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Cherry Kitchen Cabinets

October 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Glazed cherry kitchen cabinets are always in high demand in new homes and in renovations and kitchen remodels. Cherry is both expensive and highly cherished in crafting fine furniture. Most furniture and cabinetmakers consider cherry the top of the line wood choice for their best work.

Cherry trees grow throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada, often reaching 100 feet tall. The wood is hard, durable and beautiful, in both color and grain. The heartwood is red to a deep reddish-brown, with a fine closed grain, perfect for building prized glazed cherry kitchen cabinets.

The color of the wood might be light when first used to build furniture or cabinets. It may be stained a darker shade or simply allowed to darken as it ages. The wood readily accepts a finish. It typically has lovely markings that are unique and recognizable, whether gum streaks or the occasional pin knot.

Cherry wood used to make fine furniture and glazed cherry kitchen cabinets, paneling, musical instruments and flooring might come from any of the following popular tree names, including:

  • American Black Cherry
  • Choke Cherry
  • Rum Cherry
  • Whiskey Cherry
  • Wild Cherry

However, another variety known as Curly Cherry or Flame Cherry has a slightly different grain of wavy patterns that run across the usual grain direction. Both, by any name, make beautiful and durable furniture and cabinetry.

Solid cherry kitchen cabinets are among the most expensive of all kitchen cabinet wood choices. If we begin, for example, with the price of birch, oak will cost about $50 more for a standard wall-mounted cabinet; maple will cost an additional $20. Cherry will cost about $12 per cabinet more than maple. Here’s how to put the cost in perspective for a complete set of kitchen cabinets. Here at Kitchen Cabinet Value, we charge 12 ½% more for solid cherry cabinetry. Big box stores rarely carry solid cherry cabinets so you would need to have the cabinets constructed by a custom cabinet builder. The cost is typically 20-25% more. For many homeowners, the cost of solid cherry cabinetry is prohibitive.

There is, however, another way to remodel your kitchen with the elegance and beauty of cherry without the higher cost. The secret to affordable glazed cherry kitchen cabinets is to buy quality cabinets and stain them cherry. Finally, the stain can be deepened and smoothed by glazing the cabinets.

Affordable cabinets that have the look and feel of the higher-priced solid cherry are available to every homeowner who understands the secret of saving money while creating the kitchen of your dreams.  Even those who can afford solid wood cherry cabinets choose cabinets with a cherry finish. The reason? A cherry finish will retain its beautiful cherry luster while solid cherry cabinets will darken over time. These glazed cherry kitchen cabinets can also be customized to fit your particular needs and the exact space available.

Glazed cherry kitchen cabinets are an obvious choice for most kitchens.

  1. They are the most versatile. They look good in any design style or door style and they work with any kitchen décor choice from colonial to contemporary. They also blend beautifully with all counter top materials, flooring choices, color schemes and kitchen layouts.
  2. Glazed cherry kitchen cabinets never go out of style. Black, ivory and white cabinets are somewhat trendy – they are in and out of fashion. The same is true of some other woods and finishes. Because of their durability and beauty, cherry cabinets and furniture are always chosen for top of the line furniture and cabinets.
  3. Glazed cherry kitchen cabinets also bring to any kitchen the depth and warmth that would otherwise be lacking.

Like all cabinets available from Kitchen Cabinet Value, our glazed cherry kitchen cabinets feature:

  • Solid wood dovetailed drawer boxes with steel under-mount, full extension and soft-close drawer glides
  • Five-piece raided panel door and drawer face design
  • Full overlay door and drawer design
  • Glazing
  • Cabinet boxes constructed of plywood and joined with glue and screws
  • No particle board anywhere in the cabinets

The beauty of glazed cherry kitchen cabinets in your new or remodeled kitchen is not too expensive if you know the secret of how to get customized glazed cherry in cabinets that fit your budget. Your guests will ever know you did not spend a fortune on cabinetry, unless you tell them.

 

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Antique Vanity Choices

July 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Antique vanity

Many people are considering an antique vanity when remodeling or renovating. Antique furniture certainly creates a unique bathroom. Both true antiques and many reproductions are available for remodelers, but is an antique vanity right for your home?

Most bathroom and home designers believe the vanity is the focal point of a bathroom. This makes it the basis of your bathroom design. For this reason, many homeowners choose the vanity first, and then design the bathroom around it.

