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Best Alternatives To Wood Cabinets

Alternatives to Wood Cabinets that You Can Find in Raleigh

Even as more and more homes pop up all the time, our homes keep getting more busy. This is increasing the need for attractive and low maintenance products for things like cabinetry. Wood substitute cabinetry is the new talk of the town and with good reason. Wood or not, we can put together any kind of cabinet you may need or want!

Most of the mediums and colors offered are similar to the appeal and texture of wood finishes and they are almost as good as the real thing. Innovative applications and technology have advanced over the years to produce a new brand of replica wood products offering an even more authentic feel and look. Solid colored thermofoil and laminate use to be the only available wood cabinet alternatives but other materials have resurfaced and are becoming increasingly popular particularly with regards to full access cabinets. TSS gives you a subtle texture and wood-grain look in addition to the durability offered by a laminate. HG or High Gloss foils and acrylics are ideal for a contemporary sleek and shiny appearance, especially when used with supper matte foils or metal doors as an accent. Greenlam high-pressure cabinet laminates make use of recycled materials and alternative fuels. If you are looking for cabinets in Raleigh offering you contemporary style while allowing you to stick to your budget, high gloss laminates are the perfect match.

CUSTOMIZABILITYRemodeling Your Kitchen

The technology advancements have given rise to various style improvements. Most of the wood substitute cabinets in Raleigh can be found in mitred door styles or modern 5-piece shaker styles further translating the appearance of a genuine wood cabinet door. Raleigh cabinet wood grain is aligned in the same way as a real wood door. All the joints on cabinets in Raleigh are reinforced using Double Dowels, Tenon and Mortise joinery, or Cope and Stick joinery to offer the strength required for years of daily use.

Alternative wood cabinets in Raleigh are an excellent way to save money on upcoming kitchen renovations. You will find products such as NEXTGEN to be a good solution for consumers looking to save a few extra coins without sacrificing much at all in terms of style or quality.

Alternative wood cabinets in Raleigh are very durable in that they are resistant to heat, scratches, and scuffs. Even with years of exposure to sunlight, they will only experience minimal laminate fading. Keep in mind that natural, veneer or real wood cabinets tend to patina and discolor over the years.

Most of the alternative wood laminates for Raleigh cabinets are integrated with antimicrobial protection that helps to reduce the transmission of diseases in institutions, schools, hospitals, and homes. We can also add in any of our custom cabinet accessories and storage options if you desire!

If you are looking for something that is not stressful to clean then textured laminate Raleigh cabinets are the way to go. All you have to do is wipe the cabinets using a damp, clean cloth and you will be good to go. If you want to get rid of those stubborn stains, then a small amount of mild dish detergent and warm water will do.

Your go-to cabinet company in the triangle is Edgewood Cabinetry. They’ve been providing the highest quality cabinent design, building, and insulation for over 30 years now, so you can trust them to get the job done and get it done right. Since they make all of their own stuff, you can work with them to deisgn the perfect cabinets for you!

Ready to design your own space-saving solutions? Contact us today to find out how we can help turn your small spaces into larger ones (919) 339-7300.

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cabinet storage and declutter-edgewood custom cabinetry

How To Design and Pick the Right Cabinet For Your Kitchen!

Custom Kitchen Cabinets!

cabinet storage and declutter-edgewood custom cabinetry

Base vs Hanging Cabinets

So, you’ve found yourself in a position where you need or want new cabinets in your home. The first big choice you need to make is deciding if you want cabinets that sit flush with the floor, or ones that hang from higher up on the wall. Each has its own positives and negatives. A base cabinet will grab the most attention and give you more practical and useable space, while a hanging cabinet will allow you to work around windows and put up attractive backsplashes. It’s much easier to have a cabinet on ground level

Span across a large area, with hanging cabinets windows and other things tend to get in the way when you want to add any real width. Not so fast though, you may think that’s the only real choice you need to make, but you’re mistaken! One last little note about hanging cabinets, you’re not limited to just using wood, you can use other materials to really make it pop visually or to give you that extra storage or functionality that you want. For example, you can utilize glass shelving in your hanging cabinet to really show off those crystal wine glasses, while keeping all the functionality of any normal cabinet.

