Kitchen Remodel? Go Green!

Eco-friendly kitchen design can make all the difference in energy savings and in doing your part to help our environment. The kitchen uses most of your house’s energy supply so it is the BEST place to go green!

Windows, appliances  and cabinet refacing are just a few things to consider designing with purpose and intent during your kitchen remodeling process to make your kitchen both beautiful AND environmentally sound. Here are some ideas:

Lock in Heat and Save Money with Better Windows and Skylights

Saving on your heating costs in the winter by investing in new windows with better seals and materials. Old windows can allow for too much air and drafts to enter your home driving up your heating costs and drying out your living environment. The colder your home, the more you will be tempted to use precious fuels to heat your home.  By trapping in warmth with high-quality windows (and professional installation) you can save BIG each month during the winter.

Also, consider installing skylights to naturally light AND give warmth to your home.  Skylights can add both style and function to your kitchen while saving energy and money. Start a new trend wherever you live with better windows and skylights incorporated naturally into your design.

Swap Out Regular Bulbs for High Efficiency Compact Fluorescent Lights

One of the biggest (and easiest) ways to alter the atmosphere of your home is with your light bulbs. Standard fluorescent lights are not only terribly outdated but they bring down the value of your kitchen design by shinging a dullness over everything.

Replacing old, outdated fluorescent lights with compact fluorescent lighting, is four to five times more energy efficient than incandescent lighting, and elevates the look and warmth of the most important room of your home.

Give Your Cabinets a Facelift – Reface or Refinish 

Kitchen cabinets can make a BIG statement in your kitchen so they are worth careful thought and planning in the design stages of your kitchen remodeling or design project.

Instead of breaking the bank–and using up more environmental materials by buying brand new cabinets–consider cabinet refacing and refurnishing.  Refacing and refurnishing saves you thousands of dollars while also saving environmental material use.

Help reduce your local landfills by using-up what is still usable in your kitchen design.  Cabinets can be brought to brand-new standards with a simple refacing or refinishing treatment.

Invest in Energy Star Appliances

Energy-efficient appliances have come a LONG way in recent years due to the incredible amount of savings and popularity of these household staples.  New and improved sleek designs can save you money while they save the environment by reducing pollution and greenhouse gases generated by energy production at power plants.

Visit the Energy Star website to learn more about Energy Star appliances and where you can purchase them.

Assess Your Current Plumbing Fixtures

How long has it been since your plumbing fixtures were updated?  If you have had your current fixtures for as long as you can remember, it is time for an upgrade.  Plumbing fixtures that were installed before 1992 have long since been replaced with better, more eco-friendly counterparts.

Now, we don’t recommend replacing plumbing fixtures just because they are old, but because with that antiquity comes some money-wasting inefficiency.

Old plumbing fixtures use up much more water than necessary and are prone to leak leading to uneccesary water wasting Low-flow products let you easily control water use while helping you have more control on how much you spend on water each month!

These changes may seem small, but they can make a huge difference in environmental health–especially as more and more people join the movement to be more eco-friendly with their home design.  Be a trendsetter and go green with your kitchen design–your pocketbook will thank you, and so will your grandchildren.

The post Kitchen Remodel? Go Green! appeared first on Summit Cabinet Coatings.

from Summit Cabinet Coatings https://www.summitcabinetcoatings.com/kitchen-remodel-go-green/

Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets for Your Space

Having a kitchen upgrade is a dream come true for most housewives. 

A full makeover can be an exciting project but choosing the perfect kitchen cabinets can be quite difficult.

You can’t have a functional kitchen without cabinets. Kitchen cabinets are part and parcel of having a well-organized kitchen.

There are a whole range of styles available so you need to know some important aspects when selecting the right one. 

Whether you plan on an upgrade or full remodel of your entire kitchen we share some tips to help you choose the best kitchen cabinets for your home.

Match with Kitchen Style

Pick a kitchen cabinet that matches the style of your kitchen. If you have a traditional look or modern design throughout your home your cabinet should complement the look.

Take note of color schemes and the doors, they should complement the interior of your kitchen.

For small spaces, look for cabinets that offer space-saving technology. 

These space savers can be an amazing addition to your cramped room. Carousel corner cabinets are a great choice as they can be hidden behind traditional doors.

Pick the Right Material

You won’t run out of choices with materials available for your kitchen cabinets. There are cabinets made from stainless steel, metal, wood, melamine or thermofoil.

Each material has its own benefits and disadvantages pick one that suits your budget and specific needs.

Solid wood is still the popular choice for kitchen cabinet material.

Choose the Design

There are endless choices when you consider the styles and colors of doors available. Did we mention layout choices already? There are so many layouts to choose from as well.

Popular styles are modern, contemporary and traditional cabinets. 

Design choice should match the overall style of your home.

Flat cabinets are a good choice for modern kitchen designs. You can also try out handleless cabinets for that cool and seamless look.

Looks and Functionality

Choosing cabinets that look great are on top of the list but you should never overlook functionality.

Knowing the available space in your kitchen is always a factor, for small spaces adding drawers under the counters instead of the usual shelves are a good idea.

