Give Your Home a Makeover With New Kitchen Cabinets

Americans are a migratory people and we move around a lot. Compared to the population in most other countries, we tend to buy and sell homes much more frequently. It’s also not uncommon for us to “trade up” as families grow or our budgets allow, or downsize when kids move out on their own or we’re tired of that big yard and the extra rooms. The difficult real estate market of the past couple of years has put a damper on all this, with many people either unable to move on as it’s difficult to sell, or unwilling to take a big loss. As a result, instead of buying new homes, a lot of people are staying put and invest in their existing one. One of the most popular home improvement projects is giving kitchen cabinets a makeover, so let’s take a look at how to go about it and what’s available.

The kitchen is a very special place in almost any home. It’s the center where we meet, hang out, prepare gourmet meals together, pop some corn in the microwave, grab a quick snack from the fridge or stick notes and artwork on it. Kitchens are warm, friendly places that play an increasingly more important role in our homes, and attractive, functional cabinets are an integral part of it. If yours are old and worn, consider starting over. The difference new cabinets can make is absolutely amazing. It’s like having an entirely new kitchen, but at only a fraction of the price.

Whether you will be doing the work yourself or have someone do it, planning a kitchen cabinet makeover is lots of fun. First, familiarize yourself with all the looks, shapes and materials. Cherry, maple, birch, and oak all have a distinctly different look and you’ll want to pick whatever fits your personality, your home, and the kind of effect you want to achieve. While wood is very popular, some people like all-white cabinets for that bright, clean, modern look. You can also pick from a variety of different styles and designs; different grains; framed or frameless cabinets; and numerous different drawer arrangements.

Once you’ve picked your wood or material, you can also select from different finishes. Finishes can be natural, or a variety of shades to complement the basic color and grain of the wood. Some types of wood and cabinet styles can be ordered with half a dozen different finishes, which makes it easy to match new cabinets to an existing décor.

If you prefer white cabinets, you can select either thermofoil or melamine surface. Thermofoil is a fairly new technology where a thin layer of rigid vinyl is heat-fused to cabinet doors, drawers and other surfaces. The thermofoil process makes a perfectly smooth surface with uniform color and texture that is more durable than even the best paint. Melamine is a fire resistant, heat tolerant synthetic polymer material that also has a smooth, uniform color and texture. Melamine cabinets are generally quite affordable and easy to clean.

So whether you plan on staying in your home and want to freshen things up a bit, or whether you intend to sell, getting new kitchen cabinets should be on top of your list.

What You Should Know About Cabinets

Cabinets are one of the most important aspects of any kitchen. Quality cabinets can increase a the selling value of a home, while poorly constructed ones can detract from not only the value of a home but also the beauty and efficiency of a kitchen. In this article you’ll learn more about the different types of cabinets, as well as what to do if the cabinets in your kitchen are less than ideal.

There are many different types of cabinets, made out of many different types of materials. The most popular material is, of course, wood. The least expensive type of woods that cabinets are sometimes crafted from include choices like poplar, birch and maple. If you go with one of these woods, you will probably want to paint your cabinets. Some homeowners choose to go with designer effects like faux finishing to give lower grades of wood a classic and sophisticated look. A step up from these low grade woods would be choices like oak and pine — durable woods that are fairly affordable.

Looking to spend a bit more for high quality wood? Then you should consider woods such as maple, cherry, or hickory. Which one is best for you depends on your personal preferences and what you feel looks best in your kitchen. Now, if you’re looking for a cabinet material that’s truly spectacular, you could go with expensive choices like mahogany, walnut or ebony. Not only are these woods exotic and attractive, they’re durable and long-lasting.

Just as there are lots of various woods cabinets can be crafted from, there are also various types of cabinetry to suit every price range and preference. Stock cabinetry is the most affordable type of cabinetry, however you won’t have a lot to choose from as far as design is concerned. These types of cabinets are made in large quantities in a factory. The next step up from stock cabinetry is semi-custom cabinetry. While these are also factory made, you are given more choices in the size, material and finish of your cabinets. The third, and most expensive type of cabinets are custom cabinets. Custom cabinets are crafted especially for you and meet your every specification and need from start to finish. This type of cabinetry takes longer to build and costs a lot more than the other two options, but can be worth the time and expense.

