You have so many options available to you when remodeling or building a new kitchen.  Probably the most expensive component will be your kitchen cabinets.  So what are some of the cabinet features available to help create a truly unique, new space?

Soft Close: Every time I hear my neighbors cabinets slam I think about this one.  Most higher end cabinets now come with a soft close feature that keeps the cabinet doors and drawers from banging.  Ask your supplier if they come standard.  If not, you will probably want to add them.

Dovetail Drawers: You will find dovetails (interlocking finger-like joints) on the drawers of most quality cabinets.  Most discriminating buyers look for these.  They are a symbol of quality as they hold up better over the long haul as apposed to nails and glue.

Plywood Cabinet Boxes: The first thing we see when looking at cabinets are the pretty doors and drawer fronts.  However, don’t forget to look at the actual cabinet box.  The higher quality cabinets come with plywood rather than particle board.  The particle board will deteriorate over time…especially in moist areas.

Light Rail: This piece of trim goes at the bottom edge of the wall cabinets to hide the undercabinet lights.  You can also add a cabinet skin to cover the bottom unfinished area to provide a custom look.

Crown Molding: You can create a really nice contemporary look with a three piece crown.  It takes a little more material and effort, but adds a tremendous quality look.

Refrigerator Cabinet: Ever try to use the 12″ deep typical standard cabinet above the refrigerator?  It takes some seriously long arms to get to them.  Instead, incorporate a refrigerator cabinet to hide the ugly sides of your unit and provide usable storage above. Just make sure to check with your refrigerator manufacturer on proper space around the unit for ventilation.

Michael Luckado has built, remodeled, and repaired thousands of homes throughout the United States over the past sixteen years.  He founded ArmchairBuilder.com to help people save money and get exactly what they want on their new building projects.

For more great ideas on remodeling your kitchen go to…Armchair Builder.

http://armchairbuilder.com/resources/resourceskitchen-remodel

Take a moment to consider your kitchen cabinets: think about how many times a day you open and close them with grimy hands, and how often you splash them with cooking grease as you are preparing meals. Every day your kitchen cabinets take more and more abuse and before long, they are going to start looking worn down. You may eventually need to replace your cabinets, but until then you can make them look as good as new with a fresh coat of paint.

Depending on the complexity of your project, your list of needed materials may vary, but a great place to start is with a paint tray, drop cloth, painter’s tape, rollers and brushes, stir sticks, and paint. It is of course possible to paint your cabinet doors while they are still attached to your cabinets, but to make things easier on yourself you will probably want to remove them before you begin and prepare a flat, clean surface where you can paint them and leave them to dry.

Next you’re going to want to thoroughly clean your cabinets with a sponge, mild soap, and warm water or a household cleaning solution. Remember to make sure the cabinets are well rinsed and dry before you begin painting. Inspect your cabinets for any scratches or nicks, and fill them using putty and a putty knife if necessary. You may also choose to lightly sand the area you will be painting to help the primer and paint adhere to the surface. As an alternative to sanding, you may instead apply an even coat of primer-sealer. To do this, simply use a disposable foam brush and begin in the center, following the wood’s grain as you move to the outside of your surface.

Now you are ready to begin painting. Use a nice brush to apply the paint (the better the brush the better the finish). One of the best ways to achieve a professionally finished look is to apply a few very thin coats. You may want to do one thick coat to get the process done faster, but you will actually use fewer brush strokes and have a shorter drying time if you apply multiple thin layers of paint. The end reult will also look much nicer and will be a lot more durable. Allow the paint to completely dry between coats. When the paint is dry and you are happy with the results, reattach your cabinet doors and enjoy!

This guest blog post was written by Tracy Tesmer, founder of Tracy Tesmer Design • Build • Remodel • Repair, a Gainesville, GA residential remodeling company specializing in kitchen remodeling. Tracy has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and hosts a weekly home improvement radio show in WDUN in north Georgia.

When it comes time to remodel your kitchen, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with decisions, questions and stress. With many things to consider, such as floors, appliances and counters, cabinets can be one of the most difficult, and expensive, decisions you will make about your kitchen. Study the cabinets you already have to see if they can be integrated into your new design. In most instances, you will be given the choice of replacing or refinishing your cabinets. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to replacing and refinishing cabinets. Make sure you understand them both before you make the final decision.

