Posts

white kitchen design with island

Thinking about getting new kitchen cabinets? You probably have tons of questions. And we have answers! Here are five of the most frequently asked questions about the kitchen cabinet and design installation process.

1. Will I Need a Permit?

The answer to this depends on where you live, but it’s possible. That’s because installing custom kitchen cabinets sometimes requires modifications to your electrical system. Additionally, you may need to modify your plumbing. And you may even want to move a wall. All of these processes require permits.

Don’t be intimidated, though! Permits and inspections serve to protect you from harm. And as a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, we are happy to help you through the process. You can learn more about which projects typically require permits here. But remember, you should always check with your city before starting any home improvement project to be certain of your local requirements. Here’s additional information on which kitchen projects typically don’t require permits.

2. How Long Will It Take?

When you opt for custom kitchen cabinets, you’re hiring a professional to make and install cabinets for your unique space. The time it takes to complete the project is highly variable and dependent on your exact circumstances. For example, more elaborate designs and unusual sizes take longer to make than stock cabinets do. Everything from the layout of your kitchen to the design you choose will impact the time it takes to complete your remodel.

What you can expect, however, is clear and continuing communication throughout the process. We want you to be 100% satisfied with your results, so we take the time to plan every detail. As a result, you receive well-planned and well-built cabinets that fit perfectly into your home. And doing things right the first time always saves you time in the end.

3. How Does The Design Process Work?

Typically, we begin the design process by working directly with you. After all, they’re your cabinets, and we want to ensure everything is exactly how you want it. So we’ll discuss options with you and help you establish a budget. And we’ll answer any questions you have throughout the process.

Finally, we’ll create exact samples of your cabinet doors for your approval. Then, once you have approved the final design, we’ll move ahead to the construction and installation process.

4. How Do I Know Which Species of Wood to Choose?

Rest assured that we will help you select the best species of wood for your needs. Since we build custom cabinets, we don’t place limits on the type of wood you can choose for your kitchen. So if there’s a species you love, bring it up! We’ll let you know if it will work for your intended purpose.

In general, however, close-grained hardwoods are the best species for your kitchen. That’s because they hold up well to all the environmental factors they will inevitably be exposed to. Cleaners, steam, and water, for example, all take a toll on cabinets. Close-grained hardwoods, like maple, cherry, and hickory, are better able to withstand these exposures than are softer woods.

5. Can I Choose Painted Cabinets to Save Money?

When it comes to custom cabinets, the final price will depend on the options you select, and that includes the finish. Generally speaking, it’s true that painted cabinets are cheaper than those with natural wood finishes. However, it’s important to remember that here at Edgewood Cabinetry, we make all our cabinets from high-grade wood and use specialized construction techniques. As such, it’s not always the case that painted cabinets are cheaper.

For instance, specialty paints and complex door designs are often more expensive than a simple door with a clear lacquer finish. Indeed, the style of door you choose, along with the type of finish, typically has more influence on the overall price than whether you choose paint versus wood. Thankfully, though, it doesn’t hurt to explore your options. We don’t charge for design consultation, so there’s no obstacle to finding a style you love that fits within your budget.

Do you have additional questions about our kitchen cabinet and design installation process? Get more information by reading our FAQ  or send us a message and we’ll be in touch soon!

 

kitchen island

Kitchens have morphed into multipurpose rooms, so homeowners today don’t want generic designs. If your kitchen feels a little drab, it’s time for a refresh. Find the inspiration you need with the six best kitchen design trends of 2022.

1. Personalized Utility

With so many people now working from home, at least part-time, families spend significant amounts of time in their kitchens. As a result, homeowners are craving custom organization. In 2022, kitchens bring both style and function to the home.

So if you’ve been thinking about investing in custom kitchen storage solutions, this is a great time to get started. Here at Edgewood Cabinetry, we offer a plethora of custom kitchen cabinet options, so you’re sure to find a style you love with the personalized utility you need. Add flair and function to your kitchen with options like custom-designed range hoods and vents, wine racks, pull-outs, and lazy Susans.

