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Kesseböhmer storage solutions for the ultimate kitchen-edgewood cabinetry

Kesseböhmer: For the Ultimate Storage Solutions

Most people have ordinary cabinets in their kitchen and Most people don’t know what they’re missing.

They don’t have Kesseböhmer storage solutions.

These are but a few examples of the ultimate in storage meet elegance.

Tandem

Looking for tall cabinetry?  The Tandem offers you one of those ‘a-ha’ moments as you open the door, and not only are the shelves on the door easily accessible, but the rear shelves move forward.  Gone are the days of trying to hunt at the back of a dark cabinet for that jar of pasta sauce you thought you shoved in there long ago.  The Tandem can also go smaller in unexpected ways.  If you want a coffee maker or oven integrated into the unit, the Tandem can fit neatly underneath, giving you storage right where you need it.

Convoy

Convoy Centro, the beginning of the Centro line, is an amazing pull-out pantry system that shows you everything you have. It’s soundless, dampened opening and closing are a world’s first, and all the shelves are fully easily adjustable.  Convoy Lavido offers pull-out shelves that will win you over with their easy accessibility including shelves that pull out to give you 270 degrees of access to your stored good.  Usable even with sliding doors, this is the one that is truly versatile in design while offering you not only ease of access but access in a beautiful way.

Dispensa

Rather have a pull-out pantry with even more options? Dispensa is the one for you.  With the ability to swing 90 degrees in either direction once fully extended, you can see everything you have on either side of the cabinet.  Using every bit of space, nothing is wasted.

Interested?  We thought so!  Contact us so we can help you design the kitchen of your dreams with Kesseböhmer storage solutions for the ultimate kitchen.

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custom kitchen island-edgewood cabinetry

How Much Room Do You Need For a Kitchen Island?

Many homeowners have one item that is high on their wish list when planning a kitchen remodel: an island. Fortunately, even most small kitchens can accommodate a modest island, especially if they have a U or L-shaped layout. A larger kitchen allows for more choices when designing an island.

However, without sufficient clearance, an island can make even a large kitchen feel cramped, crowded, and inefficient. An especially large island might even act as a barrier, interrupting the flow and making the kitchen feel much less user-friendly.

When deciding on an island, it’s important to make sure that everything can still function as it should. After all, you don’t want to find out too late that you can’t stand at the stove while someone else is trying to do dishes! Even worse would be tripping over that dishwasher door while carrying a hot pan or sharp knife. Adding a poorly designed island to a kitchen is not only frustrating but also dangerous.

All of the cabinet doors, drawers, and appliances need to open without interfering with each other. An ideal layout gives you safe, easy access to all of your cupboards, drawers, appliances, and work surfaces. You might want to consider trash and recycling, too, if the island is intended as the main prep area.

So, how much space does an island need?

  • Allow at least 3 feet on all sides of the island. Allowing another 6 – 12 inches on a working side is optimum.
  • For the sake of convenience, the distance between the island and other work surfaces shouldn’t be more than about 4 feet. Any farther, and you’ll have to take a step after you turn around, which makes in less convenient.
  • Two fully extended, opposing drawers should still leave walking room between them. A minimum of 30″ is recommended.

When designing your island, you’ll also need to decide its primary use:

  • additional prep space
  • the main work area
  • part of the work triangle
  • a place to eat
  • an entertainment space
  • a combination of uses

If you plan on using it mostly for casual meals, allow plenty of room for seating. The minimum recommended overhang is 12″, although 15″ or so feels more comfortable; leave a minimum of 24″ of width for each diner. A height of 42″ on the seating side allows for regular height bar stools and clearly delineates the eating area from the lower working side. Another option is for a seating area that is simply a continuation of the workspace. This allows the entire island to serve as a workspace when needed.

If the island will include appliances or a sink, you’ll need more space to accommodate them; experts recommend at least 4 – 8 feet, depending on their number and size. A cooktop will require an exhaust hood; make sure you have space for one. Just remember to keep the scale of the island in proportion to that of the kitchen.  

If you’re ready to add an island to your kitchen, contact us. We’ll help you design the functional island of your dreams.

