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| Kitchen Cabinets |
| Taking Stock or Custom? |
| by Lisa VandenDool |
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| For many, remodeling to get their dream kitchen is a once in a lifetime experience. While much research often goes into choosing fixtures and appliances, the cabinets will comprise a large chunk of your kitchen remodeling budget. Additionally, the choice of style, proportions and color will also have a dramatic influence on the overall visual appeal. Since it's your once in a life time dream kitchen, you want it to last that lifetime. The level of quality will be a major factor in this area. So, if your are thinking about getting new cabinets, do your homework, weigh your options and choose wisely! |
The Planning Stage |
Creating your dream kitchen requires careful planning! The input of a professional is especially helpful at this stage. Get your kitchen designed, either by a CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer), an architect or a interior designer. Many cabinet providers have programs for laying out your kitchen cabinets.
Include efficient work triangles and useful work stations, like a baking station, a food prep area, and clean up or dish washing zone. Islands provide great counter space, extra storage, seating and make stunning focal points.Look for a cabinet style that suits the design and style found in the rest of your home. |
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Smart kitchen cabinets start with a smart design! |
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Great Cabinet Features: |
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Custom Cabinets |
When you go the way of custom cabinets there are endless possibilities with virtually no limits. If you can dream it up, it can be drawn and built to measure for your kitchen!
With fully custom cabinets it is all about choice. Your choice in: style, design, finishes, hardware, accessories and material. However, getting everything you want in custom cabinetry comes with a higher price and involves more lead time - starting at six to eight weeks. |
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Custom cabinets offer appliance integration with cabinet fronts for fridges and dishwashers. |
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Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets |
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Semi-custom cabinets are, of course, less expensive than fully custom cabinets, but they still offer a fair amount of versatility. These cabinets are constructed in predetermined increments, but are made according to the homeowner's size needs.
They are often made from better quality materials than stock cabinets and have more construction details. Semi-custom cabinet systems also offer greater design options and flexibility than stock cupboards do. |
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Semi custom cabinets can look like custom with a lower price tag. |
Stock Kitchen Cabinets |
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Worried about quality?
Stock cabinets even come in solid wood options.
Including wine racks and glass doors can add to a more customized look. |
Stock cabinetry is a great option if you are on a tighter budget. These pre-made cabinets come in standard or set sizes. The sizes are easy to work with because manufacturers have chosen the size options that are the most commonly needed. Most kitchens can be built with stock cabinets, especially with the help of a good designer.
Beyond price, another advantage that stock cabinets offer is less lead time, which can minimize the disruption that a kitchen remodel causes.
While stock cabinets have been considered by some to be synonymous with poor quality, it doesn't have to be the case. There is a range in quality available, including solid wood cabinets. |
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What to look for in stock cabinets: |
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| When deciding, try to resist the tendency to pick simply based on how it looks. It may be a wolf in sheep's clothing. Some manufacturers are skilled at designing great looking cabinets to hide a lack of quality. Carefully consider the quality differences in the six areas mentioned, to determine the level of quality in each product line. Try to get the best quality cabinets that will fit your particular budget. |
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| Which route is best for you, fully custom, semi-custom or stock cabinets? It does largely come down to your budget. Look carefully at your options and try to strike the best balance between cost , quality and function that is within your budget! |
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| Compare FREE Estimates From Kitchen Contractors NOW! |
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