Replacing:

• If one of the goals of your remodeling is to add extra storage space, replacing your cabinets is likely the best option.
• If the wood, frames or joints are bad, replacing cabinets will be able to fix these issues.
• Replacing cabinets is time consuming because it requires a demolition of the current cabinets. When you go to choose cabinets you will be able to choose between three different types:

1. Stock cabinets - These are mass produced but have a wide variety of options.
2. Semi-custom cabinets - The cabinets are pre-made but you can help choose moldings, trims, finishes, etc. These are typically more expensive than stock cabinets.
3. Custom cabinets - These are specifically made for your wishes and style choice. This the most expensive form of cabinets. You can create just about anything you dream up, with any type of finish, design or material.

• Replacing cabinets allow you full control of the design and look you want for your cabinets.
• A disadvantage may be that you will be without cabinets throughout the replacing process.

Refinishing:

• If you currently like the style and/or layout of the cabinets you have, this may be the best alternative because you can change up the look of your cabinets without having to replace them completely.
• Refinishing your cabinets is a less expensive, more economical alternative to changing things up. You will not have full control or as much flexibility when refinishing cabinets as you will with replacing them.

Determining Factors:

• Budget - If you have a modest budget, cabinet replacement may not be an option. However, if you are willing to spend a few extra dollars on sprucing up your kitchen, replacing cabinets can certainly allow room for more creativity and personalization. Remember that out of all line items in a total kitchen remodel, cabinets typically take up the largest percentage of your budget.
• Needs - This will depend on whether you need more storage space. If you need more space and want to build them up vertically, then simply refinishing the cabinets will not add this. Replacing cabinets can add more storage and allow for a different kitchen workflow.
• Time - Time constraints will definitely help make a decision for this process. Full kitchen overhauls typically involve several weeks or months of work. You will need to make other accommodations for storing kitchen supplies while it is being remodeled.

No matter which form of cabinet refinishing you choose to use, you will be able to make it unique and your own. Whether you choose a simple DIY re-paint, polish and hardware change, a more complex professional refinishing, or a complete demolition and re-do, you will finish the process with a revitalized kitchen!

Nicely molded refaced cabinets

A kitchen can go centuries (well, maybe not that long, but pretty long) without being remodeled. Ask yourself, in what year your house was built – you might end up with shocker news. In many ways, your kitchen is the most important part of your house as the heart of your living situation. Think about it for a second. Where do you cook, eat and spend most of your time anyway?

If your kitchen is in need of a clean and improved look, don’t neglect it. Begin the kitchen remodeling with a first step: the cabinet makeover. The first impulse when considering a kitchen cabinet remodeling is to replace all of the old cabinets. But that idea can not only be expensive but also time consuming.

A handle-less look

There is no real compelling reason to replace cabinets if they are structurally sound, unless you want to shuffle the location of the appliances or change the kitchen layout. So the best option to consider is refacing the cabinets, a far less disruptive and messy endeavor than a complete overhaul.

Nowadays you can completely transform your kitchen with gorgeous refaced cabinets of numerous colors, a palette created especially for your kitchen’s vibe.
By keeping the cabinets renewed and changing their look, your kitchen can be transformed into a small cooking palace of contemporary style.

So give your kitchen a fabulous cabinet makeover. It’s time.

Give your kitchen a brand new look

One of the largest installations you probably currently have in your kitchen are the cabinets. They oftentimes are overlooked as a true appliance or an intregal piece of your overall home decor. They serve a very utilitarian function – housing everything you can throw at it.

Our cabinets can get cluttered, dirty, and worn, but they continue to provide that astoundingly important function of housing your pots, pans, plates, and food. When we’re feeling down we sometimes treat ourselves to something. Other times we beautify ourselves – manicure, haircut, gym session, tan session, etc. Why can’t we offer the same pick-me-up to our cabinets?

Wait! You can!

Simply give your cabinets a brand new face, a new look, and subsequently a whole new life. Cabinet refacing is an easy, seamless to install, and beautiful looking option for acheiving that new cabinet look.

The process is quite simple. New cabinet faces, doors, and handles will be affixed over your current cabinet structure. The amount of shelves ad the color are totally up to you. It’s a flexible process.

So next time you wonder how long ago your cabinets were installed think of cabinet refacing as a way to rememdy those kitchen blues.

