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Edgewood Cabinetry home tips kitchen cabinets

Why Do You Need To Buy Kitchen Cabinets Before Appliances Or Anything Else

A beautiful, well-designed kitchen is a showpiece for any household. Now when we talk about a well-designed kitchen, we start to ponder over appliances, tiling, and other details but tend to forget one essential part. Cabinetry is the foundation of the room, and it is mandatory to plan proper shelving and cabinets before proceeding with other details. The sequential order, while remodeling or constructing a new kitchen should be hiring a well-trained designer to design your kitchen, then planning the cabinets and finally purchasing appliances and kitchen goods to fit in the cabinet based on their sizes. If you’re still not sure as to why cabinet designing must be prioritized over other stuff, consider these reasons:

Why You Need to Design Around Your Cabinets

Edgewood Cabinetry home tips kitchen cabinetsPlanning and space utilization: As mentioned previously, cabinetry forms the foundation of any kitchen. You can always exchange your appliances for newer ones, but cabinet building can only be changed while undergoing renovations. Most people are not fond of the exhausting task of redesigning and renovating frequently. Once the cabinets have been designed, overall placement, sizes, and adjustment of everything else can be decided.

Budget-friendly: It’s better to prioritize cabinetry and invest appropriately in quality so that there is no need to spend again and again to make adjustments. Cabinets should sustain throughout the lifetime of the home. Updating the kitchen can then be done by replacing doors, tiles, or lighting as per the resident’s changing mood or the latest interior decorating trends.

Don’t Cheap Out on Cabinetry

Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets Raleigh NCDo not skimp the budget when deciding on cabinetry. Overall budget allocation to cabinets should be around 30-50% of the total remodeling budget. Don’t exchange the dollar investment on this crucial element for purchasing some sophisticated fridge, microwave, or other feature that has a much shorter lifespan; however, if the budget is very low, save money on the countertops. Countertops are much easier to upgrade and less expensive than changing out cabinetry.

Custom-made cabinetry allows the client to get exactly what they want in the space available. Many space-saving elements can be incorporated into a small space. For more home tips on the best cabinetry for your kitchen, contact Edgewood Cabinetry at 919-339-7300.

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Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets

Is Your Hardware Making Your Cabinets Look Dated?

Home decor styles can become outdated very quickly, especially in the kitchen. Practically overnight, the colors, appliances, countertops, and cabinets can look old. Have you noticed cabinets with visible hinges are all in older-looking kitchens? And if it’s been a while since you’ve renovated your kitchen cabinets, you need to become familiar with the latest features to make your kitchen stylish. One of these fresh features is European Hinges.

Cabinet Hinges

Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinetsEuropean hinges, commonly known as the “invisible hinge” or “concealed hinge,” is a modern form of cabinet hinge that, upon closing the cabinet door, becomes invisible providing a sleek and clean look to a kitchen. You cannot see the hinges on the exterior of the cabinet. These hinges are mounted on the inside of the cabinet so they can be used for a wide selection of door types.

Bulky, traditional metal hinges work well for rustic styling but can disrupt the smooth surface of some cabinets, plus they may also collect dirt, dust, and moisture. This quality of being hidden makes these hinges a great updated design choice for any kitchen or bathroom.

Hearing a high-pitched squeak or creak isn’t an issue with European hinges when the cabinet door is opened and shut. These hinges never need to be oiled because there is no metal against metal contact – making them silent when used. With the soft-closure feature, European hinges also don’t let the door bang shut.

Door Knobs & Drawer Pulls

Knobs and pulls are the quickest and easiest to update a kitchen. Metal colors frequently change with kitchen styles. One year brass will be hot; next year, brushed nickel is the style. Without changing the kitchen cabinets (an expensive proposition), you can change their look by changing the hardware. Cabinet and drawer hardware comes in a wide variety of styles and price ranges. Anyone can afford this change, plus this is a definite Do-It-Yourself job.

Talk to a Professional to Learn More

Work with a design professional (free at local home stores), as they not only can help you select the best hinge and hardware solutions but also help with any questions about installing them correctly. You can create a neat and sleek, finished look of your kitchen space by installing making some small changes.