Cabinets are meant for storage, your choice should be perfect for the type of products you want to store.

Functionality and looks should work hand in hand, you wouldn’t want a piece that looks good but you can’t store any of your stuff in them.

Hardware Choices

You need to pick the right handles, pulls and knobs that would once again match the overall look of your space.

There are many colors, styles and finishes available.

Function and beauty are essential here. Kitchens can get messy all the time. Knobs and pulls can help protect your cabinet finish from the grime and oil that you may transfer to the cabinet surface.

Knobs are a good choice for all doors because they are lighter to open compared to drawers.

Keep in mind that using a pull to open a drawer is easier. Drawers can get heavy with all your pots, pans and dishes in them. Pulls are a good choice for large doors like a pantry door.

If you want to stick with all knobs or all pulls that would be fine. As long as you don’t have a hard time using either of the two.

Try out the knob or pull and decide based on what is more comfortable for you. 

Finish

The look of your kitchen is enhanced by your choice of finish for your cabinets. For a more natural feel, solid wood is your best choice.

You can’t go wrong with solid wood that is finished, stained or painted.

Color choice can also make cleaning easier. Lighter colors are better at hiding grime than darker shades. 

If you can afford to spend a little more you can try Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Benefits of Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Custom Kitchen Cabinets Ogden UT

For homeowners with a budget to spare, you can’t go wrong with custom kitchen cabinets.

They will cost more than stock or semi-custom cabinets but you will surely get your money’s worth.

If you want the ultimate in personalization that can also last longer than stock and semi-custom pieces then custom pieces are your best bet.

For those with budget limitations, you can still do a mix of custom and semi-custom pieces for your kitchen upgrade.

Custom kitchen cabinets are built on-site compared to being built and sold as is in the case of other cabinet choices. You also have the option to come up with your own design and have your cabinet maker implement it for you.

The quality of custom cabinets will depend on the choice of materials, installation, and expert carpentry.

You pay more for higher quality wood and craftsmanship.

Stock cabinets are built based on standard cabinet sizes and are sold as-is. They are the cheapest among the lot and are quicker to purchase.

Semi-custom cabinets are partially built and include unfinished elements that are built to your preference before installation. 

Custom Kitchen Cabinets by Cutting Edge Cabinetry 

Cabinets are not only functional pieces that add to the appeal of our home aesthetics they can also raise the value of our real estate property.

To maximize the value we get, custom kitchen cabinets are the best choice for your kitchen remodel project.

Finding the best makers in your location is vital to get the results that you want to achieve.

If you are looking for an experienced kitchen cabinet maker with the expertise to build custom kitchen cabinets for you, look no further.

Cutting Edge Cabinetry is backed up by 20 years of experience in providing the best custom cabinetry for all kinds of spaces.

An industry leader in carpentry and woodworking in Ogden, Kaysville and Layton, Utah.

We offer premium made custom kitchen cabinets at the best prices in town.

Call them at (801) 927-7476 or send them a message to know more about their custom kitchen cabinets.

The following info was first seen on Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets for Your Space and is courtesy of Cutting Edge Cabinetry and Service. Read more on:} Cutting Edge Cabinetry and Service Blog Utah

Choosing Between Refacing and Refinishing Your Cabinets

As cabinetry begins to age and wear out, you have an important choice to make when updating them. Two of the easiest and cheapest ways to update your cabinets is by refacing or refinishing. Refacing focuses on replacing older doors and drawers with new ones while refinishing coats worn-out cabinets with a finish of your choice to update the entire look and appearance. Both refacing and refinishing can save you time and money, but refinishing typically gives you the most bang for your buck. Learn how to choose between refacing or refinishing your cabinets with this guide!

What Cabinet Refacing Looks Like

When it’s time to update your cabinetry, it can be a hard choice to decide whether you’ll reface or refinish them. While replacing your cabinets is another viable option, this is often too expensive for many home buyers on a tight budget, especially when you can get the same look by refacing or refinishing instead. If you’re looking to change up the pace of your kitchen without spending a lot of money, then your best options are either refacing or refinishing your cabinets. Both options are quite simple, but let’s start by explaining what refacing looks like. Refacing involves replacing the door and drawer fronts of your cabinets (the original framework remains) while applying a veneer to the outside surfaces and edges. All hinges, drawer pulls and handles are replaced at this time, as well, to help the overall look appear newer. This process doesn’t take too long, typically a few days, if done by a professional. Refacing your cabinets usually costs about 50% of what installing new cabinets would be, with the average cost estimating between $1,000 to $3,000 for laminate and $2,500 to $6,000 for wood veneers. While refacing definitely is cheaper than replacing, that doesn’t mean you won’t be spending a little extra money to make everything look nice. The type of material you choose for your veneer will increase or decrease your price, and if you decide to add in additional accessories like lighting fixtures, crown molding or glass panels, you should expect to pay out even more.

