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.

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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.

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.

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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.

Budget kitchen cabinets: A brief guide

Kitchen cabinet construction and installation shouldn’t be a cause to break the bank; there are lots of less expensive cabinet choices available thanks to economical furniture design and cheaper building materials. Before buying anything, though, it is best to consider one’s options.

 

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The first thing to do is to determine the type of cabinet design that best fits the kitchen. Is the kitchen predominantly wood-based? Is it made up of stone and granite? Does it follow a classic design style, or is it a bit more modern? This is primarily an aesthetic exercise, but it can also help the installer determine what types of material to be used, and whether less expensive versions are available.

 

Image Source: home-design-information.com

The next thing to consider is whether one should use stock cabinet designs or opt for customized ones. Obviously, stock designs are cheaper, but nowadays many cabinet makers offer custom-made cabinets that are inexpensive enough to fit within tight budgets. This is a viable option as well, since custom cabinets look and fit better in kitchens.

 

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 Last but not least is the installation itself. While owners can just install the cabinets themselves, it is recommended to seek professional installers to ensure a sturdy, high-quality finish. It can seem a more expensive option initially, but professionally installed cabinets last longer and are less prone to costly lapses later on.

Frank LaMark, a cabinetry professional, has been in the industry for the past ten years. Check out his website for additional tips on how to purchase and install kitchen cabinets.