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8 Ingenious Kitchen Storage Ideas to Make the Most of Limited Space

8 Ingenious Kitchen Storage Ideas to Make the Most of Limited Space

A small kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t have storage space. You just need the right kitchen storage ideas.

By making the most of the room you have, you’ll be able to store more and stay surprisingly organized. You just need a little bit of a kitchen makeover.

From simple organizers to transforming unused space, storage opportunities are everywhere in your kitchen, even the smallest kitchen.

1. Turn A Small Closet Into A Pantry

If you have a small closet near your kitchen, transform it into a pantry. You don’t need much space to do this. A simple coat closet you might not be using is all you need. Adding some shelves, bins and door storage helps reduce clutter in your kitchen. Consider having a folding basket that hangs inside the door to make transporting items from your pantry to your kitchen a breeze.

Sabrina’s Organizing and In My Own Style showcase this idea perfectly. You can also check out ways to maximize your pantry storage or even create a butler’s pantry with a large enough closet.

2. Transform A Corner Into A Pantry

Despite what many people think, a pantry doesn’t have to be big. If you have an unused corner in your small kitchen, transform it into a corner pantry. You can add some shelves and a door to store spices, cans, chips, dry vegetables and more. By going from floor to ceiling, even short shelves add a lot of space.

3. Use Your Vertical Space Carefully

Vertical space storage is one of the most ingenious kitchen storage ideas. Floating shelves allow you to display glasses, plates and bowls while giving you easy access. Add shelving above a window for extra storage.

Using hooks, wire racks and other organizers, you can transform your empty backsplash into storage for utensils and even pot lids. Some people even hang pot holder gloves and store cooking utensils in them to add a decorative touch. A freestanding rack or thin cabinet also helps make the most of the space.

You could even just add a wall of wire baskets for storing herbs, vegetables, fruits and snacks. Get creative. Don’t be afraid to dive into Pinterest for extra inspiration, or check out My Amazing Things to get started.

4. Add Wall-Mounted Containers And Bins

Bins, containers, baskets or any other type of small storage items work great when mounted to a wall. Use certain spices more often than others? Add some heat-proof baskets on the wall above your stove. Got free space on the side of a cabinet? Add some small bins to store plates, utensils or smaller cleaning items.

Since there are an endless variety of bins and containers you can use, let them also showcase your small kitchen’s personality.

5. Add Pull-Out Pantries Where Possible

Pull-out pantries are amazing and one of the more underutilized kitchen storage ideas. These go between cabinets that might have a gap or alongside the end of a cabinet. They blend in with your existing cabinets, but pull out much like a drawer. Use them to store small items, such as canned goods and spices. Some people even use them for root vegetables by having several bins for onions, potatoes, turnips, etc.

6. Use A Mobile Island

A small kitchen might not have room for a traditional kitchen island. However, a portable kitchen island works perfectly. Since you can move it wherever you need it, it’s never in the way. This gives you more room for prep, storing small appliances and having storage underneath for pots, pans, appliances and more.

7. Customize Cabinets With Built-In Organizers

The organizers you buy separately never seem to fit quite right. This leaves you with unused space in your drawers and cabinets. However, custom cabinet organizers are made to fit perfectly, no matter what your storage needs might be.

Need a smaller Lazy Susan? You can have one custom built to fit your cabinet, including have several rotating shelves. Want a utensil organizer that doesn’t slide around? Have a drawer built where the organizer is a part of it already. Replacing older cabinets with custom cabinets lets you not only make better use of your space, but implement all your kitchen storage ideas.

8. Use Slide-Out Drawers And Shelves

Often, you might not take advantage of storage space simply because it’s hard to reach. This leads to cluttered spaces, especially countertops. One of the simplest, yet most effective kitchen storage ideas is to use slide-out drawers and shelves. Have some small items in a cabinet? Add a slide-out drawer to contain everything. It’ll slide out above your shelves for easy access. Slide-out shelves let you not only add an extra shelf or two if needed, but ensure you reach everything in the back easily.

Ready to customize your small kitchen to store more? Contact us today to learn how we can help.

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7 Ways to Change the Look & Function of Your Kitchen

7 Ways to Change the Look & Function of Your Kitchen

Changing the look and function of your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. Instead, custom cabinets give you an easier and more efficient way to transform your kitchen.

Whether your goal is storage, getting more organized or just making the kitchen easier to use, the right cabinets make all the difference.