2. Wine Storage

Demand for wine storage has been high for the past few years, and that trend continues in 2022. Homeowners are adding dedicated space for their wine collections. So whether you just relax with an occasional glass of chardonnay or are a wine connoisseur with an enviable collection of vintage wines, adding wine storage to your kitchen is a trend you’ll want to follow.

And because 2022 is all about making your kitchen work for you, you can decide exactly how much space you want to devote to wine storage. Add a small wine rack in the corner of your kitchen, or go all out with a custom home bar. Kitchen island bars and refrigerated cabinets are excellent ideas for adding wine storage to your kitchen.

3. An Appreciation for Nature

Kitchens that celebrate nature are in style now. So this is an excellent time to consider replacing your stock cabinets with all-wood options. Using natural materials, such as quality wood cabinets invokes a peaceful feeling.

Pair your wood cabinets with other elements from nature, such as wood or bamboo bowls, live plants, cut flowers, and, of course, plenty of natural light.

4. Color

This year, we’re seeing homeowners adding color to their kitchens to bring in some of their own personalities. And again, you can use as much or as little color as you want and still be on trend. Dark, bold colors like oxblood red and navy blue work well to add a strong statement. Or choose a subtler color like sage green for a more tranquil atmosphere.

Try adding color to just your kitchen island or your backsplash to create a pop of color. Want a larger area? Many people choose to add color to their bottom cabinets while leaving the top cabinets and walls neutral. Or go all-in with floor-to ceiling color. Want something in between? Try traditional European style cabinets in Parisian blue to add color and classic charm to your kitchen.

5. Unique Style

With custom cabinets, the sky is the limit, and many homeowners are taking advantage of that flexibility to infuse their own unique personality into their kitchens. Ditch the stock cabinets, and come up with your own unique style.

Try fluted or arched cabinets for a unique design. Or add mesh panels, glass display doors, or ornate elements to create a one-of-a kind kitchen. Want a round kitchen island instead of a rectangle? Go for it! Now is the time to let your imagination run wild, and turn your kitchen dreams into reality.

6. Multi-functionality

Homeowners today use their kitchens for more than just cooking and eating. They want a gathering place where they can enjoy spending time with family and friends, a workspace to tackle tasks when working from home, and a place their children feel comfortable sitting and finishing their homework.

Kitchens in 2022 reflect those desires, with many homeowners opting to add comfortable seating, kitchen islands with an extended countertop for additional seating and work space, or including tech, like televisions, charging stations, and tablet stands. After all, how else are you going to follow along with your favorite new cooking class?

We love that 2022’s kitchen trends are all about making your home perfect for you. If you’re ready to start personalizing your kitchen, reach out, and we’ll be happy to help.

 

New kitchen cabinets are a major investment. You want to know that your money is well-spent on cabinets you’ll continue to love for many years to come. That’s why it’s important to prepare before you purchase. Here are four things you should know before buying kitchen cabinets.

1. What’s Your Budget?

Quality kitchen cabinets aren’t cheap. In fact, new cabinets often make up 50% of the cost of remodeling a kitchen. But selecting well-made cabinets is a worthwhile investment. After all, you likely use your kitchen cabinets on a daily basis. And installing new cabinets dramatically changes the look of your kitchen, so it’s one of the best ways to upgrade your space.

However, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you know your budget going into the project. That way, when you start getting quotes, you’ll have realistic expectations and can also prioritize what you want most if you’re working with a limited budget. For example, you may decide to keep some custom features but go with a cheaper species of wood. Or maybe the style is most important to you, so you’re willing to sacrifice some custom upgrades.

2. What Style Do You Like?

Cabinets come in a wide variety of styles, and that’s especially true when you work with a custom cabinet company like Edgewood Cabinetry. Having some idea of what you’re looking for saves you time during the purchase process (although we’re always happy to help you decide!). Do you love the European aesthetic with lots of embellishments? You want traditional cabinets. Prefer a minimalist design instead? Modern or Shaker styles will likely suit you best. Or maybe you’re dreaming of a country kitchen, in which case country/rustic cabinets are a perfect fit.

You should also think about the type of wood you like, along with the color of paint or stain you prefer. For example, Edgewood Cabinetry offers many wood species, such as mahogany, maple, oak, cherry, hickory, and pine. We can finish your cabinets with stains and glazing if you want to highlight the natural wood-grain. Or we can color-match any color of paint to give your cabinets the perfect look.

