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Home Prices Rise and Kitchen Remodeling Becomes a Smart Investment Again

June 3, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

By Scott Dostal

There is no denying that when home prices rise, kitchen remodeling becomes a smart investment again. During the last week, you might have heard that demand for existing homes is up about 22 percent (on average) from a year ago. Inventory of available existing homes is up only 17 percent. What is more, home prices in U.S. markets are up about eight percent (on average).

customized cabinetry offers the beauty and practicality of custom cabinets and a fraction of the cost

In many markets, exiting homes that offer the most desirable features become the object of bidding wars, even bidding up the price of a home by as much as 10 percent over the listing price. Not only is it a good time to sell, it is also a good time to remodel in anticipation of selling in the future. According to HGTV, the top ten features homebuyers want in 2013 are:

Central air conditioning
New kitchen appliances
A Walk-in Closet in the Master Bedroom
Granite Countertops
Hardwood Floors
Ensuite master bathroom
Kitchen Island
Stainless Steel Appliances
Eat-in Kitchen
One or more fireplaces

Many homeowners were understandably reluctant to invest in home remodeling during the recent economic crisis. However, as the demand for existing homes rebounds and prices increase due to low inventory, the investment in home remodeling begins to make far more sense. In fact, remodeling increased by 12 percent in April alone. Of those remodeling in April, 54 percent said their reason for remodeling was to increase the value of their homes.

With half of the top features buyers want in homes related to kitchen amenities and features, the first room of the house to consider remodeling must be the kitchen. According to Forbes, the average cost of kitchen remodeling is:

Low budget remodel $7,133

Mid-range remodel $22,390

High-end remodel $54,942

A more important question for many homeowners is how a kitchen remodel will affect the price of the home at resale. According to the remodeling industry, the cost vs. value assessment looks like this:

Major kitchen remodel Cost: $53,931 Resale Value: $37,139 Recouping 69% of cost

Minor kitchen remodel Cost: $18,527 Resale Value: $13,977 Recouping 75% of cost

HGTV estimates the impact on resale value of the home slightly higher at 80 – 105 percent of cost.

In terms of remodeling an existing space, the kitchen is typically the most expensive room of the house to upgrade. Enlarging the space adds further cost. What makes kitchen remodeling so expensive? In most cases, cabinetry and appliances account for more than half of the cost. Kitchen remodeling costs (on average) break down this way:

35% Cabinets
20% Labor
20% Appliances
10% Windows
5% Fixtures
3% Fittings
7% Other

Cabinets, as the largest portion of the kitchen remodel cost, are significant:

                High-end Kitchen Remodel cost                                $54,942 (average)   x 35% = $19,229.70
                Mid-range kitchen remodel cost                               $22,390 (average)   x 35% = $ 7,836.50
                Low budget kitchen remodel cost            $ 7,133 (average)   x 35% = $ 2,396.55

There are, of course, several grades of materials and workmanship in kitchen cabinets. There are also several ways to buy kitchen cabinets, including the pre-manufactured modular units now offered by some companies. Your choices will be limited, and units will come in “standard” sizes.

There is another way to buy high quality cabinets, get exactly what you want, and get custom sizes and features. What is more, they can be installed in your kitchen, with granite countertops, for as much as 60 percent less than the cost of the custom cabinets you might want. The process, called customization, takes high quality cabinets in standard sizes and a cabinetmaker resizes them to specification. They can also be fitted with organizational inserts, customized for refrigerated drawers, and used to create unique units for special items.

Home prices are rising, making kitchen remodeling a very smart investment for those thinking about selling in a year or two. With cabinet customization, you can have kitchen cabinets of higher value for lower cost, thus increasing the percentage of your investment you can recoup when you sell your home. You can increase the value of your home and increase the amount of the remodeling cost you will recoup when you sell your home.