When you opt for custom, you get full say over the entire design, ensuring the final results look just like you always dreamed of.

1. Get The Perfect Sizes For Your Kitchen

Stock cabinets do the job, but not always very well. You likely have left over space in corners, near ceilings and around doorways. Custom cabinets always fit the space you want to fill. Have a corner that you want to use for storing smaller items? A custom cabinet will fit perfectly.

No matter what size space you have, custom is the way to go. They’ll always fit much better and leave your kitchen looking more polished than stock and pre-fab cabinets.

2. Add Built-In Organization

Organizing your kitchen might seem like a nightmare right now, but after you’ve changed the look and function with custom kitchen cabinets, it won’t seem like such a chore. This is because you can have organization features built-in. Have your pots and pans in a cabinet designed to fit them well with room to store lids. A pull out base makes it easier to reach pots and pans without digging around.

The right organizers definitely help make your kitchen easier to use. Then, once you’re done organizing everything in your new cabinets you’ll find things easier, keep the kitchen cleaner and reduce counter clutter.

3. Custom Cabinets Give You The Perfect Design

The easiest way to change the look of your kitchen is to have your cabinets built with the exact design you want. You don’t have just settle for what’s available at the local hardware store. Instead, you get to choose:

  • The type of wood (natural woods last far longer)
  • Door style
  • Hardware
  • Stain or paint color
  • Size/shape

All of this contributes to the final look of your kitchen. For instance, switching from painted to stained cabinets or vice versa makes a drastic difference.

4. Adjust Your Kitchen Layout

Is your kitchen difficult to use? Clunky stock cabinets can actually make it more difficult to use your kitchen. In smaller spaces, you might not have enough room to move around. Or, in larger kitchens, it’s hard to reach what you need.

Custom cabinets for your kitchen let you adjust your kitchen layout to meet your needs. If you often have guests, you can create more space for socializing or customize the cabinets near your oven to quickly reach anything you need.

5. Add Extra Features Using Custom Cabinets

Custom cabinets aren’t limited to just storing dishes and cooking utensils. Change the look and function of your kitchen by adding some extra features. Consider adding in a wet or dry bar. Add in a media area for watching cooking videos or watching TV and listening to music while cooking.

You can even add display cabinets to show off favorite items. Maybe you keep your pet’s water and food in the kitchen. Add in a special area for them to eat.

6. Hide Appliances With Custom Cabinets

Ideally, you should design your cabinets before adding appliances. This is because you can use custom cabinets to hide appliances. Often, creating a pantry area helps you hide major appliances. It’s also common to build cabinets around your fridge to create a more seamless look and keep down on fingerprints.

Naturally, smaller appliances are much easier to hide. If your countertops are so cluttered with small appliances that it’s hard to find any prep area, build in storage for those appliances. Custom shelves help you store things safely out of the way. Or, add a kitchen island for even more storage.

7. Get Added Storage

When your cabinets fit your space better, you gain more storage. Building cabinets that go to the ceiling lets you take advantage of extra inches. Or, transform the baseboard into storage for pans and other thin items. Use gaps for a slender cabinet that pulls out to store spices, sponges and small items.

Custom cabinets give you endless possibilities. Contact Edgewood Cabinetry to start changing the look and function of your kitchen.

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Can The Right Kitchen Cabinets Improve Your Health

Can The Right Kitchen Cabinets Improve Your Health?

If you’re trying to improve your health, you might be overlooking an effective way – your kitchen cabinets. Yes, kitchen cabinets improve your health.

As strange as that might sound, your health often centers around what and how you eat. The right cabinets have a surprisingly huge impact on that.

Before jumping on a fad diet, look into changing your kitchen cabinets. It could be the perfect solution for a kitchen and health makeover all in one.

Encourage More Cooking At Home

In a 2019 survey, 56% of Americans choose to eat out 2-3 times each week, while 6% say they eat out every day. Whether it’s due to a busy schedule, picky eaters or just no desire to cook, people eat out a lot. And usually, it’s not always the healthiest choices.

The right kitchen cabinets improve your health by encouraging more cooking at home. When your kitchen is designed for your needs, you’re more likely to want to spend time cooking. Even if you’re only fixing quick meals or just fixing breakfast and lunch while going out for dinner, you’re still cooking more at home. This gives you more control over what goes into your food, such as picking more natural options versus processed foods.