Well, how did it go? Did your kitchen, bathroom, and living room pass the test? The countless judgmental eyes of friends and family didn’t bat even a single lash at your older than new home decorations and fixtures? You would be in the minority, my friend, if someone during the holidays didn’t say SOMETHING about the countertop material, cabinet color, rug color, fireplace color, kitchen tile choice, tub design, and any other element of your home that is ripe for evaluation.

Perhaps it could be some sort of resolution. A resolution to stop hoarding home fixtures of years past. If you feel a new countertop of cabinet is feasible, than it very well might be. It can also be the time to update things like lighting, the paint or wallpaper covering your walls – really give your home a television-style makeover. You have it in you.

Take a look at the options at hand for countertops:

Granite - Durable, elegant, comes in a variety of colors. Not porous, holds up to stains and heat. A very fashionable choice, and one that has been popular long before you knew what countertops were, and will be long after you’ve moved on.

A rustic looking granite countertop.

Marble - Classic, sturdy, and very attractive. Also quite expensive. Marble can become somewhat porous and erodes faster than granite. A very luxurious option, indeed.

A frosty marble countertop.

Soapstone – Has a very natural look and can instantly upgrade your kitchen, but it is also quite porous and not very durable compared to its stone counterparts on the countertop market.

A dark soapstone counter and sink.

Wood – Want to have a chef-like kitchen? Well, this is a good choice, but what it also is is not very durable. It allows water in and does not hold up well to heat or scratching.

Not durable, but attractive.

Stainless Steel - Very modern looking. Also very industrial looking. This is an easily scratchable, but otherwise very durable material. Won’t shout ‘rustic’ or ‘homey’ though.

Linoleum – Do you have it? If so, it’s time for it to go. Very popular as a budget choice for years, but better options are out there both from a looks standpoint and a durablity standpoint.

What about cabinet options?

Classic molded wood – This is what you are probably most used to seeing. The quality of these cabinets greatly vary, based upon the type of wood, the intricacy of the molding, and the scale of your renovation. This is a classic look that goes with just about any style of kitchen.

Some elegant maple cabinets.

Modern Flat Wood – Capture all the elegance of a wooden cabinet with the modern inflections a flat face, perhaps metal handled, cabinet can offer. Works well with brushed nickel and chrome appliances and fixtures. A clean look.

Minimalist flat wooden cabinets.

Metal – Industrial or modern? It depends on how you spin it. Some people might choose a more maritime, galley-like appearance while other would, and more prominently, choose a metal door with a frosted or clear window. Certainly on the cutting edge.

Plastic – Not exactly what you think. Many people opt for the ultra-modern, glossy plastic finish. This can come in a wide variety of colors, so having a creative mind when decorating can really come into play when choosing a colorful plastic based cabinet.

Ultra-modern plastic countertops.

Glass Doored - A cabinet option that seems to be gaining popularity with each passing year. A frosted or clear blass window on a cabinet door, whether it be wooden or metal, allows for a very open feel, liberating the dishes and appliances trapped inside. It’s a choice worth making, if you won’t grow tired of it.

So look around you! Are you in need of a change. You never know when the home remodeling bug will finally hit.

There are a lot of cabinet choices to pursue out there, but what might look best with your kitchen when it comes time to think about some home remodeling? The decision is a tough one, as you’ll be pulling dishes, glass, pots, and pans out of those cabinets for the forseeable future. A mix of sturdy construction and attractive design must be found. Here is a list of possible cabinet types that could potentially revamp your kitchen, making it the cooking and gathering space you’ve always wanted.

Some frosted glass cabinets.

Glass Windowed Cabinets – These can be accomplished in two ways. You could have a clear glass door with window-like panels, requiring a small amount of additional woodwork, that can create something of a classical, farmhouse look. The other way a glass-faced cabinet might appear is with a frosted look. Added a frosted large, typically vertical rectangle shaped frosted glass pane to the front of a lighter colored cabinet or a white or black face can add a fashionably modern appearance.

Rich cherry wood cabinets.

Cherry wood – The best choice for warmly colored kitchens. Cherry wood is a brightly colored option. It’s rich texture certainly attracts the eye more than lightly colored birch, such as cream or light tan cabinet faces. Cherry also goes quite well with particularly lighter colored countertops – offsetting the dark cherry.

Bright plastic mixing modern with retro.

