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eco-friendly kitchen cabinets

8 Eco-Friendly Design Options to Consider as Part of Your Kitchen Designs

As we learn more about the impact of human behavior on the earth, more and more homeowners are searching for eco-friendly alternatives to mass-produced building materials. Thankfully, there are lots of ways you can be more eco-conscious when designing your kitchen. Try these eight eco-friendly design options to consider as part of your kitchen designs.

1. Reclaimed and Re-used Materials

It’s no secret that our country generates a lot of waste. So. Much. Waste. While we love to keep our kitchen styles up to date, remodeling isn’t always eco-friendly. Thankfully, you can update your style while reducing your environmental footprint by using reclaimed and re-used materials. This works especially well for rustic kitchens. For example, rather than buying all new hardware, fixtures, and accessories, repurpose used cabinet pulls, wire mesh, and faucets. As long as everything is in good shape, these repurposed elements will only add to your kitchen’s rustic charm.

2. Refinished Cabinets

Rather than buying all new cabinets, consider refinishing your cabinets if they are in good condition. At Edgewood Cabinetry, we offer painting, staining, and refinishing services to help you refresh your kitchen. It’s a simple way to be more eco-friendly without giving up your style.

3. Sustainable Materials

Choosing sustainable materials is an easy way to incorporate eco-friendly design options into your kitchen. For instance, terrazzo and quartz are great choices for countertops because they’re easily recycled. Sustainably harvested wood and glass are also great choices for your kitchen. So, don’t forget to ask about using sustainable wood for your kitchen cabinets.

4. Save Water

Most homeowners use a lot of water in their kitchens. Whether you’re washing dishes or rinsing veggies, using water is part of the job. Plus, who doesn’t love a giant pot of pasta? Thankfully, it’s easy to be more eco-friendly with your water use. Just choose appliances and taps that are made to save water. They’re just as effective without being wasteful. Win!

5. Look for Low VOCs

VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, create pollution that is harmful to both the environment and your health. Sadly, VOCs are often found in building materials, like composite wood and carpet. Instead, opt for materials like solid wood and granite. These have low or no VOCs. Additionally, choose paint or finishes that are low in VOCs. We can help you decide.

6. Eco-Friendly Flooring

The type of flooring you use in your kitchen has a big impact on how eco-friendly it is. For instance, synthetic materials, like vinyl, put a lot of pollution into the environment. Gross. Plus, they require a lot of intensive work that increases the carbon footprint of these materials. Thankfully, better options are available. Wood, bamboo, and cork are all excellent choices for floors. They look great, and they’re sustainable, too!

7. Look for Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient lights and appliances make a big difference in your electric bill. They’re also eco-friendly options for your kitchen. So, if you’re building a new kitchen, choose energy-efficient lights. Your fridge and stove should be energy-efficient, too. You can also replace things slowly, as they wear out. Remember, even changing one light is still a step in the right direction.

8. Eco-Friendly Cabinets

Your cabinets make up a large part of your kitchen. So, it’s important to choose eco-friendly ones. Cheap particleboard is full of chemicals. And stock cabinets from box stores are often shipped all over the world. That makes them pretty bad for the environment. So, try working with a local cabinet maker, like Edgewood Cabinetry.

Natural wood cabinets are a good choice. They’re even better if you use local wood. That way, it doesn’t travel as far. And that means, it uses fewer resources. Don’t be afraid to ask whether the wood is harvested sustainably, too.

At Edgewood Cabinetry, we have many ways to make your kitchen more eco-friendly. For example, we’re happy to use reclaimed materials, as long as they’re in good shape. We can also help you refresh your existing cabinets. And we offer wood species that are native to our state, like oak and pine. If you’d like to learn more about eco-friendly cabinet options for your kitchen, contact us here. We’ll be in touch soon!

 

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Cabinet Paints, Stains, and Finishes: 5 Things to Know

You’ve made the decision to get custom cabinets, and you couldn’t be more excited. But it’s so hard to decide between colors and finishes! Should you choose that divine blue paint color you saw? Or would your kitchen look better with an elegant cherry wood stain? Then again, an antique finish through glazing could be amazing, too. So how do you decide? Here are five things to know about cabinet paints, stains, and finishes.

1. Paints Allow You to Choose Any Color

Out of all the options for finishing your cabinets, paints give you the biggest variety of choices. That means you can base your kitchen design on your cabinets or match your cabinets to your existing decor. Plus, it’s possible to match virtually any color, so you have a nearly unlimited array of choices. Whether you want a nice, neutral gray, modern white, or bold red, it’s easy to get the cabinets of your dreams. Remember, the final appearance of your cabinets will depend on the species of wood you choose. For instance, maple has a smooth finish when painted, while the wood grain on oak remains visible, highlighting its texture.

2. Wood Stains Accent the Natural Wood Grain

Wood stains accent your cabinet’s natural wood grain. They come in many colors and soak into the wood, so you never need to worry about chipping or peeling. It’s typical to choose natural wood colors, such as cherry, maple, or walnut for a gorgeous finish. At Edgewood Cabinetry, we have a wide variety of beautiful stain colors available, and we always stay on top of the latest trends. So whether you want a traditional reddish-brown cherry wood stain or an elegant weathered gray wood stain, we have a stain to match.

