Navigating Through the Sea of Options for Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are always the largest expense in a kitchen remodel. Because they are a major investment (and one that’s not likely to be made again anytime soon), you’ll need to sort through the hundreds of options and make choices with confidence. Not all kitchen remodels will require new cabinets, so step back and look at your kitchen with an open mind before deciding to just rip everything out.

FRESHEN UP
If existing cabinets are of good quality, are in excellent working condition and the layout functions well, the most affordable option is to freshen them up by restaining or painting. Another alternative, refacing, involves installing a new veneer on the exterior of the cabinet box and replacing the doors and drawer fronts, and should be handled by a professional. The process is much faster than installing new cabinets because the cabinets remain intact and the work is done onsite. It is important to note that when it comes to cabinets, doors and drawer fronts account for the greatest expense.

In reality, the doors and drawer fronts can account for as much as 70% of the cost of the cabinet. This is because most cabinets utilize plywood or particleboard for the cabinet box, which is significantly cheaper than the real wood used for the doors and drawer faces.

NEW AND IMPROVED
The decision has been made to install new cabinets, but there are other choices ahead. Are custom cabinets required, or will stock cabinets fit the bill? Custom cabinets are built to exact specifications and offer endless options with regard to materials, designs, finishes and accessories. Custom cabinets will require much longer lead times, and can be 2 to 5 times as expensive depending on the style of cabinet that you are looking at.

Semi-custom cabinets are just that: semi-custom. While the cabinets are made to the homeowner’s size requirements, the manufacturer produces them in predetermined increments. Often a spacer may be needed to conceal unused wall space, and that sacrifices storage. The range of materials, designs, finishes and accessories will not be as broad with semi-custom cabinets, but they cost less than fully custom cabinets.

Stock cabinets, which are the most affordable of new cabinet options, are pre-made and come in standard sizes. In the past, stock cabinets had a stigma to them because of the quality of materials that were used. Today, manufacturers are using solid wood for the face frame and doors, and better cabinets will feature solid plywood cabinet boxes.

If you ask any industry expert, they will tell you that 8 out of 10 kitchens cabinet be built using stock cabinets. A 1/2″ here or a 1/4″ there can be easily made up by using filler strips which will not take away from the overall beauty of the finished product.

No matter what type of cabinet is selected, it’s important to evaluate the quality of hinges, doors, drawer systems and finish. Don’t be afraid to pursue companies that sell cabinets strictly on-line. They will have lower overhead and therefore can offer better prices. Even RTA (Ready-To-Assemble) cabinets are featuring the same quality materials as the big name manufacturers, but at a lower price.

CONSTRUCTION AND STYLE
Next, consider the construction type and door style. Framed cabinets, which are popular in traditional kitchens, have a front frame around the cabinet opening. The door attaches to the frame. Frameless, or European-style cabinets, have no front frame. The door attaches directly to the side of the cabinet. Frameless cabinets, which are often used in contemporary kitchens, offer an advantage over framed cabinets. Because there is no front frame, there is open access to the cabinet interior.

When it comes to door styles, there are several choices. Traditional-overlay doors cover some of the frame, full-overlay doors cover the entire cabinet frame and inset doors sit inside the cabinet frame.

SOURCE: Gary Nealon, www.articlebase.com

www.LKNcabinets.com serves the greater area of Charlotte for high quality affordable cabinetry

Deciding When to Remodel Your Kitchen

You have lived in your home for years. It’s beautiful and it has served you well. Now that life has found its own rhythm, you may decide that it is time for a change in your home. Where to begin? That is the toughest question. The living room is where you spend most of your family time. Maybe that is where you could brighten things up. Or maybe the bathrooms, they could probably use a little facelift. How about the kitchen? That is where you spend most of your time anyway. Yeah, the kitchen, why not? An improved kitchen can add dramatic value to your house and is the heart of the home. Kitchen renovations can range from simple touch ups to major overhauls. The first thing you should do is to decide on a budget and what your kitchen really needs. It could be that a new window treatment and a paint job will be enough to revitalize it. Or perhaps, it is in desperate need of new counter tops and new appliances. Maybe the lighting has never been great and you want a new kitchen lighting layout. Perhaps you want to gut the whole thing and start from scratch. See what your budget allows and consult a kitchen remodeling company if you need to.

