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Country Kitchen Cabinets

April 8, 2011 by 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.

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Pantry Trends

March 21, 2011 by 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

  1. table linens
  2. dishes
  3. cookbooks
  4. flatware
  5. light bulbs
  6. candles and matches
  7. baskets
  8. pet treats
  9. 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.

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Styles

March 14, 2011 by 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.

 

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Black Kitchen Cabinets

March 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

The Awe-Inspiring Beauty of Black Kitchen Cabinets

Are you considering the awe-inspiring beauty of black kitchen cabinets? Black is the new “in color” in kitchen design and décor. The effect can be very dramatic or even breathtaking – but only if it is done well.

You can use black for contrast in many kitchen styles. You could use a large black cabinet to offset and provide contrast in a predominantly white kitchen. You could also use an island with a base of black cabinets for contrast with cabinets made of almost any wood or finish.

Choosing ebony kitchen cabinets for a kitchen remodel could produce an exceptional result. It could also be costly. The alternative would be to use cabinets painted black, which could cost less than most other wood styles and finishes because the grain of the wood would not matter. This means you can expect to find black cabinets in a range of prices.

Before you decide to use all black cabinets in designing your kitchen, there are several things to consider. Here are some things you should think about in your planning.

  • Your kitchen cabinets can account for as much as 75 percent of all visible surface areas in your kitchen.
  • Black can be perfect for a contemporary style kitchen, with its sleek smooth lines and minimal ornamentation.
  • Black in perfect if you are trying to achieve a high-tech look in your kitchen.
  • Black goes with any other color.
  • Black cabinetry is a stunning contrast to stainless steel appliances and plumbing fixtures.
  • Gray, cream, white or other light earth tones can work well as contrast to black cabinets.
  • White can be a perfect choice for ceilings, walls and or floors.
  • Black and white is a perfect combination, but white appliances do not work with black cabinetry.
  • Countertops in silver, white, cream or butcher block are very attractive.
  • Combining black cabinets with a black floor will make the room look small and cramped.
  • Black cabinets will work best in a kitchen with a large amount of natural light – large windows, etc.
  • If a kitchen using black cabinets does not have natural light, you will need several lighting fixtures and over-counter sources that supply bright artificial light.
  • A light-colored tile floor is perfect with black cabinets.
  • Use of darker colors for walls, floor or ceiling will make the room too dark.
  • Light and bright colored small appliances (blender, toaster, coffee maker) provide spots of color that break the dark cabinets and offer focal points in your kitchen.

Use black cabinetry in kitchens of any style. Country style kitchens can also use distressed black cabinetry. Black can provide an accent or a focal point in your kitchen or it can define the background for your countertops, appliances and plumbing fixtures.

If you are planning to remodel, upgrade or add a kitchen in a contemporary style, especially if you are considering the “high-tech” look, consider black kitchen cabinets. Use black for accent or for background. It is perfect in combination with stainless steel appliances, sinks and lighting or with light colors. By providing plenty of light, you can create a spectacular and unique kitchen design.

 

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Custom Kitchen Islands

February 21, 2011 by 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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“Cheap” Kitchen Cabinets Doesn’t Have to Mean Low Quality

February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Cheap Kitchen Cabinets

Our shop can modify “cheap” kitchen cabinets to include all the quality features of custom cabinets at a fraction of the price.

It seems that people are always looking for cheap kitchen cabinets. There are certainly people out there in the marketplace who sell cheap cabinets – by which I mean cabinets that are made cheaply. This designation commonly refers to cabinets constructed of cheap materials with secondary quality workmanship and in a small number of variations in color, design, etc.

Most of the calls we receive are actually people who want to buy kitchen cabinets cheap. In other words, they want reasonable quality in materials and workmanship, but at a very low price. They do not really want cheap cabinets.

