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Renovation Tips - Kitchen Cabinets Buying Guide

Renovation Tips – Kitchen Cabinets Buying Guide

A large part of renovating your kitchen means buying new cabinets. While you can repair or reface, sometimes it’s time to start from scratch for the look and feel you want.

To better understand what your options are, it’s a good idea to use a kitchen cabinets buying guide. You’ll learn the types of cabinets and what factors to consider before you buy.

From storage options to the color, picking the right cabinets drastically changes your kitchen and makes it perfect for your needs.

Decide On Your Budget

The first thing to consider is your budget. For most people, you’ll want to strike a balance between cost and quality. You have three main options to choose from:

  • Stock – Pre-fabricated cabinets that often use cheaper materials. You can buy and install them quickly, but you’re limited on options. They also may not last as long as custom or semi-custom.
  • Semi-custom – These offer a bit better construction and materials and allow you to customize some features. This gives you a better fit if you have odd spaces or non-conventional measurements in your kitchen.
  • Custom – These offer the most flexibility for customizing the look, feel and function. Plus, they’re made from superior materials. The downside is they do cost more and take longer to make.

We’ve provided a kitchen cabinets buying guide that compares these three types in more detail to give you a better idea of the differences. We’ve also detailed the benefits of going with custom kitchen cabinets.

In most cases, semi-custom and custom are your best options. They’ll last longer and offer you the chance to customize your kitchen. You can save money on both by choosing different types of wood and finishes. Cutting your budget in other areas allows you to buy higher quality cabinets that will last much longer. Some people opt for a mix of cabinet types, such as using custom hardwood around the sink and in odd spaces, while buying stock with custom doors for the rest.

Consider Construction Quality

No matter what type of kitchen cabinets you choose, always check for construction quality. For instance, if you’re opting for stock, check to see how edges are fastened, how thick the wood is, how easily the doors and drawers open and so on. Some stock cabinets are made fairly well. However, they typically use particleboard or a medium-density fiberboard that doesn’t last for the lifetime of your kitchen.

Even with custom cabinets, enquire about how they’re made. Ask about the materials used. If you visit in person, reputable builders should have samples to look at and pictures of past projects.

Think About Color

The next part of any good kitchen cabinets buying guide is choosing your color. You usually have three main options. Lighter woods, darker woods and painted. For a natural wood look, choose between lighter or darker woods. These are then stained to protect the wood and customize the final finish. Painted can be any wood type, but painted a non-natural wood color, such as red or white.

Painting works well, but be careful about your color combinations so you don’t make your kitchen look too dark or dingy. HGTV offers advice on picking the perfect color based on the theme of your kitchen.

For stained wood, darker woods like mahogany look beautiful, but opt for lighter floors to prevent your entire kitchen from looking too dark. With lighter woods like oak, accentuate with darker elements, like countertops and backsplashes.

Think About Extras

Sometimes, it’s easy to think of kitchen cabinets as just a box, but they can offer so much more. As part of this kitchen cabinets buying guide, stop to consider built-in storage and organization options. For instance, you may want to buy cabinets with slide-out shelves or a Lazy Susan. While you can’t always get these extras with stock, semi-custom offers some additional options. Custom cabinets are still the only option that offers fully customized built-in storage.

Choose One You Can Trust

Finally, no matter what cabinets you choose, always opt for a brand and/or builder you can trust. Beware super cheap brands and cabinetry services. The prices sound great, but do they have a solid reputation and positive reviews? Research brands, stores and services before buying. This ensures you’re getting the best quality for your money. Plus, look for cabinets that come with a warranty. After all, you don’t want to have to renovate out of pocket in a few months if something goes wrong due to poor construction or bad materials.

Interested in renovating your kitchen with custom cabinets? Contact us today with any questions and to find out how we can help.

Image: Fran Hogan

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Kitchen Storage Ideas Whats In and Whats Out

Kitchen Storage Ideas – What’s In And What’s Out

Kitchen storage ideas are everywhere, but which ones are best for your kitchen? It’s a good idea to take a look at what works and what doesn’t before you invest in any kitchen cabinet remodel.

The most important rule when it comes to kitchen storage is to do what’s most practical and convenient for you. After all, it’s your kitchen and you want it to be easy to use.

