Italy) with soft-close. Applied to all Marcato doors (kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms). Features:
- Quiet and soft closing.
- Fine adjustment in 3 dimensions (lateral, vertical, depth).
- Clip-top system: easy installation and removal.
BLUMOTION
Blum soft-close technology. Ensures that doors and drawers close silently and automatically when pushed, without slamming.
Finishes and paint
IVE Lechler
Premium paint line for furniture from Lechler (Italy, since 1858). IVE is the Habitat division specializing in furniture. Marcato uses IVE Lechler for all microtexture painting.
Microtexture
Textured finish with a velvety surface to the touch, low reflection, and high resistance to marks and scratches. Available in a wide palette of Lechler colors.
Natural veneer
Thin sheet (0.6mm) of natural wood applied over the panel. Maintains the real wood grain (American oak, jequitibá, walnut, tauari) with the stability of MDF.
BP melamine
Low-pressure coated panel with melamine film — durable, easy-to-clean surface with varied patterns.
Laminate
High-pressure laminate (HPL) coating, more resistant than BP melamine. Ideal for high-traffic surfaces.
Ebonized
Treatment that darkens wood while keeping the grain visible. Sophisticated and timeless look.
Glass
Tempered or laminated glass panels, integrated into frames (Bellagio, Frame, Molise lines).
Natural straw
Natural weave applied to doors with industrial tensioning — used in the Varenna, Frame, and Frame Palha lines. Ideal for bedrooms and dry washrooms.
Solid woods used by Marcato
Jequitibá
Noble Brazilian wood of light yellowish color. Straight and elegant grain. Used in solid handles (Rustica line), stools (Lina), mirrors (Luna), shelves (Wood), and various Empório pieces.
American Oak
Noble American wood of medium color and striking grain. Used in cake stands, Luna mirrors, side tables, and ottomans.
Tauari
Light, fine, and stable Brazilian wood. Used in trays, Luna side tables, and Luna Ribbed Table.
Walnut
Dark-toned wood with striking grain. Used in round tables, Soffio ottomans, and Soffio Ribbed Ottoman.
Marcato Lines
Bellagio
Classic with framed doors, with or without raised panels. Available in kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
Quadratta
Aesthetic rigor with an integrated machined handle in the door. No external applied hardware.
Filleto
Contemporary with Marcato's exclusive solid wood applied handle.
Profilo (kitchens)
Linear horizontal rail without external handle — recessed metal handle.
Time Profilo (kitchens)
Linear machined handle in the door — can run full or half length.
Liscio
Recessed pull or applied handle, minimalist linear design.
Corina
Machined handle integrated into almost the entire door — very smooth opening. Exclusive in Lechler microtexture.
Trim (kitchens and bathrooms)
45° chamfer on the top of the door — ergonomic recessed opening.
Cava (kitchens)
Handleless, with aluminum profile in the casework customizable in any color.
Frame
Structural frame with customizable infill (straw, mesh, glass, mirror, or panel).
Frame Duplo (bedrooms)
Frame with double volume and tensioned natural straw.
Frame Palha (bedrooms)
Specific frame with woven natural straw and chamfered edges.
Frame Aluminum (bedrooms)
Frame with embedded white aluminum profile with millimeter machining.
Graffiata (bedrooms)
Vertical machined handle that runs the entire height of the cabinet. Exclusive in microtexture.
Parelli (bedrooms)
Integrated elongated machined handle. Exclusive in microtexture.
Rustica (bedrooms)
Linear machined handle in solid jequitibá wood integrated into the door.
Triad (bedrooms)
Elongated aluminum handle with color options.
Vintage (bedrooms)
Deep relief frames — contemporary handcrafted carpentry.
Molise
Subtle and almost imperceptible linear aluminum profile.
Varenna
Woven natural straw with an aluminum profile structure (black or matte anodized).
Fregio Vertical (bathrooms)
Decorative vertical machined detail on the door surface.
Spazio Vertical (bathrooms)
Integrated functional vertical handle profile, running the entire height.
Practical terms
Custom vs. ready-made line
Marcato kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms are custom-made — exclusive projects per client. The Empório Collection (cake stands, side tables, Wood shelves, Soffio ottomans, Luna mirrors, stools) is a ready-made line with individual pieces in stock or quick production.
10-year warranty
Covers Blum + Salice structure and hardware. See the Marcato 10-year warranty page for details.
This glossary is updated as new lines and materials enter the Marcato catalog.