Buying Kitchen Cabinets At the Home Improvement Stores

The number of cabinet names and styles at the Home Improvement Stores like Lowes and Home Depot can be overwhelming, and so can the number of options and upgrades. They do a very good job of distracting you from the two biggest factors when it comes to buying kitchen cabinets. Find out what they are and how to avoid the common mistakes that people make when shopping for kitchen cabinets.

If you have ever strolled through the kitchen section at one of the big home improvement stores (like Lowes or Home Depot), you know how overwhelming the selection can be. They do a very good job of offering every door style, wood type, and finish imaginable. They also do a very good job of distracting you from the two biggest features that you should be focused on- price and quality of construction.

When making a large purchase like a kitchen, it is really easy for emotion and excitement to overshadow the total cost. It is really important to do some research before going into the store and have a budget in mind. Minor changes in the look of the cabinet can end up adding hundreds, if not thousands, to the cost of your kitchen. The same thing applies to unnecessary upgrades and accessories, which will quickly add up.

As a part-time contractor and rental property owner, I always tell people that I am talking to, to start their research on the internet.. The big stores will offer the name brand cabinets, but if you search online you will find that you can find similar, if not identical cabinets, for significantly less on-line. Have you ever noticed that the stores will usually price cabinets on a cost per square foot? This is done deliberately….. when you are emotionally attached to a particular style of cabinet, what is more likely to sway you from going over your budget- That upgrade is going to got you an additional $1.00 per square foot, or that upgrade is going cost you an additional $900? It is a great technique to distract you from the actual price you are paying and get you focused on the style and finish of the cabinets.

What you will also find is that the quality of the materials used will differ dramatically from cabinet to cabinet. As I mentioned before, the retail stores do a very good job of getting you caught up in the features and of the cabinet face, but they often brush over the actual cabinet box construction? Ironically, most of the higher priced cabinets don’t actually use solid wood for the cabinet box. They may have a great looking cabinet door, but they are using particleboard or fiberboard for the construction of the cabinet box. The problem with both of these materials is that they are adversely affected by water and moisture….  What you will find on-line is that a lot of the lesser-known cabinetmakers actually use solid plywood, which creates a much stronger cabinet box. The other big factor in materials is how the cabinet is held together. Don’t be surprised to find out that some of the big name cabinet companies use staples or basic nails and glue to hold the cabinet together.  The best joinery would have to be dovetail joints, but right behind that is the cam lock.   The cam lock is used primarily on ready-to-assemble cabinets. (NOTE: LKN Cabinets uses screw, staple and glue construction which many find superior to this.)

In doing some research on-line you will more than likely come across another common term in the cabinet industry- RTA, or Ready-To-Assemble. Don’t be scared away from this type of cabinet. If you ever go into the big stores and see pre-assembled or stock cabinets, they are actually RTA cabinets that have been assembled for your convenience (and they are significantly more expensive). There are three categories that separate RTA Cabinets from their competition-

1) Construction- Not all RTA cabinets are the same, but most of them use solid plywood for the cabinet box, solid wood for the face frames and doors, and they have an interlocking cam lock assembly that is a stronger bond than staples, nails, or wooden dowels

2) Price- if you find the companies that are importing them directly, the saving can be as high as 40-50% versus the name brand cabinets

3) Assembly- they are so easy to assemble that you can actually eliminate the added expense of hiring someone to assemble and install them

With all the advantages of RTA Cabinets, there are some inferior products on the market that you should steer clear of, but they are definitely worth doing some research on.  Typically when RTA cabinets or knockdown cabinets are mentioned, people authomatically think of Ikea products.   Today’s ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets are far superior than what is sold at Ikea.

So before you go running to your local big box supply store, take the time to do some research on-line. At the very least you will be a more educated customer and you can avoid the mistake of exceeding your budget for your kitchen.

Source: RTAcabinetstore.com by Gary Nealon

www.LKNcabinets.com offers FREE kitchen cabinet quotes for the greater Charlotte, NC area

Remodel Your Kitchen With Allwood Cabinets

It is not very often that we plan to remodel a room in our home. Maybe once or twice in a lifetime will we plan to remodel a kitchen. When the time is right, however, replacing your old kitchen cabinets with new ones will greatly improve the appearance of your home’s interior and increase the overall value of your house.

Choosing the style and materials of your new kitchen remodel can be an exciting time, but with the overwhelming amount of options, it can also be stressful. It is important to take into account a number of different factors, including your decorative tastes as well as the construction style of your home. The size of the kitchen and the space available for new cabinets should also be considered when narrowing down your choices.

Plan your remodel first by imagining your dream kitchen. Think about the style you most admire. Perhaps you like modern design with clean, simple lines and artistic decoration. Or maybe you prefer a more traditional, classic kitchen layout. Any design that speaks to you, from rustic country to industrial metallic, should be your focus when planning the design of your new kitchen.

Once you have a good idea of how you think your new kitchen should look, grow your ideas by looking at pictures in decoration and remodeling magazines. Look for textures and colors that would be appealing in your kitchen space. Take notes of designs and styles that you admire so you have them handy when you begin shopping.

You can begin shopping around for new kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances and other décor once you have finalized your budget. Not everyone will be able to afford the elaborate kitchens as seen in magazines, but you will certainly be able to make a bold and unique statement. Even if you only replace your kitchen cabinets, it can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your kitchen.

New kitchen cabinets should be spacious, durable and pleasing to the eye. Wooden kitchen cabinets can be finished or pained in any manner you desire in order to achieve a look consistent with your unique style. If you have a kitchen area that is spacious or oddly shaped, custom kitchen cabinets can be fitted and installed. Custom kitchen cabinets will give your kitchen a truly personal touch because they are fitted especially for the uniqueness of the space. This will significantly increase the value of your home and provide you with storage and convenience that could not be achieved with pre-assembled kitchen cabinetry.

Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms of the home, from friendly gatherings to intimate family dinners. Look at all the options and decide which style will best fit your personality and provide your family with an updated look that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

LKN Cabinets and Remodeling offers affordable cabinets for the greater Charlotte, NC area.

What door style to go with?

Styles And Materials

There are a lot of magazines and illustrated design manuals online that feature a variety of kitchen cabinet styles and the appropriate materials for these. While you could easily visit a store and browse around, it is always better to browse online so that you can decide on the style that seems to appeal to you the most, and can pursue the options available in that style.

Interestingly, kitchen cabinet style is based on the door design, which is why choosing the right door is important. Here are the styles you will come across:

·The slab door is a single door covering the kitchen cabinet’s front. This is a nice simplistic design with a clean smooth look.

·The raised panel door has a wooden frame that could be decorative in design. This style is good if your décor is formal.

·The recessed panel door has the panel behind the frame of the kitchen cabinet’s door. These are suitable for country style homes.

·There are doors that come with an arch at the top and suit most kitchen cabinets.

When it comes to kitchen cabinet material the choice seems practically limitless. Your main decision would be from wood, metal or laminate. Wood looks great and can be in any color or finish. Unfortunately wood could warp over time. These days, however, this has been overcome. Laminate is a cost effective option and is available in any color. You can also use a combination of materials for your kitchen cabinets. LKN Cabinets and Remodeling uses ‘all wood’ cabinets which means there is no particleboard or other type of pressed wood material. Instead all cabinets come with plywood sides and solid wood doors.

www.LKNcabinets.com offers remodeling services in the greater Charlotte, NC area