Kitchen Cabinet Trends to Avoid

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Whether you’re planning out the construction of your new home or are just looking to renovate the old kitchen, the kitchen cabinet is no doubt an object of importance. It’s one of the first things people see when they enter the kitchen and serves both visual and functional benefits for anyone there. 

If you want to make your kitchen look and feel great to be in, though, you need to know what you SHOULDN’T be doing. A lot of kitchens look bland or messy because of a lack of planning and understanding of design theory.

Don’t worry, though – we’ve listed some of the most important kitchen trends to avoid implementing so that you don’t turn your lovely kitchen into a colorful mess.

Matching Every Detail Possible

One of the most important kitchen trends to avoid is that you do not have to match your kitchen cabinet with its surroundings. A lot of people make the rookie mistake of having their cabinets look exactly the same as the rest of the kitchen. And while this may not look bad, it takes away a lot of the creativity from the kitchen’s overall look.

Let’s say, for example, you have a white custom kitchen cabinet that matches your white tabletop and white backsplash, with a few rustic accents here and there. The problem with this is that the kitchen cabinet isn’t given any sort of identity, with it just blending in the background with everything else. It can even end up being hard to spot from a distance. 

If you want your kitchen cabinet to pop and stand out, you need to know how to contrast it with the rest of the kitchen. Of course, you shouldn’t go overboard, like painting it bright pink in a monochromatic theme.

Ornamenting every possible part of your kitchen cabinets

kitchen cabinet ornament

matching kitchen cabinet ornaments

If your kitchen cabinet looks a little dull, you may be tempted to ornament it with a few bits and bobs to add color and variance. While that’s all good and fun, it can be an issue if you go overboard and turn your kitchen cabinet into an ornamental hodgepodge. Having too many ornaments can be incredibly distracting to the eye, and can even destroy the overall theme of the kitchen if you place the wrong ones.

 

A great alternative to adding ornaments would be to give the cabinet itself some design. The main purpose of the ornaments is to add interesting shapes and colors to the look, and you can accomplish this without even adding ornaments. Adding shapes and textures to your cabinet can pop out more than most ornaments.

 

If you must add ornaments, make sure that it fits the overall theme of your kitchen. For example, adding a set of traditional tea cups will look great on the shelf of a rustic kitchen, but will feel out of place in a more modern setting. Also, keep in mind that you should only add ornaments in moderation. Remember, ornaments add to a look – they’re not the centerpiece. While too few ornaments can make your kitchen look bland, too many ornaments will just make it feel messy. This not only makes it difficult to look at but can unknowingly distract you while you are cooking. 

So while ornaments aren’t bad by any means, keep in mind that they should never be the focus of your kitchen. The kitchen cabinet can look great on its own, and adding ornaments that match its overall theme will improve the look, too.

Wrong countertop type to go with your cabinets

A countertop serves as the overall centerpiece of the kitchen, as it serves many purposes. Because of this, many people spend absurd amounts of money on the fanciest countertops to either impress guests. However, this often ruins the look of the kitchen. The reason this happens is that the countertop fails to match the cabinets.

Imagine that the kitchen is one big framed painting. If the countertop is the canvas, then the cabinet serves as the “frame”. Because it wraps around the countertop, the kitchen cabinet must match the canvas, or else it will feel out of place. 

If you want to go the safe route, a simple trick would be to get a countertop that directly contrasts the color of your kitchen cabinets. This is especially true if your kitchen cabinets are black or white in color. The white and black contrast is a classic that never gets old, and it’ll look great without too much effort.

Another option to go for would be to match the colors instead. A white countertop with a white kitchen cabinet looks great. Keep in mind the previous point, however, and don’t go overboard with the matching. Matching the colors of the countertop with the kitchen cabinet works best when you have color contrasts in other places. Should you match your countertop’s color with the cabinet’s, be sure to add contrast elsewhere, preferably in the backsplash. This leads us to our next point:

DIY backsplashes that have nothing to do with your design

backsplash You’ve seen it on Pinterest, Instagram, or even Facebook – DIY kitchen designs that look too good to be true. And while they are definitely doable, you shouldn’t go willy-nilly with the DIY just because you can, especially when it comes to your backsplash. The backsplash can dictate an entire look, so have to be extra careful with it.

Kitchen backsplashes can generally be classified into two different categories: plain and patterned. Plain backsplashes are just that – simple colors that cover the whole kitchen. They’re nothing too special but are great if you want to shift the eye’s focus towards other parts of the kitchen, such as the countertop or kitchen cabinet.

On the other hand, patterned backsplashes can pop out on their own, depending on what design you go for. Some designs, such as a brick backsplash, are a little less fancy, whereas tiled backsplashes can be works of art by themselves.

 

So the next time you see a fancy-looking DIY backsplash idea or video on a social media page, you may want to hold back on trying it out unless you know it’ll work with your current kitchen. DIY projects are definitely fun, though, so try finding a backsplash project that complements the rest of your kitchen if you want to do a solo project in the future.

Combine or not combine laundry room with kitchen, that is the question

Finally, here’s something worth considering – should you combine the laundry room with your kitchen, or have them as separate rooms instead? Well, there are quite a few considerations to make when answering that question, namely budget, space, convenience, and, of course, design.

The first and most important thing to consider is your overall budget. If you really want to separate both rooms, but don’t have the funds to do so, you may as well just find a way to make the laundry room fit well with the kitchen. On the other hand, if you lack the funds to combine both rooms together, at least you can worry about designing the two rooms separately.