As you try to decide, consider ideas that work for all types of kitchens. Also, consider ideas that look great on paper, but rarely work out well in an actual kitchen.

In – Retractable Pan Racks

Stacks of pans are never fun to deal with. They’re heavy and you can easily scratch your pans. Instead, opt for a retractable pan rack that slides into your cabinet. Store your pans and their lids neatly. Simply slide out the rack to get the pan you need.

Out – Space Above Cabinets

On the surface, this might seem like one of those absolutely genius kitchen storage ideas. After all, you can use the space to store decorative items or items you don’t use often. In reality, that’s just space collecting dust. You could use it for taller cabinets and an extra shelf inside those cabinets to store more items without worrying about your kitchen turning into an army of dust bunnies.

In – Under Cabinet Hanging Storage

For some, this idea might seem more like an out. However, if you have ample space between your upper cabinets and your countertop, adding a rail to hang commonly used cups and cooking utensils can be an ideal way to save space and quickly reach kitchen items. You can hang items directly from the bottom of your cabinets, but a rail along the wall or under the cabinets looks neater.

Out – Storing Items Too Far Away

One of the top kitchen storage mistakes you can make is storing items too far away from where you’ll use them. For instance, if you store most of your dishes in the dining room, but usually eat in the kitchen or living room, you’ll waste a lot of time going back and forth. The same holds true if you store your favorite pot on the other side of the kitchen from your stove.

The best kitchen storage ideas make it easier to use your kitchen. Always organize your storage so items are close to where you’ll use them the most.

In – Side Cabinet Storage

Side cabinet storage is one of the top kitchen storage ideas that never goes out of style. While you can go overboard with this one, it’s a great way to store smaller items. Adding small shelves, racks or hooks to the sides of cabinets allows you to gain more space for spices, cookbooks and cooking utensils. You can also add small herb pots on cabinets near windows to grow your own fresh herbs all year.

Out – Relying On Organizers

Cabinet and drawer organizers are great, but not if they take up all your space. Only use these if they help. Adding too many plastic organizers and Lazy Susans can harm your storage potential. Use these sparingly and opt more for built-in storage options.

In – Inside Door Storage

Prefer kitchen storage ideas that hide your items? Add small racks and baskets to the inside of your cabinet doors. While you shouldn’t store anything heavy, this makes a great place to store small or thin items that could easily get pushed to the back of your cabinets. Storage bags, cutting boards, spices and cooking spoons all store well on the inside of cabinet doors.

Out – Too Much Open Shelving

Open shelving is one of those brilliant kitchen storage ideas that gets overused. Having a few open shelving areas works well for commonly used items or even a few knick-knacks. However, this is also an opportunity for things to get knocked off easily or gather dust. Use glass doors to store items you want to see without the risk of them getting broken or lost. Save open shelving for very specific items that you’ll use almost every day.

In – Other Great Kitchen Storage Ideas

If you’re looking for even more inspiring kitchen storage ideas, use the following resources:

Now that you’re feeling inspired to add different types of storage to your kitchen, contact us today to learn how we can build custom kitchen cabinets for your unique storage needs.

Image: Josh Hemsley

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8 Kitchen Cabinet Designs For Tiny Kitchens

8 Kitchen Cabinet Designs For Tiny Kitchens

Many people think their options are limited when it comes to a smaller kitchen, but thanks to creative kitchen cabinet designs for tiny kitchens, you can do a lot with that space.

With some simple customizations and utilizing commonly unused spaces, you can fit more dishes, pans and more.

The great thing is you’ll also make your kitchen feel less cluttered by not having to stack everything on your countertops. All it takes is thinking a bit outside the box.

1. Add Cabinets Above Your Refrigerator

Many kitchens have an open space above the refrigerator. You may also have space to the side of your fridge too. This is unused real estate that’s perfect for kitchens. Adding top cabinets above your refrigerator is ideal for items you don’t use often. If you have space, add a thin pantry cabinet to the side of your fridge. This is perfect for canned goods and even racks for plates.