Design For Easy Access

Before you just remodel your kitchen to start eating healthier, it’s important to understand what needs to change. How often do you decide to eat out because you can’t get to your pots, pans and even ingredients without a struggle?

Always design your kitchen for easy access. By using custom cabinets, you’ll be able to organize items in your kitchen for easier access. Imagine a shelf that slides out, giving you instant access to neatly stacked pots. Or, what about slide out bins that keep your canned goods organized without anything falling over?

You can also customize your kitchen layout to make prepping and cooking easier. Set up your cabinets so that the items you need most for cooking are always within reach.

Set Up A Recipe Area

Another common reason people eat out is they don’t know what to fix or how. Let your kitchen cabinets improve your health by creating a recipe area. You might have a cabinet with a glass door to showcase a recipe book collection. Then, add a light under the cabinet along with a pop-up recipe book holder. This can also hold your tablet to access digital recipes. Keep a notepad or tablet nearby to jot down your grocery list as you pick out interesting recipes.

Having an area made specifically for picking out things to eat encourages you to try your hand at cooking. Of course, with the variety of cooking tips and guided videos on many cooking apps, even beginners can cook amazing meals with ease.

Add In A Prep Station

Every kitchen needs a great prep station. Having room to actually prep meals makes cooking far more enjoyable. You might even consider turning a few hours on a weekend into family meal prep day. Gather your family and have everyone pick out recipes for the week ahead. Then, start prepping what you’ll need and store it to quickly fix your meals throughout the week, even after a busy day.

Kitchen islands work great for this. They give you extra counterspace and allow you to store more cookware and small countertop appliances.

Make Your Kitchen Feel Welcoming

The most important thing to consider is to make your kitchen feel welcoming. Kitchen cabinets improve your health by not only making things easier to find, but making your kitchen feel like a fun and relaxing place to be. The right door design, hardware and colors transform a kitchen.

For instance, if your kitchen feels dull and gloomy, brighten things up with a much lighter stain or even a bright white paint. You can also change the design to make the space feel more open, even in a smaller kitchen.

Ready to improve your health with custom kitchen cabinets? Contact us today to learn how we can help.

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7 Cabinet Door Styles For Your Kitchen Remodel

7 Cabinet Door Styles For Your Kitchen Remodel

One of the easiest ways to remodel your kitchen is with new cabinet door styles. The hard part is picking the right door style for your kitchen.

Since your doors are the most visible element, it’s worth taking the extra time to look at various styles. You’ll want something that fits well with your kitchen’s theme.

Of course, you can always do a quick kitchen makeover now and then just by opting for new door styles. This is a great way to keep your kitchen modern without replacing everything.

1. Flat

One of the simplest kitchen cabinet door styles is flat. As the name implies, it’s a basic flat door without any embellishments. While it might seem plain at first glance, don’t discount it. For modern or minimalist kitchens, this is one of the best options.

Another benefit is they’re one of the easiest door styles to clean. Without any raised or recessed areas, all you have to do is wipe over them, which makes keeping your kitchen clean much easier. They’re easy to dress up with the right hardware too.

2. Shaker

Shaker is one of the most classic cabinet door styles. It’s also one of the most popular. It’s made up of five pieces and looks like a recessed flat center panel framed by four thin pieces along the sides. The design is made to emphasize utility over style, but shaker is still incredibly stylish.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that’s not quite as basic as flat, shaker is definitely the right way to go.

3. Distressed

Often, the easiest way to pick the right door style is by thinking about your overall kitchen theme or even home theme. If you want a more antique or vintage theme, distressed cabinet doors are the ideal option. The good news is distressed doors can use any other cabinet door styles. For instance, you can turn flat or shaker styles into distressed.

The process involves taking new doors and making them look older using special techniques. Since this process can cost more, it’s a good idea to opt for a simpler overall door style to stay on budget.

4. Inset

Inset doors look absolutely stunning, though they can be more expensive. Like the name says, this door style sets inside the cabinet frame versus on the outside. This also allows the hinges to be exposed, adding a little more hardware to the outside of your cabinet doors.

This style creates an elegant look. They often have a raised style as well, though flat or shaker styles work well too.

5. Square Raised

Another one of the more classic cabinet door styles is square raised. These are similar to shaker, but instead of a flat center panel, there’s a raised center design that can be shaped like a smaller version of the cabinet door or a more custom design.