Antique Vanity Challenges

There are several challenges, however, in designing a bathroom around an antique.

  1. Everything else in the bathroom should also fit the period (Victorian, for example) and the design style. Knobs, handles and drawer pulls must be appropriate for the original design of the furniture. Fixtures and fittings must also match.
  2. The surface material must be a natural material (marble, stone) to match the period of the antique.
  3. The tub and shower must also fit with the design of the vanity. Ideally, a claw foot tub is chosen. The shower will be hand-held and the curtain will be suspended from a circular rod surrounding the entire tub. Even the curtain rings must be appropriate.
  4. Some designers recommend that everything be antique brass. Others recommend chrome and porcelain.
  5. You must be prepared to either cut holes in the antique or find a style that will accommodate pipes without cutting holes.

An antique vanity will be made of a natural wood. Typically, these were built of oak, walnut, pine, cherry and mahogany. One of the most attractive characteristics of the antique is the warmth of the natural wood.

When introducing a significant visual focus in a natural wood, the wall, ceiling, door and floor colors should also be warm tones. Earth tones and some sea tones are perfect. Sterile white or other clinical shades will be jarring to the eye.

Many of the true antique vanity pieces were built long before modern waxes and chemical sealants became available. As a result, most of the true antiques can be damaged by the moisture in the typical bathroom. The warm moisture can weaken joints and cause warping.

Antique Vanity Reproductions

An attractive alternative is the reproduction of an antique vanity. An array of styles and sizes are available from most dealers. It is possible for you to shop for the style you want in the wood finish of your choice and with the surface material you prefer.

Although it is possible to find antique vanity reproductions in real mahogany, cherry, walnut or other natural woods, most reproductions are made of maple and a finish is applied to create the appearance of more expensive woods. The work of a good cabinetmaker will be difficult to distinguish from the true antique visually. In fact, your cabinetmaker will likely visit antique stores and warehouses to find good antique wood either from a period house, a barn, a boat or even a bridge.

The two most important differences between the antique vanity and the reproduction will be price and ability to endure the humidity in a bathroom. A reproduction has the advantage of chemical treatment to prevent damage by heat and humidity. It is also possible to apply modern sealers to marble and other stone or to use an artificial marble for the surface.

Shopping for the Perfect Antique Vanity

Antique vanityThere are many sources for a true antique vanity or for a piece of furniture adaptable for this purpose. Some, for example, use dressers or “dressing tables.” There are also several sources for reproductions.

The true antique vanity or other antique furniture can be found in antique stores, salvage stores or from remodelers who remove them from old homes before they are demolished. Occasionally, it is also possible to find useful pieces of furniture from old hotels when they remodel.

Most people prefer an antique vanity with some scars or other indications of use and age. If this is your preference, you might have the best luck in a salvage store. You might also find something appropriate online.

Antique vanity reproductions are available through most kitchen and bathroom stores, home improvement stores and cabinet stores. Shopping around might also locate a cabinetmaker who has a connection with a manufacturer or who customizes antiques for his or her customers. Reproductions are also available from online stores.

Choosing to remodel your bathroom around an antique vanity will result in a finished room that is attractive, warm and inviting. An antique or reproduction can be used in any home style, but they are typically seen in Victorian, revival, Georgian and Southern Colonial homes. If you are renovating a historic home, you will certainly want to include an antique.

 

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Small Bathroom Ideas

June 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Remodeling a small bath has several challenges. Finding good small bathroom ideas, however, is much easier than many homeowners think. Whether the makeover involves a master bath, a powder room or any other smaller area, it is possible to find great ideas to make the space optimally functional and attractive.

Challenges

Small baths present both typical challenges for remodelers and unique issues. The first issue in any remodel is cost. Regardless of the size of your bath, the basic plumbing fixtures must be included, as well as ventilation, lighting, electricity and accessibility, before exploring other small bathroom ideas.

A second significant challenge is finding small bathroom ideas for fitting everything into a small space. Fortunately, today’s remodeler can find a broad range of plumbing fixtures designed for small bathrooms. You might choose any of the following:

  • Install only a shower (no tub)
  • A tub that is smaller and deeper
  • A lower toilet
  • Smaller sink designs
  • Pedestal or wall-mounted sink to open more floor space
  • Spa shower designed on a small scale
  • Combination toilet and bidet

A third challenge is to find good small bathroom ideas for decorating. There are ways to decorate that will make the small space appear larger and more spacious.

