White Kitchen Cabinets Still The Color of Choice In Many Homes
August 19th, 2009When it comes to home remodeling we need not look much further than our kitchens to find a project. Kitchens are the main traffic area, and gathering point of your home for preparing meals, doing homework, and a comfortable place for friends and family to socialize. Creating a design for your kitchen is the first step in the process of being able to achieve the personal look, practical use and customized feel to meet your family’s lifestyle and needs. One of the most vital steps in accomplishing this process is choosing the color of your kitchen, and today white kitchen cabinets are more popular then ever.
Why white? Well if you are anything like me you can never have enough light in the kitchen, and that bright clean look is something that just can’t be achieved with other colors. In the past many people felt that white kitchen cabinets were only for showrooms and thought white was too much work to maintain. With today’s new wood finishes and synthetic materials white kitchen cabinets are as easy to maintain as any other stained color. In addition it is much easier to change color themes from time to time by changing window treatments, place mats and countertop accessories with new accent colors if you choose.
The color white speaks for itself and depending on the style of kitchen cabinetry and door style you can create a look that fits your personality. White kitchen cabinets are used for many different styles of decor such as Contemporary, Traditional, Country, French Country, English, Shaker and many more. There are also many choices of materials used for kitchen cabinets like; plastic laminate, white painted wood, high gloss lacquer, vinyl foil, white stain and white washed finish – all having their our design statement. Each of these styles has a distinctive look and can reflect your own personality.
White kitchen cabinets show no signs of going out of the style anytime soon and with the flexibility available when working off of a white canvas anything is possible. You can literally achieve almost any look, style, or feel that meets your taste when using White Kitchen Cabinets as your foundation.
Steps To Paint Kitchen Cabinets
August 19th, 2009You can paint your kitchen cabinets for a very affordable price and although a little elbow grease is required, the task really very simple. The ultimate outcome is that your kitchen will have a new look without having to remodel. Professional expertise is not required to paint your kitchen, but you should have a little knowledge before getting started, such as some cabinets can not even be painted.
Before you begin painting you will want to remove all hardware which includes knobs, hinges, and pulls. If you can, take the doors off the cabinets, this will make painting much easier. It is a GREAT idea to label each door so they will be easy to put back once it has dried.
Here are some additional tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets that will hopefully make your experience easier.
1) Cleaning the Cabinets; The most important step about undertaking this project is the preparation of the kitchen cabinet for painting. Be sure to use a heavy duty cleaner to remove the grease and cooking oils that may have spilled over the years.
2) Removing Cabinet Accessories; Remove pulls, knobs, handles and hinges from the cabinets. Remove the drawers and also the knobs and handles on them. It is advisable to remove the doors to the cabinet, as it will make your job much easier.
3) Tools and Preparation; You can use a brush, roller or spray gun to paint kitchen cabinets. A roller is the best and quickest option for you and less expensive. If you use a spray gun, you will find that they are better though more expensive. In either case you should always do a thorough job of covering the counter tops, and taping off any areas not intended to receive the new coat of paint.
4) How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets; Use a medium grit sandpaper to roughen the cabinet so that the paint sticks to the surface. Clean the cabinets again using a tack cloth. Apply a primer coat and allow it to dry. Finally apply your select cabinet paint to the cabinet front and panels making sure that the paint is spread evenly. Replace the pulls, hinges, knobs and the drawer.
Deciding to paint your kitchen cabinets could be one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to your home. It can benefit your homes value and change your overall mood while not costing a fortune to achieve. A freshly painted kitchen is enough to raise anyone’s spirits, and give you a great feeling of accomplishment knowing you have just improved the look of your home. .
Creating A Kitchen Island Design For The Family
August 18th, 2009The household kitchen is perhaps the most visited part of any home. In the kitchen is where meals are prepared, where families gather for mealtime, and where at family gatherings everyone seems to congregate. It seems that in most households no matter what time of day it is, there’s always someone using the kitchen.
A great way to customize your kitchen floor plan, and compliment your family needs is with a well thought out kitchen island design. Having a kitchen island is something that can fit the needs of most families, and a safe choice regardless of the style of your kitchen whether it’s country, contemporary, or futuristic. Dimensions of a kitchen are an overriding concern in choosing the most appropriate kitchen island design. Large islands are very helpful in creating a cooking ‘room’ within the room that separates the cooking area from the eating area. Additional options like breakfast bars and installed appliances can help achieve the ‘kitchen triangle’ of sink-range/cooktop-refrigerator that are the basis for most kitchen design ideas.
When creating your kitchen island design there are endless styles and features to think about, and choose from. Contemporary, Traditional, American Folk and French Country, are all popular styles.
Many kitchen island designs are wooden and use Northern Maple, Red Oak, Poplar, Birch, and plantation-grown exotic woods, but others are constructed of stainless steel, some combining wood with stainless steel. Your kitchen island top can be hard wood, granite or marble, stainless steel, or butcher block.
Many kitchen islands can be fitted with cook tops and will need to include a ventilation hood that can be a wonderful compliment to the Kitchen Island Design, as they to come in many styles. In addition to a cook top, another popular choice for kitchen island additions is a second sink. You should choose a kitchen island sink that is deep enough to wash large pots and pans. It should also include a garbage disposal so it can be used as a prep sink for cooking your meals. Countertop accessories for your kitchen island can easily coordinate with the rest of your kitchen, but do not have to be a perfect match.
Adding an island to your kitchen is not only sure fire way to beautify the home, but also create an environment that caters to the overall needs of you and your family.
Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
August 11th, 2009Are you thinking of a quick and affordable way to remodel your kitchen with beautiful results? The most striking feature of a beautiful kitchen is cabinetry, and as a result the first consideration when planning a kitchen remodeling project. The only drawback to overhauling the cabinetry in your kitchen is that it can be very expensive. If you love your floor and countertops, but your kitchen cabinets look worn out then refacing kitchen cabinets could be the answer to revitalizing your kitchen back into that sparkling gem.
Refacing kitchen cabinets is a fairly simple process, and the main consideration before choosing to start a cabinet refacing project is determining if the old cabinets to be refaced are sturdy and functional on the inside. The cabinet structure and shelving will remain unchanged while the existing door and drawer facing is removed and resurfaced, or replaced with new material. And, with refacing kitchen cabinets you don’t have to sacrifice any style because material choices can range from solid wood and laminate, to veneers, and more.
In most cases a kitchen remodeling will not include any layout change which makes the process of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets a fairly simple one that could be completed in three easy steps. First- all of the doors and drawers are removed from the kitchen cabinets. Second – the outside of the cabinets are covered over with a quarter inch veneer. Third – all new matching doors and drawers are installed with new hardware and hinges.
Cabinet styles and materials are widely available when choosing to reface your kitchen, and you will find as many options with refacing kitchen cabinets as you would if you choose to purchase brand new kitchen cabinets. You can select from a variety of door styles that include shaker, summit roman, summit cathedral, and color options such as maple, oak or just a traditional white. There is really no limit, and finding a style that meets your taste should be readily available with a little research.
Molding and fillers can add the perfect finishing touch to your newly refaced cabinets, and are also widely available. You can select from crown molding, rope molding, dentil molding, cove molding, shoe molding and corner molding to accentuate the look of your newly refaced kitchen.
So, if you’re budget doesn’t allow for a complete kitchen cabinet renovation and you still want to add some flare consider refacing kitchen cabinets to transform the kitchen.
