Remodeling your kitchen is perhaps one of the most exciting and most demanding projects you will ever take up when it comes to home adaptations. Kitchens tend to be the focus point of modern American homes and they see heavy use.
Apart from the general layout and color scheme, one of the biggest challenges you will face is choosing the right cabinetry for your new kitchens. In order to help you make the right decision, we reached out to remodeling professionals at Kitchens by Charles Weiler. They came up with this helpful guide.
Pre-fabs or Custom Cabinets
The first step in deciding how to proceed is to decide whether you want to go for something that has already been made and is readily available, or if you want to create custom cabinets for your kitchen. Both have some advantages and disadvantages that you will have to account for.
When going with pre-fabs, you can expect to have them delivered and installed at your home in a matter of hours, which is why they are a very popular choice. That being said, you are limited by what is currently available. That includes both the colors and design.
On the other hand, going with custom designs, you essentially have free reign in terms of design, placement and the dimensions of your cabinetry – ideal for unorthodox kitchens. Still, you may have to wait weeks for the cabinetmaker to finish your order. They also tend to be somewhat more expensive.
Choose Between Drawer Style or Classic Cabinet Style
Traditionally, kitchens have classical hinge doors that give you access to the inside of your cabinet. And while that gives you a lot of room to store things inside, the items in the back might not be as accessible, or as well-lit when you’re looking for something.
This is why there has been a growing trend in more contemporary kitchens to incorporate more drawers, even for the big cabinets. This style of cabinets allows you better access to items you have stored inside. However, they are more expensive and the gas-operated opening mechanisms tend to be more finicky.
Do You Have a Design in Mind
When redoing your kitchen, it’s always a good idea to have the help of a professional interior designer, at least for the planning stages. This way, you can ensure that your kitchen will work as a cohesive unit, rather than a mish-mash of bits and ideas you’ve seen somewhere and liked.
Generally speaking, you can opt for a traditional or a modern kitchen. This choice will largely reflect your choice of cabinetry as well. After all, they do take up a lot of the space in your kitchen and can make or break the design.
Traditional kitchens are geared more towards people who have fully settled in their home and are sure of what they like and want – a tried and tested design that has lasted for a long time. Conversely, if you are looking to have your kitchen be more state-of-the-art and contemporary feeling, a minimalist modern design might be a better fit for you.
Finish with Cabinet Finish Options
Finally, there’s the matter of finish of the cabinets. Apart from the color and the design, this is perhaps the most striking factor that can have a great impact on the way your kitchen looks and feels.
For instance, glossy and highly-polished finish on your cabinets tends to work best with modern cabinets. Combined with some accent lights and some striking cabinet handles (stainless steel or brass tend to work best), the cabinets will really pop.
More toned-down finish like matte paint or even natural wood look can blend in perfectly with a traditional and subtle kitchen design.
As you can see, designing and choosing kitchen cabinets can be quite a long and deliberate process. However, once you see your new kitchen, you will not regret putting the time and effort in choosing the right option for you.