A fourth challenge is to provide adequate lighting. Natural light is always to be preferred over artificial light, but it is often very difficult to add windows in a small area. Tube lights (which bring light through a tube from the roof to the ceiling admit a surprising amount of natural light. Skylights are also an outstanding choice among small bathroom ideas if you are working on the top floor of the house.

Finding Small Bathroom Ideas

Most homeowners are relieved to discover abundant sources of small bathroom ideas for design and decorating. These include:

  • Books on bathroom design or remodeling
  • Home decorating and design magazines
  • Books of house plans
  • Visit model homes in new neighborhoods
  • Ask your neighbors what they have done
  • Displays at home improvement stores and kitchen and bath stores
  • Talk with a remodeling designer or a home planner
  • Check remodeling websites
  • Explore websites for manufacturers of fixtures and other materials

Planning your Renovations

In working with a small area, planning each aspect of the remodel is critical. You will want to ensure every decision fits with all other choices and decisions. Any mistakes in choosing items you will use in your remodel or colors will be exaggerated in a small bathroom. Finding the right small bathroom ideas for every detail is crucial.

Begin with your budget. Know how much you can spend, because you will almost certainly need to compromise in selecting fixtures and other materials. Then, set priorities for your design and the materials. For example, is it more important to have a spa shower or to have a heated floor?

Shop carefully for every item you need. Shop the sales and compare prices carefully. Consider buying overstock or discontinued styles (if they fit your plan).

Small Bathroom Ideas for Design and Décor

There are many tips and tricks you will discover for decorating small bathroom ideas that make the space seem larger. Here are a few of the top tips

  • Use vertical stripes or borders at the top of walls to draw the eye upward
  • Introduce as much natural light as possible
  • Magnify the natural light with well-placed mirrors
  • Use lighter and brighter colors
  • Don’t install a vanity
  • Put as little as possible on surfaces

Storage and Small Bathroom Ideas

A major challenge for the creativity of many designers is providing adequate storage while also taking advantage of small bathroom ideas to make the room appear larger. Once the vanity is sacrificed to spaciousness, storage is typically lost. Many homeowners find it helpful to call in a local cabinetmaker for help.

If you have no storage space inside a small bathroom and little or none immediately outside it, you must think creatively and find innovative solutions to your storage needs. A good cabinetmaker can help you with small bathroom ideas like opening a second point of access to a hall linen closet or add open shelves over the tub or outside the shower for towels. Your cabinetmaker can also customize stock cabinetry to fit into recesses he or she cuts into walls for a variety of storage needs. Small niches also can be cut into the wall for decorative items.

Small bathroom ideas are abundant when you are remodeling. Working with a good local cabinetmaker in the planning stages of your design will result in a beautiful bath with adequate and innovative storage solutions that will further enhance your room design. Modifying stock cabinets will save money and allow you to do even more with small bathroom ideas.

 

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Bathroom Makeovers

June 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Mediterranean Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom makeovers can produce exciting results.

There are many reasons for remodeling bathrooms. Whether the room is inadequate in some way, in need of updating or it is just time for a change, bathroom makeovers solve problems of many kinds. The place to start is with a list of goals and priorities.

With a clear set of goals, you can begin your design and shopping for fixtures and materials for the bathroom makeovers. Some homeowners plan an update of all bathrooms in the house at one time. This can simplify the process of selecting and purchasing materials for the project and occasionally saving some money.

The recent shift to very large bathrooms has caused many homeowners to consider bathroom makeovers. Some people who remodel baths will enlarge the spaces by reallocating some space in the house or by extending the walls with a bump out or an addition. Other homeowners will try to remodel in ways that adds important types of space and creates the impression of spaciousness.

Because changing the location of major plumbing fixtures (tub, toilet, sink) can be the most expensive element in bathroom makeovers, the focus is often on finding new fixtures that are designed on a smaller scale or that use space differently. For example, exchanging a sink set in a large vanity cabinet for a wall-mounted sink opens a large amount of floor space. This creates the impression of a larger room.

The choice to remove a vanity during a remodel creates a different set of challenges. In many bathrooms, the only storage space is the vanity. Removing the cabinet leaves no storage space for towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo, makeup, grooming appliances, etc.

Replacing a vanity with wall-mounted cabinetry will not create the illusion of more space. In fact, adding wall mounted cabinets (typically at eye level) actually makes the room seem even smaller than the vanity did. Bathroom makeovers of this kind require a completely different approach to storage.

