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window bench seating-edgewood cabinetry

3 Reasons Adding A Window Seat or Bench In Your Kitchen Can Improve Your Home and Life

When considering kitchen seating, most people’s thoughts automatically go to tables or an island.

If you’re looking for ideas to improve the design and function of your kitchen, consider adding a window seat or bench for not only increased functionality but a quiet space to call your own. Consider these 3 reasons why a custom window seat will improve your home.
1. Welcoming seating. Everyone knows, whether it’s just immediate family at home or you have some company over, the kitchen is the place where people gather. Sometimes it can be awkward, because if it’s not time to eat, there’s no place to sit and relax. A window seat provides a welcoming spot that beckons friends to sit down, enjoy a beverage, and visit for a while.
2. Increased storage. One of the best things about a bench or window seat is its ability to provide more storage for your kitchen. A lid that lifts provides the perfect hiding spot for table linens, towels, cleaning supplies, or appliances such as slow cookers or blenders.
3. Your own quiet sanctuary. Early in the morning, or when everyone else is busy, a window seat provides a peaceful spot for a person to have some quiet time. It’s a wonderful place to unwind and find some peace in the midst of a busy life. Crack open a favorite book, watch the birds in the feeder, or watch the clouds roll by. A few minutes spent here can reduce stress and improve your quality of life.
Generally, when people think of custom cabinetry, they think of complete kitchen renovations, but small touches such as a window seat or hutch can drastically change the feel and function of your kitchen. To find out more information about adding a bench or window seat to your home, contact us.

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pantry pull outs-edgewood cabinetry

Custom Upgrades in the Pantry will Make Your Kitchen More Organized and Spacious

We’ve had a lot of experience speaking with homeowners, and the lack of space or organization, and the abundance of clutter are the top complaints about kitchens.

The pantry is a great solution to this problem, but it usually requires some tweaking. Custom touches will make your pantry more user-friendly, solving many of your kitchen woes.

Many kitchens come outfitted with one tall cabinet that is perfect for a pantry. Sometimes, because of its height, it becomes a broom closet or a largely unused space due to its lack of purpose. These tall cabinets provide ample square footage that can transform your kitchen into your new favorite space.

First, adjustable shelves are a priority. These are the single best investment in using all your space wisely. You can have a larger space for big items like cereal boxes and move shelves closer together to make space for smaller canned goods. A special organizer will help you keep spices from tipping over and rolling away, and a custom holder will provide a home for foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper.

Have you ever taken everything off your counter to clean it and wish it could look that way all the time? A pantry with pull-out shelves is the perfect home for all those countertop appliances that you don’t actually want on your countertop. Toasters, coffee makers, blenders, slow-cookers, and can openers can be quickly brought out when needed, and easily put back in the pantry with custom shelves that provide space and function when placed on roller brackets.

Pull-out shelves can also help you find many of your food items faster too, saving you time when preparing meals. And because you’re not reaching behind other things to find what you’re looking for, other items won’t be knocked over or shoved aside, keeping your pantry more organized.

Many homes don’t have one of these tall cabinets, but a closet, instead. Whether the closet was intended to be a pantry or you want to transform a broom closet or coat closet into kitchen storage space, custom shelving and organizational aids can make that space into a useful pantry. To make it blend in with the current kitchen cabinetry, some people go so far as to remove the door and casing, and add a frame and doors that match the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. It’s a relatively simple change that gives your kitchen an upscale look with a custom touch.

If your current kitchen pantry just isn’t working for you, some simple changes can make it more efficient and usable. Custom shelves and organizers can turn your storage area into a space you can be proud of. For more information, contact us.

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Advantages of Hidden Doors

Have you heard of hidden doors?  If you have watched a spy movie you have probably seen hidden doors allowing access to a hidden room.  Have you ever seen one in a real home though?  They are gaining popularity and the reasons below explain why.

