Kitchen Cabinets

American or European? Framed or frameless? Full overlay or overlay? Ready-to-assemble or custom? Inset or reverse bevel? What wood species? What color? What size? These questions, and many more, will come up when you start looking for new kitchen cabinetry. They can be overwhelming if you’re just getting started and your kitchen design ideas are still stewing in your mind. All these questions are only compounded when you look at the price tags and see the wide price variance in kitchen cabinetry. You might ask yourself then, “what makes this cabinet different from that one?” Read on to learn about the major different kinds of kitchen cabinets and how to tell high quality cabinets from others.

It is first important to know that there are two main types of cabinets: framed and frameless. Framed cabinet design is associated with the American school of kitchen design. Bordered by a 1 ” piece of wood, framed cabinets have doors that “lip” over the frame. These doors can come in standard overlay (partial overlay over the frame), full overlay, and inset (situated within the frame so that the door is flush).

Frameless cabinets, on the other hand, are often used in European cabinetry design. These cabinets do not use the 1 ” piece of wood for a frame – the doors and hinges are directly attached to the walls of the cabinet, which have to be slightly thicker than their framed counterparts for this reason. Frameless, or European, doors tend to have a wider opening and are more accessible since the frame doesn’t impinge.

Framed cabinets are often installed in more conservative kitchens for their traditional aesthetic. Doors on this type of cabinet are usually more ornate and may feature crowned molding. Frameless cabinets are better for smaller spaces and fit in well with modern style kitchens. Whichever type of cabinet you end up choosing, you should also keep in mind that some appliance makers design their products to fit only one type of cabinet. For example, high-end European designers like Gaggenau and Fagor streamline their cabinets for frameless cabinets, while other companies like GE and American Blue Star build for framed cabinets with wider flanges.

But what makes some of these cabinets more expensive than others? What determines a kitchen cabinet’s quality? The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) says there are a number of features related to quality, form, and function that determine a cabinet’s price. These variables include construction quality, door styles (molding adds substantially to the cost), the joints, hinges, drawer glides, hardware, storage options, and materials and finishes.

Once you decide if you want to go with frameless or framed kitchen cabinetry and start looking at the different lines of kitchen cabinets, you might start to ask yourself what, if any, other differences there are. The NKBA recognizes multiple grades of kitchen cabinet quality, based on these factors:

* Construction system
* Material specification
* Hinge hardware
* Finish system
* Interior accessories
* Styling
* Guarantee
* Relative cost
* Degree of customization available

Recognizing the tangible and intangible differences between the different levels of kitchen cabinet quality will help you understand the wide price variance in the kitchen cabinet market and led you to a wise final decision as you work your way through our kitchen design process. So, you ask, what are the most important kitchen cabinetry features to compare? The most important features when you look at kitchen cabinets are undoubtedly style, quality of the finish, and type of drawer action.

Look for cabinet drawers with a smooth slide and a positive closure. A good drawer guide, like the Blum Smartrac FX, will be strong enough to hold 75 lbs while still sliding smoothly. Besides weight capacity, your choice of a cabinet with a good drawer action will mostly come down to a question of feel.

The primary reason most Americans begin a kitchen remodel, after failure of a major appliance, is the deterioration of the finish on their kitchen cabinets. The natural oils on our hands can deteriorate a lesser quality lacquer finish on a cabinet door and eventually leave a visible discoloration. This is in addition to common spills and cooking residue that over time can wear out builder-grade and shop-built finishes. Determining a high-quality wood finish on a kitchen cabinet can take a practiced eye. The best wood cabinet finishes use a multi-step process of sanding, sealing, hand-wipe staining, finish coating of conversion varnish and baking in specialty ovens. If you look closely at the cabinet door you can see these flaws in lower quality kitchen cabinets:

* Stains in the crevices
* Dirt particles trapped under the finish
* Rougher areas to the touch where it wasn’t uniformly sanded
* A murky look where the natural grain has been masked – the result of poor toner stain
* And other flaws that your kitchen designer can point out

An interesting fact that you might find counterintuitive is that local cabinet shops that advertise custom cabinetry do not always produce higher quality custom kitchen cabinets since they rarely have the capital to invest in the state of the art finishing equipment that manufacturers who deal exclusively through kitchen dealers have invested in. When you’re going through our kitchen design process, make sure to keep the importance of a high-quality finish on kitchen cabinets in mind.

Gary Case is the owner of Signature Kitchens, Additions & Baths, a leading home design and remodeling firm in the Washington, D.C. area.

