How to Approach Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling

Cabinets are often the most expensive part of a kitchen remodeling project. Their standing as a serious, long-term investment means that their purchase should be handled with care. Here's how you can work through the many choices available as you prepare to renew your kitchen cabinets.

Enhance Existing Cabinets

If you already have quality cabinets that work well, you can save the most money by painting or staining them rather than buying new ones. You can also reface them by putting a fresh veneer on the fronts of your cabinet boxes and changing the drawer fronts and doors. Either method will be faster and cheaper than installing new cabinets, but refacing will call for professional assistance. Still, refacing can be fairly expensive because drawer fronts and doors are the most costly parts of cabinets. This means that you might actually be better off buying new cabinets, which will offer even more creative flexibility.

Brand-New Cabinetry

If you're going with new cabinets, you've got a few options in front of you. Do you want custom cabinets, or would you consider stock cabinets? Your options are unlimited in terms of designs, materials, finishes and accessories if you choose to go with custom cabinets. However, their price reflects those perks.

Semi-custom cabinets are another option to consider. Manufacturers build semi-custom cabinets to the requested size but divide them into a certain number of pieces. When it's time to install them, you may need to use spacers to hide uncovered areas of wall, reducing your storage space. Although you'll save money with semi-custom cabinetry, you'll also have fewer choices in terms of designs, materials, accessories and finishes.

You'll save the most money by choosing stock cabinets over custom and semi-custom options. Manufactured in standard sizes, stock cabinets are available in a wide array of materials, including solid wood. While stock cabinetry choices might seem limited, most kitchen projects can be accomplished using them. An experienced designer will be able to work with a wide variety of sizes and styles.

Whichever option you decid to go with, be sure to check on the quality of practical aspects of cabinets, including drawer systems, hinges, finishes and doors. For the greatest protection against disappointment later, try to find cabinets with a warranty lasting at least five years.

Styles and Construction Options

Next, it's time to decide on door styles and construction options. Framed cabinets, which are common in old-fashioned kitchens, have frames that surround the edges of their doors. Frameless cabinets, also known as European style, give easier access to the cabinet's interior by eliminating the frame around the door. Consumers have three major choices of door styles. Inset doors are set into the cabinet frame, full-overlay doors cover the whole cabinet frame and traditional-overlay doors partially cover the frame.

Cabinet Accessories

Once you've planned the outside of your cabinets, it's time to focus on the purely practical parts of your cabinet project, such as the interior. While cabinet markers of the past would establish uses for cabinets through their methods of installation, modern cabinets are designed for specific uses. Oversized drawers for cookie sheets, special cabinets for garbage cans and drawers that pull out for easier access to pots and pans are just a few of the available options. By opting for built-in drawer organizers, spice racks and other accessories, you can expect to have an easier time using your kitchen.

Hardware Options

To finish your cabinet project, you can choose from a wide array of knobs, handles and pulls. No matter what price range and styles you prefer, you'll be able to find the right hardware on the market.