REPOST: The (Don't Get Burned) Kitchen Remodeling Guide

Marjorie E. Gage of This Old House Magazine outlines some of the ways homeowners can avoid the hassles associated with kitchen remodels.

Image Source: thisoldhouse.com

Hey, have you heard the one about the 36-inch pro-style range that ripped the molding off the back door on its way into the house? Or the poured-on-site concrete countertop that cracked three months after installation? Or maybe it was the contractor who was paid in advance, promptly skipped town, and was never heard from again.

Yep, we've heard those stories, too. Let's face it, in a nation where home renovation long ago surpassed baseball as the Great American Pastime, kitchen nightmares are a dime a dozen — and anyone who's ever traded Formica countertops and a Harvest Gold fridge for soapstone and a stainless steel side-by-side knows exactly what we're talking about.

Well, misery may love company, but what we all crave is a happy ending—a smart-looking, functional workspace that is a source of comfort, efficiency, and maybe a little neighborly envy (not to mention an excellent Porterhouse). To help you get there, we've compiled this handy guide to some common kitchen-remodeling disasters and offer expert strategies for steering clear of them. For each major phase of the job — hiring, planning, budgeting, and living through it — we've got an easy 10-point plan to follow. And don't let our cautionary tales scare you: Take our advice, and your biggest regret when your dream kitchen is complete will be that you didn't do it sooner.

Finding (and holding onto) the Best Pros

Kitchen remodeling is at the top of homeowners' wish lists. It is also, according to attorneys general across the country, a leading source of consumer complaints. Recommendations from friends are the best place to start your search for a qualified contractor. But before you make a decision, keep these caveats in mind.

Three Truths About Contractors

1. They're only as good as their last job. "General contractors often win jobs based on their good reputations," explains architect Dennis Wedlick, author of Good House Hunting: 20 Steps to Your Dream Home. "But circumstances can change. When the contractor switches subcontractors or laborers, quality can be affected." Ask your top three candidates to supply references, and follow up with the most recent ones.
2. What you see is what you get. In addition to completed renovations, try to visit a job in progress. You can learn a lot about a contractor's commitment to quality and safety by seeing for yourself how clean the site is and how carefully the drywall is hung and taped.
3. The best ones are worth waiting for. The best contractors tend to be the busiest ones. Build your schedule around the GC of your dreams, not vice versa.

Four Essentials to Ask References

1. What were the contractor's work habits? Did he show up on time and prepared to supervise the subs?
2. Did he stick to the scope of the work and cleanup plan as outlined in the contract? Were any unauthorized changes of materials or details made?
3. Did your project stay on or close to budget? Did materials arrive on time? Did he keep you up to date on his progress or potential delays?
4. Did anything go wrong? And if so, how — and how quickly — was the crisis resolved?


Three R's of Keeping the Crew Happy

1. Refreshments: You don't have to cater three squares a day, but at least offer a thermos of coffee or a cooler with soft drinks. They'll appreciate it.
2. Responsibility: The crew can't work efficiently if you're in the way. Ask questions, but don't overwhelm them with your TOH-taught smarts. And teach kids and pets the meaning of KEEP OUT.
3. Respect: Say good morning, good night, and good job when appropriate. And, please: Don't ask if they've met any desperate housewives lately. The appliances can be top-of-the-line, the finishes the most expensive around, but if the space doesn't work, it's money down the brand-new In-Sink-Erator. Here are 10 ways to arrive at the best design for you, even if—like the vast majority of Americans—you rarely cook a meal from scratch.

For the rest of the guide, please click here. 

Kitchen design and cabinetry professional Frank LaMark assists homeowners throughout North America in meeting their kitchen remodeling needs. Subscribe to this blog for more on kitchen cabinet design and installation.

REPOST: Custom Touches for Small Kitchens

These touches from Better Homes and Gardens can help bring out the uniqueness of one’s kitchen through flourishes in form and function, a few of which are shared in the following article:

Maximize Every Inch 

Image Source: bhg.com

Make the most of every square foot in a small kitchen. Often this small wall on the other side of a doorway would be left empty, but this kitchen boasts a small drink station and additional cabinetry, creating a custom and super-smart solution.

To the Ceiling 

When a cabinet is tucked into a tight corner, use a vertical hinge to avoid banging the door into the wall. This way the door lifts up and out of the way -- the perfect solution for small kitchens.

Utensils on Display 

Image Source: bhg.com

Keep everyday utensils within easy reach with a S-hook system hung right onto a beaded-board backsplash. It's also the perfect way to know where your 1/4 teaspoon is when you need it.

Use the End 

Turn the end of a row of cabinets into usable space with chalkboard paint. Create the perfect place to jot notes and grocery lists, while adding personality to a plain spot in the kitchen.