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

When renovating or remodeling a kitchen your choice of kitchen cabinets might be the most important selection you make. Cabinet selection is important for two reasons.

First, the cabinets you choose for your new kitchen will be the items having the greatest visual impact. In the average kitchen cabinets are mounted on or against at least two walls (or the equivalent), and perhaps more. Cabinets will also create the base for an island, whether designed for cooking or for casual dining. The cabinets you select will establish the design of your kitchen.

Second, the cabinets you select will account for about half of the total cost of your kitchen renovation or remodel. Although you can find and purchase cabinetry in a wide range of price categories, this is an almost universally applicable rule of thumb. Good cabinetry in not inexpensive. Most contractors and kitchen designers will agree that kitchen cabinets are not the place to scrimp when designing a new kitchen. Your cabinets will outlast your kitchen floor, your appliances, and possibly your countertops (depending upon the material you choose).

Characteristics of good kitchen cabinet construction:

* Avoid drawers held together with glue, nails or staples
* Avoid drawers made with thin particle board
* Test the drawers before you buy to be sure they will support about 75 pounds when open
* The case or cabinet box should be made of wood that is 1/2 inch thick or more on all sides
* All surfaces of the cabinet should be finished, even the back and the interior sides
* Kitchen cabinets should have adjustable shelves (this is a clear indication of construction quality)
* All shelves in kitchen cabinets should be 5/8 inch thick or more, otherwise they will bow
* Check the quality of the hinges (most should be invisible from the front, no squeaks and no metals that will rust easily) and ensure that doors open completely
* The very best kitchen cabinets are made entirely of solid wood
* A plywood box or case with solid wood frames and doors can still be a good quality product
* Some reliable kitchen cabinets are available at lower cost because they are built with plywood supports and use medium- to high-density particle board for door and drawer fronts. Others use laminate over the particleboard.

Cabinet design installs the cabinet doors in one of two ways. Frameless construction was a very popular adoption from European design in the 60s. The style continues to be very popular in contemporary kitchens. In this style, the door covers the entire box or case of the cabinet. Alternatively, in framed construction, the doors are installed in a way that leaves a frame around the outside of the door. Framed construction is the norm in traditional, country, cottage, and many eclectic kitchen styles.

Ways to purchase kitchen cabinets:

1. Knock-down cabinets can be purchased and taken home the same day. Many homeowners can install these units themselves. These are the least expensive types of cabinets and can be the perfect choice if you are on a tight budget.
2. Stock kitchen cabinets are available only in standard sizes and limited styles and finishes because they are mass-produced by the manufacturer. These are also a good option when the budget is tight.
3. Semi-custom cabinets are also available only in standard sizes. There is a larger selection of styles, finishes, accessories and options. These provide somewhat more flexibility in designing your kitchen.
4. Custom cabinets, although available from some cabinet companies, are most often purchased from local cabinet makers. These cabinets are made to order and are thus built to the exact specifications of your needs. They are more expensive, but they offer the largest variety in wood, finish, style, size and special and unique details.
5. Hybrid approaches are also very popular. By working with a cabinetmaker to select the kitchen cabinets you like from a manufacturer. The cabinetmaker then installs the standard size cabinets and customizes others for special sizes and needs, as well as adding personal touches and special features.

Many inserts and built-in features are also available to provide for organization and ease of access to items stored within your kitchen cabinets. From pull-out work surfaces, to drawer fronts for refrigerated drawers, to door covers for nooks for small appliances to wine racks, you can customize your cabinetry in a variety of ways to meet your needs. It is possible to create an appropriately designed cabinet or work surface for every need.

There are also a number of features available or customizable to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. These include lower work surfaces that pull out or that are stationary and leave open space beneath. Pull-out organizers, Lazy Susans and other enhancements to make items readily accessible.

This basic information should help you begin to make decisions about your new kitchen cabinets. Keep in mind when shopping that the appearance of your kitchen renovation will be established to a very large extent by the cabinets you choose. Your cabinetmaker will be able to help you consider the vast range of ways you can customize your cabinets and create a unique kitchen design.

Scott Dostal is the President of Kitchen Cabinet Value, LLC, Clinton Township, MI, serving homeowners and real estate investors throughout SE Michigan. His company specializes in modifying structurally sound inexpensive kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities to look like cabinetry found in high value homes. To find out more how to buy kitchen cabinets that contain the quality and look of expensive custom cabinets at a fraction of the price, get his free report at http://freereport.kitchencabinetvalue.com.

