Cabinetry around aquarium

[Hoontish]

Would love some help with this. Installing an 84”x30”x30” saltwater aquarium between a family room and home office. The home office side will be surrounded by cabinetry, including doors below for sump, equipment etc and doors above for access.
Trying to determine best way to avoid issues because of moisture. One recommendation was to have the faces of most of the cabinetry above and below comprised of mesh/metal with hole. Aesthetically, it doesnt look great.
We suggested doing saw cuts to make it look better, but material is prefinished wood/cleaf and millwork people strongly advised against it As it would be exposing the interior material to humidity.
Suggestions??
Thanks!
PS
Below are pics of the aquarium, a drawing and what saw cuts look like

 

[Big G]

How about using metal "Filigree" sheets. Lots of different patterns.

M-D Building Products 24 in. x 36 in. Cloverleaf Aluminum Sheet in Silver 57042 - The Home Depot

MD Building Products provides a full assortment of aluminum shapes and sheets for any project you may encounter. Easy to cut, form and fabricate. Aluminum material will not rust or corrode. Perforated,

www.homedepot.com

 

[Hoontish]

thanks. we are trying to stay away from metal as it kind of degrades the look of the cabinetry. Do you know how it fares with moisture?

 

[JoshH]

What's your budget like?

 

[Hoontish]

i dont want to say it’s unlimited, but its new construction, so pretty much have a blank slate. Just want to get it right and the millwork people are waiting for my direction. Not looking to tie into HVAC system or anything like that.

 

[ca1ore]

Hmmn, I’ve made my own cabinet doors on a few occasions. As long as you properly finish the doors on both sides, they aren’t particularly susceptible to moisture related warping. You should be using some kind of fan for air exchange out of the cabinet anyhow. You can also use cabinet grade plywood for the door panel (if you’re doing rail/stile doors) as it’s more dimensionally stable than wood boards. Face mount the doors so the board ends are outside the cabinet. That’s where most moisture enters.

 

[Jminasalli]

Does the cabinet go floor to ceiling?

 

[Hoontish]

Hmmn, I’ve made my own cabinet doors on a few occasions. As long as you properly finish the doors on both sides, they aren’t particularly susceptible to moisture related warping. You should be using some kind of fan for air exchange out of the cabinet anyhow. You can also use cabinet grade plywood for the door panel (if you’re doing rail/stile doors) as it’s more dimensionally stable than wood boards. Face mount the doors so the board ends are outside the cabinet. That’s where most moisture enters.

hmm- what about openings?

 

[Hoontish]

Does the cabinet go floor to ceiling?

cabinets underneath go to pretty much to floor. cabinets on top are for access, and on top of that is an open shelf.you can see it in the drawing I posted.

 

[Twitchy]

Is that shelving on each side? I would put your vents on the side(s) of the cabinet. I'd also look into a ventilation fan of some sort, as that looks like a very tight setup. (either something simple behind a set of vents, or ducting something up and out) maybe just have them run a duct in the wall up and out the attic... It would keep moisture down in the office, be super cheap, and ensure it stays cool and dry in the stand/hood.

 

[Hoontish]

Is that shelving on each side? I would put your vents on the side(s) of the cabinet. I'd also look into a ventilation fan of some sort, as that looks like a very tight setup. (either something simple behind a set of vents, or ducting something up and out) maybe just have them run a duct in the wall up and out the attic... It would keep moisture down in the office, be super cheap, and ensure it stays cool and dry in the stand/hood.

yes- open shelving on both sides. not looking to tear open drywall at this point. So youre saying vent out the sides, as opposed to the front of the cabinets

 

[Twitchy]

yes- open shelving on both sides. not looking to tear open drywall at this point. So youre saying vent out the sides, as opposed to the front of the cabinets

If it was me I'd pick a side or do both sides, and have a mesh vent placed on the side. You won't see it from the front, and if you are clever about vent placement, and what you put on that shelf, you can keep from blocking said vents.

 

[Jminasalli]

Is the cabinetry matching to something existing? If not you could look into making louvered doors. You don’t need a ton of ventilation but you do need a place for some to escape.

 

[Hoontish]

If it was me I'd pick a side or do both sides, and have a mesh vent placed on the side. You won't see it from the front, and if you are clever about vent placement, and what you put on that shelf, you can keep from blocking said vents.

thanks- will run it by

Is the cabinetry matching to something existing? If not you could look into making louvered doors. You don’t need a ton of ventilation but you do need a place for some to escape.

If it was me I'd pick a side or do both sides, and have a mesh vent placed on the side. You won't see it from the front, and if you are clever about vent placement, and what you put on that shelf, you can keep from blocking said vents.

thanks- I will run it by my millwork guy

 

[Hoontish]

If it was me I'd pick a side or do both sides, and have a mesh vent placed on the side. You won't see it from the front, and if you are clever about vent placement, and what you put on that shelf, you can keep from blocking said vents.

though on the sides of the lowers there are closed cabinets on one side and drawers on the other

 

[Hoontish]

Is the cabinetry matching to something existing? If not you could look into making louvered doors. You don’t need a ton of ventilation but you do need a place for some to escape.

matching the rest of the cabinetry in the room. It is an office with built-ins

 

[maroun.c]

A vent to the outside of.the cabin gets or if possible.to the outside of the room would be the best way for that. Or else running a dehumidifier at around 60% humidity would deal with humidity issues and not cause excessive evaporation.

 

[ca1ore]

hmm- what about openings?

Not sure what you mean. Doors are presumably on hinges.

 

[krash7172]

I did something very similar. We used outdoor cabinet materials. 2-1/2 yrs and no issues.