Are you tired of opening up the same kitchen cabinets, every single day? Although many homeowners love their kitchens, including their kitchen cabinets, there are some who are looking for a change. If you are one of those homeowners, the ones who are looking for a change, you may want to think about remodeling your kitchen, particularly your kitchen cabinets.
When it comes to kitchen remodeling, there is a common misconception that is mistakenly believed by many. That misconception is exactly what kitchen remodeling is. Many assume that to remodel a kitchen you need to change everything, from the light fixtures all the way down to the floor tiles. While a large number of homeowners do choose to remodel their whole kitchen, there are others who only choose to remodel small portions of it.
Whether you are looking to remodel your whole kitchen, all at once, or you if are only looking to remodel a part of it, there is a good chance that you may be in the market for new kitchen cabinets; they are one of the most commonly remodeled parts of a kitchen. This article will discuss all you need to know about kitchen cabinets.
Choosing New Kitchen Cabinets
Although choosing a new set of kitchen cabinets may seem like a fairly easy task, it is one that you shouldn’t make on an impulse. Since you will be stuck with these new kitchen cabinets, at least until you move or decide to remodel again, you will want to make sure that you get your first choice. There are a number of different ways that you can do this.
For the best results, you may want to visit your local home improvement store. When visiting one of your local home improvement stores, you should find a collection of kitchen cabinets on display; in fact, you may find a fairly large number of them on display. Viewing each of these kitchen cabinets is a great way to decide which cabinets would look great installed in your kitchen.
In addition to visiting your local home improvement store, you may also want to examine kitchen cabinets online. Although the shipping for kitchen cabinets is often considered quite high, you may be able to find exactly what you were looking for online. It is advised that you find either an online home improvement retailer or an individual who specializes in making their own kitchen cabinets.
In fact, if you are looking for a unique set of kitchen cabinets, a set that you cannot find anywhere else, you may be able to order a custom set of kitchen cabinets. The cost may be more than what you intended on paying, but, as previously mentioned, it is important to get what you want, especially when remodeling your kitchen.
How do you plan to use the cabinets?
When searching for the perfect set of kitchen cabinets, for your next kitchen remodeling project, it is important to keep a number of things in mind. One of those things is what you will be using your kitchen cabinets for. What you are using your kitchen cabinets for may have an impact on what you can and cannot have. For instance, if you will be using these to store your food or your dishes, you will need to make sure that you purchase cabinets that can offer you the most space. While decorative kitchen cabinets are nice, they are sometimes limited on the storage space that they have.
Note the size of the cabinet
In addition to the size of the storage space, it is also important to examine the size of the kitchen cabinet itself. In the United States, most home improvement stores sell kitchen cabinets that are not fully put together, but they are often precut to size. It may be possible to change the measurements, but you may find it to be difficult and costly to do so. Although you may be more concerned about the color or design of a kitchen cabinet set, it is important to remember the basics. Even the most beautiful kitchen cabinet set will not do you any good if it cannot be installed in your kitchen.
By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should be able to go out and find the kitchen cabinet set that you were looking for. Once you have found the kitchen cabinet set of your dreams, the remodeling can begin. Whether you choose to install your own kitchen cabinets or you let a professional do it for you, your cabinets could be installed in as little as a day or two.
As you know, kitchen cabinets set the overall mood in the kitchen. It is what makes the kitchen more efficient; but, it also takes a huge chunk of the kitchen budget as well. You will therefore have to choose the style and color carefully. For this reason you should know the two basic types of cabinet constructions.
Cabinet Constructions
There are basically two types of cabinet constructions:
1. Face frame cabinets
Framed cabinets are traditional, have cabinet doors attached to a frame, and most times have visible hinges. Pull out drawers also have less space in these cabinets. The first picture above illustrates face frame cabinets.
2. Frameless cabinets
Frameless cabinets are contemporary, and have no trim or molding. They have close-fitting doors, lack ornamentation, and the hinges are typically hidden inside the cabinet.
However, your choice of cabinet style is a matter of personal choice, but if you like you can rejuvenate your old cabinets as well. Sometimes a simple cosmetic job can create a new attractive and fresh perspective in a kitchen.
Renewing Old Cabinets
Here are some ways you can renew your old cabinets:
- Clean the cabinet surfaces with an eco-friendly degreaser or wood cleaner to remove grease and grime;
- Replace old or loose hinges, handles, and glides that do not work;
- Repaint cabinet surfaces with low- or no-VOC paints; and/ or
- Replace or reface cabinet doors.
It is possible to improve the appearance of your kitchen and even simple changes could make an impact in the kitchen.
Manufacturing styles for cabinets
Cabinetry in the kitchen could consume as much as 40% to 50% of your remodeling budget. For this reason you should consider the quality of cabinet construction when you are making your purchase, such as the material, structure, and joinery work.
1. Knockdown cabinets are ready to assemble cabinets. They are an economical choice, but they are unfinished and you must put the pieces together yourself. You may also have to stain and paint these cabinets yourself. Some creativity and style will be needed to make these cabinets look stylish in your kitchen, but they are ideal if you are on a tight budget.
2. Stock cabinets are cabinets that are ready to buy and deliver. They come in a variety of standard sizes, styles, and colour. You can create your own custom style with stock cabinets when you mix and match them.
3. Custom cabinets are built to the designer's specification and are made from scratch. They are not readily available so you will have to wait until they are completed, this may take up to three months; but the wait is worth it. You get a fine craftsmanship look, so custom cabinets are not cheap.
4. Semi-custom cabinets are somewhat like custom cabinets, but they are made to measure. That is, a cabinet company would make adjustments to the cabinets to fit your specific needs, such as size and finish. Cost for semi-custom cabinets vary depending on the quality, finish, and extra features you ordered.