If you’re among the consumers who are concerned with reductions of hardwood forests and hope to use sustainable veneers in doing a kitchen cabinet makeover, you may want to check with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) before choosing your materials.

According to the FSC, the organization coordinates forest management standards around the globe, organizing sustainable forestry among loggers, sociologists, environmentalists, and foresters. With global headquarters in Bonn and a national headquarters in Minnesota, the FSC has set standards now observed in 57 countries. The organization estimates that by 2013, 20 percent of American residential construction will follow “green” standards. I’ll mention a few manufacturers, but by no means offer them as research opportunities than endorsements.

Choosing Eco-friendly Veneers

Manufacturer Dooge Veneers suggests that conscious homeowners spec their veneer projects by square footage, length of required veneer, wood species, plain or figured grain patterns, and whether they intend to use FSC certified veneer. The FSC maintains a listing of American companies producing certified veneer on its website.

All considered, your use of veneers in refacing—rather than in replacing cabinets—contributes to the environment since thinly sliced veneers mean that harvested trees go farther.  Better environmental controls are typically in place in North America and Europe.

Another company, Treefrog Veneer, works with Italian wood suppliers in creating ongoing versions of eco-friendly veneers. They select fast-growing woods so forests can replenish themselves. But not all countries are equally concerned. Veneer Selector recommends that you don’t buy from South American foresters and suppliers and choose wisely among African lumber resources.

Sure, I’d love to have Travertine or Vermont slate countertops in my kitchen. But lately, it’s hard to rub two nickels together. That’s what got me started on researching prefabricated countertops. You can save up to 30 percent on your total cost by choosing prefabricated countertops, already sized to standard cabinet depths. You may need to call in a pro to install them and cut holes for the faucet and sinks.

According to the U.S. Patent Office, a prefabricated tile counter can be installed with a “minimum amount of time” and the project can be easily cleaned up afterward. But you can save a ton of money by not having to call in a tile setter. Splash panels that come with the prefab set are also easy to install and cost a lot less than if you go with premium materials.

Prefabricated Countertop Benefits

One immediate benefit when you choose a prefabricated tile counter, you see exactly what you’re getting for the kitchen. Manufacturers can make up a countertop that fits the shape of your available space, and you see the color before it’s completely installed.

But if you look over products and decide against prefab, there are other options for savings on your new or replacement countertops.

Depending on your luck and tenacity, you can round up reclaimed countertops through want ads, Internet listings, or recycling centers that specialize in house parts. You might save as much as 80 percent this way. Remnants at stone yards may also yield 50 percent savings, but you may need additional cuts to make it work in your kitchen.

Face Your Kitchen has a nice roundup of the pros and cons of countertop materials. If you’re interested in laminate countertops, we have a blog just for you.

Still concerned about optimizing your cabinet space to free up more room in the kitchen? Every so often, I like to surf the home improvement websites toward finding new, useful gadgets. Here are a few products that caught my eye recently.

Wall Organizer

I like the slender look and handcrafted iron in this Ballard Designs wire wall organizer. The manufacturer says it includes a powder coating to resist moisture. It could add additional storage when mounted near a work station or cabinet. Seems right, too, for an Italian or Tuscan theme. The dimensions are 29 1/4″H x 25″W x 9″D.

Cabinet Organizer
This wire cabinet organizer from Closet Maid offers a convenient way to store foodstuffs, sauces, spices, or cookware.  And when you’re done, it disappears into the kitchen cabinet! Assembled dimensions are 4.62in. H x 11.06in. W x 20.00in. D (11.74cm H x 28.09cm W x 20.00cm D).

Spice Organizer
What I love about this three-tier spice stack is that the tiers have flip-out drawers on hinges. It hides 60 spice jars in a narrow space and holds them in color-coded drawers so you can put Italian spices in one section, fish or chicken spices in another. Made in plastic, the dimensions are 11 x 11 x 8″.

Space Organizer
Omega National’s Kitchen Mate fits between existing cabinets and provides extra space with adjustable shelves and heavy duty, ball-bearing slides. Fillers are made of maple and plywood, but you would need to add lacquer if desired. The pull-out unit has a 3″ base.

IKEA also has an extensive catalog of kitchen organizers that I find incredibly tempting.  Products include wall-top cabinet frames, baking sheet holders, iron racks, suspension shelves, and caddies.

As the month moves forward, more designers and bloggers are remarking on kitchen color trends for paint and cabinets for 2010. On his blog, Woodrow Aames reported on the top kitchen color schemes for the coming year, predicting that whites, off-whites, and earthy browns will lead the way as consumers move toward a more conventional look. Think traditional or Shaker.

Indeed, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) adds that in materials, cherry wood will be king, followed by alder and, as a rising star, alder wood. Medium and dark natural tones for the finish will join the trend. Even bathroom cabinets will echo the subdued colors prominently used for the 2010 kitchens, with traditional and Shaker cabinets leading the pace.

The Virginia-based Color Marketing Group (CMG), an independent organization, predicts that the color “Mardi Grape”—used for years in fashion—will soon join the palate of neutral colors for 2010. Surprised?

Other colors to come into vogue this year, according to the CMG, include:

• reds (used as accents)
• beige and brown (used as complementary hues)
• orange (to brighten up your sophistication),
• green (as an optimistic accent),
• yellow (tending toward green with gray)
• blue (toned down with gray influences), and
• neutral gray.

More Colors to Consider when Remodeling Cabinets

In choosing new or refaced kitchen cabinets, you might want to compare your wood finish choices with these hues recommended by HGTV.  Writer Jennifer Haupt noted that three new color palates from Pantone could be all the rage:

Ethnic Chic: purples, misty yellows, and stone grays; or vibrant blues, deep browns, and burnt orange.

Savories: tasty Daiquiri greens, chocolates, and bright colors.

Agrestic: soft greens, delicate yellows, and sudden touches of pink accents.

It all makes me hungry!