There are many ways to compare the prices and the quality of cabinets for your kitchen. One is to go to a home improvement store and compare the available options. Most of these stores will have “knock-down” cabinets that you can by for a very low price and take them home on the same day. They might need assembly and you will need to install them or find someone to install them in your kitchen.

If you are willing to spend a little bit more money, you can step up to stock cabinets and get standard-sized cabinets in a wider range of colors, finishes and styles. You will probably need to assemble these, as well as install them. These are the ways to buy the cheapest kitchen cabinets.

If what you actually need is the highest quality cabinets you can get for the lowest possible price you can afford, there are other options. These options offer the widest range of colors, woods, finishes, styles, designs and hardware. You can either order custom or semi-custom cabinets (at a much higher price), or you can take the creative approach with a good cabinetmaker.

Some cabinetmakers offer you the highest-possible quality in cabinet materials and workmanship at the price of stock cabinets. They are then able to take these cabinets, and modify and customize them to meet your specific needs. These are very high-quality cabinets.

Here is how these cabinetmakers are able to offer you the highest quality cabinets, with customization, at the lowest possible price.

  1. The cabinetmaker works directly with a cabinet manufacturer.
  2. Together they select what they believe will be the most popular woods, colors, finishes, designs and styles in the area served by the cabinetmaker.
  3. This defines the line of cabinets the cabinetmaker will offer.
  4. The manufacturer makes the cabinets in the factory and ships them to the cabinetmaker.
  5. Once the cabinetmaker measures and calculates the cabinet sizes needed for a particular job, s/he orders the standard sizes needed, plus extra cabinets to customize.
  6. The cabinetmaker then uses his/her skill to make from the cabinets received the custom sizes needed for each kitchen.
  7. If special features are needed that cannot be purchased from the manufacturer, the cabinetmaker builds and installs those features (for example, lazy Susan, racks, dividers, refrigerated drawers, cabinets that enclose small (under-counter) refrigerators or ovens.
  8. The cabinetmaker combines and re-sizes cabinets for sink bases, cooktop bases, and even for islands and peninsulas that are part of the kitchen design.

By working with a cabinetmaker that has a relationship with a manufacturer and the skill to customize standard cabinetry, you can save a bundle when you remodel, restore, renovate, add, upgrade or build a kitchen. You will not have cheap kitchen cabinets. You will have custom cabinets at the surprisingly low price of standard cabinets.

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Storage

January 31, 2011 by 1 Comment

 

Planning kitchen cabinet storage is one of the most important considerations when planning a kitchen remodel or addition. It is important to plan only for genuine need in your new kitchen because cabinetry is the largest single cost item in your remodeling budget. Be sure to plan enough cabinets for your needs without installing a large amount of extra cabinet space.

There are several ways to estimate your storage needs when designing your new or remodeled kitchen.

  • Measure the cabinets you currently have and replace them with new cabinets in identical sizes.
  • Remove everything from your cabinets, combine items appropriately into groups that would go in individual cabinets. Then measure the items (space used) and evaluate the size and number of cabinets needed.
  • Keep in mind that your new cabinets are primarily kitchen organizers. Look at the items currently in your cabinets. What could you reorganize to use space more efficiently? What could you move to a less accessible space (because you use it less frequently)?
  • Consider other items you would like to be able to store in your new kitchen cabinets; then add this to your calculations.
  • Review all of the specialized types of cabinets available in the wood, color and design you want. You might consider refrigerated drawers, pull out cabinets, slide-out shelves, drawers that hold pots and pans in the deeper bottom section and lids in a smaller top section. There are many new configurations every year.
  • Plan the placement of your appliances, cook top, ovens, etc. and then plan cabinets around them.
  • The best approach to cabinet planning might be to work with a kitchen designer, your contractor or your cabinetmaker to place appliances and cabinets where they will make things readily available where you need them to be when entertaining, cooking or cleaning up.