It’s often referred to as square as the raised portion tends to be either square or rectangle. However, there are other similar raised door styles, such as the cathedral arch which adds a decorative raised arch at the top of the square or rectangle.

6. Beadboard

Want a nice homey look? Try beadboard. Just like the paneling by the same name, this cabinet door style turns the center panel of the cabinet door into a beadboard style. This gives your kitchen a more unique look than most other cabinet door styles.

The obvious downside is all those recessed cracks between each strip attract dirt, grease and more. So, this style can be much more difficult to clean.

7. Custom Doors

Often, it’s hard to find exactly what you’re looking for. If you have an idea that doesn’t exactly fit with other door styles, create your own. Consider designing a completely custom kitchen that includes custom doors. Mix and match some of the styles above. Or, design something that fits more with your dream vision for your kitchen.

If you’re ready to try out a new cabinet door style for your kitchen remodel, contact Edgewood Cabinetry today to get started and get you one step closer to your dream kitchen.

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Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning Tips For Longer Lasting Cabinets

Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning Tips For Longer Lasting Cabinets

You probably know you need to clean your kitchen cabinets, but it’s daunting, especially in hard to reach areas. The right kitchen cabinet cleaning tips make the job easier.

Don’t worry if you don’t love cleaning. You don’t have to tackle all your cabinets at once. In fact, you could do a section at a time. Or, do one major cleaning, followed by smaller cleaning sessions later on.

Regular cleaning makes your cabinets look amazing. It can also increase the life of your cabinets by reducing dirt and grime that can seep in, ruining your cabinets over time.

Gathering Your Supplies

First off, gather your supplies. You’ll need several rags or towels. You’ll want to keep a dry one on hand at all times for a finishing shine and to remove any lingering streaks, especially on glass.

Next, decide if you want to go with traditional cleaners or a DIY option. The former will have chemicals that don’t always mesh with your cabinets’ finish. They may also have stronger odors, so ensure you can open a window. For traditional cleaners, make sure they’ll cut grease and disinfect.

For DIY cleaners, you’ll just need to check your pantry. Even with something you make with natural ingredients, check a small area of your cabinet, such as the backside of a door, to ensure you’re not damaging the finish at all. Good Housekeeping and DIY Joy list DIY recipes for your entire home. Common ingredients include vinegar, lemons and baking soda. Some also call for dish liquid for extra grease busting powers.

You may also want cleaners for different areas. For instance, you’ll want a wood-safe cleaner for wood cabinets. An oil-based cleaner, like Murphy’s Oil Soap, helps condition the wood while cleaning. But, you’d use an all-purpose cleaner for your countertops.

Cleaning Different Finishes

The next step is to consider the differences in finishes. For painted cabinets, you don’t want to use anything too abrasive to clean or you might chip the paint. You definitely don’t want to discolor the cabinets either.

For wood and painted cabinets, let your cleaner sit on the stain for a few minutes before gently rubbing it away. With laminate finishes, you can scrub a little. With the other finishes, the stain may have soaked in deeper, hence the wait.

Dampen a cloth to use your cleaner or spray a light amount. When it comes to kitchen cabinet cleaning, less is definitely more. Use a small amount of cleaner, clean the area and then follow up with a dry towel as a finish. This creates a nice shine and doesn’t leave your cabinets wet, which can damage the finish.

Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning Schedule

One of the most important cleaning tips is to create a schedule. As a general rule, spot clean immediately when you notice a problem. This means wiping off the underside of the cabinets around your stove where grease splatters, drying areas after washing dishes, wiping down countertops after preparing food and so on.

Spot cleaning makes your job much easier later on. Of course, dust and grime build up everywhere. You might not even realize it until you clean a spot and notice the difference.

Every week, lightly spray the outsides of your cabinets with your chosen cleaner and wipe them off. This prevents thick grime buildup. Also, wipe over all cabinet hardware too. For metal, too much buildup may actually cause rust.

Depending on how heavily you use your kitchen, you may want to do a deep clean on your cabinets twice a year or more. This involves cleaning everything inside and out. Taking a section a day for a week makes this process less daunting.

Cleaning Out The Cabinets

Kitchen cabinet cleaning isn’t just for the outside surfaces. Food, cleaners and even water can leak inside your cabinets. A busted can or jar in the back of your cabinet can soak through, ruining the cabinets.

