How To Build Kitchen Cabinets

August 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I have worked as a “Kitchen Designer” for Home Depot for a couple of years, and let ME tell YOU that there are many cabinet options on the market that won’t make you break the bank!

First of all, let me introduce you to a product I learned about;

RTA Cabinetry – Ready to assemble, all wood, with a large variety of door styles and wood options to choose from. Try this link to get a look at some of the considerations you need to evaluate.

http://www.rtacabinethub.com/ready-to-assemble-kitchen.html

Prices are based on the type of wood the cabinets are made from, and some of the usual candidates are:

Maple – a medium light color wood, very smooth with an even grain. Many people love the fact that Maples color is consistent, that is because maples mineral absorption is not very visible, however there is some, and it will affect stain absorption.

Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA maple cabinets – around $2,000 (only the cabinets, not installation)

Oak – a light color wood, well known and loved for its BOLD swirling grain, it is a classic in Americana Style. Very strong, it can have color variations within planks which will affect stain absorption. Many people love this characteristic, feeling it adds a rustic charm.

Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA Oak cabinets – around $1,500

Hickory – This one is MY VERY FAVORITE! The hardest of the hardwoods, its color variations go from the palest of tans, to the darkest of cocoa browns. With swirling, arched, and sometimes combined patterns, people like me who love the random beauty will frequently opt for a clear or very lightly tinted stain.

Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA Hickory cabinets – around $ 2,000

Cherry – Mid tone in color, warm, with reddish tints. Cherry richens and darkens over time, and its’ even graining makes it a great choice with a wide and elegant array of colors.

Ballpark for a 10’x10’ area of RTA Cherry cabinets – around $2,000

RTA cabinets are also available at:

http://www.homedepot.com/Kitchen-Cabinets/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zas87/h_d2/Navigation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

Notice I stated only “ballpark” figures. Cabinets are not all the same, and a basic hanging wall cabinet is less costly than a base (on the floor) cabinet, a corner cabinet (wall or floor) and so on.

Another factor to consider in deciding which direction to go with your dream of a new kitchen cabinet project is:

Installation – This is not a project for a beginner. Even an intermediate! Installing cabinets is a precise art. It involves quite a bit of physical strength. Really consider having a professional handle this job. The angles of the home, (they have CHANGED! Homes “settle” into the ground as they age, there is no such thing as a plumb line in an older home)

Want another ballpark? Figure you will spend as much on the installation as you do on your new cabinets.

So, figure for new cabinets in a 10’x10’ space, you will spend about $5,000 if you have a Pro install for you.

More than you want to spend? My next article, “Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets” may be the home run for YOU!

Written by Claudia

Filed under Kitchen Cabinets Tagged with , , ,

Distinctions Cabinets

July 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Your home renovation and improvement project is not complete without paying attention to your storage and display needs. You may not pay very much attention to your current cabinets but these are quite likely among the most important pieces of furniture within the home.

Distinctions cabinets are just one of the many varieties of cabinets you can add to your home and they come in great variety and quality. One of the most important things to do, as with any other purchase, is research and preparation. You must look at your budget, style, space and storage needs before you make any permanent decisions.

If you are asking yourself why you should go with Distinctions cabinets, check out these advantages:

1. Distinctions cabinets have often been referred to as the “middle man’s cabinets” due to their affordability. If you are working within a budget but still want to achieve good quality cabinetry, then these are just right for you!

2. The variety offered by Distinctions cabinets is very wide and allows you to play around with all sorts of styles, designs, colours, finishes, construction materials and even different layouts to come up with a unique personalized look.

3. The best part is that you not only save on the initial purchase, you can also do the installation yourself and save on hiring a professional if you know how to work the cabinets. They come in easy-to-assemble parts which can be easily setup at home.

4. Since the cabinets are easy to assemble and disassemble, transportation or cleaning and maintenance is made very easy. You don’t have to call in an expert every time you need to work around your cabinets.

5. High quality and longer lasting materials means you will use the Distinctions cabinets for a very long time and definitely see a return on your investment. Just look at it this way, you get affordable but quality cabinets! All the makings of a great decision!

6. We cannot overlook the aesthetic value that Distinctions cabinets add to your home. This isn’t just some plain and unnoticeable line of cabinets that only serve your storage needs. Stylish, smooth, polished and sleek designs abound and you also get to pick from wide variety of materials such as maple and oak for majestic looks or thermofoil for a sleek modern/contemporary look.

