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

Country Kitchen Cabinets

April 8, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Country kitchen cabinets determine design in creating the distinctive character of each kitchen. Everyone loves the warmth of a country kitchen. Whether this feeling comes from memories of a grandmother’s (or great-grandmother’s) kitchen or the style itself, the single design element that defines any kitchen will be the combination of cabinets.

The primary characteristic of a country kitchen is flexibility, uniqueness, ease of use and comfort. Cabinets are selected for character, usefulness and personal taste. Within the country kitchen style, however, there are several types, including

English country
Victorian
French
Cottage
Arts and crafts
Rustic cabin
American farmhouse
Old World style

The country kitchen style is eclectic in many ways. This offers the freedom to express personal style and taste, to design something truly unique and to ensure the greatest functionality. Cabinets are chosen to reflect these characteristics and to express individuality.

Country style cabinets are typically built with warm natural wood, sometimes with a “pickled” or “bleached” finish, or they are painted in cheerful colors. Cabinets are typically mismatched in color/wood tone and in style and often include an accent piece that might be a free-standing cabinet or a large table that functions as a work island.

Selecting country kitchen cabinets can be great fun because you can truly express the character of your family or the nature of family life in your home. The goal will usually be to create a kitchen that is warm, inviting and accessible. Kitchens are typically the place where the family gathers and where friends and family are entertained.

Cabinets are sometimes selected for elegance, in which cases, all of the cabinets will match in color. More commonly there will be at least one major piece of cabinetry made of a different wood or painted a different color. Open shelves, glass panel cabinet doors, storage bins, wood range/cooktop hoods and the like combine with exposed apron sinks, antique-style faucets and fixtures, and rustic floor coverings combine to create a lived-in look and feel.

The freedom in selecting country kitchen cabinets permits your unique personality to find expression and an opportunity to explore variations in door styles, knobs and drawer pulls and other touches that will make every kitchen unique. Beadboard panel, square raised panel, beaded frame and panel, reveal overlay-panel and frame, and panel are very popular cabinet door style choices. These styles can all be combined freely.

When designing the layout of the room, a country kitchen generally includes many different specialty cabinets, drawers and cupboards to maximize space and function for the cook and for the entire family. Glass panel vegetable bins combine very nicely with specially fitted pull out spice shelves, refrigerated drawers, warming ovens, wine coolers and storage units.

The great freedom and flexibility presents the greatest opportunity and the greatest challenge in kitchen design, especially if the remodeling budget is limited. The first thought about country kitchen cabinets is often “custom cabinets.” For many families, however, the cost of custom cabinetry is prohibitive.

Kitchen Cabinet Value works with high quality stock and semi-custom cabinets and customizes them to your specifications. We can often create the country kitchen you want at about the cost of some semi-custom cabinetry. At an affordable price, you can have the high-quality cabinet styles you want and have them customized to serve specific purposes and make a specific contribution to the total design of your kitchen.

Country kitchen cabinets can be easier to combine and select that you might think. Kitchen Cabinet Value can save you time, money and provide exactly what you want in your kitchen.

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

Kitchen Cabinet Pantry Trends

March 21, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

It is time to take a fresh look at home design and consider the kitchen cabinet pantry. There was a time when every home built had a large pantry off the kitchen. In many average homes, the pantry was the size of a small to mid-sized room.

Over the years, the pantry disappeared from the average American home. At about the same time, people migrated from rural areas to the suburbs. The migration, more than a change of address, brought a change of lifestyle.

People did not have space in the suburbs to maintain small family orchards or vegetable gardens. They stopped growing and canning or freezing their fruits and vegetables. They also stopped making their own jellies and jams.

Another lifestyle change occurred during the same time that people moved to the suburbs – the two-career family. When Mom began working outside the home, there was no time for canning and freezing. In fact, there was far less time for meal preparation.

Trends in home design and kitchen preferences led to smaller kitchens, larger major appliances and a smaller number of cabinets. The great proliferation of small appliances in the kitchen followed. Soon people needed more cabinets to store the food processor, coffee maker, mixer, electric can opener, waffle iron, toaster, etc.