Added Storage Space

The top reason people use a bookcase as a door is for added storage space.  You obviously can’t place a bookcase in front of a door because then you wouldn’t have access to the door.  If you make the door into the bookcase you are saving the floor space you would have used to put the bookcase in another location.  A space that originally would have been unusable is now taken advantage of.  In many homes it is difficult to find a way to arrange furniture so windows, doors, and closets are left unblocked.  By turning your door into a bookcase you can reduce the amount of furniture you are trying to arrange.

In addition, people are constantly looking for extra storage in their homes.  By turning a door into a bookshelf you have added storage space that didn’t previously exist.  The bookshelf can be used to store more than just books.  DVDs, puzzles, photo albums, games and more can be stored on a door bookcase.  An alternative is to use the bookcase for decorative purposes and display a favorite collection.

Adds Sense of Mystery to Your House

Who doesn’t love a spy story with a secret room?  Now you can have one in your own home.  Kids will love it and guests will enjoy the element of surprise.  It will provide people something to talk about!  A hidden door will add character to your home and provide your children their own secret lair.

Keeps Items or an Entire Room Out of Sight

Maybe you want to use a hidden door to keep a room secret.  A hidden door can hide a safe room.  Some people use a bookcase door to hide a room they are using for storage. You won’t have to explain that the room at the end of the hall is filled with odds and ends if people see a bookcase instead of a door.  Maybe you want to have a space filled with clutter that you don’t want guests to see. They won’t be able to snoop in a closet or room they don’t know exists.

Or you can place valuables in a closet behind a hidden door.  If someone breaks into your house they will never be able to locate your valuables because they won’t know a space exists behind the bookcase door.

At Edgewood Cabinetry we can design and install bookcase doors for your home.  If you are looking for added storage space that adds character to your home and allows you to hide valuables or clutter contact us to learn more about procuring a hidden door.

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pull out shelf bath storage

Maximizing Bathroom Storage: Shelving and Cabinet Ideas That Save Space

Maximizing bath storage with smaller spaces may not sound easy in the abstract, yet it can be done with some creative shelving and cabinet spaces. The bathroom is where we spend most of our time (next to the kitchen), so having items in convenient storage areas makes life so much easier. At the same time, the beauty of custom shelving and cabinetry allows those things to be hidden from view without adorning counter space with razors and toothpaste tubes.

What creative custom shelving and cabinet ideas should you use in your bathroom to maximize storage space? With our ability to custom build any type of cabinetry for you here at Edgewood Cabinetry, you have plenty of choices.

Caddies on the Back of Doors

Better Homes and Gardens recommends this storage idea as a way to hide away certain items that otherwise won’t fit elsewhere. These can be easily customized in various styles and hold smaller items that you might otherwise lose. They can hold everything from toilet paper rolls to lotions. No longer do those items have to sit and be visible on your bathroom vanity counter.

Floating Shelves

Perhaps you’ve seen floating shelves in other bathrooms, usually located under the sink. They’re becoming a popular customized storage idea based on the illusion they’re floating, even though the shelf connects with supports to the back wall. It’s a perfect place to store towels if you don’t want them sitting on the counter or on hangers near your vanity.

Building a Pull-Out Storage Cabinet in a Narrow Wall

Sometimes narrow wall space on either end of a bathroom vanity can be remodeled to include pull-out storage space. It’s a chance for you to get creative rather than having unnecessary wall space go to waste. With these pull-out cabinet ideas, you can make the shelves out of quality wood and store other small items you don’t want sitting around or stuffed into crowded storage spaces.

Freestanding Cabinets

If you have no closet space in your bathroom to store linens or towels, consider a freestanding cabinet you can place on one side of your vanity or on both sides. These can be customized with narrow dimensions just like the pull-out cabinet idea above. By building in a freestanding way, you can move them around and even use them in other rooms later. These are perfect for storing your towels and linens in open shelving styles or with solid doors.