Wine Storage 

Image Source: bhg.com

Sometimes a tiny cabinet isn't good for anything -- except a bottle of wine. Remove the door and add a few small shelves to create the perfect spot to store extra bottles.  

Frank LaMark, president of CabinetsDirectRTA, believes in combining form and function in kitchen cabinet design and construction. Visit this website for more on kitchen remodeling.

REPOST: Everything Old is New Again: Pink Kitchens, Then and Now

In the ‘40s and ‘50s, candy-colored home interiors were the norm, and kitchens in blush or cotton candy pink were not uncommon. This article feature today’s modern kitchen designs awash in the same playful pastel hue, providing inspiration for homeowners looking to revamp their kitchen space.  

Image Source: apartmenttherapy.com

The 50s were a very colorful time for home decor, and not just in the living room or bedroom. These days white cabinets are the norm, or maybe grey if you're feeling really bold, but in the 40s and 50s you regularly saw kitchens in shades of blue, green, and even yes, pink. A pink kitchen may never again be at the top of everyone's wishlist... but a few brave souls are bringing the look back.

The kitchen up top (from Mid Century Home Style, via their Flickr) is from 1956, and it is very, very pink. But it seems positively restrained compared to the one above (also from Mid Century Home Style), where the walls, cabinets, and even the door are painted a rosy hue — with navy blue accents, which are a nice but unexpected touch. This kitchen dates all the way back to 1940, which means that, although it's a little hard for us to imagine, the kitchen pictured at the top of this page was already the 'modern' version of the look.

Image Source: aparmenttherapy.com

And now let's take a great leap forward to the modern era, where some brave folks (you can read about them in this Vancouver Sun article) trusted their decorator to create a pink kitchen for them. The stainless countertop, backsplash and pulls make this read a little more modern — although it's definitely not for the faint of heart. 

Pink in the kitchen doesn't have to be quite as in-your-face, though. This space (from House to Home) features just a few cabinets painted in a pale, pale pink.

Although the color of the cabinets in this kitchen (from Beautiful Kitchens) is intense, all the white in the room helps to balance it out. 

For this kitchen from Design Sponge, a secondhand cabinet was painted a pale pink. The effect is subtle and warm and pretty

Image Source: apartmenttherapy.com

And finally, from Home Stories, here's something that pretty much anyone who's craving a little pink in the kitchen can pull off — a pale pink backsplash. Painting the area between your upper and lower cabinets with a (high-gloss, for ease of cleanup) pink paint will have the whole kitchen feeling rosy.
What do you think? Would you consider a pink kitchen — or do you think this look deserves to stay in the past?


Seasoned kitchen design and cabinetry professional Frank LaMark provides ready to assemble kitchen cabinets to families and homeowners in the U.S., Canada, and the rest of the Americas. For more on kitchen design and industry trends, follow this Google+ page.

REPOST: Spruce up your kitchen cabinet

The space above your kitchen cabinets may seem useless and relatively unimportant. However, they can actually make some interesting contributions to your kitchen’s overall grandeur. Read this post and learn how you can turn this seemingly unnoticeable space into a stunning home fixture.

Image source: standardmedia.co.ke

You may want to add some personality to your kitchen but don't know how. Do you have some space above the cabinets? This is the space to do that. Get creative and start adding pop to your kitchen If you have a kitchen cabinet that has some space above it, what have you stored there? I can guess, empty jerri-cans, cooking fat containers, supermarket paper bags, newspapers, or sufurias. But have you ever thought that this space can offer your kitchen the allure that you die for? Pull up a stool and pick these tips on how to decorate above your kitchen cabinets, one of the toughest spots to decorate. Below are ideas you can utilise.

To start the process, remove everything from above the cabinet. Now put your items together and start toying around with different ideas and positioning. The results may not be perfect the first time. Keep moving the items around and you will be surprised how they will eventually come together. Remember to vary the heights and sizes of your pieces.

Collection: The cabinet top is every collector’s dream, the perfect place to display unique finds. You may be a collector of something, especially during your travels. Do you have a collection of pottery, plates, bottles, jars, baskets, candlesticks or vases? Display those that you love and that you will enjoy seeing every day. If you don’t have a collection, you can paint the space above your cabinet a colour that you love; a pop of colour like red will make your kitchen interesting and intriguing.

Focal point: You can also turn the space into a focal point for your kitchen. Get something that will draw the eyes’ attention. Start with a large item that will be your focus, and place it slightly off the centre. A large plate, picture or lanterns displayed at eye level is all you need. You can then add to your theme of the space with objects related by colour, culture and geography but different in texture and height. Since the top of the cabinet is high up and you will be standing at a distance, the bigger the item displayed the better. Display the taller items at the back and the shorter ones in the front.