3. How Much Do You Want to Customize?

You’ll need to decide whether you want stock,  semi-custom, or fully custom cabinets. Stock cabinets are the cheapest option since they come in standard sizes. However, you should beware of purchasing stock cabinets on price alone. Many stock cabinets are made of particleboard or plywood covered in veneer and are not built to last. At Edgewood Cabinetry, our stock cabinets are always built from natural wood and are of the same superior quality as our custom cabinets. They’re simply made in standard sizes and don’t come with custom features.

Semi-custom cabinets are cheaper than fully-custom cabinets but still allow you to add some custom features. You can modify accents or add accessories, within the confines of standard stock cabinet sizes. If you’d like a few custom features but don’t have the budget to invest in fully custom cabinets, semi-custom cabinets are the way to go.

Finally, custom cabinets give you an unlimited range of options. You can customize every detail and add as many features as you like. Plus, custom cabinets are built to fit your space, so they don’t leave awkward gaps. And they allow you to maximize space by transforming every available inch into usable storage. The sky is the limit when it comes to custom cabinet options, so this is the choice to make your dream kitchen come to life.

4. What Options Do You Love?

Think about how you use your space and which features you need. Custom options and accessories always raise the price of your cabinets, but it’s a worthwhile investment to increase the beauty and utility of your kitchen. For example, you can add lazy Susans, drawer inserts, cabinet organizes, spice racks, pull-outs, and more. Decide what features are most important to you and which are nice-to-haves. That way, you’re prepared to make decisions when you begin getting quotes.

Ready to get started on your new kitchen cabinets? Contact us here. We’re happy to help.

Remodeling your kitchen is exciting, but it can also be difficult to decide exactly what you want. Will a cozy country kitchen become the heart of your home, or is a sleek, modern kitchen more your style? Since you’re investing time and money into your remodeling project, you understandably want to make sure you choose a design you’ll love for years to come. Here are six design considerations to help you decide.

1. Overall Feel

First, you need to consider the overall feeling you want from your kitchen. Do you find sleek, clean, horizontal lines exhilirating? Or would you prefer a cozier, more rustic style that invites your family and friends to sit and have a long chat over meals? Do you like to have everything out of sight, or do you enjoy displaying pots, canisters, utensils, and decorative items?

If you would rather have a sleek, streamlined kitchen, a modern style is best for you. In contrast, if you’d like your kitchen to feel warm and cozy, a country style is a better choice.

2. Range

Your range is often a focal point in the kitchen, so you’ll want it to match the overall design. A cast iron range cooker is the quintessential choice for a country kitchen, but you can also create a country style with a brightly-colored range, or well-chosen neutral colors. On the other hand, stainless steel is the go-to option for a modern kitchen.

Remember, your range hood will also factor into the look of your kitchen. That’s why we offer custom range hoods and vents to match your cabinets and overall design.

3. Colors

Colors play a big part in creating the style you’re looking for. A modern kitchen typically uses black, grey, or white, in combination with stainless steel appliances. On the other hand, a country kitchen may make use of white elements for an airy feel, add brighter colors like blues or yellows, or focus on the wooden elements, by featuring glazed or stained maple, hickory, or oak.

4. Lighting

Your choice of lighting will also impact your kitchen’s style. Modern kitchens typically feature bright lighting that accentuates the sleek lines and smooth surfaces of the kitchen. Additionally, modern kitchens typically have few fixtures, so recessed lighting is often a good choice. Conversely, country kitchens often opt for warmer lighting, decorative fixtures, and plenty of natural light.

5. Accents and Hardware

Your choice of accents and hardware can make or break your look. If you prefer a minamalist style, a modern kitchen will work well for you. Modern kitchens typically include slim, sleek hardware and few, if any, accents. On the other hand, if you enjoy decorative accents and hardware, a country kitchen is the perfect choice. You’ll be able to add tons of charm through decorative accents and hardware like wrought iron fixtures, wire mesh, a butler’s sink, brass rails, and colored tiles.