Space is another consideration to make. If you have the laundry room combined with the kitchen, you will definitely save yourself a little bit of space. On the other hand, having a dedicated laundry room may take up space that could have been used for something like a pantry. 

Then there’s the overall convenience. Sure, it may be more convenient to have multiple things in one room, but for a lot of people, having a laundry area in the kitchen can be distracting. The smell from the kitchen can carry over to the laundry too, and vice versa. And you’d have to schedule your laundry before or after cooking unless you want to deal with the noise of the washing machine. For home cooks and chefs, they’d probably sacrifice the convenience that comes with combining the rooms for a cleaner and more dedicated kitchen.

Finally, a brief discussion on the overall design. We discussed how certain kitchen cabinet trends can ruin the look of the kitchen, and this can apply to the laundry area, too. Having a laundry area can really break the theme of the kitchen, especially with the unique look of laundry equipment. Sure, you could cover or hide them in cabinets or shelves, but that’d require extra money and effort.

On the other hand, with a dedicated laundry room, you don’t even need to worry about designing it. Most people don’t bother making the laundry room look fancy, and having it out of sight can give you that added creative freedom when designing the kitchen. 

Overall, we’d recommend separating the laundry room from the kitchen, but only if you have the budget and space to do so, of course. You can always work around designing with the laundry equipment, and while it may not look perfect, it can save you quite a bit. If you want to dedicate your kitchen to cooking only, though, it may be worth investing in a separate laundry room.

Conclusion

Kitchen cabinets may seem like nothing more than storage containers to some, but they’re vital in completing the look of your typical home kitchen. The kitchen cabinet has to match the overall theme of the look and should pair well with both the countertop and the backsplash. Adorning the cabinet with too many ornaments can result in incredibly distracting looks. Finally, if you can afford it, try keeping your laundry room and kitchen in separate areas. Now that you know what kitchen trends to avoid, you’ll be able to design the perfect kitchen setup.

Kitchen Storage Tips and Ideas That Can Make a Difference

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Not all homeowners have the luxury of a large kitchen space. You just have to be creative in organizing and use every available space in your cooking area. There are tricks to avoid clutter and store cooking essentials in an orderly manner.

Get some inspiration from our kitchen storage ideas to make your space functional and less messy.

Pull-Out Pantry

Storage is the one thing that we don’t have enough of in our kitchen. It’s a matter of organizing and being creative in our kitchen storage ideas, or lack thereof. We have the pantry cabinets, which help us avoid clutter to keep the cooking area clean and orderly. 

Consider investing in pull-out pantry shelves to go with your custom cabinets to maximize your storage space. 

A pull-out pantry shelf is a combination of a shelf and drawer with a sliding mechanism that can be pushed back and forth, allowing access to the back and sides. This is made of steel, plastic laminate, or wood and does not need knobs or handles to open or close. Just hold the front of the shelf and pull it towards you until you can reach what you need.

Glass-front Cabinets

You’ll just love glass-front cabinets as one of your small kitchen storage ideas to make your small space look larger and lively. 

Glass-front door cabinets come in many styles and designs from the sleek-looking single panel door to the four-panel door for a vintage feel. Think about frosted glass, clear glass, or textured glass depending on what you want to accomplish.

Display your chic fine china or dishware to make your kitchen appear classy and elegant.

Hang Boards & Plate Rack

plate rack

No kitchen space is small with your kitchen cabinet storage ideas. 

Discover the endless possibilities with hang boards and plate rack, if you don’t have floor space, use your wall space.

This is very useful to people with limited space. Wall mount racks will allow storage of kitchen equipment, leaving room for things on the floor.

Their different height and depths serve as a kitchen cabinet storage solution to 3, 6, or more pieces of equipment. Use hang boards for your pots, pans, and cutting boards, also your plate rack will keep dishes out of the way. It keeps everything organized, so it’s easy to find them whenever you need them.

Add Shelves in Your Backsplash

Paint your kitchen walls with any color you like, but your backsplashes will add style and functionality to your cooking space.

Want to add more pizazz? Get your wheels turning and ponder about creative kitchen storage using shelves in your backsplash.

Make a statement with your stove space and use tiles that will extend to the ceiling. Then add reclaimed wooden shelves that will work together with the design. Put your ornate wares on display and tuck the less attractive ones in the custom cabinets.

Sometimes a kitchen that is simple says it all. A natural wooden shelf mounted against a white tile backsplash keeps things light yet excites the eyes. Open shelves will keep usable space clear by adding extra storage and spruces up the place.

Include glass shelving in your kitchen storage ideas, tuck it underneath your mounted cabinets. It gives you space to place glassware and since glass is transparent it will give the effect that glassware is floating.

Wine Rack

Whether it’s one bottle or 50, consider a wine rack as one of your small kitchen storage ideas to stock wine easily. Make your space give every appearance of being classy when placed on the countertop, the floor, or mounted against the wall.

If space is an issue, a wine rack is a sensible kitchen cabinet storage solution. Choose a rack model that holds six or 12 bottles and can be placed on a countertop. There are models that do the dual-task as a serving or end table. An iron rack topped off with wood or glass will give a positive statement to guests about the owner’s elegant taste in design. These types of rack store wine, show it, and hold the bottle when uncorked.

Add Floating Shelves

kitchen floating shelves Embrace floating shelves in your kitchen storage ideas. It will trick your eyes into believing that wood is hanging in the air without any support. Floating shelves are a creative kitchen storage way of incorporating into your interior design since it is both striking and functional.