Some homeowners also object to removing a vanity by pointing out that there will be no place to display decorative items. This is true – removing the vanity also removes counter area. Once again, these bathroom makeovers require creativity.

Most families need storage space in each bathroom, even a guest bath. There are, however, several simple (yet often overlooked) ways to accomplish this goal in bathroom makeovers. Some options include:

  • Claiming space for a linen closet from the adjoining bedroom.
  • Using open shelving, particularly above a tub or toilet.
  • Opening wall areas to build recessed shelves with trim (only the trim extends past the wall).
  • Customizing cabinetry by making it six inches deep (rather than the standard 12 inches).
  • Using cabinetry with glass doors.
  • Using mirrors as doors (typically done with medicine cabinets).

Other approaches might include re-sizing a vanity to provide storage but use minimal space. Changing the doors on the vanity to glass (or textured or frosted glass) can create a sense of spaciousness. Different sizes in cabinets can be accommodated in bathroom makeovers by learning to adjust to different amounts of space.

Most physicians and pharmacists recommend moving all medications out of bathrooms because the heat and steam in the bath and kitchen can alter the chemicals. Move extra soaps, shampoos, etc. to another storage area. Make the most of all available storage space.

Finally, use other decorating and design ideas to make the room look larger than it is. Look at ideas from bathroom makeovers that work with small bathrooms. Bring in additional light, use light colors or vertical stripes to add height, bring in more mirrors and glass to make the room appear larger.

Working with an experienced cabinetmaker on bathroom renovations will provide valuable insight and creativity. It can also help you keep your bathroom makeovers more affordable if your cabinetmaker can customize stock cabinets and vanities for your project. With a little creativity and a good cabinetmaker, even the most challenging renovation can be easy and affordable.

Give us a call and talk to our designer about your bathroom makeover plans.

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Colors

June 6, 2011 by 1 Comment

 

Planning a kitchen renovation or remodel involves many decisions and choices. Together the choices define the style of your kitchen. One of the most common challenges homeowners face is to know how to choose between kitchen cabinet colors.

Some kitchen cabinet colors are most commonly associated with particular design styles (but this is more flexible today). The wood you choose for your cabinets will also determine color, to some extent. However, many less expensive woods can be stained to duplicate other finishes.

You might want to use the natural color and grain of a particular wood. For example, you might want a country kitchen that uses the distinctive look of natural oak. The kitchen cabinet colors can match other furniture, such as a table and chairs.

If your budget will allow it, you can also use natural cherry, walnut, mahogany, pine for their distinctive color and grain. Other kitchen designs can be created by choosing a wood with a less distinctive grain than oak or pine, such as maple or ash. These kitchen cabinet colors can then be stained to duplicate the color of other, darker woods.

Any wood can also be painted. Typically, a wood with no strong grain (like pine or oak) would be used. Cabinets can be painted any color, depending on the style and décor of the kitchen. The most commonly used kitchen cabinet colors are white, black and ivory.

1. Traditional style is typically designed using:

  • Rich dark woods, like cherry or mahogany, polished to a shine
  • Cabinets painted white or ivory
  • Southern Pine

2. Country style is typically designed using:

  • Natural wood
  • Cheerful colors
  • Bleached or pickled finishes
  • Mismatched colors
  • Open shelves or glass cabinet doors
  • White is very common in many country styles

3. Eclectic style mixes elements of several styles and different kitchen cabinet colors and finishes.

4. Contemporary style is typically designed using:

  • Maple, birch and cherry
  • Other light woods in neutral tones
  • White and black are also very popular in contemporary kitchens

The style you choose for your kitchen will determine kitchen cabinet colors you will consider. White cabinets are always popular because the kitchens are light and bright. Black cabinets, particularly with stainless steel appliances or white appliances for contrast are beautiful in contemporary kitchens. A black accent piece or area in a kitchen can be very striking in many styles.

Decorative touches can be added to any kitchen cabinet colors. These might include a few glass doors or open shelving units or beveled edges and corners. Many decorative cutout designs can also be added to the front of a cabinet door or drawer.

The decorative touches you add to all kitchen cabinet colors and the way you combine door design and style can make your kitchen truly unique. In any kitchen, an accent of another color can enliven your kitchen décor. Keep the basic kitchen style in mind and use your imagination to combine contrasting colors.