For more information on updating your kitchen cabinets, contact at 919-339-7300.

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Solutions For Your Kitchen Pantry

Edgewood cabinetry custom cabinetsKitchen pantries have existed for centuries; they are where chefs store their essential items and recipes. The pantry started as a separate room for storage and evolved into a built-in cabinet within the kitchen. Today’s kitchen pantry design revolves around the concept of saving space while maximizing functionality.

Generally, there are two types of kitchen pantries. One type is a walk-in pantry that is a separate room. The second is a built-in pantry. Today’s built-in pantries are the most common, and it is what we usually see in homes.  Here are some types of pantries to consider when designing a custom cabinet for your kitchen.

Pull-out Pantry

Pull-out pantries are designed to utilize the vertical space of the kitchen, reducing its footprint area. It has a mechanism wherein you can pull the entire shelving unit (usually two-sided), allowing complete storage access in one opening. Its ease of storage access will enable you to organize better items, reducing clutter, and making your kitchen tasks more manageable. Various things can be accessed that otherwise would have gotten lost in the corners of standard cabinetry. For those homeowners requiring more storage, especially avid cooks, a pull-out pantry can be designed as a full-height cabinet with thick shelving.

Roll-out Pantry

Roll-out pantries are an oversized drawer. Each row can be independently pulled out, which allows partial storage access in one opening. However, you need to pull each row to access storage completely. For this reason, organizing and retrieving items can become more tedious. Roll-out pantries can be expanded the same way as pull-out pantries; however, each row must be labeled and properly organized to avoid the painstaking task of pulling each row out. Roll-out pantries are a step down in functionality as compared to pull-out pantries, while its storage to footprint area is the same as pull-out pantries.

Standard Cabinet Pantry

Standard cabinet pantries are shelves inside a cabinet. It is designed horizontally and with reduced depth to accommodate storing items and have ease of access. Its design reduces deep corners, which are difficult to reach. To save on wall space, one can opt for a full-height cabinet. Its only downside would be items are not within an arm’s length.

Portable Pantry

A portable pantry is only used in kitchens with tight space. This unit is a small cupboard mounted on wheels. Its mobility is useful in a small kitchen wherein it can be placed anywhere, depending on the need. However, it has limited storage capacity and is suited only for homeowners that rarely cook.

If you are considering remodeling or upgrading your kitchen, consider the needs and preferences when choosing a kitchen pantry. There are numerous choices available. The right choice will significantly improve your kitchen lifestyle and can save you precious time in handling and accessing items.

For more information on designing a custom pantry for your kitchen contact Edgewood Cabinetry at 919-339-7300.

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Edgewood Cabinetry custom kitchen cabinet

How to Clean and Maintain Your Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Edgewood Cabinetry custom kitchen cabinet

Keeping Your Kitchen Cabinets Clean

When you invest in having expensive, custom kitchen cabinets built and installed in your home, your intention is to have them for many years. Keeping them looking brand new throughout their lifetime is important. Let’s review how you can keep your custom kitchen cabinets in top shape.

Get Down to the Basics

When you’ve spilled something on the kitchen cabinet, it is best to clean it right then and there. Take a lint-free cotton cloth that has been slightly dampened with water and wipe off the mess. If you’ve spilled something oily or greasy, you might need to use a simple solution of mild soap and water to wipe it down. One thing to keep in mind: do not use any harsh chemical-based solutions or detergents to clean the cabinets, this might damage the surface or ruin the finish.

Get Rid of Moisture

Moisture is the sworn enemy of the beautiful finish on your expensive kitchen cabinetry. To prevent damage due to moisture, make sure that you don’t keep any wet towels or rags hanging on the doors of your cabinets.  If you inadvertently spill water on the surface of the cabinet, make sure that you immediately wipe it down, and dry it.  Check for any dripping pipes under the sink and repair them.

Avoid Heat as Much as you Can

High heat in contact with the surface can cause the finish to discolor and the wood to start cracking.  Make it a practice to avoid placing any hot vessels on the surface of the cabinet.