Walls will be less cluttered and overloaded given that floating shelves take less space and make way to truly display your pretty kitchen accessories.

The additional room around the gliding racks will make it more appealing to the eyes and gives the impression of a light atmosphere.

It is beautiful and unique making your wall look distinctive. Floating shelves will catch the attention of guests and will make your interior set-up look chic and classy.

Add a Crockery Unit       

If you have a small cooking space a crockery unit will be a great addition to your small kitchen storage ideas. Combine contemporary and traditional style of furniture with classy wooden shades of walnut, honey, mahogany, teak, and natural finish. The grains of the wood will add charm to the surrounding interior. 

The crockery units vary in design and capacity to fit your requirement.

This piece of furniture has glass doors to store your earthenware in an organized and neat manner.

Great kitchen cabinet storage ideas such as using a crockery unit will protect your earthenware from damage. No falling down or breaking because crockery units are built with specialized compartments for storing different crockery plates, cups, bowls, and glasses.

It is all-in-one furniture that has drawers, closed cabinets, a counter-top, and shelves. Do your kitchen chores on the countertop and the cabinets beneath can be used as a storage space for cutlery and other kitchen accessories.

Best Kitchen Corner Cabinet Ideas

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It often happens that a kitchen is the first thing that crosses the mind of a homeowner when purchasing or remodeling a house. It is a room in the house where structure and usefulness must be balanced to provide the best result. Too much attention on one element and the other suffers. And since most of us are not fortunate to have space, storage options are a crucial part of a functional kitchen design. In a limited space where every inch is accounted for, you should know how to use corner space in a kitchen.

When it comes to corner cabinets for the kitchen those with angled front steal the show by adding charm to the cook room. The unique corner cabinets bring contrast to clean, straight lines and functions as a space saver too.

Get some inspiration from these corner kitchen corner cabinet ideas we prepared and you’ll discover that a small space is not a problem.

Corner Drawers

kitchen corner cabinets

Corners are pretty tricky. Some great ways of handling the kitchen corner cabinets dilemma are by way of cornered drawers. Corner drawers are built at 90 degrees, which allows them to perfectly shape at the sharp corner.

Certainly, they look awkward and not very roomy, but they are actually fantastic corner kitchen cabinet ideas that let you use every bit of valuable space beneath your kitchen counter. It matters little whether you pull them out from the left or right. You can use chic knobs to complement the looks, which are part aesthetic and part practical.

Use the Lazy Susan design in the interior, rotate the pies to fetch anything that’s stored in the rack. You don’t have to bend on all fours to get the pot or pan like in your outdated custom cabinets, the cooking utensil you need will slide out conveniently. The corner drawers can be separated into small segments for an excellent organizational tool.

Swinging Pullouts

Why bother to look inside for your utensil when you can swing it out in front of you?

This is one of the corner kitchen cabinet ideas that’s gaining popularity. It is lazier than Lazy Susan, the smooth-rolling shelves swing out from inside corner kitchen cabinets to give you easy access to everything that’s inside. While Lazy Susan keeps things inside and is not properly lit, you’ll have enough light with swinging pull outs to pick out the utensil you need when it comes out in the open. No bending needed, you just pull the door.

Complete your cabinets remodeling by adding a swinging pullout feature. Mount a set of wire shelves in the interior of the cabinet and fasten some to the door. Pots, pans, and other cooking accessories can be easily stockpiled and accessed.

Accordion Cabinet

As far as the cabinets are concerned, the accordion design is one of the best. It is unique, attracts attention, and can be opened in a jiffy.

The doors open like an accordion and are a great storage solution. You can easily gain full access to the contents of the shelves behind the door. When you open the accordion door it will not get in the way of the doors of your other corner cabinets for the kitchen.

Accordion cabinets are pretty trendy corner kitchen cabinet ideas, they can also be used in limited spots in the house like bedroom, bathroom, and storerooms.

Diagonal Kitchen Corner Cabinets

 

When you are undertaking a kitchen makeover  kitchen cabinets you scratch your head and ask yourself – how to use corner space in the kitchen?

it’s best to replace your kitchen corner cabinets with diagonal

cabinets. Although you are losing some storage space, in return, you are benefitting from a solution to the kitchen corner problem. They can be attached to the wall and blend well with the appliances and other custom cabinets.

Diagonal cabinets can be used to bring together the elements of the kitchen nicely and serve as the focal poi

nt of your cooking space.

You can install a Lazy Susan or pull out drawers. Use it to store your fine chinaware and show them off to your guests.

 

Wall Mounted Kitchen Cabinets

Wall cabinets are the top cabinetry that is hovering above the counter space. They can look unique as the kitchen but they are usually built to match the base cabinets for a continuous cabinetry run.

Don’t leave the corners short, you can use corner kitchen wall cabinets to maximize space. Typically wall cabinets are made of paneled doors, a box frame, and a hanging rail. Be creative and use some great corner kitchen cabinet ideas.

Why not replace the door with glass? And match the color of the interior with the shade of your cabinetry. Install a bottom edge molding to cover the exposed portion of the lower edge. Top it off with your fine kitchen wares on the shelf. It will serve as the focal point of your cooking space and great storage too.

While at it consider other corner cabinet ideas by using an accordion-type of cabinet doors. It looks enough to attract attention and is convenient to use.

Curved Cabinets

Interior designers never run out of kitchen corner cabinet ideas, they have the knack to turn something boring into exciting.