When cleaning, look inside for any issues. During your deep clean, take everything out of the cabinets, clean the insides and declutter a little. This helps you get more room and keeps the insides of your cabinets just as clean as the outside.

Ready for a kitchen remodel? Contact us today to start creating your dream kitchen, which you’ll love so much you may not mind regular cleaning.

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Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen renovation

Considerations When Redesigning Your Kitchen

Most people think of the kitchen as the heart of the home since it’s where food is prepared. We want it to be aesthetic and functional as possible and go the extra mile to achieve our dream kitchen. However, such a venture is not without pitfalls. If you have an existing kitchen built over a decade ago, it certainly won’t meet modern standards for convenience and aesthetics. It may even have outdated fixtures and setups that can’t keep up with current demands.

Redesigning Your Kitchen

Consider redesigning your kitchen from the ground up. Though such kitchen renovation projects require careful planning and foresight, these considerations will help you ensure your new kitchen truly is a space where you can enjoy spending time. A modern kitchen requires a modern solution. Here’s a look.

Stick to the Current Kitchen Layout

Sticking to the current kitchen layout will help save you money. You won’t have to spend money on expensive and time-consuming reworks for plumbing, electric circuits, and gas lines. These reworks require dismantling existing walls and flooring just to layout new lines. You will have to make do with some design limitations. This option means that the fridge, outlets, fixtures, and sink will have to stay in place. If money is not a problem, do a complete kitchen redesign by all means, including re-routing all utilities and a completely new kitchen layout.

Seek Professional Help from Designers

Seeking professional help from designers can fine-tune what you’re envisioning for your kitchen redesign. If you want a spacious kitchen with a high ceiling, your designer can make it happen. They can offer invaluable advice so that your plans run smoothly until the end. Whether you prefer cove lighting or layered lights, flooring tiles or vinyl, and granite or quartz countertop, your designer can choose which item is most appealing for your kitchen—all per your preferences.
A designer can be the ultimate guide for your kitchen redesign. Their expertise fills in the gap on the technical side of things and can narrow down the considerations of which products to purchase, how to reconfigure walls and ceilings, or what type of appliance to choose. Having someone narrowing the choices makes life easier for you.

Go for Durable Flooring with Style

The kitchen flooring will certainly take a beating in the foreseeable future. Daily food preparation entails the inevitable spills, dishware drops, or kitchen dance parties, so you may want to consider a floor that is up to the task. Select something easy to clean, and that will wear well. The kitchen sees a lot of household traffic, so take some time with this selection.

Opt for Solid Countertops

Solid, smooth countertop material offers fewer grooves and corners for dirt, grease, oil, and bacterial build-up. Hence, making solid materials such as granite or quartz the ideal choice for kitchen countertops. They are easy to clean, but they also offer that natural stone allure that homeowners fancy.

Sufficient Lighting

Lighting is more than a design feature; it’s also one of the essential safety features of any kitchen. Working in a dimly lit space while cooking can lead to mistakes that result in injury. To fully illuminate your kitchen space, consider layering light using a mix of recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting, cove lighting, and surface-mounted fixtures.

Give Your Kitchen Some Personality

The final piece of any great kitchen is its great personality. The look and feel of a kitchen is another important aspect because it’s this trait that swoops your guests off their feet and determines whether you have a kitchen that you can treasure. Stay away from commercial subway tiles, industrial furniture, or overall white color as it can look industrialized and utilitarian. You want space where you can enjoy spending time, not feel like a sterile commercial kitchen. Colorful backsplashes, stained furniture, custom cabinets, accent pieces, and flooring will give your kitchen personality.

The bottom line is: functionality and personality should be balanced. A kitchen can be highly functional complete with fixtures and appliances but have a sterile feel. Don’t forget to add a little spark of yourself.

Contact Edgewood Cabinetry

Let us design custom cabinets for your kitchen renovation. Contact Edgewood Cabinetry for more information on what we can do for you. Call 919-339-7300 to set up an appointment.

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Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets Raleigh NC
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Big Considerations for Kitchen Remodeling

Like all home projects, a kitchen remodel can get out of hand without careful planning. According to data from the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence, 47% of homeowners who have undergone kitchen remodeling wished they could have done something different given a second chance.

The good news is such a scenario is entirely preventable. It just takes some careful considerations and forethought to make sure the process goes smoothly from start to finish. Though there are numerous factors to consider, the most important one is getting your hands on quality products that maximize functionality and provide lasting comfort. Regardless, failure to consider other factors will surely put your project at risk, so before you start tearing down those old kitchen walls, here are some considerations.