Don’t Use Harsh, Abrasive Cleaners of Any Kind

Don’t use steel wool pads, scouring pads, or any other type of abrasive cleaning product to clean the messes off of your kitchen cabinet. These have a physical impact on the surface and finish of your custom-made kitchen cabinet.  Once marred, it becomes easy for liquid and food to enter into the wood and deteriorate it.

Remember that a wooden product will only last long if it receives maintenance and care. Good maintenance practices, keeping the above points in mind, will ensure that your kitchen cabinets are long-lasting and remain in pristine condition.

It truly doesn’t take as much work as you may think it does, no more than you normally do. Just be mindful of any messes you see and get them cleaned up immediately, and be smart with what you do decide to use as a cleaner. With proper care, your cabinets should keep looking truly fantastic for years to come.

For more tips on caring for your custom kitchen cabinets contact Edgewood Cabinetry at

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Should I Take my Microwave off of My Countertop?

Microwave Drawers, Convenience at a Price?

Do you struggle to find the counter space that you really need at home? Are you always having to more things around on the spot to make space? Well, a microwave in a custom drawer can save you a lot of counter space, and give your kitchen a much cleaner overall appearance. You will have to pay more upfront first, but this will give you that extra space and ergonomics that you really want. It all just comes down to your personal needs and what’s going to work best for your family in your kitchen.

History of the Microwave Oven

In most kitchens, you can find the microwave on the countertop or mounted above the kitchen range. In earlier days, countertop microwaves were absolutely massive and took up a huge portion of your counter space. As a result, a whole new category of furniture was created to hide away big appliances in a way that you can still easily access them. Since then, microwaves have become much smaller and more powerful, giving more and more space to the homeowner.

In a busy household with kids, pets, and who knows what else running around, efficiency and ease of access are some of the most important things in your home. You need your kids to be able to use the microwave, but it needs to be in a place where it won’t be able to fall off the counter or anything, safe and sound in a custom drawer or cabinet. Just think of it as a small washroom, it’s generally hidden away but very easy to access and use for those who need it.

In the old days, if you wanted your food warm you either had to cook it fresh and eat it warm, or heat it up in an over and hope not to burn it. Microwaves have made eating leftover food so much more simple, it allows people to hold onto food longer and cook more food at once rather than having to cook every single day. Now as great as microwaves are they get in the way still. That’s where we come in.

The Microwave Drawer and Wall-Mounted Microwave

Kitchen designs have moved more towards clean and simple styles, and of course with that has come to the request for more storage space. This leaves you with a few options. You can leave it on the countertop, have it mounted above your oven or in a kitchen range, or have a custom cabinet made to house it. Microwave ergonomics are important when it comes to young children and the elderly. It needs to be both accessible and secure from falling or any accidents.

Using a stock drawer for your microwave is a questionable move, chances are good that it’s not going to fit how you want it to and end up being a waste of money. These are the problems that a custom microwave drawer solves. A perfect fit, with perfect function, it’ll make your life just that much easier.  You aren’t just limited to a “drawer” though, we work with the individual kitchen to fit your stuff in the best way possible.

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custom cabinetry custom kitchen remodel

What Permits Are Needed For Remodeling Your Kitchen

You’ve carefully planned out your dream kitchen and now you’re ready to get started. What’s the first step?

Depending on what you’re having done, you may need kitchen remodeling permits. Certain home improvements and changes do require you to get a permit.

However, not every change requires a permit. Use the tips below to figure out when you might need to check about a permit before your remodel.

Why Bother With Permits

Since it’s your home, you might not think permits matter that much. However, if you’re hiring contractors to help with the kitchen remodel, they may not work on your project at all without the proper permits in place. After all, it’s their reputation at stake. If you work with a contractor that says they’re okay with skipping out on permits, find someone else. This is a sign that they’re not reliable and may do more harm than good in your kitchen.

Another problem is if you ever want to sell your home. The changes will be discovered and you might not be able to sell or rent your home without having to tear down all the hard work or paying fines, paying inspectors and still getting permits. In fact, some cities may even increase the permit cost if you didn’t get the permit before remodeling.