Baskets: This works perfect especially if you have a small kitchen since they offer extra storage space. Use the baskets above your cabinet to store items that you do not use on a daily basis such as paper towels, extra bowls, baking supplies, among others. You can label them for you to know what you have stored in each.

Unique items: Display unique items like interesting photographs and notice how it will transform the look of your kitchen. Figurines too, can make good for this space. Just place something new and different without fear. If the item you display doesn’t seem to work, you simply change or remove them.

Frank LaMark kitchen cabinetry offers customizable shelves, racks, and drawers made of the finest industry-grade hardwoods, offering durable, stylish, and tight-sealing storage for all types of kitchen tools and appliances. Visit this website for more information.

The discount kitchen cabinet hunt

Kitchen cabinets add character to the kitchen and provide ample storage space, but can be quite expensive to create, purchase, or install.

However, there are ways to get high-quality cabinet pieces without spending too much. Here are some kitchen cabinet types with prices that won’t break the bank:  

Image Source: rtacabinetmall.com

1. Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets

RTA cabinets use cheaper materials than regular cabinets, and are shipped to the buyer not fully assembled, which further lessens its cost of production. Assembling RTA cabinets is easy: most models come with simple lock and bracket systems. Also, instruction manuals are included for easy reference.  

Image Source: fastaanytimeclock.com

2. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) cabinets

These types of cabinets use fiberboard material that is lighter than wood, but has the same durability. Since fiberboard is easier and cheaper to produce, MDF cabinets are relatively cheaper than wooden cabinets.

3. Custom-made cabinets

Some makers offer custom-made cabinets that are less expensive to produce than regular ones. Since the buyer has the choice of materials to use, customized cabinets can be made using a variety of less expensive wood and other materials.  

Image Source: wakerestore.org

4. Used cabinets

Used cabinets found in thrift shops or garage sales are viable and attractive options. Depending on the quality, pre-loved cabinets are a fraction of a cost of brand-new cabinets, and might require minimal refurbishing.

 Frank LaMark is a cabinetry professional and head of Cabinets Direct, a kitchen cabinet e-commerce company. Visit his company's official website for additional tips and pointers in kitchen and cabinet design.

REPOST: Cabinet facelift can freshen up the kitchen

Want to revamp an old kitchen within your budget? Do a kitchen refacing. Cheaper than a full kitchen remodel, refacing involves replacing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, applying a plastic laminate or wood veneer on the cabinet boxes to match the new ones, and adding new molding or trim for a completely different look. Read more about this makeover technique in the article below.

Image Source: northjersey.com

Undertaking a full kitchen remodel can be exciting, but also expensive and disruptive to your home’s routine. If your kitchen layout basically works and your cabinets are sturdy, you may only need to update the doors and drawer fronts by refacing or refinishing them.

Refacing involves replacing the cabinet doors, drawer fronts and perhaps some entire boxes, and applying a plastic laminate or wood veneer over all of the cabinet boxes to match the new ones. At the same time, you can change hardware and add molding or trim for a completely different look.

“You can also install a pantry or an island to match,” said Linda Fennessy, Marketing manager for Kitchen Magic, which has many New Jersey locations, including one in Wayne. “We call this the hybrid solution — add some and reface some.”

QUICK-CHANGE ARTISTRY

 “Cabinet refacing typically takes three to five days,” Fennessy explained. “The less time our customers are without their kitchens, the better. We understand the kitchen is the hub of the home, so we always take this into consideration and map out the ideal schedule to complete the job as quickly as possible.”

 After the doors, drawers, existing trim and toe kick are removed, the cabinet boxes have to be prepared so the veneer completely bonds to their surface. This involves a light sanding followed by a thorough cleaning to remove all traces of grease and grime.

Once dry, and wiped clean of any residual dust or sanding particles, the cabinet boxes are ready to accept the veneer, which is applied with an adhesive. (If there are dings or small holes, they can be easily repaired with wood filler.) Attach the new doors, install drawers and hardware, and voilà! Your kitchen can look brand-new. If you’re also adding cabinets or a new countertop, Fennessy advised that these will extend the timeline of your project.

While transforming the outer appearance of your cabinets, you can also add interior storage options, such as drawer organizers lazy Susans pullout bins slide-out shelves roll-out racks recycling bins.

 TO ‘RE’ OR NOT TO ‘RE’?

Are all cabinets good candidates for refacing? “All cabinets can be refaced if they are structurally sound,” Fennessy said. “It’s usually the doors that take a beating over the years.”

Wood cabinets are probably the best type for this project, she said, and if you are living in 50-year-old house with the original kitchen, you may be in luck!

“Typically, older homes have furniture-quality cabinets with great ‘bones’ for refacing,” Fennessy explained. “That’s not to say solidwood cabinets are the only possible candidates — we’ve even refaced metal ones.” But if you have cheap, poor-quality cabinets, she said, it’s better to just replace them.