2. Add Toekick Drawers

The baseboard around the bottom of your cabinets is nice, but what if you could use the space? One of the best kitchen cabinet designs for tiny kitchens is toekick drawers. These are tiny drawers under your cabinets. You’d be amazed at how many pans, lids, cutting boards and cleaning supplies you can get in those small areas. This frees up your other cabinets for other items.

3. Add Shelves Above Your Oven

If you have a large range hood above your stove, you might want to replace it with a smaller hood. This then frees up space above the hood to add shelves or cabinets. This is the ideal place for storing mixing bowls or even hanging smaller pots. If you don’t want a cabinet, adding hooks to hang pots and lids works well here too.

4. Add Storage In An Island

If your kitchen has an island or room for a small island, you’ll love these kitchen cabinet designs for tiny kitchens. Adding an open bin under the countertop gives you ample storage for cookbooks and cooking utensils. You could even store your most frequently used plates.

An island can also conceal your kitchen table. Adding a pull-out or fold-out table to your island saves you space, but still gives you room to eat. It also serves as an additional prep area.

5. Build Around Your Doorframe

For kitchens with space around the doorframe, take advantage of it. While you probably won’t want traditional cabinets, thin floor to ceiling shelving offers space for dishes, knick-knacks, herbs and more. Never underestimate how much you can store in even a tiny area. To prevent a cluttered look, you may want to install a door on the shelves to hide away your dishes. For more display-type items, glass doors work well.

6. Use Corner Cabinets

Corners serve as the perfect place for kitchen cabinet designs for tiny kitchens. Instead of losing space in the corner of a wall, continue your cabinets by adding a corner cabinet. For instance, in the picture for this post, the cabinets around the fridge could be turned into a corner-style pantry, offering additional space and storage.

7. Build Around Your Window

Typically, a window is avoided when it comes to adding cabinets. However, it’s easy to add a small shelf or cabinet above and to the sides of your kitchen window. You may want to consider simply adding open shelves to the outside of the cabinets near your window if you want to grow herbs or store often used items. A plate rack above the window works well to quickly grab the plates you use most often.

8. Utilize All Cabinet Space

Many kitchen cabinet designs for tiny kitchens don’t stop at the inside of the cabinet. You can get far more storage space out of your cabinets by utilizing all the space they provide. For instance, a cabinet that doesn’t set against a wall is the perfect place for open shelves or a rack for storing smaller items. You can hang items on the sides of cabinets with hooks or magnets.

The underside of your cabinets is the perfect place for small shelves and racks. For instance, you could store all your spices by adding a rack under a top cabinet.

Getting Inspired

Tiny kitchens don’t mean you can’t get creative. From the design to the storage space, you have numerous options. Some great places to go for inspiration include:

Now that you’re inspired to redesign your tiny kitchen, contact us today to get your project started with custom kitchen cabinet designs.

Image: Christian Mackie

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Why You Shouldn't Use Particle Board For Cabinets In Wet Areas

Why You Shouldn’t Use Particle Board For Cabinets In Wet Areas

It’s not unusual to use particle board for cabinets to save money. While it is a cheaper alternative to hardwood, it’s not always the best choice.

This is especially true when it comes to cabinets in wet areas. Instead of the long-lasting cabinets you hoped for, you end up with a damaged mess.

Before you opt for particle board for all your cabinets, make sure it’s the right material for the area.

Understanding Particle Board

Hardwood is solid wood. Particle board is made up from the scraps left behind. Small wood scraps and larger wood shavings are put together to create boards. This is what makes it cheaper. Due to the composition, particle board isn’t quite as vulnerable to temperature changes as something like plywood. However, it’s a weaker type of wood since it’s not solid.

This makes it far more vulnerable to moisture. Think of particle board as a sponge. While too much water isn’t good for any cabinets, it’s a disaster for plywood.

Permanent Damage

When water comes into contact with hardwood, the damage usually isn’t permanent if you clean it up as soon as possible. For instance, hardwood used in a bathroom may swell and contract from time to time, but stays strong.

Using particle board for cabinets in wet areas means you’ll have permanent damage. When water comes into contact with any unsealed portion of the board, it causes swell and deform. This can happen quickly.

Now, imagine how particle board would do in a humid environment, such as a bathroom. You’ll soon find your new cabinets losing their shape. If you have particle board shelves, they’ll buckle easily as the moisture weakens them. If you happen to have a leak, you’ll have to completely replace any affected boards as the damage is permanent.