No matter the custom ideas, we can do it for you here at Edgewood Cabinetry LLC with the vision you have in mind.

Contact us and we’ll start brainstorming with you on creative ways our cabinetry can store your ever-growing bathroom inventory.

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Get the Most Out of Your Laundry Room with Custom Cabinets

Does your laundry room need to be more organized? If you are like most homeowners, the answer is probably yes! Laundry rooms by definition should be highly functional spaces where the weekly care of clothes can be done efficiently. Yet in many homes it is a high traffic area that also serves as a dumping spot for family members, adding chaos to what is already a cramped and cluttered space. Sadly most people tend to invest a minimum of their home improvement budget on their laundry room.
Here are some ideas for organizing your laundry room:
Allocate space for a mud room set-up. If your laundry room is also the family entrance, create storage by the door to organize the family’s stuff–outer wear, keys, backpacks, umbrellas. That way everyone knows where to leave things upon entry, and where to get them with they leave.
Create adequate storage.  The smaller your space is, the more organized it has to be. Invest in wall to wall cabinets to get organized. Assign storage space for laundry supplies, kits for minor sewing repairs and shoe care. Designate a “lost sock” drawer and a “lost and found” basket for items found in pockets.
Raise your washer and dryer off the floor. Go easy on your back by installing washer/dryer pedestals with built-in storage. If you have limited space, consider stacking your washer and dryer (this only works for front-loading machines!)
Have a storage solution for your ironing board. A closet with a pull-out mechanism for your ironing board is neat and efficient. Or lacking space, get creative with a couple of decorative heavy-duty hooks and hang your board off the wall. To hang clothes for air drying or to hold freshly ironed shirts, mount a tension rod or a towel rack under some shelving. A retractable clothes line is a good option for smaller spaces.
Beyond function… If you’re one of the the lucky ones who have a lot of space in their laundry room, why not elevate a weekly chore to a pleasant experience? Perhaps you have space for a desk or a sewing table. A built-in entertainment center might seem like the height of luxury–but what better place to watch the morning soap, or catch up on the news?
With some thought and a little investment, you can transform your laundry room into the efficient, well-organized space you deserve. We can help you design custom storage and cabinets for your laundry room. Contact us for a free quote, or for more information.

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Functional Kitchen Accessories Are Taking Center Stage

Channel surf through the home improvement shows and one thing really stands out, the increasing use of functional kitchen accessories. Part of the trend may be attributed to people’s increasing desire to have an organized but informal kitchen with wide open spaces. So what functional kitchen accessories are hot right now? Let’s take a quick look:
Lazy Susans
Lazy susans are one functional kitchen accessory that’s attracting a lot of attention these days. Although it’s true that the rotating accessories have been around for centuries, the latest models are anything but antiquated. For starters, many are made with coveted materials like gorgeous maple wood, white polymer, chrome and epoxy-coated steel. They also come in different shapes that allow for custom, built-in applications.
Recycling Systems
Of course lazy susans are not the only functional kitchen accessories currently being coveted by Americans. An increasing number of people are also making use of built-in recycling systems. The systems are designed to be unobtrusive and compact as well as functional. When selecting one, today’s consumers may choose from a variety of options. They include, but are not limited to:

  • Special features (i.e. backsplashes and foot pedals)
  • Assorted color schemes (i.e. bins and accents)
  • Under, side and bottoms mounts
  • Pull or swing out doors

Organizers and Storage
Other functional kitchen accessories that are enjoying surges in popularity at the moment are associated with drawer and cabinet organization. Among them are wooden inserts and peg systems for silverware and cookware storage. Many of the systems are also designed to be mixed and matched. One of the woods that tend to show up often in such applications is beech. Given its inherent durability and beauty, its popularity comes as no surprise to us. Additional materials found in the organizers’ construction are plastic and chrome.
For a closer look at these and other functional kitchen accessories as well as attractive cabinetry, contact us.

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