5 Reasons to Choose Wood Kitchen Cabinets

April 17, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

There are many excellent reasons to choose wood kitchen cabinets in your new home or a kitchen remodel. There can be no question that wood cabinetry is one of the most beautiful options for any kitchen design or kitchen remodel. As we work with clients who are replacing cabinetry, we hear many questions and concerns. Here are five reasons homeowners give us for choosing wood cabinets for their kitchen.

1. Wood cabinetry goes with every kitchen décor style and with every appliance finish. Whether your

wood kitchen cabinets from kitchen cabinet value

these glazed maple cabinets are a good example of the beauty of wood kitchen cabinetry

kitchen is colonial, country, Shaker, traditional, eclectic or contemporary, there is a wood finish and a wood color that is the perfect complement to your style, your color choices, and the exterior material of your appliances.

2. Wood cabinets will bring warmth to any kitchen. This is an important consideration for homeowners today, when the kitchen is – once again – the center of the family’s life. Kitchens can feel sterile, due to the amount of metal, glass, and enamel finished items included. Nothing brings warmth to the room like the rich hues of natural wood finishes. Wood cabinetry also introduces depth and texture, making the kitchen warmer.

3. Wood cabinetry can last a lifetime. Wood cabinets are easy to maintain, and they are durable. Unlike laminates, the finish on wood cabinets will not bubble from heat and moisture. Modern finishes are strong enough to resist most damage from drips and spills.

4. Wood cabinetry, if damaged, is easy to refinish. A small kitchen fire, a bad spill, or other accidents might damage cabinetry. Unlike many other materials, it is possible to strip wood cabinets of remaining finish, sand to smoothness, and refinish back to its original beauty. Many of these repairs can be made with no appreciable impact on the value of the cabinetry.

5. Wood cabinetry is widely perceived as a high-value material. Installing wood cabinetry in your home or in a kitchen remodel is perceived as an investment in the home. Guests will notice your choice. More important, appraisers and future buyers will value your home higher because of this and other investments in the home.

The most common reasons we hear from homeowners about why they choose wood cabinets for new kitchens and remodels clearly point to durability, appearance, value, and versatility. These and other considerations have consistently made wood cabinetry the top choice of homeowners.

If you are thinking about new wood cabinetry for your kitchen, and you would like to have quality cabinets at the best price, call us.

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10 Unique Storage Ideas You Can Use

April 4, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Many homeowners say their biggest kitchen challenge is finding adequate space for everything. The first step in increasing storage in any kitchen is to maximize the space you have, often by using dividers, caddies, lazy Susans, etc. Many organizational items are available from your local hardware or home improvement store. Another alternative, especially in a country kitchen, is to get creative with the way you store things. Here are some examples of 10 unique storage ideas you can use.

shaker cognac cabinets, kitchen cabinet value

Shaker cognac kitchen cabinets

1. Cookie cutters are difficult to store – awkward shapes, inability to stack neatly – unless you get creative. One great idea is to stack them over the vertical rod of a paper towel holder. Then find a corner for it, or place it on a shelf in the pantry or in a kitchen cabinet near the baking area.
2. Add your own vertical rods (curtain rods, towel rods, a baking rack) in a base cabinet to organize and make trays and cutting boards accessible. The same can be done with chargers and platters.
3. Add a small armoire or a Shaker pie chest in your kitchen. It is a great place to store linens, odd-shaped bowls and platters, spices, baking needs (flour, sugar, etc), or even dishes. If you choose one with glass panels in the doors, you have a great place to display attractive or antique dishes.
4. Reaching the back of base cabinets can be difficult for many people. One way to make items accessible is to remove the doors and put items in large baskets or trays you can pull out for easy access to the contents. Add something decorative over the front of each tray or basket (a napkin or towel) to make the area attractive and appealing.
5. Make fruits and vegetables accessible while placing them out of the way by replacing the center of the drawer front with a wire mesh or tooled tin or copper insert. This provides air circulation for the fruits (especially apples) or vegetables inside. Similarly, remove cabinet doors and use large baskets or wood trays for fruits and vegetables. There is plenty of air circulation, and they are easy to pull out.
6. Finding a good place to store cookbooks can be challenging in many kitchens. One solution is to place a small bookcase on the counter or at the end of a counter. Cover the top with the same material used for your countertop and matching wood to create a seamless appearance. If you are concerned about dust, germs or moisture harming them, add glass-paneled doors.
7. If you need a place to store wine, consider adding a wine rack or a wine cooling refrigerator in an island. Another alternative is to add a cluster of box shelves on a wall.
8. If your kitchen includes an area for casual dining, consider adding a banquette or a bench against a window or in a bay window. Include storage under the seats for seasonal or seldom-used items.
9. Now that the trend in kitchen design has cabinets extending to the ceiling again, you can raise the cabinets and add an open shelf beneath them for glassware, bottles or cooking oils, or any number of smaller items.
10. Use countertop “garages” (some are made by SieMatic) for your small appliances. They provide easy access and the appliances are hidden from view when not in use. Some “garages” have flip-down doors. Others have motorized doors that lower at the push of a button.
We are happy to share 10 unique storage ideas you can use. We hope something in this list will help you with your kitchen storage challenges. Remember, you do not have to settle for standard cabinetry. Any kitchen cabinet can be customized – probably in just the way you want.

