Cabinets for your kitchen & baths
Selecting the right cabinets for your major kitchen or bath remodel can be a very unnerving experience. With all the manufacturers to consider, wood species, door profiles, stain colors and glazes, you almost want to let somebody else choose for you. But remember, you spend at least 60 percent of your time in the kitchen, so you had better love it. You know when you have a get together, everybody ends up in the kitchen talking and snacking. These cabinet pages should help guide you through the process of completing your kitchen and bathroom cabinet remodeling projects. The different sections of this main cabinet article touch on the many options you will have to decide on before purchasing your new cabinets. Also check out RTA cabinets.
What you should know about kitchen cabinets
If you've ever tried to get a cabinet quote or purchase cabinets from one of those big box stores, you know what I'm talking about when I say “just don't do it”. You will usually have to make an appointment just to sit down and talk to somebody about creating a project list and design for you. If you're not sure about exactly what you want, this can take what feels like forever to complete. The smaller cabinet stores have better service, but they also need a large profit to keep their doors open. You are not going to get the best deal on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets this way. Your only other choice is to have all your cabinets custom made, or purchase semi custom kitchen cabinets online. I always suggest the online route for many reasons. We'll get into that more later in this article. So now let's take a look at how to work through the planning stages of your kitchen cabinet remodeling project.
Most cabinet companies build their cabinet the same way with the exception of the thickness and type of materials used for the box sides, door profiles, type of woods and finishes. Always remember, kitchen and bathroom cabinets are all basically the identicle. You have a cabinet box, some fixed or adjustable shelves, a door and possibly a few drawer fronts. You can choose to go with a lot of fancy options, like roll out trays, pot and pan storage, trash bins, spice racks, appliance garages, etc, etc, but we will talk more about the huge selection of goodies later. So, other than a wood box with a variety of internal options, you have a door with hinges, drawer boxes, drawer fronts and maybe some shelves. Always keep this in mind when shopping and pricing your kitchen and bathroom cabinets, it can save you a lot of cash. One option I would insist on having is dovetail drawer boxes. One cabinet company being superior to another is in the end users opinion. Most people will tell you how great their cabinets are because they just spent a small fortune buying them and having them installed. Do you really think these folks would admit to being overcharged and disappointed with what they got? I don't think they would. Who knows, maybe your friends are more honest than mine. Just keep that in mind when somebody tells you what a great deal they got on their cabinets, and that you should purchase there too. Do your own research, get some quotes on the cabinets and installation, and make up your own mind. It's one of the larger investments you'lll make in your lifetime, do it right or you could be very sorry.
Certain kitchen cabinet companies say they have a superior finishing process. In fact most major name brand cabinet builders use almost identical methods to finish the drawers, door fronts and trim pieces. They are all very high quality finishes, and I personally wouldn't spend a huge amount of time comparing them. Choose a color and glaze that you like, and be done with that part of the process. Although I've heard that the cabinets that come out of Canada , like Kitchencraft and Arch Bay have an extra finishing process that the United States EPA won't allow to be used here. If that really makes a difference in the finish quality, I don't know. I'm just passing along what I've read for your information. You can look into that if it's important to you.
The major differences in cabinet design is what have called the traditional style vs. the European style cabinet. Traditional cabinets have a small visible face frame around the front of the cabinet box and doors. Some people like this style if they are looking for a little more old time country look. This is probably the type of kitchen cabinets you have in your home now. The European or frameless cabinets have no visible frame around the front of the cabinet box, doors or drawer fronts. The doors and drawer fronts are right next to each other creating a wall of just doors and drawer fronts. This clean look is becoming extremely popular now, and it allows a complete use of the space inside the cabinet boxes. These are best suited for a more modern look in your home or office space. The traditional cabinets look better in an older style home or cabin.This will prove to be the first big decision you will have to make when designing your kitchen or bathrooms. Take a look at photos online with both traditional and European styles and see which type is right for your new cabinet remodeling project.
Cabinet box construction is another choice to consider. You can choose to have your cabinets built with plywood ends or all plywood construction. When the cabinet boxes are going to be attached to the wall and to each other, I don't see any advantage to this upgrade in the cabinet construction for durability purposes. Some people insist that they get plywood ends or all plywood construction on all their cabinets because they don't like furniture board. In fact, furniture board is stronger and more structurally consistent than any plywood you can buy. I've also heard that plywood construction or plywood ends may hold up longer in and extremely humid climate. I'll be long dead before I see if plywood construction made any difference over purchasing standard construction. You can do some research and see what you think the best choice is for you. It's your money and your kitchen cabinets. I do see people order all plywood construction for the sink base cabinets. This is in case of a water leak or plumbing disaster under the sink. This does make sense to me because I feel that plywood would probably hold up and dry out a little more consistently than furniture board. Again, just another choice for you to make. Plywood ends are standard from a very few cabinet companies.
Hardware, like the hinges, and drawer guides used by the major kitchen cabinet companies are identical. High quality under mount drawer glides are almost always standard equipment. Six way adjustable cup style hinges are standard. No more looking at all the hinges on the outside of your cabinets. Soft close drawer glides are a really nice upgrade if you hate to have your drawers slamed closed. These drawer guides, or glides, allow the drawer to close quickly about two thirds of the way, and draw the drawers in slowly and quietly the rest of the way. Good stuff, and great for children who get their little fingers in the way of the closing drawers.