3. Glazes Create Complexity

Glazes create complexity and add character to your finished look. If you love rustic or antique cabinet styles, glazes are perfect for you. They are applied, then hand rubbed to give your cabinets the desired appearance. Glazes are also perfect for highlighting ornate details on your cabinets. Because of the labor-intensive process involved in hand-rubbed glazes, they are often more expensive, but they create a stunning finish.

4. Natural Finishes Are Perfect if You Love the Look of Natural Woodgrain

Do you love the way natural woodgrain looks, all on its own? Then, natural finishes are perfect for you. Natural finishes are achieved simply by applying oil or a protective coating to the wood. This allows the natural woodgrain to shine through in all its beauty. Wood can be sanded for a clean, smooth finish. Or leave features like knots and wormholes in the wood to show off its unique character.

5. There Are a Variety of Protective Finishes to Choose From

Cabinets typically have some sort of protective finish on them. This helps them last longer and ward off damage from things like humidity or scratches. Depending on the finish you choose, the protective coating may also add a beautiful sheen or gloss to your cabinets. Some common protective finishes include varnish, lacquer, and polyurethane. We can help you choose the best protective finish for your cabinets. That way, your cabinets look exactly how you want them.

6. Refinishing Gives Your Old Cabinets New Life

New custom cabinets are always nice. But if you have older wood cabinets that are still structurally sound, refinishing may be a good option for you. After all, older cabinets often have fine craftsmanship and historic charm. Plus, refinishing is an economical and environmentally friendly choice, too. With a little work, a new coat of stain or paint, and a protective finish, your old cabinets will have a fresh new look and continue to serve you well for years to come.

At Edgewood Cabinetry, we offer a wide selection of cabinet paints, stains, and finishes so you can get exactly the look you want. Plus, we make sure you’re satisfied at every step of the process. Contact us here to begin your next custom cabinet project.

 

 

 

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Deciding between Refacing vs Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

The time has come.  You’ve finally decided that it’s time to update your kitchen cabinets.  You will no longer have to look at those awful, dated cabinets that you’ve been itching to get rid of since you moved in.  But you only get one chance to do this and you want to make sure you’re going to be happy with the results for years to come.  Maybe you are considering whether you should reface or replace your cabinets.  It’s best to know what’s involved before making that decision.

Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
When refacing kitchen cabinets, the cabinet box stays, and the doors get replaced.  The front of the cabinet box will be refinished, often with a wood veneer, and new doors will be attached to give it a brand new look.  While the outside will get a facelift, once you open the doors you’ll be looking at the same shelving you’ve had in the past, so it’s best to consider whether that is something you can live with.  Often shelves have wear and tear from years of use and after thinking about it, customers decide they would rather replace everything.  While refacing is often seen as less expensive alternative, it’s fairly labor intensive so that isn’t always the case.
New Custom Kitchen Cabinets
The word “custom” often makes people think “I can’t afford that,” but it is surprising how competitive the cost can be compared to other options.  When homeowners weigh the benefits of having an entirely brand new product, designed exactly the way they want it, with space-saving and convenient features, the decision is often easy.
Edgewood Cabinetry offers quality craftsmanship and design in their workmanship to give you the kitchen of your dreams.  If you’re ready to update your kitchen, don’t settle for refacing cabinets or choose stock cabinets from the big box store before you contact us.  With our price match challenge, we can show you how we can give you brand new custom cabinetry at a competitive price. Check out our photo gallery to start planning your dream kitchen today.

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The Perfect Finish: Spray vs Hand Rubbed Stain

There are a lot of decisions to make when ordering custom cabinets, and some of them might be less obvious than others. While you might well expect to spend time choosing the perfect type of wood or color of stain, you might not think to ask about the pros and cons of spray vs hand rubbed stain, and it really does matter.
You see, stain is not like paint, which can easily be sprayed onto a prepared surface in a nice, even coat. Stains are meant to be absorbed, to soak into the wood, and the differences in the wood grain will naturally affect the amount of stain it absorbs, and the rate at which that happens. This is a large part of the reason why perfectionists say you should always hand rub stain into any wood, then wipe it off.
But the fact of the matter is that many manufacturers spray stain onto their cabinets. It saves a lot of time in the production process, even if the wood must be rubbed afterwards to remove the excess stain and even out the appearance of the wood. Unfortunately, there is also more waste with this process because some stain will be sprayed beyond the edge of the wood and be lost.
It is also important to note that some stains may have to be thinned in order to work well in a spray gun, and that will affect the amount of stain that the wood is able to absorb before reaching the saturation point.
When we hand craft our custom cabinets, we are focused on doing the perfect job. This means that we will take the time to hand rub stain into the wood of our cabinets. We believe that taking the time to watch and understand how the stain is absorbing into each piece of wood will result in a more beautiful finish as well as less waste of stain.
So if you’re shopping around for wood cabinets, make sure to ask how each company handles the application of stain onto their cabinets, and if you want the best results, contact us today.

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