Recently, you’ve been thinking of renovating your kitchen, you were not content with the existing cabinetry. you went online for corner cabinet ideas and noticed curves on the designer’s website.

Suddenly, you want to shake up those box type cabinets into curved cabinetry. Everything should be curved, it should be the hero in your culinary space from the kitchen corner wall cabinets to the island.

Advice, do not go overboard with the number of curves. Limit this to one large piece like the kitchen island or your top or base cabinetry. This will give the piece a chance to stand out from the rest and not get lost visually. Light up this with a subtle palette to provide symmetry and cohesion to foster calmness in your space.

Small Bathroom Ideas With Style & Function

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The bathroom might be the smallest spot in your house, but we spend a great deal of time every day to maintain hygiene and to prep each morning.
Since it has frequent visitors, you want it to look pleasant and appealing as the other spaces in your house. Decorating a small bathroom poses as a design challenge, it will stimulate your creative juices to come up with unique schemes. Any add-ons to a limited space can become clutter.
Grab some inspiration from these small bathroom ideas to make your tiny washroom look lovely.

Create a Wet Room

The concept of unobstructed interiors has been a focus in a small bathroom remodel. And wet rooms are classic examples of barrier-free interiors. Walls are raised from the floor, no inner walls, no door or shower curbs blocking the way, and a drain at the center of it.

Go beyond the customary designs, get the feel of fine-grained wood without using the real stuff. There are tiles that look like wood and it will add dimension and interest. Or use classic styling with stone-like tiles for a vintage-looking wet room that seems like it fits an older home that got style.

Use a glass panel or shower curtain to avoid any splash in the dry area.

Use Multi-Functional Furniture

functional cabinets

When you update the bathroom use multi-functional furniture to maximize the small space, you have as well as to avoid clutter.

A toilet and a vanity unit combined is a great two-for-one deal. It’s a space saver and a storage space both above and below.

Give up the wall-mounted cabinets repair, knock it down and go for a multi-level storing unit. Use the shelves to display towels, sponges, plants, and other bathroom necessities. Movable tiered storage holds a great deal in limited spaces, and it can hang on walls or doors.

Install toilet cove shelves instead of cabinet refinishing. To achieve a rustic-inspired bathroom, consider using reclaimed planks to display or store items.

Aside from its use as a seat, a stool can be used to show your bathroom items and it won’t take much space.

Be Smart with Cabinets

Bathroom makeover ideas from interior designers suggest that enclosures like wall cabinets eat space and make it look smaller. While it might make some space seem nice, it won’t work in a small bathroom remodel. There is a tendency to hide things in the cabinet that serves as clutter, it attracts germs, and accumulates dust.

Make it Appear Big with Mirrors

The use of mirrors is one of the oldest methods to update the bathroom, it can alter the appearance and tone of the space. If it is on the small side mirrors can make it look big, they reproduce light and generate the illusion of space.

A mirror with a wooden frame will serve as a striking focal point atop a mini vanity.

A large mirror reflects its surroundings, making the bathroom appear twice as big.

Interior designers use mirrors as one of their bathroom makeover ideas.

Trick the Eye with the Tile

Most of us don’t have the luxury of a spacious bathroom some small bathroom ideas with tiles will give you the virtual transformation that you wish. What is important is how you decorate and choose the right tiles. With myriad tiles to choose from decorating a small bathroom with the wrong ones will give you nightmares.

Here are some concepts to guide your selection.  small bathroom ideas

Size Does Not Matter

Either big or small tiles will do as long as the design fits your small bathroom ideas.

Large tiles will have lots of waste from cutting and interrupt the design, the decision is yours to make. Conversely, these will give a calm effect and make the tiny space look large. Jazz up your room with white or grey tiles that are rectangular-shaped.

Avoid mall bathroom tiles with a heavy design these stir up a busy feeling. Go for mosaic tiles with light colors and simple features this will serve as a stunning backdrop around the basin zone. Metro tiles are an ideal option for a small bathroom remodel.

Think About Patterned Tiles

Patterned tiles create a busy feeling, so practice caution when you’re using this style. The floor space is a giveaway. to keep the eyes glued consider some patterned floor tiles in your small bathroom ideas. This is will make the room larger than it is without cramping.

Consider Tiles With Reflective Surfaces

Tiles with glossy, glass, or mirror finish will reflect the light to create a feeling of space.

Tile Floor to Ceiling

Tiling the from floor to ceiling provides a sense of continuity making the small bathroom feel spacious.

Keep it Simple

If you’re having difficulty in figuring out your small bathroom remodel, just keep the design simple.

Taking down those well-placed bathroom cabinets might be costly and tedious than some DIY cabinets repair. Some materials, your time, and the proper tools will do the trick. A bit of cabinet refinishing afterward by stripping, sanding, priming, and then painting. After the grueling task, you’ll be rewarded with a good-conditioned cabinet and nice-looking small space. Importantly, you did it.

The right lighting system and light shades will add freshness. Coat your shelves, cabinets, and some decors with the same light tint for a unified appearance.

For small bathroom ideas select simple furniture and avoid clutter to make it look spacious.

Matching Hardwood Floors to the Kitchen Cabinets

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When you start your kitchen remodeling it will be useful for you to have a design scheme that features matching colors. Thus the whole interior design will stand out. The process of matching hardwood floors to the kitchen cabinets is a necessity, as it attracts a lot of attention in a kitchen.
We have collected some useful info for you on matching hardwood floors to the kitchen cabinets. Here’s a quick look at what we will be covering in this article in more detail.