Sealed Particle Board Is Still Vulnerable

Some particle board manufacturers seal the boards or put edging on them to help reduce the chance of water damage. However, it’s still risky. Particle board isn’t the strongest option available. This means it’s more susceptible to scratches and dings.

All it takes is a single deep scratch or a small hole for moisture to enter. For instance, if you put a screw through the board, you’ve left the board open to moisture. Plus, it’s not uncommon for sealed particle board to fall apart over time. Wet conditions gradually break down the glue holding the sealed layer in place. As this warps, the particle board starts to swell and warp as well.

While it will last longer than standard particle board, you will need to replace it far sooner than you would with hardwood.

Costs More

Yes, using particle board for cabinets can save you money, but not if you use it in wet areas. If you save 10% or more with particle board, but have to repair or replace your cabinets in three to five years, you’ve lost your savings.

It’s much better to only use particle board in dry areas. The more humid the environment or the bigger the chance of leaks, the more likely you are to have to replace the cabinets sooner rather than later.

In most cases, it’s difficult to just make repairs. This is especially true if the majority of the cabinet is particle board. The joints warp, making it difficult to align shelves and drawers again. Instead, you’re left paying to have the cabinets rebuilt. Using hardwood costs more initially, but you’ll have cabinets that last for decades instead of just a few years.

Plan Out Your Design

Always take time to plan out your cabinet design to see the best places to cut costs. Use particle board for cabinets where it makes sense, such as for dry areas and cabinets that won’t have to hold heavy weight. For cabinets in wet areas, always opt for hardwood that’s fully sealed to ensure your cabinets last.

Contact us today to learn more about getting the custom cabinets of your dreams along with the best types of wood to use.

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Spice Storage Solutions

The Best Ways to Store Your Spices

As a homeowner, you are always looking for new and better ways to improve your home, small changes can have big long term effects. The main focus of this article is the kitchen, and specifically how you store your spices and herbs. How do you store your spices? Most of us just place them on a single shelf and push things to the front as we use them, meaning older or lesser-used spices are going to populate the back. Other people prefer to have them better organized and grouped up so they can be found and used easier. There are many ways you can improve your spice cabinet, and we’re going to go into some of those!

Three Nifty Ideas for Storing Spices

  1. Custom cabinets for spice rack drawers: The beauty about this option is you can dictate exact size and parameters according to what you think you need. You also have the luxury of building it where you want it instead of trying to fit it in somewhere. You even get to decide what material and look you want overall. This could help your storage space blend with the entire home if your home has a theme. Just having complete control over your storage solution is fantastic, you can get exactly what you want and you don’t have to settle for whatever pre-made thing fits in your kitchen. It makes being organized fun!
  2. Open shelving: This is the most common means of storing spice. It simply requires a flat open base area for you to put and access all of your spices from. It is the most economical way and is common in most homes. The beauty of it is that you are able to see all the spices at once. You are also able to reach out and grab anything that you want as you cook without having to open a drawer of shelf door. You can also tell when you’re running low on something with ease. So make use of that free wall and stack some shelves for your spices.
  3. Pull out spice rack doors and spice racks: This is a good option for people who value privacy and uniformity. People that prefer this tend to be fans of more organized things, not wanting all their spices to just be out in the open. The pull out drawer both reduces the risk of accident of breakage and adds a certain degree of class as you don’t have to look at a bunch of unorganized spices at all times. This can go a long way towards making your kitchen look better and making your life easier.

Don’t just settle for keeping your spices in a cabinet where you can barely access them, or on a counter where they look bad and out of place. Get a nice but simple storage option and you’ll never have to worry about it again. Having all the things you need organized and arranged just makes your life that much easier. We create some of the finest custom cabinets and storage options around, if you need it built we can do it.

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Kitchen Cabinet Organization Tips

Tips For Getting Your Kitchen Cabinets Organized

Do you keep misplacing things in your kitchen on a regular basis? Are you tired of having to search for things you need constantly? Would more useable storage do wonders for your food and sanity? Here are some good tips to help keep your cabinets organized so instead of spending forever looking for what you need, you can be cooking instead!