With the renewal of interest in gourmet cooking, there was also a perceived need for all manner of gadgets, tools and the like. As people became invested in preparing meals, the kitchen began to recover its status as the center of family life. Today, kitchens are the center of a family’s life – eating, talking, entertaining, food preparation and cleanup.

Although designers began to design larger kitchens with space for top-of-the-line appliances, they did not include a kitchen cabinet pantry. People today are busier than ever, making shopping one more time-consuming chore. Because many people want to shop only weekly (instead of daily), it seems that the time has come to consider the kitchen cabinet pantry.

The kitchen cabinet pantry is available in a range of sizes, styles, woods and configurations. A kitchen cabinet pantry can be free-standing, wall-mounted or slide between two cabinets (or a cabinet and a refrigerator). In fact, a custom kitchen might have more than one “pantry” modified for specific uses.

Today’s kitchen cabinet pantry is used for storage of any number of items. It also can be customized for specific types of storage and items. A kitchen cabinet pantry can be organized in any number of ways, as well.

Many pantries have a number of shelves and organizational units to store canned soft drinks, soups, canned vegetables and canned fruit. They can be customized for roll-out shelves and slide-out baskets. All or part of a kitchen cabinet pantry can be built to store almost anything in a way that is organized, neat and accessible.

Some people organize their kitchen cabinet pantry alphabetically; others put items together that are used together; still others group items by size of container. A growing number of homeowners are also designing kitchens for multiple single-use pantries –

one beside the stove and oven for spices
one near the stove for canned goods and
another in a corner with bins for potatoes, onions and large fresh vegetables, glass or heavy plastic containers for staples like flour, sugar, brown sugar, etc., containers for pastas, and containers for grains and beans

A kitchen cabinet pantry can be used for any number of other items, including

table linens
dishes
cookbooks
flatware
light bulbs
candles and matches
baskets
pet treats
serving trays

The recent housing crisis has caused us to leave the huge houses and think about smaller homes. These homes will also have smaller kitchens. In small kitchens, it is essential to maximize space with storage options that include the kitchen cabinet pantry.

Thinking about all of our “stuff” and our need to reduce visible clutter to make the room look larger, we need organized space-saving storage options. Clearly, it is time to consider the kitchen cabinet pantry. Call us to create the pantry (or pantries) you need and match your kitchen cabinetry.

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

Kitchen Cabinet Styles

March 14, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Many homeowners are surprised to discover so many kitchen cabinet styles when they visit a home improvement store or a cabinet shop. The great variety and the number of available cabinet options can be overwhelming. This variety, however, also ensures that every homeowner can find kitchen cabinet styles to meet his or her personal taste.

We define kitchen cabinet styles by several components. The first is the wood used in construction. Homeowners choose the wood for their cabinets based on primarily color and grain. Some styles are also painted. The options include:

Oak
Maple
Cherry
Walnut
White
Espresso (black)

Most wood can be finished either natural or glazed. White cabinets can also be painted and glazed in an antique finish. The grain of the wood differs from one to the next. Oak, for example, has a very prominent grain. Cherry and walnut kitchen cabinet styles are recognized by both grain and color of the wood. The wood used for most cabinets built in the U.S. is maple.

The most visible part of a cabinet is the door. However, the side of the “box” is visible on the end of a group of cabinets. Doors are made either with raised panels or with recessed panels. Some contemporary style cabinets are made of flat door surfaces. The difference between these kitchen cabinet styles is whether the center of the door is raised above the level of the frame or is recessed below the frame.

The next consideration in choosing kitchen cabinet styles is to choose the wood, the finish and the door type that is the best fit for the architecture and décor of the home. For example, a Southern colonial with traditional décor is the perfect match for the antique glazed white finish with raised panel doors. A mountain cabin would be ideal for oak or walnut with recessed panel doors.

Most new homes built today are a “traditional” style of architecture, modeled on the two-story Georgian home or the ranch style one-level home popularized in the early subdivisions of the 1950s. These homes are well suited for kitchen cabinet styles in oak, maple, walnut and cherry cabinetry. Either of the door styles is appropriate.

White and black kitchen cabinet styles are a good choice in most homes. The styling of the doors and the choices in handles and knobs can make them blend well with almost any style home and any décor. In fact, many homeowners install all kitchen cabinet styles without handles and knobs.