  • Choosing an appropriate color scheme
  • Selecting the right kind of hardwood
  • The importance of the countertop material
  • Don’t forget the accessories

Choose the Color Palette

When choosing colors for kitchen cabinets, you don’t have to play guess. There are color schemes available that allow you to know precisely what shade of which color you will get. They even name shades by number.

The Lighting

matching ahrdwood floors to the kitchen cabinets Lighting is, naturally, mostly affected by the inner lighting and the availability of outdoor daily light. Needless to say, colors look differently on daily electric lights, and there are numerous types of electric light.

However, there is one other trick design experts usually hide when it comes to outdoor daily light. The color of the daily light entering your window is greatly affected by the surfaces just outside of it and their colors. For example, if there is a large wall close to your window, the color of the wall will surely affect the saturation inside of your home. Of course, the color and transparency of the windows themselves play a crucial role. These are all the factors you need to get ahead to really predict how kitchen cabinets and countertops colors will actually look.

Choose Your Hardwood

Why is the surface so important for matching hardwood floors to the kitchen cabinets?
Well, first of all, human beings see colors because the light bounces off the surface. It bounces in numerous different ways and every particular way produces a specific shade of color. So, while the light itself is necessary to make it even possible to see colors, the surface is the primary determinant of the shade.
Some hardwood already comes colored, like bloodwood. It is a name for several trees, unrelated to each other, but known for their red or yellow shade, like the ivory birch (baloghia inophylla) or a  marblewood, marbled baloghia (baloghia marmorata), and many more…

Quality

matching hardwood floors to the kitchen cabinets

Good quality hardwood will both look good and last long. In fact, if done right and properly maintained it can last indefinitely.
A kitchen particularly is a busy part of the house. There’s lots of action, fumes, walking, dropping things, collateral damage, etc… This is actually the primary reason to paint the hardwood in the kitchen, to protect it. It can be costly and very inconvenient to often do cabinet repair or, god forbid, flooring replacement. It can ruin the entire concept.
Looks and aesthetics come second to practicality, at least in this part of the house.
Matching hardwood floors to the kitchen cabinets is a good idea and it can really look good, but things get a lot harder when you also need to factor in performance and practicality. That is the true challenge of any designer, which is why you need to know your wood and also realistically predict the circumstances in your kitchen.

 

The Countertop Material is Important

For all these reasons and more, designers usually recommend more durable materials for the countertop. Now, the beautiful thing is that kitchen cabinets and countertops may or may not have to match in color, but they can supplement each other. They can make the contrast, which can be pretty good if all your other wood surfaces are in matching colors.
Countertop materials usually used range from granite, marble, soapstone, and even porcelain, to the butcher block, laminate, and other similar solid surfaces.

Use Accessories For Matching Hardwood Floors to the Kitchen Cabinets

Backsplash, knobs, cabinet pulls, all these details are very important and also have a high contribution to the overall picture of your kitchen. While it is not always possible, having all knobs and cabinet pulls in your kitchen matched sends a powerful message and looks astonishing.
It may be possible to match the knobs and pulls on your existing kitchenware with a bit of cabinet refinishing and remodeling. However, the backsplash is also important, for in some cases it can really cover a large area.
And, lastly, the color of your appliances, the stove, the fridge, and others can give that final touch to finish the whole picture, or in some bad cases it can give off that feeling of unfinished business. So, plan accordingly towards your possibilities and try to predict as many factors as you can for matching hardwood floors to the kitchen cabinets.

Which Cabinetry Materials Are The Best For Your Kitchen?

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Choosing the cabinetry materials you are going to use in your kitchen can be a big job. For cabinet refinishing or installing brand new cabinets, there are a number of different options.

Hardwood, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, wood veneer, laminate… These are all options for kitchen cabinet materials. How do you choose the best one? There are so many different considerations whether you are looking to replace pantry cabinets or any other part of your kitchen.

You’re probably left with lots of different questions. Which are easiest to clean? Which are the most hard-wearing? What will last the longest? In this guide, we’re looking at all of the mainstream cabinetry materials and exploring the pros and cons of each. This way, you will know which is best for use within your new kitchen.

Cabinetry Materials Hardwood

Pros:

  • Hardwood is high-quality and should last a number of years.
  • This type of wood is sourced from the best natural resources.
  • The solidity of the wood makes it resist water damage so you
    don’t have to worry too much if it gets wet.
  • It looks fantastic without too much treatment or paint.
  • It’s relatively simple to repair if anything goes wrong with it in the future.

Cons:

  • It’s very expensive, using hardwood can drive up the price of cabinet refinishing or repair.
  • Can be tough to repair if anything does go wrong with it, and sourcing the right wood can be a big challenge.

Plywood

Pros:

  • Good-quality plywood can be very resistant to water. They can also be treated to enhance this resistance.
  • They’re pretty hard-wearing and can last a long time.
  • They hold nails and wood glue very well.

Cons:

  • More expensive than MDF and some of the other options on the list (even though not as expensive as hardwood).

Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)

Pros:

  • Relatively affordable, especially compared to some of the hardwood options.
  • Due to being so popular and easy to customize, there are lots of different design options for MDF.
  • MDF does not tend to warp or crack whereas many wood options can, especially if they are getting older.

Cons:

  • Doesn’t have a wood grain (this can also be a pro, depending on what look you are going for in your kitchen).
  • Naturally, it doesn’t have a good look, so this needs to be painted or covered.