  • Do it once and be done: Don’t waste time by going through parts of your cabinets at a time. Set aside a few hours one day, and go through every single thing in every single cabinet. You’ll thank yourself later when it’s all done and you don’t have to worry about it anymore. It is a pain, that’s why you need to knock it out. Anything you probably won’t need or is old needs to just be thrown out. Don’t hold on to stuff unnecessarily.
  • Keep an eye on dates and quantities any time you use anything: The best part about doing one big cleaning is that, as long as you’re mindful and pay attention from then on, you’ll never have to clean it again! Just check dates when you use things, put pans and other cooking gear back where it belongs every time.
  • Only purchase what you need: Buying the right amount of food is hard, it’s so easy to buy too much or too little. Most people end up buying too much. This makes it hard to organize their cabinets since there is not enough space to keep it all, and it also means you risk things expiring before you get the chance to use them. It’s a good practice to plan your meals out so that you can know what exactly you need to buy. This will also help you reduce waste and increase your organization space. Make sure that you rotate your food storage so that nothing expires or rots before use.
  • Make sure that you group similar objects: Divide your belongings into categories such as pans, pots, baking items, and even spices, among other things. This will make it easier to find your items.
  • Designate a container or bin for loose items: Most people have very random items in their cabinets. Make sure that you put your foodstuffs in clear and similar containers. This includes things such as baggies, utensils, snacks and kitchen essentials such as pancake mix, sugar, and flour. Using mismatched boxes just makes your cabinet look cluttered and fuller than it is. If you need the recipe on the box of the cereal, you could cut it out and glue it to the clear storage box or keep it in a drawer with other recipes.
  • Label the containers and bins: Once you place the items on the containers, make sure that you label them. You could use a permanent marker and tape for this. Make sure that label faces outwards to enable you to read it without having to move anything around.
  • Hang items on the cabinets: Make sure that you hang the items in the inside of the cabinets such as potholders, cups or spoons. They will take up way less space and will make it easier to locate the things you use most.

The best thing you can do for yourself is clean out your cabinets one good time, and then keep them clean and tidy from then on. It’s easier to maintain something than to have to do it from the beginning. It may seem like a daunting task but if you set aside an entire day and just get it done, you’ll thank yourself so much down the road. Take the step, go ahead and do it! If your cabinets are old and you think new custom made cabinets could do you a lot of good, we can help you out with that! 

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Home Kitchen Makeover On A Budget

Home Kitchen Makeover On A Budget

A kitchen makeover doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you’d be surprised at how much you can change and still come in under even the tightest budgets.

While you may not be able to do a full-scale remodel, your kitchen can look new and fresh. You can even create an entirely new theme for the room.

All it takes is a little planning and knowing what to replace to create the kitchen of your dreams while still making your wallet happy.

Repaint Or Refinish

Did you know a full kitchen remodel can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000? That’s just not in most people’s budgets, especially if the kitchen is still fully functional. The good news is you can spend significantly less and still get a newer looking kitchen by repainting or refinishing your cabinets, walls and ceiling.

Maybe you have painted cabinets right now, but want a more natural look. Remove the paint, sand the cabinets and stain them. Suddenly, everything looks drastically different and you only spent a little on each cabinet, coming in at less than $1,000.

Get Custom Cabinet Doors

If your cabinets are still in great shape, don’t replace them. Instead, get a new look by having custom cabinet doors made. Your doors are what everyone notices most. Replace them and you have an instant kitchen makeover.

Replace Cabinet Pulls

While you might not think your cabinet pulls make much of a difference, try changing them and see what an impact they actually do have. Want a more modern looking style? Replace old bronze or silver colored pulls with black matte. Go with ceramic pulls that feature a beautiful pattern. Depending on the type of pull and how many you need, you may only spend a few hundred dollars at most.

Look For Discount Countertops

Countertops change the entire look and feel of your kitchen. However, they’re not the cheapest component. The good news is you can purchase discount countertops for a fraction of the price. Looking for styles and colors that are being replaced helps you save.

Discount home building supply stores may have countertops with a slight scratch or dent that costs hundreds less than a new one. Depending on the size of your cabinets, you could easily cut the damaged part off. No one but your bank account needs to know that it’s a discounted countertop.