Highly Polished Plastic – This may seem, on its face, a relatively shoddy choice, but in fact many polished plastic cabinet faces create a hyper-modern look. There are an exceedingly high number color options with polished plastic.You could choose a bright orange to capture something of a space-station vibe or go with a subdued, ultra modern black or white. Chrome handles look great with this option.

Slightly distressed cabinets.

Distressed Facing – This is a very creative cabinet face choice to utilize. It captures the vintage vibe that you might only get with a true classic home. Having a white or cream colored paint base with slightly frayed or inconsisent paint chips (make sure this is distressed paint by design, no real paint chips!) help create a very stylized look that fits a country home style. This look pairs with plants well.

Whatever the choice may be, make sure that the cabinets you choose either compliment the countertops and appliances, or are bold enough to be centerpieces in their own right. Happy home remodeling and treat those cabinets like they’re your babies (they, too, will be there the rest of your life)!

Well, how quick can it be?! Really quick, trust us.

It's true. It could be yours.

Here’s a quick comparison of just how much you’ll be saving by choosing cabinet refacing:

Regular Cabinet Replacement: 15-40k, 1-4+ construction. Result? Beautiful new cabinets.

Cabinet Refacing: Under 15k AND done in less than a week. Result? Beautiful new cabinets.

They may have the same outcome, but are they really the same?  The answer to that, what should be obvious query is no, they aren’t. Cabinet refacing is the quickest way to get new cabinets in your kitchen, bathroom, bar, or laundry room. It’s also not as simplistic as it may sound. You have options beyond mimicking the current look with a slightly updated version, no! You can pick clear door fronts, metal doors, handles of all shapes and sizes, frosted glass doors, or classic carved wood. The choices is in your hands.

The main point here is that during the process you won’t have to eat out, stay away from the construction, or cause an overall disruption to your home life. No sawdust. No construction materials strewn all over the place. No tarps covering your kitchen for weeks on end. Just a clean and quick installation process.

Dilapidated cabinets, begging for a second chance, now don’t have to be thrown on the curb or junkyard, they can be refaced by a team of professionals who will work with you to compliment the kitchen of your dreams with the cabinets you’ve always wanted.

Say NO to sawdust and overpriced cabinetry! Say YES to quickly installed refaced cabinets.

Anything can happen when you’ve got children in your home, and I mean ANYTHING. They run around, throw things in the house, spill anything housed in a glass or cup, and generally run amuck unless they’re told not to. Why do I mention this, you might be asking? Well, this is a classic tale of the threat a baseball has on your kitchen cabinets (among other things.)

Uh oh.

Not long ago, Fourth of July to be exact, I was at a barbecue hosted by a neighbor of my parents down in Central New Jersey. The ages of the attendees ranged from toddlers to geriatric, and the mood was jovial, accommodating, and lively. Children were running around the yard, adults were sipping drinks and talking about their lives, homes, work, and kids. It was good times, to be certain, but then disaster struck: the kids were getting tired and wanted to hang out inside.

On its face, you might think that tuckered out youngsters dragging their feet on their way indoors would be a good sign that the rambunctiousness is coming to an end, but this wasn’t the case. They plopped down on the couch and began watching the Cartoon Network. We thought that they would be satiated by age appropriate cartoons, snacks, and juice, but be couldn’t have been more wrong.

One of my friends who had accompanied me to this party went inside to fetch us a few beers (after all, we’re adults) when he realizes that the kids are tossing a football around between the living room and kitchen. He then notices that one of the cabinets has been completely knocked off of its hinges and is sitting on the counter! This destructive development didn’t stop these kiddies from continuing to enjoy their devastating game of catch.

Once my parent’s neighbors found out about this cabinet distress that had just taken place they seemed mad. Though, in almost minutes that anger turned to optimism, surprisingly enough. The neighbors in question, whose cabinets were now sitting in shambles on the kitchen counter, just went back outside and continued to host the party, serve food, and enjoy drinks in anticipation of the impending fireworks.

After the night was over and everyone had went home I left wondering what the outcome will be for the kitchen cabinets – at least one needed to be replaced. I asked my parents to give me their number so I could call them the next day. I talked to them about the damage and what they were considering. They said they had been meaning to get their cabinets worked on for a while and that this mishap might have been the figurative kick-in-the-pants they needed. I told them about refacing their cabinets as an option. They contacted the nearest Granite Transformations franchise (South Jersey) and the rest is history. They love their new cabinets!