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Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets – Where to Start and What to Know

Posted On : Jan-22-2011 | seen (574) times | Article Word Count : 1046 |

There are a million different ideas, choices, and options to consider in a kitchen remodeling job but nothing makes a difference like your kitchen cabinets. Choosing the right kitchen cabinets for your kitchen can be a great way to show your own unique style and give you the chance to have the kitchen you have always dreamed of and wanted.
There are a million different ideas, choices, and options to consider in a kitchen remodeling job but nothing makes a difference like your kitchen cabinets. Choosing the right kitchen cabinets for your kitchen can be a great way to show your own unique style and give you the chance to have the kitchen you have always dreamed of and wanted.

Once you begin your search for the right cabinets, you’ll soon discover a vast array of cabinet choices. There are a variety of different styles of kitchen cabinets for your kitchen to choose from. You can find many different decorative themes, door styles, wood, finishes, sizes, colors and cabinets made out of different types of materials. Though it may seem a bit overwhelming in the beginning, you can make a wise choice if you consider a few ideas to help you choose the right kitchen cabinets:

1. The budget. Whenever you start any construction or remodeling project, your first step should be to decide how much you want to spend and what your limitations are. Choosing kitchen cabinets counts as a major decision in designing your home since they will be in place for many years. Doing some homework will help you make practical and attractive choices while staying within your budget.

2. Determine the amount of space you have. A kitchen must be designed with the maximum amount of space for cabinets. Due to the use of the kitchen on a regular basis and the need for utilities, this is extremely important. When deciding on how to remodel your kitchen, the shape and dimensions of the room needs to be measured. Place pots and pans in cabinets located near or above the stove, and dishes closer to your table. Using your cabinets effectively is one of the easiest ways to create more space, and is often the cheapest.

Is a U-shaped kitchen counter able to fit in your kitchen easily? Since this considered to be one of the most functional, you will need to make certain there is enough room for one if this is what you decide on.

3. A Variety of materials. Consider the materials that the kitchen cabinets are made from. The three main materials used in kitchen cabinet productions are wood, metal and laminate. Laminate kitchen cabinets are made of multiple layers of kraft paper, decorative paper layer and a plastic sealant bonded together under extremely high pressure. They are inexpensive and come in all sorts of colours but have the downside of being chipped and unrepairable.

Metal cabinets made from stainless steel are far better in durability and very easy to clean, costing a lot more than any other materials. The only problem with this material is its nature that makes fingerprints visible on the surface and the disadvantage of getting scratches all over. Nevertheless, stainless steel cabinets are very popular and widely used in modern, contemporary kitchens.

The best material and mostly used in urban and country kitchens would be wood. It has both durability and comes in various colours and finishes.The disadvantage of this material is it might warp over time and expands due to the humidity of the kitchen’s atmosphere. This causes problems especially to stick-prone wooden slide drawers. Fortunately, this problem could be easily avoided by choosing wooden kitchen cabinets with ball-bearing slides or track-roller slides drawers.

4. Make sure durability and warranty features. If you need to choose less expensive kitchen cabinets, easy to clean surfaces, consider thermofoil or laminate kitchen cabinets. Check out the warranty when buying thermofoil or laminate kitchen cabinets since these won’t last as long as wood cabinets – know what you’re getting.

5. Think about style, convenience and Functionality. Naturally, style and appearance are important factors in selecting kitchen cabinets, but you should also make sure your cabinets will provide the best functionality possible in your kitchen. That means making sure they can withstand the pounding of heavy cookware and dishes, as well as countless openings and closings. Your kitchen cabinets must endure a lot of use from you and your family members. Regardless of what style of cabinets that you choose, updating your kitchen will add a new look and extra value to your home.

6. Consider the Dimensions. Before buying kitchen cabinets, measure the dimensions of the area where you will be fitting the cabinets. Distribute kitchen appliances in such a way, that the overall space looks occupied, but not cluttered.

Cabinet dimensions are specified with width first, height second, depth last. The width–height–depth is a generally accepted convention. A 18×36x12 cabinet is therefore 18 inches wide, 36 inches tall, and 12 inches deep. Sometimes upper cabinets are presumed to be 12″ deep, so only the width and height are given. For example, a “W1836″ label means wall-mounted cabinet (12″ deep) is 18 inches wide and 36 inches high.

7 . Take note of the Construction and Quality. The overall quality of kitchen cabinets is closely linked to their construction, meaning how they’re put together and the materials they’re made from. You’ll be wise to pay close attention to these key features, particularly if you expect to live with your cabinets for a long time. Kitchen cabinets, particularly the drawers, take a lot of punishment so paying for some durability is a wise investment.

Key points to be aware of include the following:

Construction and Design – kitchen cabinets are constructed in one of two different design styles — framed or frameless. Framed cabinets employ a wood frame that outlines the front of the cabinet box. Frameless cabinets do not have this feature. Also, the joinery and techniques used to assemble and support kitchen cabinets vary. Structural braces are made from plastic, wood or metal. Methods of joinery include hot-glue, staples and nails, or, more intricate woodworking techniques like dovetails and dadoes.

Hardware – A drawer can usually hold about 75 to 100 lbs for ordinary use. Drawer slides vary in level of quality (some use ball bearings whereas others use nylon wheels/rollers) and physical location on the drawer (sidemount or on the bottom) which affects available drawer space. Shelf mounting brackets can be either plastic or metal.

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets – Where to Start and What to Know_49606.aspx

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Keywords : home improvement, kitchen cabinets, kitchen remodeling, choose the right kitchen cabinets, renovations, Kitchen,

Category : Home and Family : Home Improvement

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