cabinets

Kitchen Remodeling For Dummies has released a list of the top cabinet manufacturers. After analyzing available research from various investigative organizations this list was compiled. The following top cabinet manufacturers have been given high marks for storage capacity, style, construction quality, and accessibility.

Storage Design Options

Sure, most folks only see the outside of your cabinets, but how cabinets are designed and how they function on the inside is just as important to you as how they look on the outside. Check out the choices available to maximize your storage capacity.

Making the “hard” ware choices

An often-overlooked part of selecting cabinets is deciding what type of hardware to use. Take a look at the four different types of hardware:

Finishing options

You usually have three options for the finish:

• Factory-applied finishes actually are among the best and most consistent. Major cabinet manufacturers have automated finish application systems that ensure even application as well as controlled temperature and humidity levels for the best drying results.

Mulling over material choices

As you begin shopping for cabinets, you’ll find one thing for sure- few manufacturers make solid-wood cabinets. And if you do find some, the price tag will probably send you into shock. Most cabinets are made of several different materials- some for strength and durability and some for appearance. Many cabinets have solid wood face frames and solid wood doors with the box (body) of the cabinet being made of plywood. These materials determine how long you can expect the cabinets to last and how good they look. Take a closer look at your options.

Taking note of cabinet types and sizes

Regardless of whether you select stock or custom-made cabinets, the types of cabinet you select from are the same. Sizes will vary, especially with custom-made cabinets, because they’re being built to fit a specific area or dimension. Stock cabinets come in standard heights, widths, and depths, and any leftover spaces or gaps between a run of stock cabinets are filled with filler strips.

Considering cabinet construction

Kitchen cabinets are generally divided into two construction types: framed or frameless. Both styles have one thing in common: each cabinet, regardless of the construction style, starts as a box. After that, things happen that give the cabinets different looks. Framed cabinets have a more traditional appearance, and frameless cabinets, often referred to as European-style cabinets, have a more contemporary look. Remember, too, that the type of material and the style of the doors and drawers and the hardware you choose will affect the look of the cabinet, no matter what type you choose.

Comparing stock versus custom-made

There are two basic types of cabinets to choose from: stock and custom-made. Budget will play a big part when deciding which type you choose, as will whether you’re planning on doing the installation or hiring someone to install the cabinets for you. Let’s look at both types to help you decide which ones fit best in your new kitchen and budget.

Refacing your existing cabinets

The true cabinet face-lift is when you replace the old doors and drawer fronts with new ones. This process is called refacing and is a perfect choice when the existing cabinet bodies are sound and you just want to change the style of the doors and drawers. You apply veneer (a thin self-adhering layer of wood) over the exposed cabinet fronts (the thin “faces” of the cabinet body itself) to match the doors. The companies also sell 1/8-inch thick plywood veneer panels in the same wood species as the new doors and drawer fronts that are installed on the exposed side panels of the end cabinets. You can buy the doors, drawer fronts, veneer, and plywood panels stained or unstained. The price difference is not great, but buying them unstained gives you more color options.

Refinishing existing cabinets

If your old cabinets still seem to be solid but you’re just tired of their look, then consider changing the finish by either painting or staining them. This allows you to leave the cabinet bodies in place, so you don’t need to clear out the cabinets and live out of boxes for weeks. However, you will want to make sure that the items in your cabinets are back from the front edges of the cabinet faces when you paint or stain that area.