What Cabinet Refinishing Looks Like

For homeowners on a limited budget, refacing could still work for you but refinishing your cabinets will be your best option. Refinishing works by removing the existing doors and drawer fronts of your cabinets and washing, hand-sanding, priming and caulking them before applying three layers of a high-grade finish of your choice. Finish colors range from light to dark brown, black and even gray or taupe. For more eccentric colors, you can customize brighter or darker shades to really make the cabinets stand out. The original doors and drawers are used when refinishing, unlike refacing where new ones are placed in lieu of the old ones. The cabinet frames go through the exact same process as the doors and drawers so that all parts receive the same care and match each other. Once this process is completed, the door and drawer fronts are installed again, along with new handles and knobs if you so choose. Refinishing your cabinets takes the least time out of all renovations, with most jobs lasting between 4 and 6 days. Sometimes this can differ depending on the whether the finish will be paint or stain and how intricate the door patterns or designs are. When staining, there is more preparation work required than a simple paint job, and difficult designs cause the project to take more time to complete.

Tips To Make The Best Choice Man examining cabinets in a kitchen.

Both refacing and refinishing your cabinets will create a beautiful, long-lasting look that you can be proud of, but you still have to make a decision. Sometimes your decision will depend on design taste, while others need to take into account how much their budget can afford. Either way, the cheapest and fastest way to update your cabinetry is through refinishing. Refinishing takes less than a week to complete before you’re back in a fully functional kitchen and it costs as cheap as $1,500 to complete. However, not all kitchens can be refinished. If your original frames have water damage or are too far gone for repair, you won’t be able to refinish them but most likely will have to replace them with new cabinets. Additionally, if you choose refacing over refinishing, you will have to take into consideration the materials that your cabinets are made out of. For example, solid hardwood is the best type of frame to ensure that a veneer will adhere correctly, and these veneers require a smooth surface to be placed on so the box construction will need to be made out of plywood or MDF panels that are completely level. You also have to look at the internal accessories and what condition they’re in. Drawers that don’t open well or cabinets that have improper storage elements will hinder a refacing project and make it much more difficult to complete.


Article Source: Choosing Between Refacing and Refinishing Your Cabinets

Choosing the Right Material

Choosing the right material for your cabinets we believe is crucial for longevity. Those kitchen or bathroom cabinets look great on the outside, but what about their inner structures? Does it matter whether they are made of particle board or plywood? There are many reasons why we have decided only to use plywood. We at Dreamline believe in giving our customers a quality product, that they will be happy with for many many years to come.

On the whole, kitchen and bathroom cabinet boxes entirely constructed of plywood are sturdier, more durable, and hold veneer better than particle board cabinet boxes. If all other factors are equal, plywood cabinets are best. Many shops will tell you that particle board is ok, and it is true that they are cheaper, but cheaper in what sense? It is true that right now you might choose those cabinets and spend less money but what about 10yrs down the road? You will have to replace them because they will start to fall apart, while plywood cabinets will not have that issue.

A very good example is like this. Lets say your kitchen will cost you $10,000 for particle board cabinets, while the price for plywood would be $13,500. In 10 years you will spend another $10,000 for same kitchen, while the plywood cabinets would still be in great condition.

Cabinet Construction—Boxes and Fronts

Kitchen and bathroom cabinets can be divided into two elements: boxes and fronts. For example, a kitchen cabinet base with no doors, fixtures, or countertop is a box. A kitchen wall cabinet (the type of cabinet that hangs from the wall) without fixtures and doors is also a box. Were only talking about the structure of the box.

Fronts are an entirely different matter. Doors and drawer fronts are the veneered decorative face that you see, the part that most people are concerned with. Common front styles are Shaker and slab and popular veneered wood species are cherry or oak. Below this hardwood veneer front is a plywood base. The other interchangeable elements are the decorative veneered side panels, which typically match the veneered fronts. For framed cabinets, the exposed vertical stiles (vertical sections) and rails (horizontal sections) may be veneered or may be solid hardwood. We at Dreamline typically use solid hardwood for our framed cabinets, as its more durable.

Boxes are the true heart of cabinet systems.

Particle Board vs. Plywood

Cabinet boxes are structural, and thus need to be strong. And this is where particle board and plywood come into play. Particle board, will be stable as long as it remains dry and is not subjected to undue stress. As long as it remains veneered, either with wood or thermofoil, it can perform well for many years to come.

The type of plywood used for cabinets is not the cheap plywood used for sheathing and construction projects. Cabinet-grade plywood often has twice the number of plies, better lamination, and a smoother finish. It cuts cleanly, with little splintering or damage. Cabinet-grade plywood tends to be 3/4-inch thick and may be veneered on one side with inexpensive wood, such as birch. Plywood cabinet boxes are lighter than particle board boxes. This makes them easier to install for wall cabinets, where high lifting is required.

Cabinet Costs and Availability

Generally, cabinets made from particle board will be cheaper than those made with plywood. Because particle board is cheaper to manufacture, cabinet boxes made from this material tend to cost less, but as mentioned above, it’s not necessarily cheaper in the long run. We recommend all of our clients to choose plywood boxes for their cabinets as they will last much longer, able to take more stress, and dont get ruined by liquids.

Article Source: Choosing the Right Material