One final thing to consider about kitchen remodeling permits is they are for your own safety. For instance, you wouldn’t want to tear down a wall that’s necessary for supporting your second floor. Permits are designed to verify the safety of whatever home improvement you want to make.

When You Don’t Need A Permit

Legally, you don’t need a kitchen remodeling permit for basic kitchen improvements. Some kitchen remodeling projects that don’t require permits include:

  • Getting new cabinets
  • Refacing cabinets
  • Painting cabinets
  • Re-doing your kitchen floor
  • Painting the kitchen
  • Installing new appliances (if no electrical work needs to be done)
  • Adding an island (no electrical or plumbing changes)

Outside of a full-scale kitchen remodel, you usually don’t have to worry about permits. Of course, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

When You Do Need A Permit

The exact kitchen remodeling permits you need will vary based on what you’re changing and where you live. You should check with your local government office if you have any questions. Discuss your project and what you’re changing to ensure you have all the permits you need. You can also talk with reputable contractors to see if there are permits you’ll need to obtain before getting started.

If you’ll be making any plumbing or electrical changes, you will need to get a permit. For instance, if you need to re-run plumbing if you’re changing the location of your sink or adding in an island with its own sink, a permit may be required. If you need to re-wire the kitchen to add different appliances, change the lighting or anything else, a permit is necessary. Plumbing and electrical permits are necessary to ensure the changes are on record and are safe for the home.

One more major permit you’ll need for remodeling your kitchen is any changes to your home’s structure. For a kitchen remodel, this means adding or removing walls. Since walls are a major structural component, you need to acquire a permit before changing anything. The city will check the blueprints to ensure the removal or addition of a wall won’t compromise the integrity of the home. The last thing you want is your ceiling caving in on your new kitchen just as you get done.

One final thing to consider is whether you’re remodeling an existing kitchen or remodeling another room to turn it into a kitchen. Changing the purpose of a room, especially when it requires major plumbing, electrical or structural changes, does require a permit in most cities.

Our advice is to always ask your city office before proceeding with your project to be safe.

Ready to start your kitchen remodel? Contact us today to learn more about our custom cabinetry services.

Image: Bryan Boatright

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Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

6 Things To Consider When Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

Choosing kitchen cabinets often feels overwhelming. With so many choices, where do you even start?

While you could just browse Pinterest and home improvement blogs (which are both great ways to compare styles), it’s also a good idea to create an initial checklist to help narrow your options.

The one important thing to remember is you should always pick what’s best for you in the long term. After all, high-quality kitchen cabinets can last a lifetime or more.

1. Cabinet Door Styles

While it is important to think of things like what type of wood and finish you want, a top consideration when choosing kitchen cabinets is your cabinet door style. Your doors are the focal point of your cabinets. Choosing a door style can change the entire theme of your kitchen.

The Spruce lists eight of the most common varieties, but you’re always free to try something different or even mix styles together to create your own. For instance, you might mix glass insert doors with slab style doors for a modern, yet minimalist style kitchen.

2. Function Of Cabinets

Function should always be a consideration. For instance, an open shelving theme isn’t going to work well with cabinets that are going to be used for canned goods, stacks of cookies and snacks and other items that may make your kitchen seem more cluttered than organized.

If counter space is more important than storage space, you might choose to have your top cabinets much shorter to allow for taller appliances to sit on the counter. If you tend to use numerous smaller items, you may want cabinets with more drawers than shelves.

When considering function, also consider the layout. After all, the layout makes it easier to accomplish what you want. HGTV lists six popular layouts that will guide you in choosing your own.

3. Style Of Your Kitchen

Choosing kitchen cabinets isn’t quite as difficult if you know what the style of your kitchen is. Of course, if you’re doing a remodel, you may have plans to change all that. However, your cabinets should match your kitchen’s style. For instance, if you want a more rustic look, you wouldn’t want more ornate cabinet doors and bright white finishes. You probably wouldn’t have oddly shaped cabinets, such as corner cabinets.

If you’re scratching your head and trying to figure out a theme, don’t worry. Before you shop or work with a designer, check out these styles from Houzz and Cabin Life.