Maybe you’re a homeowner who has cabinets that are less than satisfactory. If so, there are two choices available to you. You can have your existing cabinets removed and replaced or you can simply refinish your cabinets. Which option you choose will have a lot to do with your kitchen storage needs and the quality of your cabinets. If your cabinets are crafted from a low-quality wood and you would prefer a higher grade, then replacement is probably your best bet. If your cabinets do not provide you with the storage space you need, this may be another reason to replace. However, if your existing cabinets are made from an acceptable wood and provide you with enough storage, then refinishing, also known as refacing, might be the way to go.

Refinishing your cabinets is something you can hire a contractor to do, or handle yourself. The first step is to remove your cabinet doors and all hardware, then label the inside of each door with a sticky note. The reason for labeling is so that it will be easy to replace your cabinets when you’re done refinishing. After you’ve labeled everything and removed all the hardware, it’s time to remove the finish from the cabinet doors. This can be achieved with a varnish removal product purchased from your local home improvement store. These products can be quite toxic so always be sure to wear proper safety equipment like goggles and gloves. Also, it’s crucial to ventilate the room with plenty of fresh air. If you can, doing the work outdoors is an even safer option.

After the varnish remover has done its job, rinse the wood clean and let it dry. Once dry, sand the cabinets to a smooth finish, then brush away all excess sanding dust. You might want to start with a coarse sandpaper to smooth rough areas and finish with a finer grade for an even finish. After the sanding is complete, you can apply the stain or varnish of your choice. If you use more than one coat, allow each coat to dry before adding another. Make sure the stain is completely dry before touching the cabinets. Once you’re sure the cabinets are fully dry, you can reinstall them in your kitchen. To give them a shiny new look, replace your old hardware with new hardware.

No matter what type of kitchen you have, good cabinetry is a must. Not only can the right cabinets add to the look of the room, they can give you all the space you need for storing your kitchen related items. If you ever sell your home, you can be sure that prospective buyers are going to examine the kitchen cabinets! With that in mind, take a good look at your existing cabinetry. Is it all you think it should be? If not, there are many options available to you. For ideas, check out some books on the subject or flip through some home improvement magazines. Even a leisurely trip to your local home improvement store can be enough to get you thinking about the upgrades you want to make to your cabinets. Whether you do the work yourself or hire someone to do it for you, you’ll find that the end result is definitely worth the time and expense!

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Easy and Affordable Steps to Add Life to a Dated Kitchen

Is your kitchen looking a little tired and dated? Kitchen cabinets take a lot of abuse throughout their lifetime, with lots of banging and closing of doors and drawers. And, just like any other room, kitchen decorating has trends and phases. What was hot 10 years ago might seem a little common place. If your kitchen needs a new look it may be time to think about kitchen cabinet resurfacing.

It’s expensive to completely replace your old kitchen with kitchen cabinets. But kitchen cabinet resurfacing is an affordable way to completely change the look of the kitchen, without ripping cabinets of the wall and disrupting your kitchen for months.

Resurfacing is a fairly simple process. You choose a kitchen cabinet look – the type of wood or material, the color or finish, and style of the cabinets and doors. You replace your old cabinet doors and drawers with the new style, and you trim the exposed surfaces of the cabinets – the framework with a veneer in the desired style. Instead of replacing the old doors and drawers, you can also apply the same veneer to the surface of the drawers and doors.

This option is both easy-to-do and affordable. You spend a fraction of a kitchen-remodeling budget when you opt for kitchen cabinet resurfacing. The team that resurfaces the cabinets can usually finish in one or two days – compare that with weeks of a torn up kitchen for a major remodel!

Sometimes a good update for a kitchen starts with the countertops. Just like cabinets, kitchen countertops can become quickly dated and worn looking. Both the kitchen cabinet and counter can become stale looking, or less than fashionable.

Some kitchen cabinets and counters really show the decade of their installation. For instance, Formica countertop material is one of the least expensive countertop options. Unfortunately, it’s one of the surfaces that show its age quickly. It’s easy to burn or scratch, or simply wear after years of use. Another popular surface was manufactured counter tops that resemble stone. These days it’s almost the same price to get granite countertops as manufactured stone – but you get that natural beauty.

There are a lot of other popular kitchen cabinet and counter styles to change your kitchen looks. Natural stone is very popular – with granite taking the lead as one of the most coveted surfaces. Polished concrete, stainless steel, and glass tile are also popular options to update a kitchen look.

If the current economy makes you think you’ll stay in your home for a while, give some thought to updating your kitchen. Kitchen cabinet resurfacing, or changing the kitchen cabinet and counter will make your home feel fresh and updated, without a big investment. It will make a huge difference to the value of your home, and you get the satisfaction of a beautifully updated kitchen.

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