There are two ways of thinking about handles and knobs (pulls). On the one hand, the handles and knobs protect the wood of the cabinets. Wet or dirty hands do not stain or damage the wood. On the other hand, some believe the knobs and handles detract from the beauty of the wood and serve no important function. Handles and knobs are available in a range of materials and styles to fit any taste.

Whatever your opinion about handles and pulls, kitchen cabinetry has become a work of art. Kitchen cabinet styles are available to suit any personal taste, any architectural style of the house and any interior décor. White and black contrast beautifully with stainless steel or colored kitchen appliances.
There is something very warm and beautiful about natural wood in any home. The choices available in the various wood colors and grains, makes it possible for everyone to find what they like among the many kitchen cabinet styles.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: cabinet design, kitchen cabinet designs, kitchen cabinet styles, kitchen cabinets, kitchen remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, kitchens

Custom Kitchen Islands

February 21, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Custom Kitchen Islands: The Center of Kitchen Design

The right island will make any kitchen both functional and beautiful. They can form the center of a kitchen design. The challenge is to learn where you can find custom kitchen islands to meet your needs at an affordable price. The answer is to work with the right cabinetmaker.

Many cabinetmakers charge a small fortune to build an island that meets your needs. Most pre-designed and pre-fabricated kitchen island designs will not provide the combination of features and dimensions you want. Your options are to use something you do not want or to pay for the custom island.

There is a very good option. By working with a cabinetmaker that has a relationship allowing him or her to buy cabinets directly from a manufacturer, it is possible to customize affordable standard-size cabinets into the island you want for your kitchen. Even the kitchen island cabinet offered by the manufacturer can be customized for your needs.

Kitchen cabinet islands actually offer the greatest flexibility in island design and construction. Your island can hold a cook top, a work surface or a sink. It can combine an informal dining space with a cooking area or a clean-up area.

Your island can even be a self-contained food preparation area. You can include an under-counter refrigerator or freezer, refrigerated drawers, food storage, storage for pots and pans, a food preparation sink, an oven, a microwave or a quick-access beverage and snack area. You can use anything from butcher block or a cook top to stainless steel for the surface.

You can also combine two or more surface heights in your custom island. In a large island, it is possible to combine a food preparation area, a quick-access snack and beverage area, and a casual dining area, each at a different level above the floor.

If you are designing a highly functional gourmet cook’s kitchen, you might be planning several distinct work areas in your kitchen. Your island can form the third point of multiple work triangles and connect the parts of the kitchen, or it can separate the areas of the kitchen. For example, an island with a gas range can connect a baking area a clean-up area and a food-preparation area for salad making, etc.

Alternatively, you can position your island to create a barrier between the dining and entertaining area of your kitchen and the work area. Refrigerated drawers can be used to make snacks and appetizers available, as well as cold drinks. Your island could also include an under-counter wine cooler or refrigerator. By including a microwave and a small freezer, you can make snacks available to your children in an area that keeps them away from the dangers of the stove.

Custom kitchen islands have become an important element in kitchen design. They can serve a range of functions in your remodeled, new or upgraded kitchen. Working with a good cabinetmaker to customize affordable kitchen cabinets can create exactly what you want in your finished kitchen at a price that will not break the budget.

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Door Styles

November 9, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

< MAPLE

The maple door has a ginger colored finish giving it a warm, relaxed appearance, which is due in part to the antiqued patina of the dark brown glaze. This glaze has been applied over a base stain on hard maple wood to provide a soft, aged look while highlighting the trim details. With its mitered doors and drawer heads, square raised panel, and full overlay construction, the maple door is a traditional yet transitional style having a wide range of compatibility to dark or light colored kitchen schemes.

GLAZED CHERRY >

The formal appeal of this door is provided by the rich, aged effect of the finish. Made to resemble cherry wood, the door style is actually constructed of hard maple, with which the eye-catching stain and subtle dark brown glaze have been applied. Mortise and tenon doors and drawer heads, applied molding, square raised panels, and full overlay construction.

< SHAKER NATURAL

The soft transitional styling of the Shaker door is what provides its wide range of appeal for contemporary, arts and crafts, or shaker tastes. The Shaker door is constructed of hard maple and has a natural finish. The door has a recessed center panel. Its mortise and tenon doors and drawers, and full overlay construction are what give the Shaker door style its transitional appeal, as well as the ability to span many different design styles.