4. Mixing With Hardware

Usually, hardware is the last thing anyone thinks about. But, think about how much of a style impact door and drawer handles make. You can take basic slab style doors and drawer faces and spice them up with vintage hardware or funky pop culture/hobby style hardware. For instance, if you’re creating a farmhouse theme, you might play around a bit with farm animal and tool shaped hardware.

5. Custom Sizes And Shapes

Stock cabinets are wonderful, especially when you’re in a hurry, such as after major water damage from your dishwasher fritzing out. However, choosing kitchen cabinets doesn’t mean you have to settle for standard sizing only. Custom kitchen cabinets are ideal for anyone who needs special sizing and shapes. For instance, maybe you need a cabinet that’s three inches shorter than all your other top cabinets to place your espresso machine under. You might have a corner where you want a large free-standing cabinet that functions much like an island.

6. Organization Style

Finally, think about your organization style. Do you want cabinets that offer more space on the outsides for hanging pans or something with custom shelving for stacking pots and pans? This is where custom cabinets really help. You’re able to get more organization options, such as various sizing for different types of items. You’re also able to mix and match styles a bit to create a theme that’s all your own. For instance, you may have two cabinets that are nothing but drawers and glass insert top cabinets for showcasing your best china.

Are you ready to start choosing kitchen cabinets now? Contact us today to learn more about our custom kitchen cabinetry services.

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Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets

7 Signs You Need To Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets

You’re looking around your kitchen and realize it’s time to make a choice. Should you try to repair or replace your kitchen cabinets?

In some cases, it’s actually better to just repair. For instance, if you just want a different door design, refacing the cabinets is better than replacing.

However, sometimes you have to completely replace them. In the end, it’s not only more cost-effective, but your kitchen will thank you.

1. There’s Noticeable Damage

Do you see noticeable chips in the wood? Are shelves bowed? Maybe the backs no longer stay attached to the wall like they should. When you start seeing noticeable damage, it’s a good sign that you should consider replacements. Even when you try to just repair them, major damages often mean there are other issues with the cabinets as well.

2. They’re Made Of Cheap Materials

If your home came with pre-fabricated cabinets or you had to buy something quick and cheap for a remodel, you’ll likely need to replace your kitchen cabinets relatively soon. Many cabinets have a realistic wood veneer over particle board. All it takes is a little heat, humidity and water to cause your cabinets to warp. Particleboard and fiberboard aren’t meant to last. If you’ve had your cabinets 5-10 years or had any water damage, it’s likely time to replace versus repair.

3. Recent Water Damage Or Mold

Even hardwoods aren’t meant to withstand major water damage. While they fare better than their cheaper counterparts, a roof or sink leak may ruin your cabinets beyond repair. Even if you don’t notice anything right away, you may begin to notice a smell. This means the water has seeped into the wood and you may even have mold and mildew behind the cabinets.

4. They Don’t Offer Enough Space

Sometimes you just need more space. While expert organizational strategies are helpful, you might need to replace your kitchen cabinets to take better advantage of the space you have available. You can have custom made kitchen cabinets designed specifically for your space and needs. This allows you to store more without anything feeling cluttered.

5. The Doors Can’t Be Refaced

Anytime the doors can’t be refaced, it’s a sign you should replace your kitchen cabinets. Usually, this means you have more damage beyond the doors themselves. The material might be sub-par and even if you have new doors made, they won’t fit correctly with your existing cabinets.

If it’s easy to reface the doors and get the look you want, that’s a great place to start. However, if it just feels like you’re putting a Band-Aid on a bigger issue, replace instead.

6. Your Kitchen Needs A New Layout

Are you looking for a completely new layout? Don’t try to just make your old cabinets fit. This just hinders your creativity and limits what you’re able to do. Instead, start fresh and replace your kitchen cabinets when you decide to remodel your kitchen. The last thing you want is for your kitchen to look amazing, except for your old, dingy cabinets.

Plus, you’ll be able to choose custom made options to fit any layout you have in mind. If your cabinets are still in good shape, consider donating them to a local charity or thrift store that accepts furniture.

