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Date Posted: 12/15/2007
Are you planning on purchasing new kitchen cabinets? Whether for a newly
constructed home or for a remodeling project, consider one important factor,
your kitchen is the heart of your home! It is not just a place to dine; it is
also the main gathering place for family and friends and a place for
entertaining. This is particularly true with today’s popular open floor plans
and great room designs. Because your kitchen plays such an important part of
your home there are a few things to consider in your planning process.
1) Keep in mind future buyers
Even if you are currently building your dream home, it is possible that someday
you will have a need to sell your home. Or, if you are remodeling your existing
home to make it more comfortable for you and your family, you may still find
the need to sell it someday. Because of this, even if you aren’t ready to sell
your home today you should always ponder what potential buyers would think of
your kitchen cabinet selection and layout because opinions of your kitchen can
drastically either increase or decrease your selling price. A practical kitchen
layout is typically everyone’s goal, but cabinet styles and finishes are more
of a personal choice. Are you attracted to traditional styles or more modern
styles? Do you like kitchen cabinets with distinct wood grain or ones with
nearly no grain? Whichever you personally prefer always keep future buyers in
mind as it can play an important part in your bottom line.
2) The Work Triangle
All homeowners seek a functional workspace in the kitchen. In planning your
kitchen layout it is important to consider the distance between your sink,
stove and refrigerator in relationship to each other. Connecting these three
workstations from their center points should create an invisible “work
triangle.” According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association the sum of
the three distances should be no more than 26 feet, with no single side of the
triangle being less than four feet or more than nine feet. There are a couple
things to consider with planning a well-designed work triangle; watch out for
any triangle legs that may intersect an obstacle like an island, and make sure
that no major traffic patterns cross through the work triangle. Proper planning
of your “work triangle,” taking all obstacles and limitations into review, will
help create a functional workspace that will be both practical for you and your
future buyers.
3) Kitchen cabinet storage is key
When designing your dream kitchen it is key to
consider your storage space, along with ample countertop space. Kitchen cabinet
layout services are available to help you maximize your space and create the
best flow of cabinetry. The first place to look for extra storage space is your
corners. In small, tight kitchens a blind corner cabinet can be used to get the
most use out of the corner. However, to get the most efficient use of the
corner space a lazy susan corner cabinet or easy
reach cabinet should be used. These cabinet options maximize the corner space
while allowing easy entry to it contents. Or try adding rollout trays in your
base kitchen cabinets to help access your pots and pans, or in your pantries in
order to reach cans and dry goods more easily. Another suggestion would be to
include a 24” deep bridge cabinet in your kitchen cabinet layout above your
refrigerator. Most people keep unused or seasonal items above the refrigerator
for the simple fact that they can’t reach the cabinet. Therefore, consider a
24” deep refrigerator cabinet for easier access.
4) Use kitchen cabinets to create islands or peninsulas
Kitchen cabinets can be configured to create center islands or peninsulas.
These cabinet configurations are very attractive to homeowners with an open
floor plan. Using kitchen cabinets this way creates an area for a breakfast
nook with the ability to pull up stools. Kitchen cabinets used in this manner
instantly increases seating space, which is ideal since kitchens are typically
gathering places. Islands and peninsulas also create more storage space.
5) Bells and Whistles
Just like purchasing a new vehicle, there are upgrade
options to consider when purchasing your new kitchen cabinets. For example,
what type of drawers do you want in your base cabinets? Will the standard
particleboard drawer secured with glue and staples be sufficient? Or would you
prefer an all-wood drawer constructed with dove-tailed joints? Or better yet,
would you want the all-wood, dove-tailed drawer with full-extension drawer
glides that include a silent close feature? Other construction upgrades can
include all plywood construction, and custom depth cabinets. Besides
construction upgrades there are accessory cabinets that provide you with some
“bell and whistle” qualities that can give your kitchen a custom and
personalized look. Give consideration to glass door cabinets for displaying
your keepsakes or china dinnerware, an appliance hutch for hiding small
appliances on your countertop, roll out trays for base cabinets, integrated
waste baskets, corner shelves, and wine racks. When selecting your bells and
whistles keep in mind both your budget and overall functionality and flow of
your kitchen for optimal results.
Remember, your kitchen is the heart of your home! Success in constructing a
timeless, comfortable space is creating a balance between an efficient layout
and design with your personal tastes, while keeping with the end goal of adding
value to your home.
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Date Posted: 12/15/2007
Have you always wanted your kitchen to look like the ones that you see in
interior design magazines?
It is not very difficult to achieve especially if you know how to go about it.
With the right amount of planning, you too can have a kitchen that looks and
functions equally well.
The first step towards a designer kitchen is kitchen cabinets. Do not look at
kitchen cabinets as mere storage spaces.
Today, they deliver a strong statement about your tastes and styles. The best
part about them is that they are no longer limited to a few designs and styles.
The sky is the limit when it comes to kitchen cabinets. From high quality wood,
fiber and modular ones, several designs and styles are available.
Sorting cabinets
Wooden cabinets can never go out of style no matter what look you choose for
your home. The classic rich appeal of a wooden cabinet is irreplaceable. Cherry
kitchen cabinets have become extremely popular in the last few years. They are
the perfect combination of contemporary looks and modern styling.
One of the main reasons for their popularity is that a cherry cabinet blends
with almost all kinds of kitchen and room décor. Apart from cherry, there is
maple, red birch or oak to choose from. When it comes to selecting a cabinet,
it eventually comes down to pricing and personal choice. The cabinets have to
blend with the appliances, the flooring, the countertops etc. Add the pricing
factor to this and it becomes easier for you to come down to a few choices.
Discounts
On the other hand, if you are ready to sacrifice slightly on the looks and go
for a better price deal, then you can look for unfinished cabinets online.
There are several websites that offer unfinished cabinets for much less than
what they are actually worth.
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