Which Cabinetry Materials Are The Best For Your Kitchen Particleboard

Pros:

  • Low cost. Particleboard is made to be a cheaper option.
  • Doesn’t tend to distort very easily when hit or knocked.
  •  It can withstand light dings within everyday kitchen use.
    It’s lightweight which makes it easy to transport, this is another reason why it is cheap.

Cons:

  • Can absorb moisture which is not ideal for use in a kitchen. If it does this it can also expand.
  • Can’t support heavy loads so it can’t be used to support significant weight in your kitchen or form a big part of your cabinet design.
  • Doesn’t have a good look naturally, so needs to be added with a different finish or covering.

Wood Veneer

Pros:

  • Veneer provides a seal which can be fantastic for keeping moisture out.
  • Veneer gives a consistent grain and a classy look to your kitchen.
  • It can be repurposed after use elsewhere! An eco-friendly option in this regard.

Cons:

  • A veneer may chip around the edges.
  • Can be hard to make repairs and get it to look good if anything should go wrong with a veneer finish.

Laminate

Pros:

  • Laminate is one of the best affordable options, great if you are working on a budget.
  • It’s pretty resistant to any damage from everyday use. Even hitting a pan against it will probably be okay!
  • Though most laminates are lighter colors there are actually a lot of different choices so you can get the ideal finish for you.

Cons:

  • If If you want darker finishes you may pay more or struggle to find them. The people who go for laminate are often searching for kitchen cabinet materials that are lighter.
  • You get cracks or unwanted cuts and dings in your laminate cabinet that can be impossible to fix.

Conclusion

Naturally, when you are looking to make changes to your kitchen cabinetry you have some decisions to make about the materials and how you plan to approach the remodel. Hopefully, remodeling is not something you do too often so it is key that when you do, you get it right. This means possibly listening to professionals, but definitely taking the time to think about your cabinetry materials, whether you are going to go for a full refit or just a refinish, and the way you want your whole kitchen to look.

Some cabinets can give a really modern feel to a kitchen whereas others have more of a farmhouse feel. Materials play a big part in this, and also, don’t forget that you need to think about all of the elements that will also play a part within your kitchen such as changes in heat and moisture. The right kitchen cabinet materials will help to ensure that you don’t suffer from cracks or warping.

Two-Toned Cabinets: Pros and Cons

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Remodeling a kitchen is daunting, you have to consider the layout, appliances, accessories, and the color of the kitchen cabinets.

So, are two-toned kitchen cabinets still in style?

There are multiple cabinet design ideas and trends, but what we know for sure is that two-toned cabinets are timeless and always in style. Much the same as subway tiles, modern style lighting, and metal installations, two-toned kitchens are the craze these days. It’ll energize your kitchen and allow you to mix different materials to create the drama that you want for your space.

What are Two-toned Kitchen Cabinets?

Interior designers portray two-tone cupboards as any cabinetry that occupies kitchen space that fuses two unique colors. It comes in many forms, it can refer to the color of an island different from the cabinets. Or cabinets with both halves having distinct shades.

The whims of homeowners vary, some would go for a cabinet refinishing with mixed colors and others prefer two colors to fashion the kitchen of their dreams.

However, not all two-tone kitchens work out fine. A well-designed kitchen can transform it into a beautiful space, while you don’t want to step into the room in a half-baked style.

Let us walk you through some of the benefits and drawbacks of a two-toned kitchen.

two-toned kitchen Benefits of Two-tone Kitchen Cabinets

Two-tone kitchen cabinet trends have been popular for quite a while and for wonderful reasons. People have been hopelessly attracted to the several benefits that this design offers, let us look at some of them.

Fits any Style of House

Whether your house is the traditional or contemporary style, the two-toned cabinets will easily adapt to your kitchen area.

If it is fixed properly, a two-tone kitchen will totally change your space. It is an excellent opportunity for bringing together various styles and ideas, and a great for including a pinch of personality to every nook and cranny. It is the best time to combine separate spaces into an extensive greeting area.

A splash of color will work fine with contemporary kitchens, while old-fashioned kitchens fit all kinds of wood. Some kitchens have succeeded in combining the old and new styles into something remarkable that really works. Two-tone kitchens are trendy, when you get it right, it will perk up the busiest part of the house.

Enhance Aesthetic Allure

What is simple will look chic with two-toned cabinets. It is a brilliant way to ground a kitchen from the base up to the top cabinets and make a drab space look interesting. And it goes beyond paint colors by adding various materials in your cabinet. Consider mixing aluminum and glass doors with wood, or replace door handles with modern design.

Two-tone kitchen cabinets take many forms, pretty popular among homeowners is to have a different color from top cabinets with the bottom ones. Most people go for a darker color at the base for better effect or go differently with a darker tone on top cabinets for a pleasant impression.

A Small Kitchen Looks Larger

While at it in your cabinet repair consider a two-tone color, contrasting shades will give the illusion of a bigger space. Lighter color on top cabinets and darker cabinets beneath will draw the eye to the more radiant shade, giving the impression of a spacious kitchen than it actually is. A lighter shade on the top cupboard will make your kitchen look brighter because of the reflection of sunlight coming from the windows.

Increase Resale Value

Since two-toned cabinets are a craze right now, this feature in your house is an excellent opportunity to draw potential buyers. If you’re considering selling your house, a two-tone cabinet is a great boost to savvy buyers who are in the market for a ready to move-in house.

