| So you're thinking about purchasing kitchen cabinets | | | | comes to cost, it can blow a hole in your budget |
| online? Are you ready to take on that kind of | | | | before you know it. Know the measurements of |
| project yourself, or would it be your best choice to | | | | your project completely before starting to get |
| hire a designer, contractor and/or installer? | | | | quotes from anyone. Use the images from your wish |
| Let's talk about these questions, and discuss the | | | | list as a guide to help in creating a complete list of |
| things to remember while shopping for custom | | | | the items you'll need for your project. |
| cabinets on the web or in your home town. This | | | | We are now down to the nitty gritty. What cabinet |
| could very well be the most important article you've | | | | companies should I look at? Well, I would look at all |
| ever read on the subject. | | | | the major brands that you've already heard of. |
| Remember, kitchen cabinets are all basically the | | | | These would be: KraftMaid, KitchenCraft, Kemper, |
| same, the construction doesn't change much. You | | | | Merrillat, Thomasville, Somersby and Diamond. Keep |
| basically have a box, maybe a fixed shelf or | | | | track of the door styles and colors you like most. |
| adjustable shelves, a door and possibly drawer fronts. | | | | Keep a good list of who has what, and what you |
| You can get some fancy options, like roll out trays, | | | | really like about each line. Remember, they're all about |
| trash bins, spice racks, etc, etc, etc, but we'll talk | | | | the same. |
| more about them later. So, other than a wood box | | | | Go to your local Home Depot or Lowes and stock up |
| with a variety of internal options, you have a door | | | | on any free brochures, color samples, and design |
| with hinges, drawers, drawer fronts, and maybe | | | | tools they can give you. (Sorry guys, I'm sure you |
| shelves. Keep this in mind when shopping and pricing. | | | | have a large advertising budget). If you have to curb |
| It can save you tons. | | | | your curiosity, go ahead and check out IKEA and Mills |
| Don't fall for all the hype about one cabinet company | | | | Pride too. These are what's called knockdown |
| being superior to another. They all make their | | | | cabinets. You purchase the boxes in 4 + pieces, and |
| cabinets the same way. Except for a few options like | | | | assemble them yourself. They are fastened together |
| thickness and type of materials for the cabinet sides, | | | | with the same type of twist locks you've seen on |
| profile, species of wood and finish color. Some | | | | the entertainment center you bought from Wally |
| companies claim to have a better finishing process | | | | World or Tarjet'. Not the hot setup in my book. And |
| than others, when in fact, most of them use almost | | | | I personally, won't let them end up in my properties |
| identical methods to finish their doors and drawer | | | | either. =) Who knows, they might me the right fit for |
| fronts. They are all very high quality and you should | | | | your project. |
| not spend too much time comparing the finishing | | | | Now that you know what you're after, get some |
| processes. Customer service from your distributor, | | | | quotes from the big box stores, some private Mom |
| and follow up are key to a happy transaction. | | | | and Pop cabinet distributors, and from custom |
| The only major difference in cabinet design is the | | | | cabinet makers in your area. |
| fact that you can purchase a set of cabinets with a | | | | Make sure you compile a complete list of the |
| face frame visible, or the frameless style. The | | | | cabinets, trim and accessories you want, so your |
| standard, or framed cabinet, is the style you probably | | | | quotes are based on the same details and |
| have in your kitchen now. You can see a visible piece | | | | accessories. You may be really handy around the |
| of wood between the doors and drawer fronts. The | | | | house, and want to tackle the cabinet project too, |
| frameless, or European style cabinet, has no face | | | | please make sure that you know how much work is |
| frame, so the doors and drawer fronts are situated | | | | involved, before taking on this kind of demo and |
| right next to each other when installed. This style | | | | install yourself. You may want to start shopping now, |
| cabinet is better suited to the more modern home or | | | | for a good installer in your area because they're |
| office. Where, the more traditional framed cabinets | | | | always busy on your timeline. Ask around, and make |
| may look better in an older style home, cabin or | | | | sure they have good references. Check the |
| office. It's one big choice you have to make right up | | | | references too. Make the calls to verify their talent. |
| front. If you've never noticed the difference in the | | | | It's a big investment and you want it done right the |
| two styles of cabinets, I suggest you take a look at | | | | first time. |
| some images online, or in a kitchen magazine to see | | | | As for where to get a good deal on cabinets, that is |
| which style is right for your upcoming cabinet project. | | | | "the" question isn't it? I know it was mine. It's very |
| Construction of the cabinet box itself is another | | | | important to remember, you need service before, |
| choice to consider. Some manufacturers offer | | | | during, and after the delivery of your new cabinets. |
| plywood ends or all plywood construction. To tell you | | | | Most online cabinet distributors will sell you some |
| the truth, when the sides are going to be screwed | | | | cabinets, and that's the last you'll hear from them. |
| together, and the cabinet attached to the wall, I | | | | Warranty issues? Follow Up? Customer Service? 90% |
| personally don't see the advantage to plywood ends | | | | of the cabinet websites don't even know what those |
| over standard construction. But some people insist on | | | | terms mean. I learned the hard way, and finally found |
| plywood ends or all plywood construction. I have | | | | a great distributor to handle our cabinet orders. |
| read somewhere that plywood ends may hold up | | | | They had just what I was looking for, knowledgeable |