Door handles and drawer pulls can be purchased directly from the cabinet distributor, but the cost is usually much higher than you can find online, with zero difference in quality. The newer European handles or pulls are very popular. The very simple nickel rod design looks wonderful on a frameless modern looking cabinet. Take a look at my cabinet hardware pages and see what's right for you. Remember to write down the information on the handles or pulls you like while you're looking at kitchen design photos too. Certian pulls and handles only look good with the right door style and finish. Take your time with this choice. Many people don't use handles or pulls at all.
Cabinet Upgrades and Accessories
There are a huge number of accessories and trim items available for your kitchen cabinets. I strongly suggest purchasing a manufacturer specification book and color brochures before you start to design your kitchen cabinets or bathroom projects. Once you realize all the options and accessories that are available for your kitchen, you're going to change your kitchen design again and again until it's just right. Save some time, get the spec books and brochures. Your choices include, but are not limited to, soft closing drawer guides, crown molding, light rail molding, fillers, slide out trays, spice racks, appliance garages, rosettes, fluted fillers, corbels, shelf brackets, lighting, glass doors, glass shelves, appliance panels, finished end panels, the list goes on and on. I suggest you look at a lot of kitchen design photos, and keep the ones that catch your eye in your project planner. This is a good way to narrow down your likes and dislikes. These steps will help you sort out the overwhelming amount of options available to you into manageable groups.
One of the hardest things to decide on when planning a kitchen cabinet remodel are wood species and finish color and glaze. Knotty pine and Hickory are great for a rustic look in a mountain home or cabin. But it might not be the right fit for your downtown loft or new construction project. Oak is one of the more popular species for kitchen cabinets. It's open grain pattern has a semi rustic traditional look, but will fit in most modern homes or offices. It's usually a little less money than Maple or Cherry. Maple and Cherry are the most popular wood species for kitchen cabinets sold today. Both have a very tight grain, making it an almost perfectly smooth surface with very few mineral streaks. These two are the favorite wood species by far, and for good reason. Both Maple and Cherry finished in any color create a stunning kitchen. You won't be disappointed if you choose one of these woods for your project. On the other end of the spectrum is the thermo-foil and painted finishes. You don't need to invest in expensive wood species if you are going this route. If you're looking for an almost perfectly smooth white or beige finish, this is the way to go. The thermo-foil finish is created by applying a thin layer of film to the drawer and drawer fronts. This film is heated and vacuumed down to the surface. This process creates a very smooth and consistent surface and finish. Painted finishes give a finish that is a little less smooth than thermo-foil and allow some grain to show through. Some of the newest finishes available in cabinet lines such as Kraftmaid's Venicia line, look almost like metal and come in a variety of colors. Super cool for an ultra modern kitchen design. Add some aluminum framed horizontal glass doors and you've created a wonderful look for the 2000's.
Now let's talk about shopping for cabinets. Looking for cabinets at your big box store, or wholesale discount superstore, is an adventure in itself. You can wait days just to sit down and talk with somebody to get the ball rolling and the design started. Remember, chances are that these salespeople haven't been doing this very long, and probably have never seen a cabinet installed in their entire lifetime. Superstores are not always better, and the discount stores are not always the way to go. Be careful when it comes to cost, it can blow a hole in your budget before you know it. Know the measurements of your project completely before starting to get quotes from anyone. Use the images from your project planner as a guide to help in creating a complete list of all the items you'll need for your project. We are now down to the nitty gritty. What cabinet companies should you talk to? Well, I would look at all the major brands that you've already heard of. These would be: KraftMaid, KitchenCraft, Arch Bay, Kemper, Merrillat, Thomasville , Somersby and Diamond. Keep track of the door styles and colors you like the most. Keep a good list of who has what, and what you really like about each line. Remember, they're all about the same construction wise. Go to your local Home Depot or Lowes and stock up on any free brochures, color samples, and design tools they can give you. (Sorry guys, I'm sure you have a large advertising budget).
If you have to curb your curiosity, go ahead and check out IKEA and Mills Pride too. These are what's called knockdown cabinets. You purchase the boxes in 4 + pieces, and assemble them yourself. They are fastened together with the same type of twist locks you've seen on the entertainment center you bought from Wally World or Tarje'. Not the best setup in my book, but Mills Pride are affordable and may be a good fit for a rental property. I personally, won't let them end up in my personal home. Who knows, they might me just the right company for your project.
Now that you know what you're after, get some quotes from the big box stores, some private Mom and Pop cabinet distributors, and from custom cabinet makers in your area. Make sure you compile a complete list of all the cabinets, trim and accessories you need for your kitchen design, so your quotes are all based on the same details and accessories. You may be really handy around the house, and want to tackle the cabinet installation too. Please make sure that you know how much work is involved, before taking on this kind of demo and install yourself. You may want to start shopping now, for a good installer in your area because they're always busy on your timeline. Ask around, and make sure they have good references. Check the references too, call them all to ake sure they are real. It's a big investment and you want it done right the first time. Getting some installers to come back and fix things can be a real challange.
As for where to get the best deal on cabinets, that's the question isn't it? It's very important to remember, you need service before, during, and after the delivery of your new cabinets. Most online cabinet distributors will sell you some cabinets, and that's the last you'll hear from them. Warranty issues? Follow Up? Customer Service? Most of the cabinet websites don't even know what those terms mean. There are some cabinet distributors online that have great knowledge, customer service, and follow up. I will talk more about where to shop for your cabinets in the CABINETS ONLINE section of this website. It's worth your time to check it out.
Do all your research and check out all remodeling information I give you on this site. I wish you smooth sailing with your cabinet projects. Don't forget to bookmark this site and keep checking back, as I will be adding new sections daily.
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