So go on, visit a Home Depot centre near you and check out Distinctions cabinets to suit your personal style.

Filed under Cabinet Brands Tagged with

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas that Give Your Home Character

July 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This is for my examiner.com application, syncronox@gmail.com

I was recently going through my kitchen with my wife, trying to think of ways to enhance our kitchen a bit. We often find that our spices aren’t as easy to get to when we need them, and we could use a little more cabinet space. The problem is, of course, we don’t live in a mansion and don’t exactly have a huge kitchen. We’re working with limited space, but we still want to get the most out of our kitchen.

What I found was that there are a number of things I could add to what I already have in my kitchen without taking up a lot of space– all I had to do was think of some creative kitchen cabinet ideas.

For example, when it came to the issue with spice availability, I found the Rev-A-Shelf Adjustable Door Mount Spice Rack (http://www.lowes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&cId=SEARCH&productId=3107507&cm_mmc=SCE_gps-_-gps-_-gps-_-Rev-A-Shelf%20Adjustable%20Door%20Mount%20Spice%20Rack%204ASR-15) to be exactly what I was looking for. Not only did it go perfectly with the kitchen cabinets already around my stove, but it didn’t take up any extra room. It makes spices much easier to grab and in turn makes me enjoy cooking more. It’s one of those kitchen cabinet ideas that makes sense in that it accomplishes a lot without requiring much input. Learn more about this at The Office Hub.

I still needed some kitchen cabinet ideas to combat my lack of counter and cabinet space. Thankfully, the OIA Bamboo Kitchen Cart and Cabinet (http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Kitchen-Stainless-Natural-Finish/dp/B001H35OF0) was there to save the day. Not only does it look fantastic with bamboo and stainless steel, but it actually has a functional “leg up” over installed counter or cabinet space in my book. This is because you can move the cabinet around with you, giving you access to whatever you need exactly where you need it. I love that added versatility, and it’s one of the reasons why you’ll likely hear me rave about islands and kitchen carts a lot.

If you’re looking to upgrade the appearance and function of your kitchen but you don’t have the money to invest in a full-on remodel, these are a couple of kitchen cabinet ideas to get the most out of what you already have. In my opinion, using something like a hanging cabinet rack or kitchen cart is a much better investment for smaller kitchens than a full remodel, and it can definitely be a lot more gentle on your wallet.

Filed under Kitchen Cabinets Tagged with , ,

RTA Cabinets: Ready To Assemble Kitchen Cabinets

July 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Ready to assemble cabinetry, RTA is the term used for ease of reference throughout the construction industry, is a MAJOR contribution to the Do It Yourself community and the construction industry as well.

In a nutshell, RTA cabinets are units that are packaged together, with all the components for one cabinet contained in one package. Sides, floor, shelving and shelf pins, door, drawer and drawer glides are included. Hardware such as handles and drawer pulls are usually not, however, but there is a large variety of such items available at retailers like Home Depot, Lowes, and other major home improvement centers. Selecting cabinets for your kitchen remodel is a somewhat technical decision, involving more than simply selecting a wood, stain, and door style. By choosing to gather information before you make that decision, will make it an easier one, if not less technical.

Construction and quality issues, purchase options (online, major retailer, from a manufacturer), are a vital part of your descision regarding which option you choose, since cabinets can easily consume half of your budget for the project, it makes sense to explore the different options available, becoming a bit of an expert yourself.

REMEMBER that your ultimate goal is a consideration. Do you intend to stay in your home for the next 20 years? 10 years? Or are you preparing to sell, and want to maximize the selling price? If the last is so, consider the point that it is “the kitchen and bathrooms that sell a house”,  and be prepared to invest time and money into them. You will never regret it. Some survey’s say that a seller can increase the purchase price by double the amount spent to upgrade.

Most people believe that fine cabinetry is assembled using solid wood planks, joined together to create a box that will hold shelves, and a door to complete. This is inaccurate because ALL cabinet “boxes” are constructed out of plywood. Contrary to what you may think, plywood is strong, flexible enough to work with, and enduring. Solid wood planks will warp, especially quickly in a wet environment, such as a steamy bathroom or aromatic kitchen.