If you are going to simply paint and change out the window treatments and accessories, then you need to decide on a color scheme. This doesn’t have to be terribly difficult.
Look at the overall light, be it natural or artificial, and decide if the room needs brightening up or would do well with deeper tones. Pick colors that work well together in either a compliment, like two different shades of the same color, or in contrast, like deep blues and yellows. If you have an inspirational fabric or accessory, play with the colors found in those to help you choose a wall color. Once you have made the decision, buy the paint and give it a whirl. For under $50 you can change the whole look for your kitchen.

If you are going with a huge remodel, after deciding on a budget, you need to consider the layout. Most people go with the traditional triangle layout. This puts the sink, the stove and oven, and the refrigerator in a triangle pattern making it easy to access during food preparations. This is a popular concept but not necessarily a kitchen remodeling law. You may decide you want something else. Be sure to layout your kitchen in way that is both stylish to your desires but also, functional. A beautiful kitchen is no good if you don’t feel at ease using it. Again, if you don’t feel creative enough to tackle kitchen layouts alone, consult a professional in the greater Chicago area. One suggestion is to check out an on-line source for examples. You may find examples of styles you like.

However big you wish to go with your kitchen remodel, take your time, do your homework, and never be afraid to consult others for suggestions and advice. This doesn’t have to be scary; in fact it should be fun.

For a free quotation on your next kitchen renovation or kitchen remodeling project, visit Galaxie Construction today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane

www.LKNcabinets.com offers the most affordable quality cabinets in the Charlotte market

Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling never fails to ranks a good spot among the most rewarding home improvements any homeowner could undertake whether to enhance quality of living or boost New York home value. But these tempting benefits also entail a lot of risks that if not carefully handled could end up with a disastrous finish and a broke homeowner, and that can be you. For any home improvement to be a success, it takes quality products and craftsmanship and as we know these comes for a cost and a good one at that. So whether you are in Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island or Brooklyn; know the ways to save on your kitchen remodel without busting the budget and cutting corners.

1.      See Beyond the Initial Costs When undertaking a kitchen remodel, the initial cost that you would have to squeeze out may seem overwhelming. But if you look beyond and see the long term benefits, you’ll realize that all the costs would be worth it and can even prove profitable with the good boost on home value that you’ll get. Keep this idea in mind whenever you have to spend throughout the project. Whether shopping for supplies or hiring contractors, weigh carefully the cost versus the long-term value.

2.      Do What You Can  Though it is advised to hire a kitchen remodeling contractor to get your project finished in the most time and cost efficient way, there are still tasks that you can do yourself to cutback on labor costs. A word of caution… never underestimate what a kitchen remodel task entails. Make sure you have what it takes to do it successfully; otherwise, you will be throwing away instead of saving money.

3.      Focus on Efficiency Not Size Other than saving money, it is also important to save space in your kitchen remodeling project. This is especially true with New York kitchens where limitation in space is a common issue. The most practical way to be acquiring more square footage is through maximizing the use of space and not tearing down walls. Storage is among the most crucial elements that can help you achieve this. Forget shelves that unnecessarily eat up more space, and opt for pull-out drawers and other such organizational features that let you keep more for less the space. When shopping for appliances, you can browse through compact models that work as good and have the same features as their bulkier counterparts.

4.      Do Your Kitchen Remodel When Contractors are Not Busy There are certain times of the year when contractors are not doing much work and are more than willing to take on the job for you. Other than affording your kitchen remodeling the attention that it deserves from your hired contractor, the down time also lets you avail of amazing discounts from qualified contractors.

5.      Avoid Relocating the Sink Having your sink moved is much more complicated and costly than you think as this will mean changing the routes of your plumbing too. If you can, just keep the current layout and get creative in making it work better for you and the household. But if relocating your sink is unavoidable, then use this opportunity to upgrade the pipes.

www.LKNcabinets.com serves the greater Charlotte area