Disadvantages of Two-tone Kitchen Cabinets two-toned kitchen with cabinets

Application of a two-tone color in your kitchen is about stating your personality and design tastes throughout the entire space, combining two unique features to provide a pleasant appearance.

Sadly, most homeowners confine their kitchen design in a tiny area, typically on cabinet doors, often the desired results are not achieved. It creates a very cranky look and takes a lot on the eye to focus in a small area.

For a two-tone kitchen to function properly the chosen colors should work well and the styles blend. Light or bright colors should be combined with dark stains and should merge with anything installed in the kitchen to improve its look.

Conclusion

Well-designed two-toned cabinets will elevate your kitchen design to the top. Keep the design simple and do not overdo it by combining shades and styles in a small area.

Refinishing Your Bathroom Vanity Cabinets

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Are you wondering how to refinish your bathroom vanity cabinets? Refinishing can be a good way to spruce up the bathroom and ensure that your home looks fresh and well-finished, even if the cabinets aren’t brand new. You can do this yourself if you have the DIY knowledge. So how should you go about refinishing bathroom cabinets?

Our guide gives you the steps needed to get to a perfect finish.

Step #1 – Remove All the Drawers, Doors and Handles or Knobs From Vanity

Before you can refinish the bathroom cabinets, you need to remove all the doors, knobs, and handles. You will be working with the individual parts of the cabinet, sanding and refinishing them, which you can’t do with all of this hardware in place. You might even replace the hardware at the end.

Step #2 – Remove All Varnish to Feel the Surface is Smooth to Touch

Sand your doors down to make sure all traces of the previous sheen are gone. Sanding off any varnish ensures that the painting bathroom cabinets will adhere better to the wood. Ideally, you want to use a sponge sanding block with two different grits; medium on one side and fine on the other. The medium grit is used first, and the finer grit adds the final smooth finish. Be sure to wipe or vacuum away any sanding residue, to make sure it does not get stuck under the paint.

Check, and double-check, that the whole surface is now smooth to the touch before you move forward.

refinishing bathroom vanity cabinets Step #3 – Apply the First Coat of Paint

As soon as all varnish is removed and the surface feels smooth to touch, you can apply the first coat of paint. Use painter’s tape to protect any surfaces that you do not want color on. There is no need to use primer, but you can if you like. Consider painting bathroom cabinets either from the interior or exterior surfaces. Paint the exterior doors first, and then you can prop the cabinet against a pedestal to allow it to dry. Replace them back in the cabinet and paint the interior. It is very important to do before refinishing bathroom vanity cabinets.

Step #4: Apply a Second Coat of Paint

Re-sand all the surfaces again to remove and bumps that may appear from painting. Use the fine grit side of the sanding sponge. You can then apply a second coat of paint, ideally a semi-gloss latex paint in the color of your choice. Be sure to do the exterior and interior surfaces. Often once the paint dries, the fresh new look of the bathroom cabinets draws your eye to the old hardware. This now looks out of place against the sleek new finish. Flat paints hide uneven surfaces better, so if you are using high gloss paint, you may want to spend a little extra time sanding. The gloss is infamous for pointing out every small bump.

Step #5 – Let It Dry

It sounds like the easiest thing in the world, but you would be amazed at how many people are impatient and do not do this properly. It is vital that you take your time and let the paint dry properly, even if it is as boring as…well, watching paint dry.

If you don’t do this, you risk smudging and ruining the finish when it is time for the next steps, and this can be immensely frustrating. You might even have to go back a few steps in extreme circumstances.

On top of this, you can get the paint everywhere, in places you simply don’t want it.

Step #6 – Install New Hardware

This means a little bit of knowledge is required and you need to find handles that fit. You may even go back to the original manufacturer or find the product name in order to get the ideal hardware.

Make sure that the new handle pulls you get to require the same holes as the original ones. If you end up with hardware lacking two holes for attachment but only have one hole, then you will need to start drilling. This can be tricky because you need to make sure to line the second hole up precisely. If you put a hole in the wrong place, you have to patch it up, re-sand and re-paint. So take your time and get the hole placement right the first time around rather than risk having to redo the job.

Conclusion

As DIY tasks go, refinishing your bathroom vanity cabinets isn’t the most difficult, but it does require a degree of accuracy and plenty of patience. Making a mistake can lead to having to start again or to cabinet repair.
Follow our steps for a hassle-free refinish and you can ensure that you enjoy a modern looking bathroom without the expense of new cabinets.

How To Redo Bathroom Cabinets For Cheap

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Paint the Vanity in the Bathroom

Do not throw out a sturdy vanity when it all needs is a little bit of updating. Painting the vanity can give it a new look, and it is easy to do.

How to Paint the Bathroom Vanity

These instructions can help you if you are refinishing an existing vanity. You will have to take off the doors and other hardware so it would be a good time to update the knobs and pulls as well. If you are looking to do a complete makeover, you can also replace the sink, faucets, and backsplash.

Redo Bathroom Cabinets For Cheap

Prep the Vanity

  • Step 1
    Remove the cabinets, doors, drawers, and any other hardware that is on the unit. If you are looking to replace the top of it and the sink, so now it should be a good time to take them out as well.
    Take off the drawer fronts as well if possible.
  • Step 2
    Use a trisodium phosphate and a sponge to wash the vanity. If there is a residue left behind from rubber cabinet bumpers use mineral spirits to remove it. After this wash this area with the TSP.
  • Step 3
    If the wood surface is covered with a bright finish use sandpaper with 220 grit to remove the gloss. Check the inside corners to remove any molding.
  • Step 4
    Remove any paint that is damaged if the surface of the vanity has been painted before. Using sandpaper feather the edges and put a latex primer on any bare spots.
  • Step 5
    A heat gun can be used to remove a film of glue if the surface is covered with melamine or thermofoil. Once the film is removed use mineral spirits to wipe any residue off.
    If the film is bonded to the vanity, use the 220 grit sandpaper to sand the surface until it is dull.
  • Step 6
    Vacuum any sanding dust off the surface and wipe it down with a clean and damp rag.
  • Step 7
    Use painter’s tape to make off the undersides of the top, the walls, the floor, and the inside part of the cabinet frame.

