Choosing the right cabinetry
When you are building a new home or simply want to remodel your existing home one of the biggest decisions you may need to make is choosing the right cabinetry. Cabinetry can really add (or sadly take away) from the ambiance and look of any room. And most importantly it is crucial to choose the right cabinets since cabinetry can have a significant amount of cash and labor tied into them. There are several different tools to help you in choosing the right cabinetry.
While the options are numerous and can seem overwhelming here are some tips on choosing the right cabinetry:
- Decide on the configuration. One of the first things to do is to decide on the general distribution of the cabinets according to the space available. With kitchens you may need to decide on whether a single-row, L- or corner-shape and U-shape with or without kitchen islands will work best depending on your room size and design. The classical way to distribute the basic kitchen appliances around cabinets is: refrigerator, space, oven, space, kitchen sink with dishwasher. This traditional way of lineup keeps the heat of the oven away from the fridge and still allows room to have them close enough. Experts recommend drawing a simple floor plan of your kitchen and cutting out of paper board some pieces equivalent to each of your appliances. This will help give you a rough idea of what could go where. Later on when you will have a more concrete feeling of where each cabinet will go you can talk to your cabinet maker to get a detailed drawing of your ideas, before proceeding with installation. For your bathroom it is important to decide whether or not you really need cabinets. Today's bathrooms often use pieces of furniture in conjunction with an installed sink rather than cabinets. Make sure that you are installing cabinets where you need them for space and available countertops not simply because you think you have to.
- Decide on the details of your cabinetry-Before making a final purchase of your cabinets be sure to consider the following points: materials used, door and drawer fronts, hinges, knobs and drawer slides. Design experts recommend buying the best material you can afford since cabinets are high traffic areas in whatever room they are installed. Also keep in mind that certain materials clean and wear better than others. There is a large amount of water and humidity in both kitchens and bathrooms that should be considered when choosing cabinetry.
- Consult a professional. Good cabinetry is often made by a professional. A consultation with a cabinet maker can help you make the decisions you need before installing cabinets that do not work for you. If you choose to use a professional to design and install your cabinetry be sure and ask for references from former customers before signing a contract. This will also enable you to check with former clients on the durability of the cabinets from that professional.
- Reuse if possible. You may be able to save significant amounts of money by reusing or redoing cabinetry. This can not only provide a significant amount of money saved but is much more environmentally responsible. Cabinets can be resurfaced if the hardware is still in good working order or cabinets can be removed from a site and moved over into your renovation rather than being thrown away. Sometimes simply repainting existing cabinets can give your room a whole new look. Check out garage and estate sales for great deals on older cabinetry that can be reused. In addition researching online can give you options on reusing cabinetry in your area.
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