Kraftmaid Cabinet reviews are in! As they have for 40 years, homeowners, contractors and designers have almost unanimously agreed that their awesome craftsmanship, selection, and lovely natural woods combine to create a superlative product.
Remodeling your kitchen can be a daunting project. There are many considerations, and the cabinetmakers all seem to speak a different language than we mere mortals. I’m here to help YOU take the mystery out of the process, and allow you to make the informed choice, while added thousands of dollars above what you pay to the value of your home.
Ok, lets dive right in.
Naturally you will want to get an idea of what you are facing before actually hitting the street, so I recommend you visit Home Depots fully interactive web site, where you will see the types of modern and accessorized cabinets are available, and get some basic information about cost. You may find, however, that it can be difficult to get pricing, since the price-tag of a wholly redone kitchen is likely to run in excess of $10,000. However, armed with good information, that price tag should include the installation! And naturally, Home Depot offers free, human design service for the project. (Someone you can ask questions of, expect information from, and is on top of the latest convenient features)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigation?storeId=10051&categoryID=503143&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&selectedCatgry=SEARCH%20ALL&navFlow=3&Ntpc=1&searchRedirect=kraftmaid&cm_sp=searchredirect-_-kitchen_cabinet_LP-_-x-_-x&Nu=P_PARENT_ID&Ntpr=1&redAB=A&locStoreNum=933
Lowes, another leading retailer who offers free design services, also has a site, somewhat less entertaining / informative than HD’s, entitled a Virtual Room Designer, it is also a good site to visit while in the learning to “speak the lingo” stage of Your Kitchen Remodel.
http://www.lowes.com/cd_virtual+room+designer_189310537_
Try this link, click around a bit, and remember that both giant retailers will have special deals running at the same time. In other words, if Home Depot is offering 10% off the price of semi custom Kraftmaid Cabinets, Lowes will be also. Remember to ask your kitchen designer if such a promotion is coming up, and time your project to coincide with it. They are run at minimum annually.
A quick way to judge the quality of the cabinets is to take a look at the drawers. Most specifically, where the parts of the wood creating the drawers meet. A quality item will be “dovetailed” together, in addition to carpenters glue. A dovetail join looks like interlocking puzzle pieces and is a dead giveaway that the item was made with care and an eye to the future.
Kraftmaid cabinets constantly come in on top in all of the surveys I have visited. Consumers, contractors, and reviewers all agree that their quality of construction is among the very best available, and their line diverse and has something for EVERYONE.
CABINET SIZES, TYPES AND FEATURES
The Basic Base Cabinet – all are 34 ½ inches tall for kitchen units. Vanity and office bases are shorter. Widths range from 9 inches, to 42 inches, and have innovative accessories to make them very functional. By far the most popular accessories are the slide out shelf and drawer glides that prevent slamming. (in addition to being noisy, slamming knocks the cabinet out of square over time) Base cabinets have a cut out area for your toes to fit under when you are working at them, it is called the Toe Kick. Standard depth is 24”.
| Standard |
12”15”18,21” have a single door24’27”30”33”36
Have 2 doors
|
Can be accessorized with drawer dividers of many kinds, and the shelves can be sliding or stationary |
Base Sizes begin at 12” and go up to 36” wide for most models. |
| Drawer |
18” 21” 24”27”30 33” 36” |
Full extension drawers, which allow access to the entire drawer is one popular upgrade, with a buffering system that prevents slamming closed, however, Kraftmaid, this feature is now a standard no add’l cost feature! |
Use a deep drawer cabinet for your pots and pans, and never have to struggle to find the tool you need in meal prep! |
| Sink |
30”33”36”39”42”
Diagonal and corner units begin at 36”, you will find that tight for a normal sink. Go with the 42’ for better fit.
|
In more modern units, there can be accessories added to the side of plumbing, slide out shelves for cleaning supplies. Also, door can be outfitted with storage accessories. |
You will not be able to use the space under the sink where the drain leads, but Kraftmaid has many options to maximize functionality of this basic cabinet |
| Corner |
36” 39” 42”36” is TIGHT
|
Can be accessorized with a lazy susan for storage. This is usually a very large cabinet. |
Blind base cabinets are an option if you do not have the room for a |
| Peninsula |
9”12’15”21”24”27”Every 3 inches to 36” these units are |
Cabinet has two sides with doors. |
Also plan for unique end of run units for fine detail |
| Recycling |
15” 21’ 27” 30” |
A wonderful innovation, the options go from a simple unit for one trash can, either upper or bottom mounted, to a 4 unit which allows you to recyle with ease throughout your life. |
Give real consideration to including these in your kitchen. The almost no effort to recycle and a trash receptacle right where you are making ‘messes” are fabulous to live with |
Wall cabinets come in several heights, so you can select a unit that most attractively suits your ceiling height and style. The heights range from 12’ to 46” with increments every 3 inches up to 42”. Depths of either 12” or 15”. Refrigerator Cabinets are deeper, 24” to come almost flush with that appliance.
| Standard |
12” 15” 18” 21”single door units
24”27”30”33”36”39”
Double door units
48”
Triple door fridge unit |
Fixed shelves come standard, you can elect to accessorize from a wide array of innovative options. |
Many innovative upgrades available from Kraftmaid, though they will drive up the cost of your remodel, the gain in your homes bottom line is likely to at least triple what you pay. |
| Corner |
24”27” and 36” |
Kraftmaid has a wide variety of choice on access, from fixed shelving to lazy susan’s and MORE. |
Honestly, you must see the catalog or spec book to believe the options |
| Microwave |
21’27”30” wide |
Either open or with a door that swings up like a garage door. |
Simple shelf units up through deluxe enclosed models that boast of countertop bottoms, and pantry like storage above. |
| Refidgerator |
24”27”30”33”36”39”42”
All double doored
48”
Triple door |
These are deeper than standard units, so to come almost flush with the top edge of your appliance. |
Helps create that finished, wood room feel so many people love. |
| Penninsula |
12”15”18’21Have single door
24”27”30”33”36”39’48”
Double doors |
Access from both sides of your peninsula to make your workspace more usuable. |
This is a good spot to use glass inserts in your doors, it is a very sophisticated look, not difficult to keep clean at all. |
| Hood / Over range |
Beginning at 30” wide, the depthgoes from a slim 8” To a regal 32”Peninsula hoods can be seen from all sides, and begin at 30” high 32” wide, and 28” deep |
Kraftmaid cabinetry includes many highly stylish options for this kitchen essential |
Can easily be the focal point of your kitchen. |