Do you have unique storage solutions? Share them in a comment!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: custom kitchen islands, inexpensive kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinet pull, kitchen cabinet storage, kitchen cabinetry, kitchen cabinets, kitchen remodeling, kitchen renovation, kitchen storage, maximize storage space

What is the Smartest Way to Buy Kitchen Cabinets?

March 6, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Nobody wants to spend more than necessary when building or remodeling. The kitchen is typically the most expensive room of the house (or one of the most expensive). Cabinetry is one of the largest costs in most kitchens. Whether you want to save time, save money or find a way to add specialized cabinets and organizational devices without going over budget, it is important to explore your options. This is why so many homeowners ask, “What is the smartest way to buy kitchen cabinets?”

There are five ways to buy kitchen cabinets. Your decision about buying cabinets for your home will factor in installation and assembly time and cost, prices, availability of what you want, your ability to work with standard cabinet sizes only, and the number of specialty cabinets or cabinets with organizational devices you need.

1. Knock-down cabinets –You can usually take these least expensive cabinets home from the store on the day you purchase them. You will probably need to assemble them. They are available only in standard sizes and will have little, if any, customization and typically do not include organizers.

2. Stock cabinets – The next step in price, stock cabinets are mass-produced in a factory. Choices will be limited to a few styles and finishes (usually the most popular at the time). They are also available in standard sizes only.

3. Semi-custom cabinets – Semi-custom cabinetry is also available only in standard sizes. However, you will find more varieties in styles and finishes. This is a good option if you want a specific style in a particular finish.

4. Custom cabinets – Custom cabinets have been the traditional way to get exactly what you want in your kitchen cabinetry. As the name implies, you can have anything you want in your cabinets – any wood or material, any finish, any style, any accessories, and any sizes. This is the most expensive way to purchase cabinets, but the result will be unique.

5. Customized cabinets – By choosing the semi-custom or stock cabinets you want and engaging a good cabinetmaker to customize them, you can create the kitchen you want without paying the price of custom cabinets. In this case, you buy the cabinets in the style and finish you want. The cabinetmaker then modifies the cabinets (invisibly) to the custom sizes you need and adds the accessories, organizers, and specialty cabinets and drawers you want. This option gives you the best of both worlds – a custom kitchen at a much lower price.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: affordable kitchen cabinets, cherry kitchen cabinets, custom kitchen, custom kitchen cabinetry, custom kitchen cabinets, custom kitchen islands, custom kitchens, discount kitchen cabinets, how to buy cabinets, inexpensive kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinets, kitchen remodeling, kitchen renovation, wood kitchen cabinets

Special Offer

January 8, 2012 by admin

Glazed Maple, Glazed Cherry, Shaker Natural, Shaker Espresso. No one beats our value on kitchen cabinets. All cabinets are premium grade. Features include:

Plywood cabinet boxes – NO particle board
Solid wood, dovetail drawers front and back
Full extension, soft close, drawer glides
Free kitchen designs and quotes

What do you have to lose? Already have a quote from a competitor? Come and check out our displays. Bring your plan and design and save big!