Whether your taste is to have everything the same color or to have two contrasting colors, you can use kitchen cabinet colors to great effect. In a country kitchen or an eclectic style, where anything goes, you can even add other colors. Then bring in color highlights with small appliances, flowers, china and pottery, etc.

With imagination and creativity, as well as a sense of the characteristics defining various styles, you can choose the perfect kitchen cabinet colors to create a personalized and spectacular kitchen. Light can cool a kitchen with dark wood cabinet colors and dark accents can warm white kitchen cabinets. Think carefully about what you want in your kitchen and discuss it with your cabinetmaker.

 

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Bathroom Renovations

June 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Bathroom Renovations

Bathroom renovations increase the value of your home.

Bathroom renovations nearly always include a new vanity or other storage options. Bathroom cabinets are a critical choice when planning and designing bathroom renovations. Storage tends to be very limited in any bathroom, regardless of size.

In terms of total budget for your bathroom renovations, cabinetry is a relatively small item. The cost of the vanity or other storage cabinet of your choice is not likely to break the budget. Your choices about storage, however, have very important implications for space.

Whether you are renovating a bathroom built for two, a shared bath for the kids or a second bathroom, the size of the fixtures and the cabinetry makes a big difference. The smaller the room, the more important the size of fixtures and cabinets will be. All bathroom renovations involve choices between need for storage and available space.

If you have an older home and you want to bring it up to today’s standards, you will likely need to do some very creative thinking and planning. Unless you have a much older home that was designed with big bathrooms, you are probably dealing with bathroom spaces much smaller than most buyers want today. You might be adding on to enlarge the bathroom or you might be making choices that enable you to maximize every inch of existing space.

If you are planning to sell your home soon, you might be concerned about meeting the requirements of Universal Design. These requirements include limitations of switch and outlet placement, floor finish, room to turn a wheelchair and accessible shower and tub areas. Choosing cabinets and vanities for these bathroom renovations may require custom cabinets.

Maximizing space in a small bathroom and creating the appearance of spaciousness might demand great creativity. For example, these bathroom renovations might require either a pedestal sink or a wall-mounted sink so you can leave more floor area open. This solves one problem, but where will you store towels and other items?

Deciding to make bathroom renovations without a vanity has serious ramifications. First, you eliminate your primary storage area. Second you remove the countertop area for decorative and toiletry items.

One solution is to approach bathroom renovations without traditional cabinets. In this case, you might set shallow cabinet into the existing wall. Only the cabinet door is not recessed.

Open shelving, cabinets with glass panel doors and creative placement of small shelves for needed items is one solution. For example, you might set glass door cabinets into the wall above the bathtub for towels and washcloths. A decorative niche could be used or soaps and sponges.

Because stock cabinets are twelve inches deep, you will not be able to take this more affordable approach. On the other hand, your budget might not permit custom cabinetry. These bathroom renovations can be affordable, however, if you find the right cabinetmaker.

A good cabinetmaker can customize stock cabinets to meet your needs in bathroom renovations. Whether you are trying to make a small space look larger or you want to create something special and unique, your cabinetmaker can do the job and do it affordably by starting with stock cabinets and customizing them. Your cabinetmaker will customize stock cabinets to meet your specific needs.

Whether the need is to make twelve-inch cabinets only three inches deep or to make a twelve inch wide cabinet six or eight inches wide, your cabinetmaker can customize affordable stock cabinets for every storage and decorative need in your remodeled bathroom. You will likely discover that your cabinetmaker can help you open an array of new options and possibilities for your bathroom renovations.

The fact that you have only seen bathrooms designed with a vanity should not limit your creativity. Your bathroom renovations can produce a small bathroom that is fully functional, beautiful, interesting, creative and affordable. You can have both spaciousness and storage by exercising a little ingenuity.

 

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Stock Kitchen Cabinets

May 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Stock Kitchen Cabinets

Stock kitchen cabinets are an economical option for homeowners who cannot afford custom cabinetry.

Selecting cabinets for a new kitchen or a remodel involves many choices. One choice, with a significant effect on your budget will be manufacturing styles. Stock kitchen cabinets will be one of the manufacturing styles you can choose.

Cabinets are sold in several manufacturing styles. Your choice of one of four manufacturing styles will directly affect the cost of your new kitchen. The cabinets account for 40% – 50% of the total cost of your kitchen.