SHAKER ESPRESSO >

The Shaker expresso door is a transitional style for those who prefer a simplistic door with a dark, rich stain. This style will suit those seeking a contemporary to Zen feeling space. The full overlay door is constructed of hard maple with a recessed center panel. The door uses the mortise and tenon construction.

< GLAZED WHITE

The Glazed White door is a square raised panel, mitered, full overlay door with a matching drawer head. It is painted a creamy white with a hand applied caramel glaze, highlighting all of the door details. This style appeals to the classic and French country seeking clientele.

GLAZED WALNUT >

You will find that the walnut is an identical match to the maple in style. What sets the two apart is a deep, rich, warm walnut stain on hard maple wood. Walnut is the perfect door style for those seeking a true furniture feel to their cabinetry.

< WHITE

The crisp, tailored, full overlay styling of the white door is what makes it cross over so many lines of style. This door style will be the perfect choice for homes ranging from cottage to classic. The white door’s mortise and tenon door and drawer are constructed of hard maple and finished in a durable white paint. The door and drawer both have a gentle profile surrounding a recessed center panel. The outer edge also carries a handsome profile to soften the overall look.

CARAMEL OAK >

The oak door is a terrific value in an all wood cabinet when compared to similarly priced particle board constructed cabinets found in big box stores. The doors and cabinet face frame are made from solid oak which provides the grainy oak appeal in addition to the durability and hardness that oak has to offer. The doors have square raised center panels with rails that are joined using mortise and tenon construction. All cabinet doors come equipped with finger routed pulls which make door knobs and handles optional.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinet Accessories Tagged With: cabinet door, flat panel, kitchen, kitchen cabinet door, kitchen cabinet door styles, kitchen cabinetry, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchens, raised panel, recessed panel, shaker style

Oak Kitchen Cabinets

October 19, 2010 by admin 1 Comment

Oak kitchen cabinets provide timeless beauty.

One of the most important decisions made when remodeling a kitchen is the material and style of the kitchen cabinets. Particularly in North America and parts of Europe it is natural to ask if oak kitchen cabinets a good choice. The answer is very simple, oak cabinets are always a good choice.

Oak has a very distinctive grain that is not similar to any other trees. Oak kitchen cabinets are desirable for a number of reasons:

Oak is very hard. English oak has a harder surface than many other varieties, making it especially popular for furniture.
Oak is known for its unique open grain.
Oak is synonymous with strength and sturdiness.
Oak is heavy.
Oak is strong and durable, making oak kitchen cabinets a very good choice.
Oak is often associated with dignity.
Oak is very desirable for furniture and for this reason oak kitchen cabinets are prized.

Types of Oak

There are nearly 300 varieties of oak throughout the world. At least 50 varieties grow in North America. Most oak is divided into one of two types or families: white oak and red oak. White oak tends to be less porous and more durable. It is believed by many to have a better color than red oak, and for this reason it is often preferred for furniture and kitchen cabinets. White oak has a finer texture and a more prominent figure. It is more resistant to moisture and fungus. This is a major reason oak kitchen cabinets are so popular. Red oak tends to have a reddish cast and a coarser texture.

Two Ways to Cut Oak

When building oak kitchen cabinets or oak furniture, it is possible to choose strait or plain cut oak or quarter-sawn oak. The difference will be very obvious. Oak has strips of a special tissue that radiates from the center of the tree or log out to the edge. These strips of tissue look a great deal like spokes of a wheel. When the log is cut through by quarter sawing, the boards will show flakes of smooth wood. The effect can be very beautiful. Quarter sawing does not produce the same effect in narrow strips, but it can be spectacular in cabinet doors.

Oak kitchen cabinets can create a truly beautiful and luxurious room. When matched with oak window and door frames, chair rail, and other trim, as well as oak kitchen stools, table and chairs, etc. the total effect can be breathtaking. Mixing the right varieties of oak can eliminate sameness and produce a result that is totally unique. This makes oak kitchen cabinets an outstanding choice for your kitchen remodel.

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: custom kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinets, oak kitchen cabinets, wood 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

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