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undercabinet lighting-edgewood cabinetry

Custom Lighting for Your Cabinets

Custom cabinet lighting can make the difference between cabinets as everyday storage and a kitchen that is a real work of art.

An added bonus is the ease of use – no more digging in dark recesses for that missing gravy boat or peering at a dimly lit recipe card on the counter!

The lights can even be customized to suit your unique needs with dimmers and optional motion sensors.

No more fumbling for a light switch when you need a drink in the middle of the night; an undercabinet light will come on when you enter the room and turn off when you leave. You could also leave a dimmed light on in the guest bath for your overnight guest’s convenience and safety. There are other applications for these lights as well; how about a closet rod that lights up to help you find that perfect blouse or tie? Or bookcases that light up to showcase your collection of travel mementos and family photos?

Lights that are designed for cabinets have a low profile so they blend unseen into the cabinetry and are not in any way obtrusive. That’s one of the many benefits of working with a design professional – you’ll get quality products that fit into your space like they were, well, designed for it! They will also suit your unique needs and design esthetic. If you are tired of ordinary lights from a big box store or online retailer that sortof do the job, contact us. We would love to design custom lighting for your home that showcases your sense of style in an elegant, refined way.

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custom cherry kitchen-edgewood cabinetry

Quality kitchen cabinets designed with every budget in mind

A beautiful new kitchen starts with an idea and a plan. Deciding exactly how much you can afford to spend, and the best areas to spend it on is crucial to your renovation project.

In theory, the cost of your kitchen should range between 10-20 percent of the value of your home. If you are planning to stay in your current home, budgeting  on the high side of the spectrum makes sense. If you foresee selling  the house in the near future, spending less than 10% may cost you prospective buyers down the road.

Once you have determined how much you want to spend, ask yourself the following questions. What does this kitchen need? What architectural style will best fit in with the overall look of my home?

Choosing the cabinetry for your kitchen is one of the most important decisions you will make. The cabinets’ design and color make the largest  impact on your budget and have the most influence on the feel of the room.

Be an informed consumer. Know what your options are before committing style or design. The difference between stock ( or builder’s grade), semi-custom  and custom cabinets is primarily in the manufacturing process, not necessarily in the quality.  A custom-made cabinet is not always well made, and conversely, there are stock cabinets made with quality materials and well constructed.

At Edgewood Cabinetry, we offer a full line of well made, well-constructed products for every kitchen design.

Stock cabinets are pre-made in standard sizes, usually in three-foot sections. While they typically offer few options for customization, you will have some choice in style, material and color.

Semi-custom cabinets are also pre-manufactured, but give you a wider array of styles, finishes and interior and exterior design options.

There is no limit to what you can expect from custom-made cabinets. This option allows you to finesse all the details of your kitchen cabinets. You are bound only by your imagination and your budget.

We have a cabinet for every budget.  Contact us to learn more about our full line of cabinets and how you can have the “Edgewood experience” as you plan your new kitchen.

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interior cabinets edgewood cabinetry

The Inside of Cabinets are Important Too

What the Big Box Stores and Sub-par Contractors Don’t Tell You: The Inside of Cabinets are Important Too

If you’re thinking about updating your kitchen cabinets, you know that this isn’t something you change often, so it’s important to make sure you’re happy with your choice. While many consumers take a lot of time choosing the type of wood and finish on the exterior of their cabinets, what many fail to realize is the inside of cabinets are important too.

Everyone is thrilled with their kitchen cabinets initially. But after awhile, some homeowners start to become disappointed because they sacrificed and saved to make the investment, only to find things not holding up as they should. From the outside, everything still looks great. But when they open the cabinet doors to put dishes away they start to notice poor workmanship. Interior boxes made of inferior wood, or without enough protection on them starts to result in splintering, scratches, or water damage.

When investing in new cabinetry, take the time to ask how the interior of the cabinetry is made. Don’t accept sub-par materials such as cheap particleboard or luan. Ask how the wood is sealed, and how many coats are used on the shelving.