The next step in planning your cabinetry in a way that will make your kitchen most efficient is to evaluate how you can maximize your cabinet space with various cabinet organizers. You have access to a surprising array of organizational devices for drawers, cabinets and other spaces in your kitchen. For example:

  1. Use specially sized drawers or odd-sized extra space to store canned goods, bottled drinks, etc.
  2. Use a Lazy Susan to make items in the back of higher or lower cabinets accessible.
  3. Use drawer dividers to keep a drawer for kitchen utensils organized and neat.
  4. Instead of wasting the top half of each shelf in a cabinet, install a two-tiered Lazy Susan.
Kitchen Cabinet Storage

Kitchen Cabinet Storage Above and Below a Counter for Maximum Corner Space Utilization

You can also maximize your storage space with specialty custom cabinets. Instead of losing access to things in the back of a base corner cabinet, install a cabinet with a built-in Lazy Susan. Another idea is to have your cabinetmaker build you a tall, narrow cabinet beside the oven for pizza pans, cookie sheets and the like. Consider cabinets fitted out with smaller shelves, slanted racks for canned drinks, etc., and install a special cabinet beneath the sink equipped with a slide-out rack for the trash can or frame for the trash bag and a small device to hold extra trash bags.

Once you understand the many options available to you when planning kitchen cabinet storage, it becomes much easier to plan a kitchen in the style and design you most want while also ensuring that you will have the type and amount of storage space you need. A little imagination and some creative planning will result in the kitchen of your dreams.

 

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Oak Kitchen Cabinets

October 19, 2010 by 1 Comment
Oak Kitchen Cabinets

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.

 

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Wholesale Kitchen Cabinets

October 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Wholesale Kitchen Cabinets

This beautiful kitchen is available at wholesale kitchen cabinet prices.

Buying kitchen cabinets wholesale vs. retail can save you a bundle when you’re considering a remodel or renovation of your kitchen.  Whether it’s planning a kitchen expansion or enlargement, or a complete remodel, upgrading your kitchen cabinets at wholesale prices can save you $10,000 or more.  Consider this example for a typical kitchen remodeling job with a total cost of $40,000.  Kitchen cabinets are usually half of the total remodel cost, so that’s $20,000 in our example.  If you can cut the kitchen cabinet cost in half by purchasing your cabinets wholesale, meaning direct from the manufacturer, that saves you $10,000!

Buying kitchen cabinets wholesale doesn’t mean you give up quality either.  Buying wholesale simply means that you are cutting out the retailer and their associated markup and working directly with the manufacturer.  This allows you to save substantially on your kitchen home improvement job, plus you likely will be able to purchase a higher quality kitchen cabinet than you initially planned which makes buying direct an even greater value.

With internet shopping literally at your fingertips, buying kitchen cabinets wholesale has never been easier. You have instant access to hundreds of wholesale cabinet dealers across the country with virtually any cabinet style, wood choice and finish color.  But there are important considerations to assess prior to taking the step of purchasing your new kitchen online.  Here are some drawbacks to an online purchase:

  1. You must accept the full responsibility for assessing the quality of the product when you buy kitchen cabinets wholesale online. In most cases you cannot see the finish or measure the thickness of the shelves or see what kind of secondary wood has been used to build the cabinet box. You must either evaluate the product in a store and then purchase direct from the manufacturer, or ask all of the appropriate and necessary questions to be assured you are buying a quality product.  Of course, until the finished product arrives you’re not completely assured that what you expected is what you’re getting.
  2. When you buy kitchen cabinets wholesale you must deal with delivery and storage until you are ready to install the cabinets. The cabinets will be drop-shipped from the manufacturer directly to your home.
  3. Buying kitchen cabinets wholesale also means you may be purchasing cabinets RTA (ready to assemble). This means that every cabinet must be assembled and installed. Either you will need to assemble the cabinets (which can be a great way to save money, but can create problems if you don’t have appropriate tools or knowhow) or you must hire a contractor, carpenter or cabinetmaker to assemble the cabinets for you. Then, either you or the person you hire must install the cabinets.
  4. When you buy kitchen cabinets wholesale you will be able to buy them only in standard sizes. You will not be able to buy special sizes to fit your kitchen design. You may also have limited access to cabinetry with special features or accessories.  There are companies that do sell after-market items, but ordering the right components can prove cumbersome when dealing with different manufacturers.  You may consider buying cabinets in the size closest to your needs and try to find someone who can customize them for you, but in the end that defeats the original purpose of saving money.