Cabinet Organizational ToolsDrawers vs Doors

The next design feature you should think about after you choose the main style of cabinet you want is if you want drawers or doors. Just like all things, each has its own good and bad parts! A drawer will offer you the easiest access, as you merely have to pull it out to have access to whatever it is you may want. At the same time though, it’ll be hard to fit oversized or strangely shaped cooking gear into your drawers, it could end up wasting more space than it saves depending on your situation. Also, drawers won’t work in any kind of cabinet you have sitting above eye level, as you won’t be able to see into them to get what you need! Doors on the other hand are perfect for fitting in any weirdly shaped things, as you have all the room you could need to move about and fit things. One thing that drawers can now do better than doors though is allow you to organize your things. You can build or purchase accessories that allow you to neatly organize anything you could be putting in them; from pans to plastic containers!

Stuck Trying To Decide Between Two Different Styles?

Well, you don’t at all HAVE to stay consistent through the house, even in the same room you are more than welcome to have different styles going on! For instance, you can have different cabinet styles directly next to one another, you can use different stains on different sections, and it’s even fun to experiment with all different types of mediums when finalizing your cabinets with shelving or storage. If you’re trying to figure out the cabinet situation in your home office, look no further than our helpful article on that!

Contact YOUR Local Cabinet Expert

Edgewood Cabinetry has been designing, building, and installing the highest quality custom kitchen cabinets for over 30 years now, needless to say they bring an amazing amount of not only expertise but talent to the table. We would love nothing more than to help you get the exact final product that you want. Contact us today and see just how amazing the work that we do is!

Ready to get you cabinets looking how you’ve always wanted it? Contact us today to find out how we can help give your cabinets the lifeline they desperately need (919) 339-7300!

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Cabinet Designer

7 Questions To Ask Your Cabinet Designer Before The Build

Your cabinet designer serves as a partner for helping your remodel dream come true. However, you should ask a few important questions before jumping right into the build.

From getting a little background to ensuring they understand what you want, stunning custom cabinetry involves communication at the beginning of the project.

Take the time to fully discuss what you want and get valuable insight to help make your next remodel even better than you thought possible.

1. Can I See A Few Samples?

If you’re looking for something specific, it’s perfectly okay to ask your cabinet designer if they have any similar samples from past projects. By showcasing what they’ve worked on, you’ll know for certain if they understand what you’re looking for.

Plus, you’ll ensure they have the expertise to deliver the high-quality cabinetry your kitchen, or any other room, deserves.

2. Have You Ever Worked On This Theme Before?

Take a moment to discuss the theme of your kitchen remodel with your cabinet designer. This can drastically affect the final design of your cabinets. Maybe you want a traditional look or something more modern. Perhaps you love the earthy feel of the farmhouse style. No matter what style or theme you’re considering, tell your designer about it.

You should also ask if they’ve ever tackled your theme. If not, it’s a good idea to show them samples to give them an idea about specific features, such as the type of wood or door styles.

3. What Type Of Finishes Should I Consider?

Before you start building, it’s important to ask about finishes. You might think painted works best, but after discussing the care of painted cabinets, you might opt for stained. Of course, the opposite may be true. This is another reason to discuss your theme. Having a gloss stain might be ideal for your theme or a matte paint could be exactly what you need to make your cabinets pop.

4. Does This Design Fit My Budget?

Budgets are always something you should discuss. No matter how much price comparisons you do, only your cabinet designer is going to know for sure how much your design is going to cost. To avoid getting your hopes up only to have them dashed when the estimate comes in, discuss your budget with your designer.

Even if your design costs more than you hoped, your designer can still help you make tweaks to the design to still get you the cabinets you want.

5. Are There Any Trends I Should Consider?

You likely have at least a basic vision for your cabinets, but have you considered any new trends? Ask your cabinet designer about the latest trends in cabinets. You might just find that adding in a trend or two could make your remodel even better.

Remember, don’t get too carried away with trends. Ensure you’re still getting cabinets that you’ll love for years to come.

