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A lot goes into kitchen cabinetry, and the more cabinet terminology you know, the better equipped you’ll be to design your dream kitchen. Use our guide to learn about common cabinet types, parts, materials, and finishes so you can start planning.
Thinking about installing face frame cabinets? Learn more about the pros and cons, frameless comparisons, and decide whether it’s the right style for your home.
Wondering how to fix your drawer slides? Read on to find out more about quick fixes to everyday drawer problems so that you can enjoy a functioning drawer again.
When upgrading your kitchen, compare inset vs. overlay cabinets. Here’s what you should know about the differences between the two constructions.
30% of homeowners have kitchen remodels at the top of their home improvement project list. Here are tips for how to incorporate trending kitchen cabinet styles.
Should you go gray or white for your kitchen cabinets? These neutral options each have their pros and cons. Here’s a breakdown of what’s best for your home.
Not sure how to choose the right kitchen cabinet color for you? When deciding on the best color for your kitchen, consider various factors such as size, lighting, countertop materials, the design of your home, and potential home resale value.
These 11 DIY kitchen cabinet upgrade ideas will transform the look and feel of your kitchen. Bonus: Each idea is easy enough that you can knock it out in a weekend.
How can you update your kitchen cabinets without replacing them? Read on for several ideas, from refinishing and refacing to adding lighting and extra storage.
Thinking about a soft-close feature for your drawers in your kitchen or bathroom? The lack of slamming can be pure bliss (they also extend the lifespan of your drawers). So, how much do soft-close drawers cost? Find out more here.
If you want to maximize storage space in your kitchen and are trying to decide whether to install stacking cabinets, read on for advice to help you decide.
There are truly countless combinations of cabinet constructions, sizes, materials, and colors to choose from. If you love customizing your home, cabinets are the ideal place to start. We've included all the terms to design a kitchen worthy of your style.
Painting kitchen cabinets can update your home's look without a full-scale room remodeling. Just make sure that you follow these steps from an expert.
Painting your kitchen cabinets may take a little elbow grease, but it will give your kitchen a makeover without a lot of money. Here’s how to do it.
If you want to give your kitchen an update, try switching out the cabinet hardware for something new. Best of all, the entire process only takes about an hour. Find out how to replace your kitchen cabinet hardware and give the room a refresh.
Cabinet refacing and refinishing
When faced with a kitchen remodeling project, you have two major options for updating kitchen cabinets without installing new ones: refacing or replacing. Both projects can significantly boost the appearance and value of the kitchen, but many of the similarities end there.
Refacing typically consists of covering the exterior surfaces of your cabinets with new veneers, moldings and hardware. If your existing cabinets are solid wood, repainting or refinishing them with a new color of paint or stain can also update their appearance. Some cabinets take well to a deeper stain, whereas others may need nothing more than a fresh coat of paint. Cleaning and refinishing cabinets takes time, but is far less expensive than replacing the cabinets.
Cabinet refacing/refinishing pros:
• Reduced cost - kitchen cabinet refacing or refinishing can cost approximately 1/3 less than replacing all the cabinets
• No demolition of existing cabinets is required, which also mean less potential damage to walls
• Takes only a few days to complete
Cabinet refacing/refinishing cons:
• Dust
• Potential noxious fumes and odors
• Limited customization options
When making a decision as to whether you should reface or replace your cabinets, also consider these factors:
Durability. Is the structure of the existing cabinets solid? If you have doubts about the overall condition of your cabinetry, an expert contractor can help you determine whether you need more than the cosmetic a refacing would provide.
Functionality. If you do not see any issues with your existing layout and would like to maintain the integrity of the design of your kitchen, refacing your cabinets may be the best choice. However, if you would prefer extra storage, more counter space or more flexible functions, new cabinets may be worth the extra investment in the long run.
Appearance. Are you replacing your kitchen appliances? Installing new countertops? If you have already committed to a significant investment in updating other parts of your kitchen, you may want to consult a highly rated kitchen remodeling company to determine if you would be better off with a complete renovation. It may be the case that the funds you would spend on a piecemeal approach may be better invested in new cabinets.
Cost. If funds and time aren’t significant factors in your kitchen remodel, you may want to consider the additional options offered with replacements. The variety of new cabinetry is wide-ranging, with many selections available in both stock and custom offerings. However, if budget is a concern, refacing or refinishing your cabinets can save time and money during your remodel.
Cabinet door replacement
So, if you find the cost or time commitment of new cabinetry prohibitive, a cabinet refacing or refinishing company can provide an easier and less expensive way to update a kitchen by replacing doors, drawers and front and side panels. Pros say it takes a half to a full day to resurface or refinish cabinets.
In most cases, you can find cabinet doors that match the wood of the existing cabinets fairly easily, or you can buy unfinished doors and then stain or paint them to match what's already in place.
Cabinet doors are available in a variety of styles. The most common are flat panel, routed panel, cathedral panel, arched panel and framed. All of the styles of doors are offered in multiple wood tones or unfinished, which allows for a great deal of versatility.
A popular choice for homeowners is to choose framed glass doors for cabinets that contain glassware, bar supplies or other items that are to be displayed to guests. Glass can be plain, frosted or made with stained glass inlays. However, any additions to glass panels will add to the cost of the cabinet and may not be attractive to potential future buyers.
New hardware can also transform the way a kitchen looks. Old, outdated handles and knobs can be replaced easily and relatively inexpensively. Cabinet doors and drawers that have no hardware only need a drill and a bit of elbow grease to allow for new hardware.
Cabinet refacing cost
Costs of refacing your cabinets can vary widely. Pay careful consideration to construction, door and drawer hardware, interior accessories and quality of materials. Also, while installing new cabinets can be a much lengthier and involved project than refacing, your access and use of the kitchen could still be extremely limited during the project.
The price can rise significantly depending upon the type of wood you choose and the amount of craftsmanship required for each door. Framed doors often require the additional purchase of glass.
“Refacing is usually half or even a third of the cost of a whole kitchen remodel,” says Seth Shaw, owner of highly rated U.S. Cabinet Refacing Inc. in Melville, N.Y.
Drawers can also receive a facelift with new drawers or with drawer fronts. The cost of knobs and drawer pulls vary significantly.