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Kitchen Cabinet Selection Guide
Selecting new kitchen
cabinets as part of a remodeling project or to replace cabinets that are
worn beyond repair can seem like a daunting task. There is a wide variety of
styles and materials from which to choose, including several different types
of wood and metal. The cabinets can be stock or custom-made. The cabinet
finishes can be natural or painted.
Determine a Budget
The first step in any remodeling project is establishing a realistic budget.
In addition to the cost of the cabinets, the budget should include an amount
for any damages, additional work, or changes that may be required. Failure
to establish and maintain a budget can cause the cost of the project to
spiral out of control. An excellent way to determine how much money should
be budgeted and to stay within that budget is to search the available
options on eBay.
Type of Construction
Cabinets are available in stock, semi-custom, and custom construction. Stock
cabinets are those that are available at a local home improvement warehouse
such as IKEA and Harvey Norman.
They come in a variety of materials, sizes, styles, and finishes. The
available selection makes it possible to achieve the desired look in the
kitchen. Although they are the least expensive option, it does not mean that
they are cheaply made. If cabinets are needed quickly, these
ready-to-assemble cabinets are the best choice. The one drawback is that
they're not made for a particular kitchen. As a result, cabinet installers
will have to add filler strips to hide the spaces between the cabinets and
kitchen walls.
Semi-custom cabinets are built after an individual places an order. Because
they are made to order, more options are available than with stock cabinets.
In addition to the wide array of finishes and material, purchasers can order
odd sizes, drawers with slide-outs, and pantry cabinets. These cabinets will
cost more than their stock counterparts will. Because they are not true
custom cabinets, some options may still not be available.
Custom cabinets are the most expensive option. A custom cabinet manufacturer
or a skilled wood shop will make them. Because they are to an exact
specification, the cabinets can be produced from almost any material with an
almost limitless number of finishes. They can be designed to mimic
furniture, produced in larger sizes, or sculpted to fit an off-size
location.
Cabinet Styles
Before deciding on one particular style, it is helpful to go through kitchen
design and home improvement magazines to view photos of various options.
Another option for developing ideas is to browse the selection of cabinets
that are available for sale on IKEA. Mark the cabinets that stand out.
Evaluate the selected photographs to determine if a particular style appears
several times. If so, this style of cabinet will most likely fit the design
and storage requirements of the remodeling plan. This will help narrow down
the search criteria.
Cabinets are classified according to the design style of the door. A single,
smooth panel that covers the entire front portion of the cabinet
characterizes the slab door style. It has a clean, uncluttered appearance
best suited for kitchens with a simple design. Another style is the raised
panel door. There is a wood frame glued over the top face of the door to
create the raised look. The doorframe may or may not have a decorative,
routed edge. The style fits well in a formal, elegant kitchen design as well
as a casual décor. For kitchens with a country décor, the recessed panel
door is the best option. This style is created by fitting a panel behind the
doorframe. Dividing the front panel into sections can produce a
Mission-style rather than a country design. Doors are also available with
curved or cathedral style arch.
Materials
Cabinets are made from wood, metal, or laminate. Wood comes in a variety of
colors and finishes. These durable cabinets can be painted or stained in
variety of colors. Wood cabinets will expand and contract based on the
humidity level of the kitchen and may warp over time. High humidity levels
may cause cabinets that use wooden slides to open and close drawers to stick
due to the swelling of the wood. This shortcoming can be overcome by
selecting drawers that use either track-and-roller slides or ball-bearing
slides.
Metal cabinets are usually manufactured from stainless steel and look best
in modern, contemporary style kitchens. Stainless steel is very durable and
easy to clean. They do, however, show fingerprints and scratches more
easily. Stainless steel cabinets are more expensive than wood. One option to
achieve the look of stainless steel at a reduced price is to select cabinets
that have wood frames, metal doors, and drawer fronts.
The least expensive material is laminate. Multiple thin layers of wood are
pressed together and then covered with a decorative panel. These cabinets
are available in a wide variety of style and colors. Because the color is
only one layer deep, the cabinets may be impossible to repair if they are
chipped and damaged.
Types of Wood
If wood cabinets are the desired look, it is also necessary to select the
type of wood that was used to make the cabinet. Each type produces a
different tone, style, and look.
Oak is the traditional choice for cabinets. This durable wood does not
expand as much as other wood in high humidity. The coarse grain can be
softened with a light stain or accentuated with a dark one. Pine is an
inexpensive choice, and it accepts stain well. Because it may contain knots,
it is best suited for less formal kitchens. Birch, because it is the least
expensive option, is typically the wood of choice used in stock cabinets.
The texture of the wood is very porous. Although birch readily accepts
stain, the finish may not be uniform in appearance. A recent type of wood to
be used in cabinet making is alder. It is a very pale wood that has little
grain. It accepts stain easily.
Popular hardwoods from which to make cabinets include cherry, ebony,
hickory, mahogany, maple, and walnut. Cherry has been the choice for upscale
kitchens for many years. It has a smooth, uniform grain and is very elegant
in appearance. Although it can be stained in many shades, the most common is
a deep brown-red. Ebony is an exotic, expensive wood that is dark, almost
black, in appearance. It has a noticeable grain. An option for a country
kitchen is the straight grain of hickory. This very hard wood is durable, so
it holds up well. Mahogany is gaining in popularity for use in formal
kitchens. It is a dark wood with a straight grain. Maple is a versatile wood
that fits well with any kitchen décor. It has a smooth, fine grain and
accepts color well. As a result, it is currently one of the most popular
choices for many remodeling projects.
Finishes
Once the material has been chosen, the next decision is the finish. If a
laminate cabinet is selected, all that is required is to pick the color that
best matches the kitchen décor and won’t go out of style in a couple of
years. Stainless steel cabinets come in an all-metal design or a mixture of
metal and wood. The metal and wood combination is softer and makes a kitchen
appear more contemporary and less industrial looking.
Wood cabinets can be left natural looking, stained, or painted. For a
natural appearance, the cabinets will receive a coat of clear varnish.
Staining the wood will bring out the grain while adding color. Paint adds
color but obscures the grain. Expensive wood with pronounced grains are best
left natural or stained.
The final touch is adding the right cabinet hardware. The hinges, door, and
drawer pulls should complement the overall décor of the kitchen and enhance
the look of the cabinets.
Conclusion
Selecting new cabinets for a new or existing kitchen is not an easy task.
The wide selection of available choices in style, materials, and finish can
seem almost endless. Prior research of the available options helps to ensure
that, ultimately, the right cabinets will be selected.
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