Below photos are examples of what the cabinets look like. The price includes 8 feet of upper and lower cabinets for $1750; these retail for over $4,000.

Call 586-884-8812
www.kitchencabinetvalue.com
Our Name says it ALL!

Glazed Cherry	Shaker Natural	Glazed Maple
Shaker Cherry	Glazed White	Shaker Espresso

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: custom kitchen, custom kitchen cabinets, discount cabinets, gallery kitchen remodel, ikea kitchen cabinets, kitchen and cabinets, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinet refacing, kitchen cabinet wholesale, kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinets michigan, kitchen countertops, kitchen design, kitchen ideas, kitchen layout, kitchen remodeling, kitchen renovation, wholesale kitchen cabinets

Cherry Kitchen Cabinets

October 25, 2011 by admin 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.

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.
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.
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.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: cherry kitchen cabinets, glazed cherry kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinets

Custom Kitchen Cabinetry

May 2, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

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: cabinetry, custom kitchen cabinetry, custom kitchen cabinets, custom kitchens, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinets

Affordable Kitchen Cabinets

April 19, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Kitchen Cabinet Value creates affordable kitchen cabinets by customizing stock cabinets in our shop.

Most people do not know there is more than one way to buy affordable kitchen cabinets that provide the beauty and functionality you want and the price you want to pay. Most people think there are only three price options: knock down, stock and custom cabinetry. You can take advantage of a little-known fact to get the beauty and flexibility of custom work for the same price as what most people think of as inexpensive kitchen cabinets.

The secret to affordable kitchen cabinets should not be a surprise to most consumers. The secret is to hire a top rated cabinetmaker with a purchasing agreement with a distributor of high quality stock cabinets. The cabinetmaker then customizes the stock cabinets, resulting in custom cabinets at the price of inexpensive stock cabinets.

Think for a moment about why people prefer custom cabinets when they remodel or upgrade from affordable kitchen cabinets. There are several reasons:

They want custom for the beauty of high quality natural wood.
They want cabinets made of a specific wood.
They want a particular door style not typically available in affordable kitchen cabinets.
They want a particular finish on the wood.
They want cabinets fitted with specific organizational or accessibility inserts.
They know they will want or need cabinets in sizes not available in less expensive kitchen cabinets.
They want facings for doors on appliances, specialized appliances, such as refrigerated drawers or under-counter refrigerators or wine chillers.
They want unique features for storage of pots and pans and lids or other custom storage and accessibility options.
They want to add small units for canned goods, soups, canned drinks, etc., not usually available except in higher priced cabinetry.

Kitchens are once again becoming the center of family life. This means kitchens serve multiple purposes in the home. The purposes for which each family uses the kitchen suggest different configurations of cabinets and islands and appliances.

When you use a kitchen for family gatherings and for time spent together, kitchen cabinets are often used to store other items than you might ordinarily expect to find. For example, there might be a cabinet for board games or video games; a place where art supplies are stored; there might be a set of cabinets, shelves and drawers where homework supplies and resources are stored when children do their homework at the kitchen table.

For a different family, their kitchen cabinets might be configured in a way that makes it easy and comfortable to entertain while preparing meals. This kind of usage suggests a floor plan that brings guests into the intimacy and warmth of the kitchen but still keeps them out of the way of the cook – with an island, for example. This kitchen might also include a snacks and drinks configuration in the outward-facing side of the island – an under counter refrigerator and a refrigerated drawer.