Knock-down (KD) cabinets are the least expensive. They are in stock in most cabinet or home improvement stores and can be taken home immediately. In many cases, homeowners are able to install the knock-down cabinets without the assistance of a professional.

Stock kitchen cabinets are mass-produced in a factory. This achieves the greatest efficiency in production because they are always made only in standard sizes. Stock cabinets are also available in only limited styles and finishes.

Semi-custom cabinets are also available only in standard sizes. They are, however, available in more finishes and styles than stock cabinets. They also offer options for the interiors, including organizational devices and some accessibility options.

Custom cabinetry is sometimes available from cabinet companies. More often, however, custom cabinet are built to order by local cabinetmakers. Custom work allows you to get exactly what you want in terms of wood, finish, measurements, sizes, interior options, customized door designs and more.

Stock kitchen cabinets are an economical option for most homeowners who cannot afford to install custom cabinetry but want cabinets in one of the more popular styles and kitchen design motifs. If they are made well, stock cabinets can be a wonderful option.

Stock kitchen cabinets are available in standard sizes. What does this mean?

  1. The standard height for a floor-mounted cabinet is 34½ inches. With a counter top added, the work surface is 35 inches above the floor.
  2. Wall-mounted cabinets are between 12 and 30 inches high, depending upon the space available. Your choice can also be influenced by whether you want the cabinets to go to the ceiling.
  3. Floor-mounted cabinets extend 24 inches deep. Wall-mounted units are 12 inches deep.

The standard units available in “standard sizes” and in stock kitchen cabinets are:

  • Base unit
  • Drawer base
  • Sink base
  • Blind corner base
  • Corner base
  • Corner carousel
  • Drop-in range base
  • Wall unit
  • Tall cabinet (oven, broom closet, pantry)

The width of cabinets ranges between nine and 48 inches, in increments of three inches. This enables homeowners to choose stock kitchen cabinets for most projects.

Stock kitchen cabinets are generally available in only a few different wood choices. Often a mid-range wood will be used to make all cabinets. The finished cabinetry is then stained to reproduce the color of a more expensive wood or it is painted white or black (sometimes other colors).

A somewhat limited number of door panel styles are available in stock kitchen cabinets. For example, there might be only one style of frame and panel, one style of raised panel and one style of flat panel.

The most important characteristic of stock kitchen cabinets is construction. Before you buy stock kitchen cabinets, it is important to check for several markers of solid construction:

  • The best construction will use dovetail drawer and cabinet corners (no nails, glue or staples)
  • Drawers should be sturdy enough to support at least 75 pounds
  • The case of the cabinet should be ½ inch thick or more
  • The interior of the cabinets and drawers should be finished
  • Adjustable shelves need to be 5/8 inch thick or more
  • Good hinges

Check construction of stock kitchen cabinets, measure your kitchen carefully and look for the finish and style you want for your kitchen. You might find that well made stock kitchen cabinets are the perfect choice for your new kitchen.

 

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Kitchen Renovations

May 17, 2011 by 1 Comment

Kitchen renovations of older or historic houses typically include new cabinetry. Historic homes often have no built-in cabinets and older homes commonly have inadequate or outdated cabinets. Historic homes generally used furniture instead of installed cabinets.

Older homes sometimes still have enamel coated metal cabinets or plywood cabinets. Kitchen renovations usually replace these dated styles and inferior materials. Some kitchen cabinets in older homes show the aftermath of a chip in the thin coating of “finish” on composition board or fiberboard cabinets.

Kitchen renovations in historic homes

Historic homes often require kitchen renovations.

Homeowners planning kitchen renovations today, often start planning and designing their new kitchen by choosing cabinets. There are many factors to consider in selecting cabinets. It is important to think about these issues early in the planning process.

Price
Price is an important consideration when choosing cabinets. Experts say kitchen cabinets account for half of the total cost of kitchen renovations. If your budget is $50,000, you have far more options than if your budget is $15,000.

Wood
The first decision will be the kind of wood used to make your cabinets. Do you want natural finishes on the wood, or will you be happy with a less expensive wood stained in the finish of a more expensive wood. For example, do you want natural cherry or will you be happy with another wood stained to look like cherry? The cost difference will affect your budget for kitchen renovations.

Finish
What kind of finish do you want on your kitchen cabinets? Do you want a color, such as white or black? Do you want a wood finish – natural, maple, walnut, oak, cherry, or another wood? Do you want a shiny finish or a dull/matte finish? Will your choice affect your kitchen renovations plans?