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

One of the basic design elements of your kitchen is the kitchen cabinets. Basically these cabinets are categorized into three parts i.e. semi custom, custom and stock.

Semi custom cabinets are available in standard size with modifications. They easily match with the interior or the exterior design of the kitchen and thus give it a look and feel. The custom cabinets are those which are available in different sizes and style as they are manufactured according to the specifications. You can give the design specification for these cabinets according to your kitchen décor or requirements. You can add as many features as you want in your custom kitchen cabinets. The stock cabinets are available in many designs and styles at the various home improvement stores. These are available only in set sizes which start from 9 inches and can be increased to 48 inches.

There are various types of cabinets available on the market out of which the 5 popular designs available in the kitchen cabinets are as follows:

Traditional Kitchen

These cabinets come with doors that have raised panels. Cherry, walnut or mahogany colors are available in the traditional kitchen cabinets. Plenty of design work like fluting, corbels, crown and rope molding is found on these cabinets. Traditional designs for the kitchen cabinets come in Italianate, Georgian and Victorian designs.

Country Kitchen

Country cabinets include oak or cherry cabinets with the raised panels that are glazed, painted or distressed. These cabinets give natural look to your kitchen because they themselves possess the light natural look which is usually oak or pine. In order to give aged appearance, the country kitchen cabinets are painted white with distressed finishing.

Contemporary Kitchen

The contemporary cabinets have designs that are modern, curved or geometric manner. These cabinets do not make use of ornamentation or molding. One can get white, stainless steel or other bright colors in the contemporary cabinets. Doors of these cabinets are designed in such a way that they open in horizontally lift up style.

Transitional Kitchen

The transitional cabinets are the combination of contemporary and traditional designs. They are designed by using the mixture of man made and natural materials.

Rustic Kitchen

The rustic cabinets are manufactured by using wood like hickory, knotty pine or alder that is heavily grained. There is a flat panel door system available in these cabinets. Some of the common color stains available in the rustic cabinets are yellow, red and green.

However, there are other different designs available in the kitchen cabinets. Depending upon the décor of your kitchen as well as your requirements you can choose any one of them. All of the different designs available in the kitchen cabinets give fresh and elegant look to your kitchen. While purchasing the cabinets for your kitchen it is more important that they should be more functional instead of being attractive. These cabinets should have more storage space and it will be better if they have bin, baskets or any deep drawers. Thus while purchasing any of the designs available for the kitchen cabinets; you should take a look at their functionality so that you can get the best for your kitchen.

Are you looking to update your kitchen? Refacing your kitchen cabinets might be just what you need to do. Find exactly what you’re looking for in one place: http://KitchenCabinetHub.com.

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

Choosing kitchen cabinets doesn’t have to be confusing. With a little research on your part you’ll know what to ask for, what you want and need, and where to find it. All while saving the most money you possibly can.

First – Decide what you need, what you want, and what you can afford.

* What style are you looking for? Shaker, Country, Retro, Classic, New England, Cottage?
* Are you open to suggestions and ideas?
* Do you want wood, laminate, frame cabinets or frameless (Euro-style)?
* What type of countertops are you going with? Laminate, solid surface, marble, granite, quartz, concrete, tile, glass?
* Do you need an entirely new kitchen, just a bath vanity, or only a rollout fixed?
* Do you need help with the entire process, which means you might need to hire or be your own contractor, or is your project small?
* What is your budget? If you have $200 you can paint your cabinets for a fresh look or get new handles or knobs. If you have $5,000 or more you will be able to get an entirely new kitchen, depending on size. If you have $10,000 you might even begin thinking about remodeling (changing walls, plumbing, etc.). Kitchens really can run from a few thousand to several tens of thousands depending on where you live and what you want. You’ll pay much more for a kitchen in New England or Oregon than you will in Kentucky or Wisconsin.

Thinking about these questions will help get you going in the right direction.

Second – Decide where you are going to look when choosing kitchen cabinets – don’t limit yourself to factory cabinets only.

After you’ve decided what you want and need and are choosing kitchen cabinets, check around. If you need to purchase new cabinets, don’t fall prey to the idea that all custom kitchen and bath cabinets are out of your pocket-book range. There may be cabinet shops out there that are actually less expensive than many factory cabinets (especially when you figure in all the costs like installation, tac, moldings, etc.). But, do be sure to check out the factory cabinets too. Some semi-custom cabinets (which are factory cabinets with more options) may be just what you’re looking for and what your budget can afford.

