Main Categories
Main Categories

Archive for June, 2010

Green Veneers and Counters Move Up in the Marketplace

Friday, June 25th, 2010

It’s no surprise that restoring kitchen cabinets can often cost you considerably less money than ordering in a replacement set. Professional cabinet refacers can even help you transform your kitchen the green way, without the use of high volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Before you start, it’s a good idea to have your cabinets inspected to determine whether they still have sufficient structural integrity to make a refacing project cost-effective.

Old House Web reports that cabinet craftsmen can order your veneers treated with pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive glues with low VOC ratings.  The veneers then attach securely to your existing cabinet doors and drawer fronts to make them look brand new.

Green Is Good

Green veneers are a matter of consumer choice. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), estimates that one-fifth of all American construction will feature green materials by 2013.

Kitchen remodeling can be a cost-effective way to increase the value of your home. The Alliance to Save Energy reports that homeowners can recover between 70 and 90 percent of their investment in kitchen remodeling when they sell their home. Upgrading your appliances to EnergyStar-compliant models and choosing green solutions for your cabinet and countertop projects can increase interest among potential buyers.

Sustainable cabinets and countertops are continuing to find their way into the American marketplace. Salvaged wood, bio-composites, and formaldehyde-free cabinet doors and drawer fronts are easy to find if you’re committed to the greening of your kitchen.  If you’re hanging your own unfinished cabinets, shop for low-VOC emitting paints that have taken their rightful place on the market. Veneer Selector can help with your shopping for resource-friendly veneers.

Posted in Kitchen Remodeling, New Kitchen Cabinets | No Comments »

Granite Countertops Lead in Sales

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Granite countertops don’t burn, and that’s part of why they’re today’s hot choice among consumers. The NPD Group, an independent polling firm, reports that 56 percent of counter sales this past year went to consumers choosing granite.

According to Yahoo Finance, quartz and Formica are the leaders among the also-rans, each earning 13 percent of the market,. Quartz remains the preferred countertop among 75 percent of certified kitchen designers.

Even so, quartz lags behind the consumer choice for granite, a surface material that proves more economical for many homeowners. I’m sure that the cost factors prominently in granite’s appeal as it currently runs between $45 and $200 per square foot. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s “2010 Kitchen & Bath Style Report” says that granite’s “good looks and durability” add to its popularity.

When properly installed and sealed, granite has a great track record in resisting stains, scratches, and discoloration from burns. In contrast, marble counters can chip or scratch under duress, and limestone can stain easily.

Even if you have your heart set on Vermont slate or Travertine counters, they may be more expensive than you can afford. Granite certainly seems an acceptable substitute today, as more consumers than ever seem to be turning toward granite.

Homeowners are also attracted by granite’s mirror finish and trouble-free maintenance. Even so, granite countertops require precision installation, so you shouldn’t try putting them in on your own unless you have experience. Kitchen Cabinets Design can link you up with qualified installers in your area as well as help you with determining pricing.

Posted in New Kitchen Cabinets | 2 Comments »

It’s Not Your Grandmother’s Laminate Counter

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Today’s laminate kitchen countertops are not the same crackly, ugly countertops you once saw in diners or low-brow cafes. Laminate manufacturers now offer options in kitchen color schemes and patterns to match your flooring, cabinets, and backsplashes. You can even get inventive with your design scheme and bring out the best of your remodeled kitchen by going with laminate.

For one thing, Homeowner Net reports, there are luxury laminate options today that are more durable than your grandmother’s laminate counters and offer a selection of high-end metal edges.

Low-Cost Kitchen Countertops That Add Sizzle

Laminate counters are usually available at the bottom of the price range—certainly when compared to engineered stone, granite, or tile. You’re also ensured of a consistency of color and patterns across the entire treatment, unlike the random effects from stone.

On the other hand, you can order the newer laminate products that resemble veining and patterns found in natural stone. Reliable Remodeler says that you can even order laminate with zebra patterns, if that floats your boat.

Pricing runs from $35 a linear foot for the most basic pre-fabricated laminate up to $65 a linear foot for custom-edged laminate counters. Compare that with the $300 a linear foot for marble or $750 a linear foot for stainless steel, and laminate is a bargain. If you’re up against a tight budget for your kitchen remodeling project, the cost of laminate can help you get in under the wire.

Even with choosing this low-cost option, you’ll save yourself a headache by having a professional do your installation. Before you cringe, give the new laminate options a closer look.

Posted in KCD Kitchen Cases, New Kitchen Cabinets | No Comments »

More About Backsplashes

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Since many of you appreciated the blog on kitchen backsplashes last April, I thought I’d add a couple of ideas about materials. I’ve seen everything from recycled construction bricks to laminated children’s fingerpaintings on paper for backsplash materials. It ultimately comes down to what floats your boat—that, and whether it complements your kitchen cabinets and counters.

Better Homes and Gardens has a nice rundown on the range of materials, with ample photos to give you an idea how great backsplashes can look. Let’s review some of the basic materials they recommend:

Stainless Steel
Stainless steel can be employed in sheets or tiles, depending on your look. If the materials work well with your cabinets, counters, and flooring, steel makes a great choice. Why? Because you can spatter a gallon of spaghetti sauce all over it and clean it off with a sponge and dish soap!

Slate
Slate creates a handsome look in modern, craftsman, or even farmhouse kitchens if you choose the right color stone. You’ll have to seal it, though, because the material can be porous enough to absorb liquids and become discolored.

Limestone
Limestone also needs sealing against stains and liquids, but it lends a European look with subtle contrasting colors. Be sure to bring home sample tiles to match the stone with your existing cabinets and counters.

Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles come in such a wide range of colors and textures that you’re bound to find a good match. Better Homes recommends using a faux brick arrangement of tiles for creating great flair.

Glass
Glass, used as a plate surface or as tiles, can be the perfect complement in a modern or contemporary kitchen where black and white tones are the norm. You can install it right over a painted drywall or over another thin covering. And everyone knows how to clean glass!

Posted in KCD Kitchen Cases, Kitchen Remodeling, New Kitchen Cabinets | No Comments »

Free Kitchen Design Estimate
How would you like to improve your kitchen?
I would like to remodel my kitchen
I am interested in refacing my cabinets
I want new kitchen countertops