Consider a Flexible Budget

Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets Raleigh NCWeighing the costs of a kitchen remodel is one of the most challenging and essential tasks. Since a budget creates constraints, big decisions such as design changes, which appliances to be used, or type of lighting are influenced by it. If the budget doesn’t permit a specific desire, you will be forced to cut out other items to accommodate the change.

With a flexible budget, you are giving yourself more leeway to accommodate changes. This flexibility means that you are opening yourself up to more options and opportunities to weed out bad decisions, whether it be a more lavish design, brighter kitchen space, or updated cabinetry.

Since a kitchen remodel is a lifetime investment, you might pour in reasonable sums of money to your budget to make sure that you get your hands on your dream kitchen.

Stick to the Current Kitchen Layout

Basing the new kitchen design to the current kitchen layout will help you save you more money. In particular, significant parts of the kitchen, such as plumbing, electric circuits, or gas lines, shouldn’t be touched to avoid unnecessary expensive re-works.

Consequently, some design aspects will have to be based on the current kitchen layout meaning the fridge, outlets, fixtures, and sink will have to stay in place. However, this approach is not written in stone provided that you are willing to spend more. If your design preferences require a complete overhaul of the kitchen, including major re-routing works, then, by all means, do it.

Consider New Appliances

Edgewood Cabinetry home tips kitchen cabinetsSince you are remodeling for a better kitchen space, new appliances should be on your item list. The only downside of it is its high upfront cost. If your budget allows it, then, by all means, purchase the newest appliance in the market.

On the other hand, you can always opt for a downgraded version provided that it meets your expectations in terms of quality and energy-efficient features. The appliance is guaranteed to realize returns throughout its lifetime in the form of fewer utility bills, longevity, and convenience.

The placement of new appliances such as dishwashers or microwaves may require additional wiring or plumbing.

Seek Professional Help from Designers

No one knows better than you how you want your kitchen to look, but seeking professional help from designers can enhance your plans smoothly from start to finish. They are aware of the most common kitchen remodeling mistakes and will guide you accordingly. Since they are professionals, have the technical expertise to execute what you are envisioning. Years of experience under their belts make them the ultimate guide for your project, whether it be which products to purchase, how to reconfigure walls and ceilings, or what type of appliance to choose. The designer can offer fantastic advice based on your specific needs.

Kitchen remodels can be expensive, so let us make it unique with custom kitchen cabinets in Raleigh NC at an affordable price. Call Edgewood Cabinetry at 919-339-7300 to set up an appointment to help you with your dream kitchen plans.

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Edgewood Cabinetry cabinets

A Basic Guide for Keeping Your Kitchen Cabinets Clean

Proper maintenance of kitchen cabinets can save you a lot of money. It also gives the kitchen a good appearance boost. The kitchen is one of the essential rooms in the house. Clean, well- maintained kitchen cabinets could boost the value of the property. Here are a few simple steps that will keep those kitchen cabinets clean and glowing.

Basic Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning

Edgewood Cabinetry cabinetsStart by wiping the cabinets with a slightly damp, lint-free cotton cloth and use a second cloth to dry and buff cabinet finish. Use mild soap and water to remove daily spills, grease, and oil, then wipe with a soft cotton cloth. Avoid using a harsh detergent that might destroy the finishing. Don’t use soaps with dye, ammonia-based cleaners, self-polishing waxes, or abrasive cleaners. Using furniture polish on cabinets might seem smart, but it’s not recommended.

Clean Spills Immediately

Keeping the cabinets dry is vital to maintain them in good condition. Use a dry cloth to wipe spills immediately with a “blotting” motion. Areas where water is common such as around sinks and dishwashers, are prone to moisture. Wipe immediately and never allow detergents or water to dry on the cabinets.

Avoid Excess Moisture

Edgewood Cabinetry custom kitchen cabinetExcess moisture is the worst enemy of furniture finish. Wet towels shouldn’t be draped on the cabinet doors or surfaces. Towel racks shouldn’t be attached to cabinet door interiors, and tea and coffee makers shouldn’t be placed where the steam hits the cabinets directly. If you notice excess moisture when cooking, open the windows to help it dry off and wipe any remaining moisture.