Bids should be free – at least once. If you have to pay someone to bid on your project – RUN. But, don’t expect someone to bid on your cabinets more than once for free. If you make changes to your plan, or change your mind as to what you want and it needs to be re-bid, expect to pay a small fee at a custom cabinet shop.

Factory cabinet bids will likely continue to be free no matter how many changes you make. But, remember, the more times you change your mind, the more chances there will be for errors, especially with factory or semi-custom cabinets.

Explore rural and small shops – you may find some bargains. If you are in a metro area, take a look on the internet or phone books from outside your area, under the headings cabinetry or kitchens. Rural cabinet shops have cropped up all over in the past 20 years. They are usually very good and usually less expensive than metro custom shops (although don’t rule them out either!). Again, check around.

Remember to always check any cabinet shop out first, before you put your hard-earned money down. Here are some things that you can do to protect yourself as you compare kitchen cabinet companies:

* Check with the Better Business Bureau.
* Go to the local grocery store or coffee shop and ask if anyone has heard of XYZ Cabinet Shop, and what kind of work they do.
* Ask the cabinet shop for references.
* Ask to see a kitchen they have completed.
* Ask to talk to one or more of their previous customers, get phone numbers and call on your own.
* Ask to tour their shop.

You can get some relative bargains out there, but you can also get taken – keep your eyes wide open while choosing kitchen cabinets!

Keep in mind: Sometimes factory quotes can be sneaky! (i.e. home centers, lumber yards)

When choosing kitchen cabinets, don’t just look at the bottom line price. If you quote factory cabinets (even some custom shops will leave these things out, too) make sure that the following are included in the price, or that you get prices for and consider the following:

* Is tax included?
* Is top trim included? What kind?
* What about toe kick? And if quoted, what kind is it? Just some black thing that won’t go with your kitchen and bath cabinets?
* Are the handles an extra expense? If they are this could run you $200 on up.
* What about countertops? Are they anywhere in the price, and what kind were figured?
* Who is going to install this, or is it included in the price?
* How much will they deduct if I can install it myself?
* How much will they deduct if I can stain and finish the kitchen and bath cabinets myself?

Third – Get what you need, what you want, and what you can afford.

While choosing kitchen cabinets, make sure you are given a quote for what kind of kitchen and bath cabinets you want. If any cabinet shop or salesperson is hesitant to quote what you really want (especially if they can’t explain why) be concerned.

They should be helpful and not just push what they want to sell or what they have on hand. If they think something won’t work for you, they should be able to give legitimate reasons as to why, not just that they don’t sell those things. It’s okay if they lead you in the right direction, but after you weigh your options, you should get what you want.

Finally – Don’t forget about countertop options. They really make a bid difference in price.

When choosing kitchen cabinets, ask your supplier what they offer for countertops.

* Laminate Countertops – what edges do they offer?
* Wood Edge Countertops – what edges do they offer?
* Marble Countertops (be cautious, there are different qualities of marble). I’m talking about cultured marble here. Real marble is very spendy, but if it’s in your price range and you like it – go for it.
* Solid Surface – what companies can they get? Do they install or does a third party? Can they make the seams look seamless? What kind of guarantee comes with the product and how long after the cabinets are installed will the countertop be installed?
* Quartz Countertops – (Cambria, Silestone, CaesarStone, etc.)
* Granite Countertops – for granite and quartz, also find out when installation will be. It is usually a week or more after the cabinets are installed (sometimes up to a month).
* Tile – do they tile, do you tile, or do you hire someone else to tile? Also, who prepares the surface for tiling? Will there be a wood edge around the tiles, will the tiles be bull-nozed, or fully wrap-around?
* If you want concrete, glass, or stainless steel – can they suggest a good supplier or do you have to find your own? Please note that concrete, glass, and stainless steel are relatively rare and will be expensive – more so than granite or quartz.

Keep the above ideas in mind as you are choosing kitchen cabinets. You will make informed decisions and save yourself some money.

And remember – HAVE A HAPPY KITCHEN!

About the Author:
Crystal co-owned a custom cabinet shop for 14 years (1992-2006). She is now a stay-at-home mom who writes on the web, sharing all that she’s learned from her years building and installing kitchen cabinets.

For more free information check out the websites: http://www.kitchen-cabinets-and-hardware.com and http://www.thewoodworkersdepot.com (an online kitchen hardware store).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Crystal_L._Booth