| longer in a very, very humid climate. I'll probably be | | | | staff, great customer service and follow up after the |
| dead before I can see if it made any difference | | | | sale. After getting the run around by a couple of |
| buying standard over plywood ends. You do the | | | | other so called discount cabinet websites, we finally |
| research and see what you think. | | | | found a good one. |
| The hardware most of the higher end cabinet | | | | This company carried the brands we were interested |
| companies use is identical. Good under mount drawer | | | | in. They assigned us a personal cabinet specialist |
| glides are pretty much standard equipment. 6-way | | | | working on my list of cabinets and helping with some |
| adjustable cup hinges standard. Door and drawer pulls | | | | design changes. He even found that my |
| can be purchased from the cabinet distributor as well, | | | | measurements were wrong in my layout, and |
| but the cost is usually higher than you can find locally | | | | corrected the list to compensate for the mistakes. |
| or online. Shop around for handles you like. | | | | This would have been a disaster if the cabinets |
| There are a mind boggling number of accessories and | | | | where delivered to my home, and they didn't fit the |
| trim available. If you are looking at purchasing kitchen | | | | space. Be really careful with your measurements. Sort |
| cabinets online, it's a must that you purchase a | | | | of like the old saying, "measure twice, cut once". But, |
| specification book and color brochures before you | | | | on a much more grand and expensive scale. |
| start to design your kitchen or cabinet project. I'm | | | | They ended up saving me about two thousand |
| telling you this because once you realize all the | | | | dollars, compared to the prices I was getting locally. |
| options and accessories that are available, you're | | | | The service was their selling point for me. I was |
| going to change your design over and over until it's | | | | assigned my very own Customer Service |
| just right. Save the time, get the books. Big optional | | | | Representative that made me feel at ease after |
| choices include but are not limited to: self closing | | | | shelling out many thousands of dollars for cabinets |
| drawer slides, crown molding, light rail molding, fillers, | | | | online. Purchasing from a place that I'd never seen, |
| slide out trays, spice racks, appliance garages, | | | | from a person I've never met, was a little different. |
| rosettes, fluted fillers, corbels, shelf brackets, lighting, | | | | But by the time we were getting close to our |
| glass doors, glass shelves, appliance panels, finished | | | | delivery date, I was totally comfortable with them, |
| end panels, the list goes on and on. I suggest you | | | | and the fact that I was really going to get my |
| look at tons of photos of kitchens you like, and keep | | | | cabinets delivered. My Rep kept me informed all the |
| them in your project planner or in your wish list. This | | | | way through the process, including delivery, and even |
| is a great way to narrow down the things you need | | | | checked with us to make sure everything was ok |
| or want, and the things you don't. | | | | after I inspected our order. I did have a couple tiny |
| Species and finish are probably the hardest things to | | | | nicks on some trim, not a big deal. They sent me out |
| decide on when planning a new kitchen remodel. Pine | | | | a touch up kit and instructions to correct it at no |
| and Hickory are great for their rustic look. Oak is a | | | | charge. We were very impressed, with the follow up |
| very common and sturdy wood for cabinet doors | | | | service and speed. |
| and drawer fronts. It will always be a good seller. | | | | I decided to have my cabinets installed by a local |
| Oak has a more open grain and is not for everybody. | | | | professional cabinet installer, because we needed to |
| Maple and Cherry are the most popular species when | | | | move back into our house quickly. I could have |
| it comes to cabinet doors and drawer fronts. It has a | | | | handled it easily, you can ask my wife, she'll tell you |
| very tight and close grain making a smooth, almost | | | | how handy I am. No, really. Ok whatever. I was going |
| perfect surface. These are the favorite wood | | | | to do it myself, but we ran out of time in our rental. |
| species by far, you won't be disappointed if you | | | | It was worth every penny hiring an installer. Our |
| choose one of these. On the other end of the | | | | kitchen and bathroom cabinets look awesome. The |
| spectrum is thermo-foil and painted finishes. If you | | | | installers know how to touch up the finished project |
| want a perfectly smooth, white or beige finish, this is | | | | also. I tiny nick or scratch is not a big deal when you |
| the way to go. They use a very thin film to cover | | | | see your new complete kitchen with the countertops |
| the doors and drawer fronts. It's heated and | | | | installed. I recommend this cabinet distributor to |
| vacuumed onto the surface, making a very smooth | | | | everybody I hear talking about kitchen cabinets, a |
| and consistent finished product. | | | | new home being built, a remodeling project, or any |
| Now let's talk about shopping for cabinets. Looking at | | | | general contractor looking to stop wasting his |
| cabinets at your big box store, or wholesale discount | | | | valuable time at the huge retail stores. We all know |
| superstore, is an adventure in itself. You can wait | | | | who I'm talking about. You bought your last bag of |
| days just to sit down and talk with somebody to get | | | | fertilizer there. |
| the ball rolling. Remember, chances are that these | | | | This company also gives a small finders fee for |
| salespeople haven't been doing this very long, and | | | | referring your friends or family. I'll bet they send out |
| probably have never seen a cabinet installed in their | | | | a lot of checks! I know this will help with the choices |
| lifetime. Cheap is not always better, and the discount | | | | you make in your project. I only wish I had read an |
| stores are not always cheap. Be careful when it | | | | article like this before I started mine. |