7. They Don’t Function Well Anymore

This one is likely the most obvious out of all of the reasons. Do your doors stay slightly ajar even when the cabinet is empty? Are the hinges starting to detach or stick? Maybe the drawers sit at a weird angle. Whatever the problem might be, when your cabinets start functioning like they should, it’s a clear sign it’s time to replace them. Your kitchen cabinets should help you, not stop you from getting things done.

Ready to replace your kitchen cabinets? Get the perfect custom design for your needs by contacting our team today.

Image: Brendon Thompson

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Organize Kitchen Cabinets

Insiders Tip: How To Organize The Kitchen Cabinets The Smart Way

It’s a secret that seems to be impossible to discover – how to organize the kitchen cabinets so you always find what you need without endless searching.

While there isn’t just one perfect way to do this, there are some smart ways to make the most of your cabinets without piling them full, constantly having to bend over or reaching way over your head.

The first step is to clean out all your cabinets, purge whatever you don’t need and then get ready to start organizing.

Use Different Storage Containers

Product packaging isn’t always your best friend. This is why using square or rectangular storage containers helps you make the most of your cabinets. Store cereal in clear airtight containers that stack easily. Do the same with cookies and crackers. Whenever possible, transfer items to containers that are easy to stack and easy to see inside of.

Assign One Function To Each Shelf, Drawer or Cabinet

Are your spices stored over multiple cabinets? Maybe your canned goods are all over the place. Take the time to assign a single function to every drawer, shelf and cabinet. For instance, you might have one drawer just for eating utensils and another for cooking utensils. One cabinet might be dedicated strictly to baking dishes and pans. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works best where, but it’s well worth the time. Don’t forget you can have your kitchen cabinets custom made to best fit your needs.

Utilize Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers can be your best friend. Just remember, use organizers wisely to avoid losing space in your cabinets and drawers. These organizers keep your drawers from becoming a free for all. Organize any smaller items, such as utensils quickly.

Take Advantage Of Lazy Susans

A Lazy Susan is a must-have for organizing kitchen cabinets. Of course, they’re also ideal for organizing your countertops and other areas too. Easily get to those hard to reach items by placing them on a Lazy Susan. You can even have a pull-out version for those back corner cabinets. If it happens to get cluttered, check out these tips for organizing even the messiest Lazy Susan.

Put Your Most Used Within Easy Reach

No matter what else you do, always put your most used items within easy reach. If you use a certain frying pan often, don’t put it on the bottom of a stack in the back of your cabinet. If possible, dedicate a cabinet to your most used cooking supplies. The less you have to reach, the easier it is to get more done.

Use Pullout Shelves

Pullout shelves work much like drawers. However, they ensure you’re able to reach everything in the back without any problems. This is ideal for items that may be hard to see, such as spices or pot lids. Be careful not to put heavier items on these as it may cause the shelf to bow when you pull it out.

Hang Small Things On Cabinet Doors

Don’t forget about all the space that’s on the inside of your doors. Kitchen cabinets are often used to store smaller items. For instance, consider placing hooks on the door that you use to store pots and pans. Hang lids and cooking utensils for easy reach. You can also place small baskets inside the door to store sponges, storage bags and other smaller items.

Hang Bulky Or Oddly Shaped Items

You don’t always have to stack everything in your kitchen cabinets. Sometimes you gain more space by hanging oddly shaped items. Place hooks at the top of your cabinets to hang larger pots or any bulky items. You then leave the bottom of the cabinet free to store stackable items or even smaller odd-shaped items, such as waffle makers.

Eliminate Reaching Back With Pullout Baskets

Much like pullout shelves, pullout baskets work well to organize your kitchen cabinets and eliminate too much bending and reaching. These are ideal if you don’t already have pullout shelves built-in. You can get them in various sizes to organize like items. For instance, if you don’t need a spice cabinet, have a smaller pullout basket to store all your spices.

Keep A Sturdy Stepstool On Hand

Finally, you’ll need a sturdy stepstool from time to time to reach those items stored at the very top of your cabinets. These are items you rarely use. However, you’ll save time by having a small stepstool hanging on the outer side of your cabinet.

Want to learn how to better organize your kitchen cabinets through custom sizing, shelving and organizational features? Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Image: cooktime

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