Still another kitchen designed for someone who does a lot of cooking and baking, or in which two people cook together, will typically include several work areas – such as a baking area and a food preparation area. Lower priced kitchen cabinets often do not offer these options. This kitchen will have ample storage, a large number of specialty cabinets and shelving areas, as well as sufficient counter space to accommodate all of the cooks’ needs. This kitchen will also typically have multiple sinks, refrigerated units and possibly warming ovens, as well.

What most people think of as affordable kitchen cabinets will not easily accommodate these special needs and demands. If, however, you know the secret of getting custom cabinets at the price of lower quality affordable cabinets, you can have a kitchen that provides the beauty you want with the functionality you need at a price you can readily afford. Kitchen Cabinet Value has distributor agreements that can provide all of the benefits of custom cabinetry at affordable kitchen cabinet prices.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: affordable kitchen cabinets, cheap kitchen cabinets, discount kitchen cabinets, inexpensive kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinetry, kitchen cabinets, wholesale kitchen cabinets

White Kitchen Cabinets

October 19, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

White Kitchen Cabinets Are Always a Good Choice

White Kitchen Cabinets are to kitchen design what a little black dress is to fashion. They go everywhere. The way you accessorize and choose details make them a perfect fit in any kitchen style or design. Many people choose white cabinetry for the kitchen because it makes the kitchen light and bright and because white looks clean.

In terms of price, white kitchen cabinets are more expensive than some other cabinet styles, but the price actually is determined more by the wood used to make the cabinets than the white paint or vinyl coating. For example, at one home improvement store a 36” sink base cabinet will cost $116 in oak, $125 in white, and $154 in maple. There are, however, great variations in the cost and the quality of white cabinets.

The paint or coating on white kitchen cabinets can hide the wood used to build the cabinets. For example, the cabinet might be built of particle board, pine, oak, hickory, maple, or most any other kind of wood. It could even be built of plywood. This is an important factor in determining the quality of workmanship in the cabinets.

Choosing white cabinets can be a way to save money by opting for a lower quality material with a good exterior finish. You must keep in mind, however, that kitchens generate a lot of heat and steam. Be sure you choose a material that will not warp or peel.

White kitchen cabinets are also available in a wide range of styles, making them appropriate in a kitchen of any style. But it is important to match the style of the cabinet doors and the construction style with the style of your kitchen. Here are some tips to help you choose.

White kitchen cabinets (or ivory) are very common in traditional style kitchens, especially French and Southern styles. Cabinets in a traditional kitchen generally have a raised-panel door design. Southern style traditional kitchens frequently include glass-paned doors as well. Keep ,in mind that traditional kitchens tend to be elegant and somewhat formal.
White kitchen cabinets are also popular in country style kitchens, although natural wood finishes are often preferred. White is most popular in an English country style or a Victorian bungalow, but it is also very commonly seen in the American farmhouse. Country kitchens by design appear worn and well lived-in, so white kitchen cabinets can be freely mixed with other finishes as well.
White kitchen cabinets can also be freely used in an eclectic style kitchen where absolutely anything goes and woods, finishes and stylistic features are commonly very mixed.
Contemporary style kitchens, whether futuristic or retro, also commonly use “classic” white kitchen cabinets. In a contemporary kitchen, however, cabinet doors will have flat, smooth surfaces to produce a sleek appearance. Glass, particularly frosted or textured glass, door panels are also commonly used.

White kitchen cabinets can be perfect in any kitchen. In a very small kitchen, white cabinets can create a feeling of greater spaciousness and light. But with attention to door and construction details and care in selecting the right hardware, white cabinets can be an ideal choice for any kitchen renovation or remodel.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: antique kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinets, white kitchen cabinets

Kitchen Cabinets

October 19, 2010 by admin 1 Comment

When renovating or remodeling a kitchen your choice of kitchen cabinets might be the most important selection you make. Kitchen cabinet selection is so important for two reasons.

First, the cabinets you choose for your new kitchen will be the items having the greatest visual impact. In the average kitchen cabinets are mounted on or against at least two walls (or the equivalent), and perhaps more. Cabinets will also create the base for an island, whether designed for cooking or for casual dining. The cabinets you select will establish the design of your kitchen.