Avoid Excess Heat

Don’t place cabinet appliances where heat is applied directly or directed on the cabinet surfaces. The wood’s stability and finish are heavily impacted by temperature.

Never Use Abrasives

Never use steel wool, scouring pads, or powdered cleaners to clean the cabinets. These cleaning methods penetrate the cabinet surface, allowing moisture to enter, therefore damaging the cabinets and the finish. If there are stains, use mild soap and warm water to clean but avoid scratching the cabinets.

The proper care practices recommended above extend the life and beauty of your kitchen cabinets. Remember, leaving water on the cabinet surface for a long time harms the finishing, and any warranties do not cover this. Wipe spills immediately and avoid using harsh detergents and scratching methods to clean the cabinets.

For more information on caring for your custom kitchen cabinets, contact Edgewood Cabinetry.  Call 919-339-7300.

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The Ultimate Kitchen Storage Solutions For 2020

The Ultimate Kitchen Storage Solutions For 2020

The right kitchen storage solutions make your entire kitchen easier to use. You’ll even be able to forget about rummaging around looking for that perfect pot or pan. Some storage solutions are as simple as adding a shelf or organizer. Others might require custom-built cabinets for your specific storage needs. The best part about choosing storage options for your kitchen is you can customize them the way you want. After all, you should always have the kitchen of your dreams.

Roll-Out Island Storage

The Ultimate Kitchen Storage Solutions For 2020Are you making the most of your kitchen island? Add roll-out shelves behind cabinet doors to easily reach larger countertop appliances, baskets of root vegetables and anything else you need easy access to. With fold-down legs built into one of the shelves, you can even convert it to a small desk for kids to help out. If you don’t have an island, you can always custom build a portable kitchen island to fit your space better.

Open Shelves For Easy Access

Who has time to deal with doors and drawers? One of the top kitchen storage solutions for 2020 is open shelving.  These provide easy access to your most-used pots, pans, utensils, plates and more. Plus, it adds a bit of decoration to your kitchen, as long as you keep everything stacked and stored neatly. Use hooks under shelves to hang utensils and potholders. You can even add a shelf over any windows for more storage.

Cabinet Slots

Home Kitchen Makeover On A BudgetIt’s never fun trying to get the right baking pans, cutting boards and serving trays when they’re usually stacked on top of each other. They might even be underneath a stack of pots in the back of the cabinet. Customize your kitchen storage by adding vertical slots for your more slender items to slip into. Then, you’re able to reach what you want without dealing with any stacks.

Sink Storage

The faux drawer at your sink doesn’t have to be fake. In fact, turn into storage for sponges and small cleaning brushes. A small, slanted drawer pulls out just enough to fit a few small items. While it might not seem like much, it keeps at least a few more items off of your countertops.

Miniature Pull Out Pantry

While a walk-in pantry is always wonderful to have, you might not always have room. Or, maybe you need even more kitchen storage space. Either way, opt for a miniature pull out pantry. These are small custom pantries that slide between two cabinets. They’re usually wide enough to store spices, cans of foods, cleaning supplies and other smaller kitchen supplies.

Pantry Doors Inside Cabinets

Miniature pantry not quite enough? Try pantry doors inside cabinets. While you’ll need to reinforce the cabinet doors to prevent sagging, add several inches of extra space inside your cabinet doors. This is a great addition to cabinets that typically store larger items, but don’t completely fill the cabinet.

Pot And Plate Drawers

A popular kitchen storage trend for 2020 is skipping cabinets when it comes to pots and plates. Instead, store it all in drawers. Instead of having to reach up to into cabinets for your breakable plates, you reach down into a drawer. Instead of trying to dig out pots in the back of cabinets, you simply pull out a drawer. Consider using pegs to create custom dividers for your plates and even bowls to stack between.

Custom Wine Storage

Your options are wide open when it comes to wine storage in your kitchen. As long as it’s a cool, darker place, you’re all set. Kitchen islands with custom wine racks built in work extremely well. You might also consider adding a wine rack under open shelves that connect the shelves to the countertop.

Corner Drawers

What are you supposed to do with that awkward corner space? A Lazy Susan doesn’t have to be the only answer. Instead, try corner drawers. They look a little weird when you pull them out, but they offer a far deeper storage space and it makes getting to things much easier.

If you’re ready to customize your kitchen storage, contact us today to find out how Edgewood Cabinetry can help make your kitchen easier to use.

Image: Cooktime

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