Priming the Surface to Paint

  • Step 1
    A separate primer should be used on the surface of the vanity.
    When working with bare wood that has been sanding apply primer and then sand it smooth.
    If there are dings or damages to the surface use putty to patch them up, sand them, then apply the primer
  • Step 2
    If the surface is thermofoil or melamine adds a shellac-based primer.
    Two coats may be needed.
  • Step 3
    After applying the first coat of the primer at the area, wipe it clean.
    A second coat of primer may be needed. After applying this coating allow it to dry overnight.

Painting the Vanity

  • Step 1
    Brush on a coat of paint and allow it to dry.
    Once this coat is dry, an additional layer or two may be needed.
    Remove the painter’s tape, apply the third coat of paint, and allow it to dry overnight. Once the vanity is dry, it can be reassembled.
  • Step 2
    Drill the holes needed for the doors or the drawers and the new hardware.
    Screw in the drawers and the door handles.
  • Step 3
    Add the door hinges and the door to the frame of the cabinet.
    When using two facing doors adjust the position on the hinges until they are even.
  • Step 4
    Reattach the drawer fronts, making sure they are easy to open.
  • Step 5
    A fresh coat of paint will give the vanity a new look and costs less than replacing it.

Remodeling With Shaker Cabinets

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If you are looking to remodel your kitchen, one of the biggest decisions that you will come across will be what type of cabinetry you are going to opt for. There is a mountain of choice out there, from old school timeless designs to new age, high tech options.

Kitchen cabinets are one of the most important features in our kitchen. They hide away all of our clutter and act as one of the main functional pieces of our kitchen, while at the same time they quite often become the main focal point of the room.

It is essential to strike the correct balance between fashion and functionality by equipping your kitchen with some cabinetry that does it all.

In this article, we will take a deeper dive into shaker cabinets. We will cover what exactly shaker style cabinets are and some different styles for you to consider for your new kitchen remodeling. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

 

shaker style cabinets What are Shaker Style Cabinets?

Shaker style cabinets are one of the most popular styles of kitchen units around. They are smart, simple, and stylish and will typically fit in with most kitchen designs, whether it’s a classical style or a modern look.

They are usually designed with a five-piece door that features a recessed panel in the center. This is what gives them a clean and simple look. However, as time has gone on, there have been many alterations to the traditional shaker style cabinets, and now you can find some variations that offer decorative flairs and features.

Time for a quick history lesson. Shaker cabinets go right back to the 18th century when the Shaker religious group migrated to the American colonies. They brought with them their highly skilled craftsmanship and carpentry, which included the shaker style cabinet design that you see today.

The hallmarks of Shaker craftsmanship were clean, plain, functional, and durable; all of these traits can still be seen in the cabinets that are on offer today.

Styles of Shaker Cabinets

Shaker style cabinets are simple in their design yet practical and functional. They lend themselves to almost any design in the kitchen space.

They are incredibly flexible aesthetically, meaning that they will fit in with almost any kitchen concept, contemporary or traditional.

While all of these cabinets look similar, there are a few variations that you can add to customize them and make them your own.

You can opt for a shaker cabinet that has its hinge barrels exposed. This gives an extra feature to add some color to. The current trend is to opt for bronze metal hinges on darker wooden cabinet frames. This allows the color of the bronze to pop with the contrast against the darker cabinet frame.

If you prefer to have a cleaner and more minimal design, then you can opt to have the hinge barrels concealed.

One other area of customization you can get creative with is the shape, size, and material of the cabinet pulls and handles that you can find on the cabinets. If you are more traditional, then you can opt for the wooden style. If you have a more contemporary kitchen, then something like brass would give off a clean, modern look.

Other than that, the most significant variable that you have to consider is the width of the four-piece frame, which is usually anywhere from 2.5 inches to 5 inches. This all depends on your available space and the type of storage you wish to use it for.

If for whatever reason, you decide that you are not happy with your cabinet design later down the line, then you can always look for a service like cabinet refacing in Las Vegas to get a totally new design on your cabinets.

This essentially replaces the cabinet skins and allows you to change the design and color of the hinges as well as the cabinets themselves.

Comparing Shaker to Arts and Crafts Style Comparing Shaker to Arts and Crafts Style

If you are looking for an alternative that is similar to shaker cabinets, then you should consider looking into mission style (arts and craft) cabinets. Mission furniture came along a little later (19th century) than shaker cabinets, and when they did, they took over the whole scene.

Mission furniture is typically made from oak and offers a more formal style than the shaker cabinets. Usually, you can see the grains present in the wood coupled with exposed joinery and give off a more rustic feel that may not be suitable for more contemporary homes.

Both shaker and mission styles are high quality builds and offer durable yet functional designs. It’s highly unlikely you will have to do a great deal of cabinet repair once you have these installed into your home.

All in all, these versatile cabinets would look great in just about any kitchen, regardless of the design.