Second, the kitchen cabinets you select will account for about half of the total cost of your kitchen renovation or remodel. Although you can find and purchase kitchen cabinets in a wide range of price categories, this is an almost universally applicable rule of thumb. Good cabinetry in not inexpensive. Most contractors and kitchen designers will agree that kitchen cabinets are not the place to scrimp when designing a new kitchen. Your cabinets will outlast your kitchen floor, your appliances, and possibly your counter tops (depending upon the material you choose).

Characteristics of good kitchen cabinet construction:

Avoid drawers held together with glue, nails or staples.
Avoid drawers made with thin particleboard.
Test the drawers before you buy to be sure they will support about 75 pounds when open.
The case or cabinet box should be made of wood that is ½ inch thick or more on all sides.
All surfaces of the cabinet should be finished, even the back and the interior sides.
Kitchen cabinets should have adjustable shelves (this is a clear indication of construction quality).
All shelves in kitchen cabinets should be 5/8 inch thick or more, otherwise they will bow.
Check the quality of the hinges (most should be invisible from the front, no squeaks and no metals that will rust easily) and ensure that doors open completely.
The very best kitchen cabinets are made entirely of solid wood.
A plywood box or case with solid wood frames and doors can still be a good quality product.
Some reliable kitchen cabinets are available at lower cost because they are built with plywood supports and use medium-to high-density particleboard for door and drawer fronts. Others use laminate over the particleboard.

Cabinet design installs the cabinet doors in one of two ways. Frame-less construction was a very popular adoption from European design in the 60s. The style continues to be very popular in contemporary kitchens. In this style, the kitchen cabinet door covers the entire box or case of the cabinet. Alternatively, in framed construction, the doors are installed in a way that leaves a frame around the outside of the door. Framed construction for kitchen cabinets is the norm in traditional, country, cottage, and many eclectic kitchen styles.

Ways to purchase kitchen cabinets:

Knock-down kitchen cabinets can be purchased and taken home the same day. Many homeowners can install these units themselves. These are the least expensive types of cabinets and can be the perfect choice if you are on a tight budget.
Stock kitchen cabinets are available only in standard sizes and limited styles and finishes because they are mass produced by the manufacturer. These are also a good option when the budget is tight.
Semi-custom cabinets are also available only in standard sizes. There is a larger selection of styles, finishes, accessories and options. These provide somewhat more flexibility in designing your kitchen.
Custom kitchen cabinets, although available from some cabinet companies, are most often purchased from local cabinetmakers. These cabinets are made to order and are thus built to the exact specifications of your needs. They are more expensive, but they offer the largest variety in wood, finish, style, size and special and unique details.
Hybrid approaches are also very popular. By working with a cabinetmaker to select the kitchen cabinets you like from a manufacturer. The cabinetmaker then installs the standard size cabinets and customizes others for special sizes and needs, as well as adding personal touches and special features.

Standard Cabinet Sizes (All Dimensions in Inches):

Many inserts and built-in features are also available to provide for organization and ease of access to items stored within your kitchen cabinets. From pull-out work surfaces, to drawer fronts for refrigerated drawers, to door covers for nooks for small appliances to wine racks, you can customize your cabinetry in a variety of ways to meet your needs. It is possible to create an appropriately designed cabinet or work surface for every need.

There are also a number of features available or customizable to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. These include lower work surfaces that pull out or that are stationary and leave open space beneath. Pull-out organizers, Lazy Susans and other enhancements to kitchen cabinets to make items readily accessible.

This basic information should help you begin to make decisions about your new kitchen cabinets. Keep in mind when shopping that the appearance of your kitchen renovation will be established to a very large extent by the kitchen cabinets you choose. Your cabinetmaker will be able to help you consider the vast range of ways you can customize your cabinets and create a unique kitchen design.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: cabinet kitchen, cabinets kitchen, custom kitchen, kitchen cabinet, kitchen cabinets, kitchen remodeling