Cabinets – The Biggest Design Decision You’ll Make in Your Kitchen

Cabinets are one of the biggest design decisions homeowners make when they’re building a custom home or remodeling their kitchen. They contribute to the final look of a kitchen and can increase or decrease its value.

However, ripping out well-functioning cabinets to install new ones isn’t necessary. A few simple upgrades, like painting and refinishing, can refresh the look of your kitchen click here 

Budget

A kitchen is the single biggest item on any remodel budget, and cabinets are normally between 15% – and 35% of that total. Learn the basic options so you can make a decision that works for your space, design, and timeline.

Stock cabinets are mass-produced in standard sizes and popular styles, and can be purchased off the shelves at home improvement stores or ordered online for shipment. They have limited choices for configurations but are the fastest and most economical option.

A sideboard can offer storage for dishware and serving pieces, table linens and more. TOH general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates how to take stock cabinetry and enhance it with molding, feet, and knobs to create a custom look. Adding pull-out shelves to base cabinets can increase storage for items you use frequently. This allows you to keep them close at hand and out of the way when not in use. The shelves resemble shallow drawers and can be accessed by a simple pull-out handle.

Design

You’ve pinned kitchen ideas to your Pinterest board and watched the big-reveal shows on television, but making the dream kitchen of your dreams come true requires some tough decisions. One of those is choosing cabinet designs that work with your aesthetic and fit your space.

Cabinet doors are the first thing to consider. They are a key component of the style and personality of your new kitchen. Browse all the cabinet door styles Glide-Lock offers to find a style that fits your vision and matches your overall home décor.

Next, choose cabinet construction materials. Solid wood cabinets are traditional, but advancements in composite materials allow for high-quality cost-effective options. Your cabinet designers can help you decide what is best for your space and budget.

Materials

Depending on your design and budget, you can choose from several different materials for your cabinets. The most common are plywood and particle board. Plywood is more expensive than particleboard, but it is durable and moisture-resistant.

High-end particleboards can also withstand conditions that would make plywood twist or warp. They use resins and waterproof glues to hold the particles together. Some manufacturers are now using Medium medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and high-density fiberboard (HDF – often called hardboard or furniture board). Both are composites of wood fibers, wax, and a resin binder that is much stronger than plywood.

Thermofoil kitchen cabinets have gained popularity in recent years due to their many color and style options. However, they can be prone to warping and fading in hot environments and are sensitive to heat and abrasive damage. Stainless steel cabinets have a modern look, but they can be difficult to keep clean and smudge-free. Embossed metal pulls and knobs can give your cabinets a unique finish.

Installation

Cabinet installation is one of the most challenging aspects of a new kitchen design, but you don’t need to be a master carpenter to do it yourself. As long as you have the right tools, clear instructions, and a little patience, you can install your cabinets quickly and easily.

Start by finding the highest point of your floor anywhere in the room, and mark a reference line on the wall with a level. Use this as the upper cabinet layout line. Clamp the first cabinet to the wall, but don’t tighten the screws all the way. Install the face frame of the next cabinet, lining it up with the frame of the first. Clamp and screw, shimming where necessary.

Repeat the process until all the upper cabinets are installed. Then similarly install the base cabinets, registering them to your reference lines and using shims as needed. When you’re finished, you can enjoy your new kitchen design!