Style
In which particular style do you plan to design your new kitchen? Will your kitchen be traditional, country or contemporary? Will it have a distinctly American, Southern, French, English, Old World or rustic flavor? Or, will you be happier with a more eclectic style for your kitchen renovations?

Construction Type
The decisions that will affect your kitchen renovations budget and design are:

  • Are corners dove-tailed, glued, stapled or nailed?
  • How much weight will the drawers support?
  • Will the case be made of the same wood as the doors or of plywood?
  • Will shelves be made of the same wood or of plywood?

Door Styles
Your cabinets and drawers will have doors and fronts styled to be consistent with the kitchen style you have chosen for your kitchen renovations. These might have an overlay panel, a flat panel or a raised panel. Different shapes are also available in some of these styles.

Manufacturing Style
The manufacturing style you choose for cabinets used in your kitchen renovations might have the greatest impact on your budget.

  1. Knock-down (abbreviated KD) – These are the least expensive kitchen cabinets. You can usually take these cabinets home from the store the same day and you can assemble and install them yourself. If your project is on a tight budget, this is the best choice.
  2. Stock – Stock cabinets are mass-produced and are the most popular choice. They will be available in a limited number of woods, finishes styles and prices. They also will be available only in standard sizes.
  3. Semi-Custom – These cabinets are also only available in standard sizes. There is more variety of styles, finishes, woods, accessories and accessibility and organizational options for your kitchen renovations.
  4. Custom – Custom cabinets are the most expensive of all manufacturing styles. This type of cabinet can be purchased from some manufacturers, but they are typically available only from cabinetmakers. They are built to exact specifications in any size and with any modifications of style, inserts, size, etc.
Victorian house kitchen renovations

Victorian homes often do not have built-in cabinets and will need kitchen renovations.

If you are thinking about kitchen renovations, you might want to start your planning by looking at your kitchen cabinet options. Although custom cabinets are often the most beautiful and unique, you can have beautiful cabinets for your new kitchen at a much lower price.

Kitchen Cabinet Value can help you choose an appropriate kitchen cabinet design consistent with your historic home. Our shop can modify any stock cabinet to meet your custom needs.

If you are restoring a historic home, let us help you retain the history while providing modern conveniences for your kitchen remodel.

 

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Shaker Kitchen Cabinets

May 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Shaker kitchen cabinets have experienced highs and lows of popularity over the years. Like all Shaker design and craftsmanship, Shaker kitchen cabinets are simple, functional and well made. The two most prominent characteristics of Shaker “style” are the use of dovetail corners and the door style, also commonly called “frame and panel.” The front of the shaker kitchen cabinet door consists of a frame that overlaid on a simple panel of wood.

Although Shaker kitchen cabinets were originally made of cherry, today this style is available in most woods and homeowners can choose either an indigenous wood or in a wood that blends well with the rest of the décor of the house. If drawer pulls and handles are added, they will typically be knobs of matching wood or very simple hardware.

Traditionally, Shaker furniture was used with no decoration or “adornment.” The Shakers valued simple, clean lines in architecture and furniture, as well as other crafts. This style was in keeping with their values and beliefs. The Shakers preferred furniture that was built into the structure. It was neat and no space was wasted. Their furniture was very functional, with many drawers, shelves and doors to protect the contents. Furniture included Shaker kitchen cabinets.

The Shakers were a utopian Christian sect of the 18th century, primarily clustered in settlements across New England and the Northeastern quarter of the U.S. Shakers lived in communities called “families” that consisted of 30 to 100 individuals. Unlike other communities, they built their dwellings in a linear alignment approximately ¾ of a mile apart.

The “Millennial Laws” regulated every aspect of communal life. This included lifestyle, marriage, work, arts, crafts, architecture, community planning and more. Their buildings, like their furniture, were characterized by function, clean lines, and great simplicity.

The requirement to create durable furniture can be seen in the use of dovetailed wood joints. These joints, still found in Shaker kitchen cabinets, needed no nails or glue. In fact, the dovetail joints allowed the wood to expand and contract as a single piece. The result was a joint that undamaged by the swelling and shrinking of the wood with time and dampness.

The Shakers were famous for more than their simple and functional style. They also created the ladder-back chair, which became so popular it was necessary to obtain a patent. Their utilitarian motivations also led to the invention of the circular saw.