6. What Layout Options Do I Have?

Bring in measurements of your kitchen along with the sizes of your major appliances. Then, ask your cabinet designer about your layout options. You don’t always have to keep the exact same layout. However, your designer can quickly tell you which layouts work best based on your kitchen’s dimensions and the placement of appliance outlets. For instance, without some rewiring, your stove doesn’t have much wiggle room to move around.

7. What Is The Timeline For This Design?

The final question you need to ask is about the timeline for completing the design you want. If you’re hosting a party soon, you’ll likely want the cabinets finished and installed by then. Talk about this with your designer.

By getting a timeline estimate upfront, you’ll know how to better plan around the remodel. You’ll also have an idea of when to invite everyone over to check out your new kitchen masterpiece.

Want to discuss your custom cabinetry options with an expert team? Contact us today to find out how we can help with your cabinet remodel.

Image: Helloquence

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Home Office Cabinets

Design Tips For Picking The Right Cabinetry For Your Home Office

Your home office is a unique area. While it’s still part of your home, you want it to feel more professional, especially if clients come to your office.

While many people put their focus on their desk and chairs, the right cabinetry is just as important. Home office cabinets aren’t just for storage.

They help create a more professional tone and can change the entire look of the room. When picking your cabinets, use these five tips.

Storage Or Display

The first thing to consider is whether your home office cabinets are more for storing items or displaying them. If storage is your main concern, you’ll likely want cabinets with more sections, drawers and doors. This helps to keep your office more organized. This also creates a professional, library-style feel.

If you want a more airy feel, display style cabinetry works better. This style usually only has doors along the bottom shelves. The rest of the shelves are open to showcase favorite books, photos and equipment.

Compliment Your Home

Your home office doesn’t have to seem foreign compared to the rest of your house. To avoid feeling like you’re stepping into a bland cubicle or nameless corporate office, try matching your cabinets to the rest of your home decor. This creates a more welcome, relaxing environment.

This is a great approach if you don’t have a separate room for your office. Your cabinets blend into the decor, but still make your office area look professional.

Doors Or Open

This design choice mainly depends on how much privacy you want. Doors automatically give more privacy, which works well for storing client data. Of course, doors also help make an office look far more organized, even if it’s chaos behind the cabinet doors.

While doors often look more professional, open cabinets make it easier to quickly see and grab whatever you need. However, it’s easy for this style to look more like plain bookcases. To spice things up and make your office feel more unique, consider cabinets with custom spaced shelves. Each shelf block can be different sizes, creating a stunning look whenever anyone walks into the room.

Stained Or Painted

To truly set the tone of your office, you have to decide between stained or painted cabinets. Part of this choice depends on whether you want your office to look more like the rest of your home.

Stained cabinets give a classic, professional look. However, going with a brighter, painted color makes your office seem larger. If you’re running a business, having your cabinets match the color of your brand is also a nice touch and makes clients feel more at ease when coming to your home office.

Stained cabinets are best if you’re already using stained furniture, such as a desk. If you’re not using wooden furniture, painted cabinets work well, especially if you match them to any colors in your office furniture.

Available Space

Your cabinets shouldn’t take over your home office. Instead, they should fit naturally into the design. This means carefully considering how they’ll fit into your space and around your existing furniture. For larger spaces, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet might work well and help fill the space. However, smaller home offices might work better with shorter cabinets that also function as extra desk space.

If you’re sharing the space with someone else, having two sets of smaller cabinets versus one large set may be the best approach. This also allows you to use the cabinets to separate the space into two distinct areas.

If you need inspiration on how to best lay out your office to see what types of cabinets work best for you, consider Shopify’s guide to a more productive space or Entrepreneur’s guide to the best home office.

Are you designing your dream home office? See how our custom office cabinets help you create the best workspace possible.

Image: Pixabay.com

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Bathroom Cabinets

A Look At How Moisture Affects Your Bathroom Cabinets

Unlike your kitchen, your bathroom constantly has to deal with moisture in the air from showers and baths.

Since it’s a more humid environment, you have to think carefully about what types of materials to use and how to care for your bathroom cabinets.