Add Organizational Upgrades

Sometimes a kitchen makeover isn’t about the outside look, but the functionality. Maybe you want better storage for your pots and pans or slide out shelves to reach things in the back. You don’t have to buy completely new cabinets. Instead, you just need to add some organization upgrades. Of course, you can also add just one or two custom cabinets to have built-in organization features.

Between a few added features, such as slide-out shelves and hooks under upper cabinets to hang often used items, simply reorganizing your cabinets helps to change the functionality.

Change Or Add A Backsplash

A backsplash is a fairly inexpensive upgrade that gives your kitchen a fresh makeover. Add tiles, ceramic, glass, stone or anything else. While backsplashes do vary greatly in price depending on the material, they are a simple way to add more color, make the space seem larger or just give the kitchen a cleaner look and feel.

Upgrade Your Appliances

This is probably one of the most costly ways to do a kitchen makeover on a budget. However, think about much your refrigerator and stove stand out. If your appliances still look like they’re from the 70s, maybe it’s time to consider a more modern look. You don’t have to go with the most expensive options. Instead, go for more budget-friendly models, especially those with energy saving features.

Add An Elegant New Faucet

A new faucet doesn’t cost much, at least in comparison to a full kitchen remodel. From less than a hundred dollars to several hundred dollars, you can add an elegant new faucet that becomes a new focal point for your kitchen. You can even add a new sink if you want. Changing your faucet works well if you’re trying to create a new theme.

Change Lighting

Lighting has a major impact on your kitchen. The good news is you don’t have to start rewiring anything or hire an electrician. Instead, buy a new light fixture that brightens the room. Add an LED light strip under your top cabinets to better light your stove and countertops. You can even get battery operated versions if you don’t want to deal with cords.

On a tight budget, but ready for a kitchen makeover? Call Edgewood Cabinetry today to see how we can help make your kitchen dreams come true.

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edgewood custom cabinetry Clayton

Custom Cabinets Are NOT Just For The Kitchen

Custom Cabinets Are NOT Just For The Kitchen

edgewood custom cabinetry ClaytonDid you know that custom cabinets are not just for kitchen? I thought you should know. So, there’s no limitation when it comes to the installation of functional custom cabinets in your home. Edgewood Cabinetry enhances your home by proving you uniquely designed custom cabinets for your kitchen, living room, bathroom, Study room or office.

Whether you are investing in a new home or planning to do a perfect home remodeling, you need to invest in excellent workmanship to get the exceptional designs for the modern home. Giving your home a nicer interior improves your home outlook, giving it the elegance, glamor and value it deserves.

What No One Will Tell You About Custom Cabinets?

When it comes to setting the tone and style of your home, the most important decision you can make is about installation of your custom cabinets. Edgewood Cabinetry offers you a wide variety of custom cabinet designs, styles and finishes to choose from for you to find a perfect fit that works for your lifestyle.

Regardless of the color of your counters and walls, they’ve got all kinds of cabinets. And to make sure that you don’t go wrong, they offer excellent professional advice you need. With custom cabinets, you can translate your idle space into a functional space that adds value to your home. Custom cabinets provides you with flexibility, efficiency and functionality to help you make the most out of your home without spending much.

Custom cabinets is a brilliant way to create extra storage space to accommodate your growing family. You can create amazing book shelves to make your home look neat and spacious. But to make sure that your home looks fashionable and attractive, you should invest in custom cabinets. This adds value to your home and gives you the confidence any time you want to sell your home.

Wood gives your home a natural feel and additional attractiveness in the eyes of most. That’s why many homeowners are investing in unique stylish custom cabinets in almost every room. Black kitchen cabinets were a trend there for a while but no longer.

Not Everything Is DIY

The easiest way to upgrade your home is the use of well-chosen cabinetry. Custom cabinets enhances the usability of a busy room. Custom cabinets are easy and ready to assemble and they are available in a variety of different stunning wood types and finishes.

Custom cabinets are amazing. They may look like they’re easy to do, but it truly takes a professional touch to get good quality cabinets. Even if you’re a decent wood worked you may struggle to put out anything close to the quality that we can. Save yourself the time and money, let us build it for you!

