wood kitchen cabinets

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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How to Estimate Kitchen Storage Needs

March 20, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Many homeowners believe there never can be too much storage space in a kitchen. Others might say extra storage space is simply an incentive to fill the space with unnecessary items. The decision to install new kitchen cabinets or to remodel a kitchen should begin with an honest assessment of how the kitchen space will be used by your family.

kitchen cabinet storage, kitchen cabinet value

One of many kitchen storage solutions

The challenge for many people is how to estimate kitchen storage needs.

The first step in the estimation of storage needs is to determine how you will use the space. For many families, the kitchen is no longer a discrete room or space. Today, in many homes, the kitchen is combined with a family room, a breakfast room, or a work area. In other homes, the kitchen is the place where guests and extended family are entertained. For the most part, the kitchen has become the center of a family’s activities (whatever they enjoy).

The second step in estimating kitchen storage needs is to determine what kind of storage space in needed or desired. If the family will eat most meals in the extended kitchen, it might make sense to store dishes and flatware, near the table. It might also make sense to put a dishwasher in that area. If there will be a work area (perhaps a place for children to do homework or for bill paying, etc.), there might be a need for a desk or bookshelves or computer connections.

The third step is to determine the types of storage required in the kitchen. Do you want glass door cabinets to display china, glassware, or food containers? Where will you keep small appliances when not in use? Do you want to organize your kitchen around the type of cooking or other food preparation most commonly used? For example, if you have children, you might want a snack area that is readily accessible to them with storage for cold water or other drinks, storage for microwaveable snack items (popcorn, for example).

Fourth, determine how much cabinet and surface area you have now. There is a simple formula for this. Measure the width and depth of your existing cabinets or other storage areas and counters, as well as the number of shelves in each cabinet: cabinet/shelf/drawer width x number of shelves/drawers x cabinet/shelf/drawer depth = storage space.

Fifth, estimate the additional space needed and the amount of space you would prefer to use differently. For example, if you plan to create a snack area or zone, you might want a refrigerated drawer for drinks or a small under-counter refrigerator. If you do a lot of baking and you want to create a baking area separate from the usual cooking zone, you might want a second oven, and dedicated storage spaces for ingredients, bake ware, etc. Decide where it is most convenient to store each type of item you use frequently.

On the other hand, if you do not do much cooking, you might want to save the trouble of calculating the storage needs of a kitchen, you can follow the guidelines available from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/kitchen/planning/kitchen-planning-guidelines/?page=1

A final note: When you estimate kitchen storage needs it is wise to tailor your remodel less to personal tastes and more to recommendations if you are planning to sell your home in the next few years. You might do only minimal cooking and need minimal storage, but the next owner might have different needs.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: affordable kitchen cabinets, antique white cabinets, custom kitchen, custom kitchen cabinetry, discount kitchen cabinets, estimate kitchen storage needs, inexpensive kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet design, kitchen cabinet value, kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinets wholesale, kitchen remodeling, kitchen renovation, kitchen storage space, wood kitchen cabinets

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

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

October 19, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

The beauty of solid wood kitchen cabinets.

Eight Advantages of Wood Kitchen Cabinets

Most realtors will tell you that nothing is more appealing to potential home buyers than natural wood kitchen cabinets. They bring a sense of elegance and warmth into any kitchen. There are a number of additional advantages of wood kitchen cabinets.

Natural wood cabinets fit any architectural style home and any kitchen style. There are certainly traditions about the woods and finishes most commonly used in different kitchen styles, as well as traditions about cabinet door styles. For example a darker wood like ebony, mahogany or cherry is most appropriate in a traditional, country or eclectic style kitchen. It would rarely be used in contemporary styles.
Wood kitchen cabinets are strong, durable and lasting. Wood base cabinets will easily support any type of countertop material, including stone (granite, slate, marble). It holds up well under heavy use and in steam and heat. Most small dings, dents or scratches can be easily repaired. Over time, wood can be repeatedly refinished, repaired, cleaned and even painted or stained.
Solid wood cabinets are clearly preferable to any material that is laminated, glued, or veneered. Cabinets that are made with glue must be very carefully maintained in a kitchen because the glue will be damaged by the moisture over time and the laminate or veneer will begin to curl or peel. Solid wood will not curl or peel.
Wood kitchen cabinets are available in a wide range of wood choices and grains, allowing a homeowner to select the color and grain that best match the style and décor of their home. Different woods can also be finished in different ways to produce a unique patina that can glow in the warm light of the room.
Wood kitchen cabinets are made with a large number of different door designs. These styles range from perfectly smooth and flat to the ornately carved designs chosen in some country and traditional kitchens.
Metal cabinets – somewhat surprisingly – often cost more than wood kitchen cabinets. Yet most people perceive high-quality wood kitchen cabinets as a costly luxury.
Wood cabinets are safe. Unlike metal cabinets, there is nothing in wood cabinets that can chemically alter the food stored in them. This is particularly important if there are children, elderly persons, or people with illnesses that compromise the immune system.
Wood kitchen cabinets will never go out of style. For this reason, as well as their beauty and warmth, they enhance the appearance and the value of a home when it is time to sell.

The three most commonly used woods for wood kitchen cabinets are hickory, oak and maple. However, in some kitchen styles cherry and mahogany are preferred. They are also more expensive. The least expensive wood is probably birch or pine. You can also choose more uncommon options, such as ebony, butternut, alder, walnut or bamboo (new to cabinetry but popular because it is a rapidly replenishing eco-friendly material).

Filed Under: Kitchen Cabinets Tagged With: cherry kitchen cabinets, maple kitchen cabinets, oak kitchen cabinets, unfinished kitchen cabinets, wood kitchen cabinets, wooden kitchen cabinets