With the number of home sales dropping, and the tighter restrictions in the mortgage industry, many homeowners are finding it harder than ever to sell their homes and upgrade to a larger home. Because of this trend, home renovation projects are on the rise as homeowners are finding ways to make their current homes more livable, while adding value to their home at the same time. The easiest way to add value and create the feel of a new home, is to renovate your kitchen.
In a kitchen renovation, the kitchen cabinets represent the largest expenditure in your remodeling budget. Since they are the centerpiece of your kitchen, many of the other decisions about your kitchen will be based off of your cabinet choice. Your countertop, appliance, and hardware decisions will depend on the style and layout of your kitchen cabinets.
The biggest issue with traditional, store bought cabinets is that it could take 8-10 weeks before delivery, so it is very important to make your cabinet selection prior to do starting any demolition or remodeling of your kitchen. There are cabinets available on-line, that could be delivered within 2-3 weeks, but it will depend on what style and construction you are looking for. We will talk about the differences in cabinets later on in the article.
Before looking at cabinets, it is important to come up with a target budget and a basic floor plan or layout. With the average kitchen remodel costing $40,000-50,000 it is important to accurately calculate all of the expenses involved with your project. While it may seem like a challenging project, even a DIY Homeowner with minimal experience can design and layout their own kitchen with accurate measurements and a couple of templates. This could save you a significant amount of money by not using a kitchen designer.
In the event that you think this is a project that you are comfortable tackling, you can either use a kitchen designer or go to one of the home improvement centers and take advantage of their free design services.
There are several factors that are going to affect the cost of your cabinets: cabinet brand, construction, wood type, and features. It is important to research all of your options. What you will find is that a higher price doesn't always correspond with higher quality, and some of the lesser-known cabinet lines will actually have a stronger construction.
Kitchen Cabinets
The most eye catching aspect of any kitchen is bound to be the kitchen cabinets, and well designed cabinets will inevitably attract as much attention as outdated or damaged cabinets. It's best to keep your kitchen cabinets within the style of your kitchen, but make sure that they're also providing your kitchen with enough space and functionality so that your whole kitchen feels usable and spacious. The cabinets you choose will contribute heavily to the style or theme of your kitchen, so creating a personalized look with your kitchen cabinets is one of the most important aspects of your new kitchen. It's been a long time since kitchen cabinets were unimportant, bland necessities in the kitchen, and cabinets now take on elegant and expressive personalities, giving homeowners the chance to be artistic as well as functional during a kitchen remodel. It's easy to create a whole new look through your new kitchen cabinets.
Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinets are for homeowners who are interested in creating truly unique, one of a kind designs in their kitchens. Designing your own kitchen cabinets allows you to take charge over the look of your kitchen, providing yourself with something completely different from the mass produced cookie cutter style that many homes have. Additionally, custom cabinet design offers the option of creating cabinets and drawers that are suited to the appliances and cookware you already have, so you know that extra large pot or skillet will fit perfectly in its own space, and you can even use up that narrow sliver of cabinet space for a spice rack custom made for your spice bottles. Custom cabinets give you and your family a kitchen that helps to make it fun and easy to cook and clean so you're more likely to see your kitchen as a place to gather. Either design your own cabinets or work with a professional designer to create that perfect look. Regardless of how your cabinets are designed, you're sure to have a kitchen that you helped create, and one that matches your own personality.
Cabinet Materials
It's easy to create your ideal kitchen cabinets from the wide variety of cabinet materials on the market, which is important because the material and finish will make a huge impact on the final appearance of your kitchen. Many kitchen cabinets are made using solid wood, but laminate, glass, veneer and bamboo are other options that are very popular and can make a statement. You will likely spend half of your kitchen remodeling budget on your cabinets, and the material you choose will range in costs, possibly limiting your options. The most expensive choice for kitchen cabinets is solid wood, but they're also incredibly durable and are the most popular because of their natural appearance. You can pair solid wood cabinets with glass display cabinets to break up the consistency and display your unique or decorative kitchen items. For a less expensive wood like look, veneer and laminate are good options and can be combined with solid wood cabinet faces for the best of both worlds.
The majority of homeowners use wood cabinets, and while some choose wood cabinet faces and others choose solid wood cabinets, the wood species you choose is an important decision. Most cabinets are made from walnut, maple and pine, but bamboo cabinets are also considered hardwood because they're just as durable and have the added benefit of being environmentally friendly. Durability is an essential consideration because dents and small nicks are less likely to be apparent, but hardwoods are also able to be painted or stained to fit with your chosen style of kitchen design. It's best, however, to opt for a light stain that allows the natural color of the wood to show through. The finishing touches of your hardware and drawer pulls will give your kitchen that great new look you've wanted, and will complete the theme that your cabinets are going for.
Cabinet Storage
One reason homeowners redesign their kitchen cabinets is to create more storage for their appliances and belongings, and this can be a great motive. New kitchen cabinets allow you to get the most usable space out of your existing kitchen, regardless of its current size, and encourage you and your kitchen to work seamlessly together, especially when your cabinets are custom built. Your kitchen will operate smoothly when it's clear of clutter and has ample countertop space for food preparation, so appliances that are less frequently used should be stored away within your cabinets where you will be able to easily access them. Both kitchen cabinet refacing and replacement allow you to change enough about your cabinet storage space to make sure that you'll have enough room to keep all of your belongings, and your kitchen cab be abundantly more space saving and efficient with new kitchen cabinets.