Buying wholesale can be a good idea, but only if you are fully aware of the extra work required in assembly and installation along with the added responsibility for storage.

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Design

October 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

 

Kitchen cabinet design offers abundant options for every remodeler to find the perfect cabinets for their new kitchen. Understanding the basic elements of kitchen cabinet design will help you narrow the array of options and simplify the decision. Some of these basics of kitchen cabinet design relate to the quality of construction and others are a matter of kitchen style and personal taste.

Let’s consider each in turn. Two of the basics of kitchen cabinet design are quality issues. The other two are about style and taste.

1. Material. What material will be used to build your cabinets? Material is one of the most important decisions you will make because the design and style of your cabinets are the major factor determining style and design of the entire kitchen. You have several choices:

  • Metal (stainless steel, aluminum). Metal can be both expensive and heavy to hang. Some metals – especially those used in the past – were subject to rust. Metal can be available in colors or it can be painted. These cabinets also show any dings or dents if they are accidentally hit with a pan, and they will show scratches. For these reasons it is not a popular choice in kitchen cabinet design.
  • Wood combinations. Some cabinet makers use less expensive wood, such as plywood or pine, to build the cabinet case and then use doors and exterior panels of better or more expensive wood. Some also use particle board or other composite materials. Any wood cabinets can be painted in the color of your choice. You can use a glossy finish or a matte finish for your perfect kitchen cabinet design.
  • Solid wood. These cabinets are built entirely of finished, high-quality wood, such as hickory, oak, maple or more expensive woods like cherry or walnut. Traditional kitchens and some country style kitchens might use a dark wood, such as cherry, mahogany, walnut or ebony. Contemporary kitchens tend to use lighter color woods such as birch or maple. You will want to consider the color, the grain of the wood and the finish applied to the wood. Better cabinets are finished with several coats of polyurethane to protect the wood. Solid wood is currently the most popular kitchen cabinet design.

2. Construction. Low quality cabinets are often put together with glue or with nails or staples. This is not a good idea (if you have the choice) because under the heavy use of kitchen cabinets and drawers, they will not last. High quality cabinets will be joined with dove tail construction. This is the most important aspect of kitchen cabinet design.

3. Door Style. There are many types and designs in cabinet doors. The door style is the primary determiner of kitchen cabinet design. For example, a contemporary kitchen would almost demand a flat panel door design. Raised panel design, on the other hand, is the preferred door style for a traditional style kitchen. Other kitchen cabinet designs include these door styles: reveal-overlay panel, frame and panel, beaded frame and panel, square raised panel, curved raised panel, bead board panel and cathedral panel.

4. Accessories are the final basic element of kitchen cabinet design. Accessories in kitchen cabinet design include knobs and handles, organization customizations, accessibility options and specialty modifications. Knobs and handles should match both the style of the kitchen (rustic, worn, sleek) and the other metals used in visible places in the kitchen. For example, brushed metals work very nicely with stainless steel appliances. There are many devices and gadgets that can be installed in drawers and cabinets to organize the contents. Many custom or customized units have these items built in. Accessibility items include things like sliding trays or spinning units (lazy Susan, for example) to make things in the cabinets easier to reach. Specialty modifications are changes made to any cabinets to make them function over refrigerated drawers or bar refrigerators, etc.

By understanding these basics of kitchen cabinet design, you will be better informed, better informed to ask questions, and better able to limit the number of cabinet styles you need to consider in order to choose the cabinets you will use in your kitchen remodel.

 

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