Shaker kitchen cabinets are particularly popular in New England, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New York. They are commonly seen in many country kitchens and in rustic cottage style homes. Their simple beauty has made them very popular through the years. Although the Shakers were widely known to paint their cabinetry in only Venetian red, blue and ocher, many companies make Shaker kitchen cabinets in a wide range of colors today.

One reason for the great popularity of Shaker kitchen cabinets is their solid durability. Another reason is their beauty and simplicity. It has been said that Shaker style “never intrudes, never invades, never shouts, “look at me!” These characteristics have made Shaker kitchen cabinets the perfect fit for many kitchen styles and home décor styles.

Shaker kitchen cabinets are particularly beautiful in any of the warm woods, such as:

  • Maple
  • Chestnut
  • Birch
  • Honey pine
  • Butternut

Whether you are renovating an old kitchen in a historic home or remodeling and upgrading a more modern kitchen, Shaker kitchen cabinets might be just the right style for you. If you want warmth, simplicity and functionality of excellent design and solid craftsmanship, choosing Shaker kitchen cabinets might add just the finishing touch your kitchen needs.

 

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Custom Kitchen Cabinetry

May 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Custom Kitchen Cabinetry

Our custom kitchen cabinetry provides custom cabinetry at an affordable cost.

To the great surprise of many homeowners, it is possible to remodel a kitchen with affordable custom kitchen cabinetry. The phrase itself seems to be a contradiction in terms – affordable combined with custom cabinetry. Knowing the secret of how to find affordable custom kitchen cabinetry, however, permits you to fill your renovated kitchen with the beauty, durability and flexibility of high-end custom cabinetry for about the cost of stock cabinets in most home improvement stores.

Your reason for wanting custom kitchen cabinetry for your new kitchen might be:

  • Your preference for a particular wood
  • Your desire to have a specific wood finish
  • Wanting the beauty of the highest quality custom kitchen cabinetry
  • Wanting the durability of the best cabinet construction
  • Need for flexibility in cabinet sizes
  • Desire to include organizational inserts
  • Desire to cover specialty appliances with matching wood
  • Desire for custom placement of traditional items
  • Desire for counters either higher or lower than standard

A significant challenge in planning and designing a kitchen remodel is matching the project budget with the cost of all of the items you want to include. Custom kitchen cabinetry is commonly the first desire homeowners must sacrifice in the struggle to keep the project on budget. These homeowners, however, do not know the secret of affordable custom kitchen cabinetry.

Here is the secret you need to know to fill your remodeled kitchen with affordable custom kitchen cabinetry. Work with a very good local cabinetmaker to design your remodel and have your cabinetmaker customize high quality stock cabinets to meet your needs. All of the reasons you have for believing you need custom kitchen cabinetry can be built by a good cabinetmaker with high-end stock cabinets.

Kitchen Cabinet Value is just such a local cabinetmaker.

We can help you plan your new kitchen cabinetry in a way that involves the least modification of your stock cabinets. Next, we will work with you to determine the best places for cabinets you want modified in some way. Then we will take your stock cabinets to our workshop and customize them into the custom kitchen cabinetry you thought was only a dream.

Kitchen Cabinet Value  will be able to evaluate all of the stock cabinetry options available to you. You can then purchase the best cabinets available in the wood and the finish you want. You will be able to make your selection with full knowledge of the cost of having the cabinets customized for your remodel.

We will work with stock cabinets to re-size cabinets as necessary. The work will be invisible. When installed, nobody who sees your cabinets will know you did not spend a fortune on custom kitchen cabinetry.

We will also work with you to find or build the inserts needed to organize your drawers and to make everything in a cabinet easily accessible. We will design, build and install matching covers for appliances. Floor mounted cabinets can be modified to the desired height.

When we complete our work and install your new cabinets, everyone will think you spent a fortune on your beautiful cabinets. What’s more, you will have unique specialty cabinets designed to meet your particular needs and wants.

We have purchasing agreements with cabinet manufacturers and distributors that further reduce the cost of your kitchen by allowing us to buy stock cabinets at a deep discount and pass the discount on to you. You never need to tell your friends and neighbors that you actually paid about the same amount for your customized cabinets as they paid for lower quality stock cabinets. You can achieve this kind of savings when you remodel or renovate because you know the secret of buying affordable custom kitchen cabinetry.

 

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: , , , , ,
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