Plywood, used extensively today in construction all over the world, was invented by the Egyptians about 3,000 years ago, when there was a shortage of quality wood. They decided to glue a thin veneer of a high quality product to a lesser quality one. The method used today was invented by Emmanual Nobel, father of the inventor of dynamite Alfred Nobel. Al recognized that several layers of strong wood glued together would be stronger than one thick layer of wood. His concept is used the world over today.

Comparison graph for your cabinet options

Custom Semi Custom Stock RTA
Price Very high10’ x 10’ area

10,000 wood only (not installed)

 High10’ x 10’ area

5,000 to 10,000

Wood only (not installed)

 Moderate10’ x 10’ area

2,000 to 6,000

Units only (not installed

 Least expensive10’ x 10/ area

2,000 to 3,000

Units only, not installed
Construction Very good quality Good quality Decent / acceptable Builder or construction grade
Durability 10 to 20 years 10 to 20 years 5 to 10 years 5 to 20 years
appearance Awesome Also awesome Decent Decent to awersome

GLOSSERY OF CABINETRY TERMS

The hyperlinks will lead you to sites with photo’s of the item being defined.

Box – a cabinet, no doors drawers yet attached.

Blind cabinet – a specialty cabinet that has a portion of it that is not visible from the

Room it is in. Used to give other units next to it more room to open doors.

http://www.google.com/search?q=blind+base+cabinet&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=685&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=DLlcTtz0OafG0AHr9Pz1BA&sqi=2&ved=0CH0QsAQ

Cathedral – a door style that has an arch at the top. There are MANY door styles, follow

the link for photos of some available.

http://www.kraftmaid.com/products/cabinet-doors/door-style/#/ds:/dwt:/do:/n:/p:1/bbt:DoorStyle

Dovetail – a carpentry technique used to attach pieces of wood, the cuts made in the pieces to

Be joined fitting together similar to puzzle pieces.

http://www.highlandsdesigns.com/content.php?content_id=10

Drawer guides/glides – hardware  that is installed on the sides of a drawer, and inside the

Cabinet recess for it (the drawer) rides upon going in and out for use.

http://www.cabinetparts.com/f/drawer-slides/?gclid=CMPJuP3q9qoCFSE95QodExhgOw

Full extension drawer guides – allows the drawer to be pulled completely out of its

recess, giving access to the entire drawer.

http://www.rockler.com/c/ball-bearing-drawer-slides.cfm

Laminate  – man made substance that is fused to a substrate / composite material of a unit, used

beauty. ALSO used extensively for countertops. A relatively inexpensive substance

that allows a homeowner/designer to have a custom look with minimum cash outlay.

http://www.google.com/search?q=laminate+cabinets&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1RNBN_enUS434&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=h71cTr3aJ-GQ0gGAtbXRAg&ved=0CIABELAE&biw=1280&bih=685

Overlay – the amount a cabinet door covers on the box of the cabinet.

a)     Full overlay – no part of the box shows when the door is shut.

http://www.google.com/search?q=full+overlay+cabinet+door&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1RNBN_enUS434&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ksBcTrqeC_C40gGJpL3vAg&ved=0CG8QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=685

b)     Partial overlay – some of the box shows. This method is very popular in America.

http://www.google.com/search?q=full+overlay+cabinet+door&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1RNBN_enUS434&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ksBcTrqeC_C40gGJpL3vAg&ved=0CG8QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=685#hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1RNBN_enUS434&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=partial+overlay+cabinets&pbx=1&oq=partial+overlay+cabinets&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=38973l47644l0l47904l48l29l0l13l13l5l211l1354l8.4.1l14l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.&fp=57f71ec3efb2382d&biw=1280&bih=685

Toe kick – the area at the bottom of base cabinets to allow for a persons toes to slip under them

while facing the cabinet.

http://ergonomics.about.com/od/kitchen/f/toe_kick.htm

Filed under Kitchen Cabinets Tagged with , , , ,

Thomasville Kitchen Cabinets

June 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When you are looking for cabinets, the brand of cabinetry can be very important. A good brand of cabinets would be thomasville cabinets or as they are called, thomasville kitchen cabinets.

 

Filed under Cabinet Brands, Kitchen Cabinets Tagged with