“The Kitchen Magic representative who visits your home will determine [whether or not refacing will work] before he or she provides an estimate,” Fennessy said. “Even if only some of the cabinets are in structurally sound shape, we can replace the failing ones and reface the rest to match.”

Refacing also is an eco-friendly choice, as it avoids cutting down more trees and trucking tons of wasted material to a landfill. And besides requiring less downtime for your kitchen, it can save you up to 50 percent over the cost of new cabinets. That leaves you more resources to replace a countertop and backsplash or upgrade your appliances.

THE DIY ALTERNATIVE

Refacing cabinets on your own is generally not recommended for do-it-yourselfers, because applying veneer skillfully is difficult. Your best bet to update these surfaces yourself is with fresh stain or paint.

“Painting or re-staining can bring out your older cabinets’ personality,” said Joe Pisarri of Eagle Paint & Wallaper, Englewood. However, he recommended it only for cabinets made of solid wood. “You might consider updating older oak cabinets this way, as opposed to cabinets made of MDF or plastic laminate.”

He also emphasized the prep work: “First, you have to wash the cabinets with a degreaser such as trisodium phosphate (tsp) and water.” (TSP can cause dark staining on wood, so don’t do this unless you plan to apply a new, darker stain or paint the cabinets.)

“You also have to sand the surface to a smooth finish for it to accept paint,” Pisarri added. “But properly painted cabinets can improve your kitchen and therefore increase the value of your house.”

 So whether you choose to reface, re-paint or re-stain them, bringing your dingy kitchen cabinets up to date is a smart investment.


Frank LaMark is the president of CabinetsDirectRTA.com, an e-commerce website that sells kitchen cabinets in the U.S. and Canada. Follow this blog for more kitchen makeover tips.

REPOST: GE’s new micro kitchen design packs in everything plus the kitchen sink

Early this year, General Electric launched FirstBuild, global, open community of engineers, students, thinkers, and makers aiming to co-create smart lifestyle products for the tech-oriented consumer. This article takes a first look at the results of GE Firstbuild’s idea crowdsourcing - a kitchen-full of modern appliances that fold in and out of a sleek “monoblock.”

Image Source: www.cnet.com

By the end of this year, GE's small-batch manufacturing site, FirstBuild, plans to meet its first challenge. This Louisville, Kentucky, arm of GE Appliances and Local Motors hopes to foster innovation in a creative community of makers once it cuts the ribbon in July. FirstBuild will provide resources and knowledge to ambitious inventors, allowing them to create prototypes of interesting products that might not otherwise have seen the light of day in a normal massive manufacturing environment. The first two challenges it hopes to tackle are micro kitchens and indoor grilling. 

Now, GE has announced official plans to start manufacturing micro kitchens through FirstBuild by the fourth quarter of this year. Aiming for the increasing number of millennials and baby boomers that have flocked to small urban living environments, the design concept currently referred to as a "monoblock" will fit all of the functionality of a high-end kitchen into a single 6-foot-wide unit that can be customized to blend seamlessly with the cabinetry.

The current design for the micro kitchen includes three columns that looks like typical cabinets. The interior is anything but typical. On the right, a walnut cutting board covers a sink with a retractable faucet. Underneath is a high-end dishwasher. Move to the middle and you'll find compartments that serve as a freezer or a fridge, with the option to convert pieces back and forth as necessary. Finally, the left third houses premium cooking technology. The top has an induction heating element beneath an unbroken glass surface to allow cooking with any size and shape of pot. The middle pulls out an Advantium microwave. The bottom contains an oven with convection heating.   

Image Source: www.cnet.com

The team at FirstBuild is still finalizing the exact concept, but the above configuration is estimated to retail at about $15,000. Interested parties will be able to preconfigure the micro kitchen to match the design of their home or office, and can order it from FirstBuild or online. Additionally, GE plans to allow customers to customize their own configuration of modules if they so desire.

For $15,000, GE is certainly limiting the appeal of its product to the most demanding of consumers. Micro kitchens of varying specifications can be had for around $2,000-$3,000, but part of GE's goal with this monoblock is to compact a great kitchen into a small space.   

Image Source: www.cnet.com

For the extra money, GE says you're not just getting standard appliances. Advantium microwaves can cost a couple of thousand on their own. Induction cooktops offer faster and more energy-efficient heat than gas or electric, and convection ovens use fans to help your food cook evenly. Combine that with a pull-out faucet with a touch sensor for changing the water temperature, the convertible fridge and freezer unit, and the dishwasher, and you start to see the justification for the cost. 

Kitchen design professional Frank LaMark provides customers with customizable kitchen cabinets that work to streamline food preparation and handling for any homeowner’s convenience. More information on Mr. Lamark and LaMark’s cabinetry, can be found here.