Knowing the right custom cabinet choice for your home can be challenging especially if you do not have an architectural background. At this point, you must let the experts do the job for you. At Edgewood Cabinetry, we listen to you and our work is to translate your ideas into practical designs that suit your home. By making us your cabinet building partners, we go with you a long way to ensure that get the custom cabinets you need to make your dream home come true.

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Renovating Your Kitchen

Renovating Your Kitchen – This Is The Process

Renovating your kitchen can be an exciting time. You’re eager to get the cabinets of your dreams, more space to cook and a completely new look to your kitchen.

However, all of this doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to plan, coordinate contractors and turn your current kitchen into a dream come true.

Don’t let the process deter you from remodeling your kitchen. However, before you get started, take a quick look at the process itself so you know what to expect.

Planning

The first step is probably the most important – the planning phase. Take as long as you need to figure out exactly what you want. Visit home improvement stores, watch kitchen and home remodeling shows, get lost on Pinterest and think about what’s most important to you.

Also, think about how big of a kitchen renovation you want to tackle. Do you just want new cabinets? What about a completely new layout? Do you need new plumbing or electrical outlets? The bigger the renovation, the more planning involved.

It doesn’t hurt to talk to friends or family who’ve renovated in recent years to get an idea of how they planned and what the finished product actually looked like.

During this phase, try to balance what you want with what’s realistic. No matter how hard you try, you only have a set amount of space, so you have to plan based on what you can realistically do.

Budgeting

Now that you have an idea of what you want, it’s time for the compromising portion. Go ahead and get estimates for what you’re looking to do to see if it fits your budget.

If it doesn’t, it’s time to decide where you can make some changes. For instance, choosing a different type of wood for your cabinets or opting for a different type of kitchen flooring can drastically change your costs. Leave some wiggle room in your budget for unexpected costs, such as discovering a weak spot after your kitchen flooring is removed.

Choosing Contractors

The next step is probably the hardest. You have to decide who will renovate your kitchen. It’s vital to be careful as choosing the wrong contractor not only makes renovating your kitchen a nightmare, but destroys your budget quickly. Carefully review your options and don’t just go with the cheapest or fastest available. Sometimes it pays to spend a little more for higher quality work, even if you have to wait a little longer to get your dream kitchen.

Make sure you choose contractors that are able to work together. For instance, you don’t want to have your cabinets being installed before your floors or walls or finished. You need to coordinate a team to handle everything. Ideally, you want to renovate your kitchen starting with the plumbing and electricity. Then you’ll renovate the walls and floor. The final step is appliances and cabinets.

Choose Your Layout

Before your contractors get started, you have to determine the final layout. Your contractors can help with this. For instance, if you’re wanting a wall removed or added, they can tell you what is and isn’t possible. They can also show you examples of other kitchens they’ve done to give you an idea of what yours might look like when completed.

Designing Cabinets

Now that you’ve gotten the layout out of the way, it’s time to start designing your cabinets. Your contractors for everything else, need to know the specifications of your cabinets. After all, the placement and sizes of your cabinets determine where your major appliances will go and how electrical and plumbing needs to be done.

For instance, if you’re wanting an island as part of your kitchen renovation, your electrician will need to rewire your kitchen to add power to the oven in your island.

Setting Timelines

This part will be tricky, so be prepared. It’s hard for contractors to give you an exact date sometimes. After all, they are all working together. Rushing them won’t work and will just result in poor quality. However, it’s reasonable to set realistic deadlines. You don’t want your remodel to take years.

Instead, insist on regular communication with everyone to ensure the project is staying on schedule and no one is slacking off.

Overcoming Obstacles

There will be obstacles, so be prepared. Even with the best contractors, you might run into issues such as the wrong parts coming in or not being able to get an inspector to come in when necessary. Don’t let this get you down. Just be ready to roll with the punches.

Enjoying The Finished Product

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for – sitting back and enjoying the finished product. Renovating your kitchen might be stressful at times, but it’s all worth it when you walk in and see a completely new room.

Want to learn more about our part in your kitchen renovation? Check out our FAQs to learn more about our process and what to expect.

Image: Carl Gartman

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