You want the interior of your cabinets to look just as nice as the exterior. This is one of the reasons we don’t recommend refacing cabinets, because when you open the doors, you’re left with the same problems you started with. Big box companies and contractors who cut corners are all about providing an inexpensive product, no matter what the quality.

If you’re ready to choose new cabinetry, but want quality both inside and out, contact us. You’ll be surprised to find out you don’t necessarily have to pay a lot more for a much better product that will last for longer than our counterparts.

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Kitchen cabinets open shelving

Advantages of Open Shelving in the Kitchen

Open shelving in the kitchen is currently very popular among home builders and kitchen remodelers. 

 

Websites, like Pinterest, offer numerous photos of kitchens with open shelving.  You may be wondering what the advantages of this relatively new kitchen design are. 

Decorative

Open shelving offers multiple opportunities for decorating in the kitchen.
•    Bring color into your kitchen by adding paint or paper to the back of the cabinets.  This color will not only add style to your kitchen but give your cabinets the appearance of added depth.
•    Showcase items such as spices, olive oil or other decorative pieces. Display a collection such as cookbooks.
•    Your bowls and plates stacked in the cabinets become art on display.
•    Show your personality in your kitchen which is traditionally a very functional space.

Functional

•    You will have easy access to everything while you are cooking in your kitchen.
•    No need to open and close your cabinet doors 1,000 times a day.
•    Kids, family members and guests will no longer have to ask ‘where are the glasses?’ because they will easily be able to spot them.
•    You will not lose items or forget about them and will not waste time searching for something.  Everything will be apparent.
•    You won’t feel inclined to shove things into the cabinet but will be inspired to stay neat and organized.
•    Since you won’t have to worry about closing the doors your storage space will increase.

Bottom Line

•    Open shelving will make your room look and feel bigger.
•    Cost will be reduced due to less wood required.
If you are planning a kitchen remodel or designing a kitchen for your new house consider open shelving.  It will provide you function along with a decorative look.  At Edgewood Cabinetry we would be happy to make your vision for your new kitchen a reality.  Contact us to find out more about our cabinetry options.

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Get the Most Out of Your Laundry Room with Custom Cabinets

Does your laundry room need to be more organized? If you are like most homeowners, the answer is probably yes! Laundry rooms by definition should be highly functional spaces where the weekly care of clothes can be done efficiently. Yet in many homes it is a high traffic area that also serves as a dumping spot for family members, adding chaos to what is already a cramped and cluttered space. Sadly most people tend to invest a minimum of their home improvement budget on their laundry room.
Here are some ideas for organizing your laundry room:
Allocate space for a mud room set-up. If your laundry room is also the family entrance, create storage by the door to organize the family’s stuff–outer wear, keys, backpacks, umbrellas. That way everyone knows where to leave things upon entry, and where to get them with they leave.
Create adequate storage.  The smaller your space is, the more organized it has to be. Invest in wall to wall cabinets to get organized. Assign storage space for laundry supplies, kits for minor sewing repairs and shoe care. Designate a “lost sock” drawer and a “lost and found” basket for items found in pockets.
Raise your washer and dryer off the floor. Go easy on your back by installing washer/dryer pedestals with built-in storage. If you have limited space, consider stacking your washer and dryer (this only works for front-loading machines!)
Have a storage solution for your ironing board. A closet with a pull-out mechanism for your ironing board is neat and efficient. Or lacking space, get creative with a couple of decorative heavy-duty hooks and hang your board off the wall. To hang clothes for air drying or to hold freshly ironed shirts, mount a tension rod or a towel rack under some shelving. A retractable clothes line is a good option for smaller spaces.
Beyond function… If you’re one of the the lucky ones who have a lot of space in their laundry room, why not elevate a weekly chore to a pleasant experience? Perhaps you have space for a desk or a sewing table. A built-in entertainment center might seem like the height of luxury–but what better place to watch the morning soap, or catch up on the news?
With some thought and a little investment, you can transform your laundry room into the efficient, well-organized space you deserve. We can help you design custom storage and cabinets for your laundry room. Contact us for a free quote, or for more information.

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