6. Cabinets

Cabinets may be the most important design element in your kitchen. They take up much of your kitchen’s space, so getting them right is crucial. If you’ve decided that you prefer a modern, sleek look, you’ll typically want cabinets that have flat surfaces to create a streamlined effect. You may choose not to include visible hardware, or opt for thin, horizontal cabinet pulls that follow the same sleek lines as the rest of your kitchen.

More partial to a provincial or farmhouse atmosphere? Raised panel doors, decorative glass panels, and wire mesh will all add to the country appeal of your kitchen. Consider featuring a custom pantry with barn doors, or a cold larder to infuse your kitchen with old-time country charm.

Whether you choose to have a country kitchen or a modern one, Edgewood Cabinetry is here to help. We’ll work with you to help you design cabinets that fit perfectly with the style you want to achieve.  And with our plethora of custom options, you can be certain your kitchen cabinets will offer every functional element you need in a style you love. Contact us here to get started.

Changing the look of your kitchen is easier than you might think. If your kitchen is in need of a refresh, you don’t have to wait until you can do a full  remodel. Breathe new life into your kitchen with these seven simple DIY tips.

1. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

Painting your kitchen is one of the easiest ways to give it a fresh look. Furthermore, it can be accomplished in a single weekend! Choose light colors to brighten your space. Or go for a two-tone look, with a dark color on the bottom and light on top.

2. Choose a New Backsplash

Adding a new backsplash will instantly refresh your kitchen. Bright colors and patterns will add a focal point and pop of color to an otherwise monotone kitchen. In contrast, if your kitchen already has a lot going on, choosing a more muted backsplash will lend a calmer vibe to the room. HGTV has some great ideas here.

3. Organize Your Counters

Clearing counter space will help your kitchen feel larger and more relaxing. Accordingly, you’ll want to store anything you’re not using out of sight. If you must store items on the counter, choose functional storage containers that are also decorative. Colorful canisters, decorative bottles for oil and vinegar, fun or sophisticated fruit bowls, and stylish bread boxes are all great choices to clear counter space while adding personality to your kitchen.

4. Bring the Outside In

Including plants or other natural elements in your kitchen is a wonderful way to increase the ambiance, to say nothing of the indoor air quality! There are plenty of plants that thrive in the kitchen, even if you’re not a master gardener. Good Housekeeping has an excellent list of hardy plants here.

Adding cut flowers is another excellent option. Alternatively, in the fall and winter, you can opt for decorative touches like dried corn, pumpkins, berries, and pinecones.

5. Put a Rug Down

Rugs have the ability to instantly transform the look of any room, and that includes your kitchen. If your kitchen has a neutral color scheme, a brightly-colored rug could be just the pick-up you need to lend a cheerful note to the room. Additionally, keeping a selection of rugs around allows you to refresh your room as often as you want simply by switching them up!

Remember that you should always choose rugs that have a rubber backing for use in the kitchen. Since most kitchens have smooth floors, a rubber backing is essential to prevent accidental slips and falls.

6. Change Your Window Treatments

Hanging new window treatments is one of the simplest ways to breathe new life into your kitchen. Sheer curtains add a light, flowy touch to your kitchen, while heavier fabrics like burlap can be perfect to offset dark colors, like navy. Or opt for blinds to add a clean look. Keep in mind that patterned window treatments may make small windows look even smaller, so save those for large windows instead.

7. Reconsider Your Lighting

Having the right lighting can make or break your kitchen. Consider adding a new light fixture to make a dramatic difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. Alternatively, just experimenting with different bulbs can give your kitchen a fresh new look. Keep in mind that counters look best with bright lighting, so something as simple as strips of stick-on lighting underneath your cabinets can really brighten up your room.

Breathing new life into your kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank or require an extensive time commitment. Try the above tips to quickly and easily refresh your kitchen.

While simple DIY projects can go a long way toward breathing new life into your kitchen, sometimes you need a professional touch. If you’re ready to remodel your kitchen with customized cabinets and kitchen solutions, check out just a few of the ways you can get the customized style and storage you need here.

Need help? Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to walk you through our options and design process.

Image: Pexels

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.

Image: difisher

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.

Image: Christa Grover

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.

Image: Conscious Design

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.

Image: jessebridgewater