With proper care, it’s easy to control how moisture affects your cabinets and ensure they last for years to come.

Humidity + Wood = Damage

Humidity isn’t exactly wood’s best friend. In fact, your bathroom cabinets hate all those hot showers you take. Wood expands as humidity increases. As the humidity lessens, the wood starts to shrink again. It’s important to note that if a room is too dry, this can actually cause the wood to wear out faster too.

Even finished wood is affected, though it will last longer than unfinished varieties. The closer your bathroom cabinets are to your shower or sink, the more likely they are to be damaged. While your kitchen cabinets can be affected, your bathroom usually sees more fluctuations in humidity and temperature than your kitchen.

While it’s impossible to prevent humidity fluctuations in your bathroom, it’s still possible to take precautions to make your cabinets last longer. For instance, choosing the right material and reducing humidity both help add years to your cabinets.

Choosing The Right Material

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that some materials react more severely to prolonged exposure to humidity. In most cases, the cheaper the material, the more likely it is to react negatively to humidity and steam.

Before you choose a material for your bathroom cabinets, consider the following:

  • Particle board – More cost-effective, but is highly sensitive to temperature changes, humidity and steam. Boards break down much faster and will need to be replaced sooner.
  • MDF – Stronger than particle board, but swells when it comes into contact with water. Long periods of humidity could cause permanent damage.
  • Plywood – High-end plywood holds up well to humidity and doesn’t swell like most other options. It’s one of the best choices for bathroom cabinets.
  • Solid wood – Humidity may result in warping of the wood and/or paint, but it’ll still last much longer than particle board or MDF.

It’s important to weigh the benefits with the costs. Plywood and solid wood will cost you more, but they’ll last longer. If you’re careful, particle board and MDF can last for years and they cost less. If you’re not careful, you’ll be replacing your cabinets in no time.

Reducing Humidity

If you’re not ready to remodel your bathroom cabinets, you can still make your existing cabinets last longer by reducing the humidity in the room. No, you don’t have to give up taking a refreshing shower when you first wake up or a relaxing bath before bed.

Some great ways to cut down on humidity include:

  • Using a dehumidifier, especially when showering.
  • Lower the temperature of your shower or bath. This reduces the amount of steam in the room and the overall humidity.
  • Open your bathroom window to let out steam and moisture.
  • Limit the length of your showers to reduce humidity.

When you do notice steam and moisture on your cabinets, wipe them off with a towel. When moisture lingers on the surfaces, it causes more damage.

Controlling Temperatures

Temperature differences often come with humidity. After all, your bathroom gets noticeably warmer when you shower. Hotter temperatures often lead to more humidity, especially in warmer climates. To reduce humidity in this instance, you may need to use a fan to cool the room.

Showering with warm versus hot water helps to reduce the temperature in your bathroom. Your bathroom cabinets will love you for it and you’ll love how much longer they last.

Considering a new bathroom cabinet or vanity? Contact us today to discuss the best options for a longer lasting cabinet.

Image: Aaron Huber

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Painted Or Stained

Painted Or Stained? Which Is Best For Your Cabinets

Painted or stained is the usual choice when adding new cabinets to your home. Of course, you can go with unfinished, but most people go with some form of finish.

With stained, you keep more of a natural wood look, but painted cabinets give you more variety of color. So, which is actually best?

While there isn’t a definitive answer, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of both. In the end, it all depends on the look you want in your kitchen, bathroom or other rooms.

Flawless Or Flawed

If you want a more flawless finish, painted cabinets might be the way to go. Paint covers up the knots and blemishes in wood. Plus, if you want a clean, bright look, choosing a white shade of paint gives you an airy, classic that’s easy to decorate.

On the other hand, if you want to showcase the natural wood grain, you’ll want to choose stained cabinets instead. The stain adds color without hiding the wood itself.

Costs

For some, this may be the deciding factor between painted or stained cabinets. For instance, on KompareIt, having cabinets professionally painted costs $2,000 to $5,000. There’s more labor involved and you’ll need at least several coats. Plus, paint itself is more expensive.

