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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 It may even have outdated fixtures and setups that can’t keep up with current demands.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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Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets Raleigh NC

Revitalize your Cabinets With Cabinet Restoration

Maintaining cabinets can be trickier than some people realize. Whether painted, stained, or finished, wooden cabinets will wear with age. This aging is especially true for kitchen cabinets exposed to oils, grease, smoke, and steam. Bathroom cabinets face a similar issue as a result of steam and high humidity. Some people might be tempted to replace such cabinets. However, as long as the cabinets are adequately maintained, restoration remains a viable option.

Restore Old Cabinets

Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets Raleigh NCRestoration is a good idea for people who find themselves with old cabinets that might fit perfectly in the room but are not the desired design. If the cabinets are in good condition but not matching the perceived vision of the new owner, restoration rather than replacement is an option in such instances.

Refacing Cabinets

Old cabinets can be changed to a new look by refacing. This method effectively replaces the cabinet doors and fixtures to be more in line with the desired look of the room. Repainting or refinishing the cabinets is another way to achieve this. Refinishing is also an effective method of restoration for cabinets exposed to grease and smoke. Even a fresh coat of paint can help, especially when the cabinets have started to peel from humidity. If moisture has caused the wood to warp, refacing can restore the cabinets depending on the extent of the damage.

Save Money & Keep The Same Cabinets

Remodeling Your KitchenRefacing and other restoration methods are often much more cost-effective than outright replacing cabinets. For one, installation and construction costs are avoided. When it comes to cabinets, restoration costs are almost always less than replacement, since there’s rarely a need to install or replace anything besides the paint or the doors. The home user can do a simple restoration. Before performing such tasks, it’s best to examine the cabinets, learn the extent of the damage, and see how easy or difficult the restoration might become. Refacing can be done by the home user as well, but having it handled by experts guarantees a uniform, crisp, fresh look throughout the room in question.

Cabinets don’t need to be replaced as often as people might think. They can be refaced and restored to keep their original beauty and use while still matching new design choices. Peeling paint can be retouched, old hinges can be replaced, and outdated designs can be refaced. All it takes is the right know-how and the right experts.

Get A Custom Cabinet Estimate Today

Want to know how much it’ll cost to give your kitchen a new look with cabinet restoration? Contact the best at refacing kitchen cabinets Raleigh NC – Edgewood Cabinetry. Call 919-339-7300 and set up an appointment today.

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Edgewood Cabinetry cabinets

Squeezing the Most Storage Out of Your Cabinets

Are you looking to pick up the clutter around your home? Most homeowners often complain about a lack of ample storage to accommodate all their items while maintaining the aesthetics of a room. What they don’t realize is that there’s much more storage than meets the eye.

Storage space often comes at a premium! If adding more cabinets is not an option, it’s essential to make the best of the existing space. It’s possible to improve the home organization and increase storage space by tinkering with the custom cabinets. How so? Here are simple adjustments to improve your storage space drastically.

Useful Cabinet Organization Ideas

Edgewood Cabinetry cabinetsModify Double Door Cabinets: Most double door cabinets have a divider (center stile) between the doors. The stile takes up valuable storage space that could otherwise make the cabinet more spacious and accessible. Possible ideas to get rid of the divider include detaching it vertically and fixing it one of the doors (i.e., creating a dummy stile that opens with the door) or installing new double doors that meet.

Organize and Manage Wires: Having wires and cable lying around haphazardly is a painful eyesore – not to mention the risk of tripping accidents and health issues due to dust bunnies! When it comes to wire management, the trick lies in creativity. Think out-of-the-box to find a solution that works best for your space. For items that are rarely unplugged, such as desktops, consider threading the cables along the underside of a wooden surface. Outlets for highly portable devices such as mobile phones should be easily accessible – inside a drawer, on the sidewall, or a countertop.

Sometimes the Places You’d Never Think of are The Best

Cabinet Space Above the Refrigerator: Most pre-made overhead cabinets above the fridge are either too small or too deep for easy access. This odd size and location lead to a waste of valuable storage space. Consider removing the small unusable cabinet and installing new cabinetry that encases the refrigerator. It is more aesthetically, desirable, and easy to reach. Another great idea is to use vertical dividers for the storage of kitchen appliances such as plates or trays

Keep Your Garbage Can Out of Sight: Garbage cans are a necessity in any kitchen – but that does not mean they’re allowed to make the kitchen messy. Stash unsightly trash cans in a ‘makeshift trash drawer’ under your 36-inch countertop drawer.

For ways on how to make the most of your space with custom designed custom cabinets, contact Edgewood Cabinetry.  Call 919-339-7300 for planning your custom cupboards.

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Edgewood Cabinetry kitchen cabinets

Is Your Hardware Making Your Cabinets Look Dated?

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

Cabinet Hinges

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

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

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

Door Knobs & Drawer Pulls

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

Talk to a Professional to Learn More

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

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

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Solutions For Your Kitchen Pantry

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

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

Pull-out Pantry

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

Roll-out Pantry

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

Standard Cabinet Pantry

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

Portable Pantry

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

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

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

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Edgewood Cabinetry custom kitchen cabinet

How to Clean and Maintain Your Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Edgewood Cabinetry custom kitchen cabinet

Keeping Your Kitchen Cabinets Clean

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

Get Down to the Basics

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

Get Rid of Moisture

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

Avoid Heat as Much as you Can

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

Don’t Use Harsh, Abrasive Cleaners of Any Kind

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

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

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

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

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