Staining costs between $1,500 and $4,000. Naturally, both cost less if the painting or staining is done while your cabinets are being built.

Colorful Or Natural

This is usually the main deciding factor between painted or stained cabinets. Do you want a colorful kitchen or a more natural wood finish? As HGTV states, you have endless options for painting cabinets. Go as a timeless or as personal as you want. With staining, you’re limited to clear, light, medium and dark wood tone shades.

Fixing Knicks

One thing you should consider is how difficult knicks are to fix. No matter how careful you are, you’re going to knick the finish on your cabinets at some point. You don’t want to have to completely re-do your cabinets to fix the problem.

With painted cabinets, it’s a little more difficult because you’ll have to find the right shade. For white cabinets, this isn’t too much of an issue. For other colors, getting the perfect shade can be tricky. Plus, you have to ensure the patch is the same thickness to avoid a dimpled effect.

For stained cabinets, stain or wood colored markers allow you to quickly fix any knicks in the finish. Since the marker absorbs into the paint, much like stain, it tends to blend better for a more flawless fix.

Another thing to keep in mind is paint will gradually start to chip. It’s not a matter of if, but when. When done right, painted cabinets can last 10 years or more before they need to be refinished. Stained cabinets keep their color, but may lose their luster over time.

Changing Your Mind

Before you make any final decisions, think about how long you plan to keep your cabinets the way they are. If you want to change your look every few years, you’ll want to choose painted cabinets. It’s much easier to remove the paint and start over with a new color.

With stain, the color is actually absorbed into the wood itself. Your only option is to go darker if you want to change the color. Even sanding the cabinets won’t completely remove the stain color. Think of stain as a more permanent option.

Hiding Dust

Finally, consider how often you want to clean your cabinets. For this one, it’s not so much a matter of painted or stained. It’s about how light or dark you go. Darker paints and stains show dust much more. Lighter colors still get dusty, but the dust blends in more. No matter what type of finish you choose, consider how the color works with your room. You’ll likely have the look for years to come.

Still trying to choose between painted or stained cabinets? Contact our friendly team today to find out which works best for your needs.

Image: Charles Deluvio

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Remodeling Your Kitchen

What To Consider Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

Before you start cutting or demolishing anything your kitchen, it’s important to think things through carefully.

Once you start remodeling your kitchen, it’s hard to just stop and go back to what you had before. Plan out what you want before you do anything else.

Think about what type of kitchen you’ll be happy with years from now. After all, most people don’t want to go through a kitchen remodel often.

Consider Trends, But Design For You

Trends are great, but every trend isn’t for you or your kitchen. The problem with kitchen trends is sometimes they go out of style. Ultimately, remodeling your kitchen should be about you, your home and what you want from your kitchen. If it means skipping the trends, that’s okay. You’re the one using the kitchen, so plan with your needs in mind.

Cabinets Are The Most Important Feature

Cabinets are often a focal point for kitchens, but they also get pushed to the side when it comes to a remodeling. After buying all new appliances, changing the floors, expanding the size of kitchen and other tasks, there’s not enough budget left for high-quality cabinets.

You usually choose between plywood or particleboard cabinets. The first is more expensive, but lasts longer. The second is cheaper, but can break down over time and is much more sensitive to moisture. Ensure your budget has room for long lasting cabinets. Consider custom cabinetry for a solution that’s unique to your kitchen.

Think Realistically

Maybe you’re absolutely in love with the open shelving trend. It does make the room look more open, but think realistically. The more open shelving you have, the more often you have to clean all the objects on those shelves. When remodeling your kitchen, think about how you really use it. If it’s not a feature that’s beneficial to you, skip it. Save your budget for what’s most important.

Look At What You Already Have

When you’re trying to figure out the right layout, number and size of cabinets, counter space and height, look at what you already have. How many pots and pans do you need to store? What small appliances do you wish you could hide out of sight? What organizational features have you always wish you had? Looking at what you have and what problems your current kitchen has is a great start to figuring out your remodel.

What Appliances Do You Need

Remodeling your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. It’s far too easy to kill a budget simply by buying all new appliances. If your oven is still fairly new, does it really need replacing? Is it worth buying that trendy new smart fridge right now, or could it wait? You’ll design your kitchen around your appliances too, so consider the possibility that you might soon have something smaller or larger.

Ease Of Use

You’re under no obligation to keep your kitchen’s current layout. Of course, if it works for you, keep it similar. No matter what, think about ease of use before your remodel. For instance, if you’re working with a small space, is an island actually beneficial or more of a hindrance?

As you plan, think of how you want to move, which appliances and gadgets you use most, how many people might be in your kitchen at once and other ways you use your kitchen. If it’s not easy to use, it’s not right for you.

Space Available

No matter what your dream kitchen looks like, you’re still limited by the space you have available. Of course, you may be able to steal some room from adjoining rooms. Even if you can’t gain extra room, the way you arrange cabinets and appliances help give you additional space and the illusion of a much larger kitchen.

Budget

Finally, consider your budget when remodeling your kitchen. If it’s going to cost more than your home to remodel, you might be going overboard. Set a realistic budget and plan your remodel based around that. It’ll also keep you from immediately being drawn to all the trends and most expensive appliances.

Don’t forget to compare your options for custom cabinetry during your kitchen remodel. See how our kitchen cabinet expertise help bring your kitchen vision to life.

Image: George Pastushok

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two toned kitchen-edgewood custom cabinetry-clayton nc

Rustic Living With Modern Kitchen

This new construction home has a rustic feel with the exposed rough sawn beams and wood throughout, but the kitchen is up to day on style, colors, and functionality. With cabinets to the ceiling and built in lighting with all soft close hardware and topped off with granite it is sure to inspire.

Contact Edgewood Custom Cabinetry for your next project.

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inset vs overlay cabinets-edgewood custom cabinetry

Full Overlay or Inset Kitchen Cabinets?

Full overlay or Inset Kitchen Cabinets?

While there are differences between the cabinet designs, they are all lovely. In the end, the real difference is aesthetics and not function. Therefore, go with your preference. The three styles available are inset, full overlay, and partial overlay.

Inset Kitchen Cabinets

The doors in inset cabinets are inset into the frame, giving the cabinets a flat front surface while framing each cabinet door. This is a lovely look, which takes more talent and craftsmanship to produce. It is rather rare to actually see inset cabinets, because the extra craftsmanship, time, and effort increases the cost of the cabinets. Since this is a decorative touch, most people choose convenient internal improvements to the cabinets instead.

Full Overlay Cabinets

The doors completely cover the frame, giving the flat front surface without the framing effect of the inlay. This also gives you a slightly larger cabinet, as the inset doors do take space away from the overall size. This is such a beautiful look that it is what you see in many award-winning kitchens. Because of the savings associated with this style, many people invest instead in space and work saving improvements on the inside of the cabinets, such as pull out shelving, corner turntable cabinets, and deep organized drawers.

Partial Overlay Cabinets

With partial overlay cabinets, the doors overlay the frame with a gap that shows the underlying frame. This gives the cabinet a framed look, but the effect is not flat. However, you have the choice of using finger-pulls instead of hardware on these cabinet doors. This is good for a clean sharp look. The complaint most seen with inset and full overlay cabinets is that you are more likely to pinch your fingers with them. The doors either close into the frame or so close together that they can pinch easily. They also require hardware, because the doors cannot be opened without it. With or without hardware, the partial overlay cabinets are not likely to pinch your fingers.

More Thoughts on Style

It is not uncommon today for upper cabinets and lower ones to differ in style. If you love the look of inlay cabinets, you can use them for upper cabinets where the delightful style will show beautifully and use full overlay for your lower cabinets. This is especially nice when coupled with other features that set the cabinets apart, such as a lighter color for one than the other. Making the upper and lower cabinets differ in color or style is an option that is gaining in popularity.

Remember that the most important features of your kitchen are entirely based on your style, tastes, and preferences. Contact us at Edgewood Cabinetry to learn more about all the beautiful options you have in designing your new kitchen, with style and work-saving features you will love for many years.

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