How to Strip and Refinish Kitchen Cabinets - a Quick Step Guide

The question of how to strip and refinish kitchen cabinets has been raised several times in a lot of home improvement forums where I participate actively. What I have come to realize is that there is no one best answer to this question. So as you read below keep in mind that there are many other ways of doing it.

Stripping Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

Stripping is a huge hurdle to any one who is looking into refacing kitchen cabinets. It is a painful and very slow process especially if you want to get to the bare wood of the cabinets. The starting point is in removing the old paint from the frames and cabinet sides.

How to Strip and Refinish Kitchen Cabinets - a Quick Step Guide

You can strip using a produce called Park's Furniture Refinisher. Just rub the wood with steel wool that is soaked in the refinisher until you get to the color you want then wipe off. You can also remove it by sanding with a grit coarse sand paper. You just need to be careful as cabinets made years back tend to have lead in the paint. This is why it is recommended that you do this outside or have some personal protection like overalls, goggles, rubber chemical gloves, hat and cartridge respirator.

One thing I should point out here is that no matter how much you try to strip it may be hard to remove all the varnish. In this case you may then use the sanding methods. Try not to start sanding until all the paint is off. Use an orbital sander to make sure that all the paint is removed.

Finishing Kitchen Cabinets

Because the question is how to strip and refinish kitchen cabinets, let us now briefly look at the finishing part. Once you are done stripping and sanding them to bare wood you may need to fill some of the holes that are found with wood filler first.

Once that is done then you would be ready to finish the cabinets. You have a variety of options that you can use to coat the cabinets. For example, you can refinish them with polyurethane or a coat of minwax or even a cherry stain.

The reality is that this is all tedious work. For one if you choose to take down the cabinets in order to strip and refinish them you may run into trouble when trying to put them up again because of house shifting.

How to Strip and Refinish Kitchen Cabinets - a Quick Step Guide

How to Get Brand New Or Used Cheap Kitchen Cabinets of Good Quality

When decorating a kitchen, cabinetry is the one of the first things considered. That is because cabinets are especially important in a kitchen as they are the storage space for dishes, glasses, packed foods and ingredients, canned foods, bottles, containers, cooking utensils, recipe books and other necessary stuff in the kitchen.

However, most of the high quality kitchen cabinets for sale, whether made from wood or metal, are quite expensive making them limited only to those who can afford high priced items. And so what others do is go for custom cabinets that they themselves made to save up money. Personally building and installing cabinet is actually one of those fun and productive activities that is catching the interest of many. It has its set of benefits but if you don't have time or aren't skilled enough to do it, its better to look for cheap kitchen cabinets.

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

As has been said, high quality cabinets are mostly expensive. But then, that doesn't mean that cheap kitchen cabinets of great quality are non-existent. As long as you are patient and very much knowledgeable especially in terms of the details of the type that you are hoping to get, there is always a chance of you finding one.

How to Get Brand New Or Used Cheap Kitchen Cabinets of Good Quality

Specifically, there are still nice and functional kitchen cabinets out there that can fit perfectly to your tight budget. There are a lot of things that you can do to get that kind of product - the one of good quality but not costly.

One of those things is to buy a low priced cabinet with solid wood material. That will give you an assurance that it can at least hold up and that it is sturdy enough. Otherwise, you may just be looking at a cabinet made of cheap wood that won't last long.

Another way to guarantee that you get a good quality cabinet despite the cheap cost is avoiding some additional options that usually come along with kitchen cabinets. These are bells, glass doors, corner pieces, turntables, etc. Each of those features adds to the actual price of the cabinet, making it more expensive. So if you strip off those things, you can get a decent cabinet at a not-so-high price.

Some of the affordable cabinets that you can get are actually slightly used that were either sold or donated by their previous owners to those cabinet shops. They are still firm and functional and only needs a little fixing and re-facing to look more modern and to serve contemporary functions. Some cabinet shops add a little touch of design to make it chic and stylish. This is why you need not to worry when searching for those low-cost cabinets for your kitchen because if you can't find a brand new one that you can afford, there are always the slightly used ones as your second option.

How to Get Brand New Or Used Cheap Kitchen Cabinets of Good Quality

Decorate Above Your Kitchen Cabinets in 3 Easy Steps

One of the most popular rooms in the home is your kitchen. When you entertain, guests tend to gravitate to this room. Whether it is to help with the cooking, grab a bite to eat, or to just chat with the host, women tend to hang around the kitchen. Even the men and children seem to come in and graze. Naturally, this is the room you want to stand-out and look the best when entertaining.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to make your kitchen stand out is to decorate above the kitchen cabinets. With three short steps you can add flare without having to spend much time or money doing it!

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

1. Install rope lighting. Although subtle, this will add light to the room and will make an especially nice accent to the room in the evening when the main lights are off.

Decorate Above Your Kitchen Cabinets in 3 Easy Steps

2. Depending on the theme of your room, add a few small accents. When I say a few, I mean a few! This is a common mistake. You will notice when looking closely at a professionally decorated home, there are actually very few accents, with what seems to be a lot of greenery.

One of the more common accents used are decorative dinner plates on plate holders. One I prefer is Embossed Plate wall art. The set includes eight uniquely designed painted plates which I recommend placing 2 to 3 feet apart and angling each plate slightly in an alternating pattern to give visual interest.

For a more Spanish style consider Casa Cristina Blue Stoneware Vases. The set comes as a set of three jars with double handles and is finished with a blue and dark blue glaze. The largest of the three measures 9.5" tall which is perfect for above kitchen cabinets. With this set, place the vases in a grouping centered along the length of the cabinets, alternating the directions of the handles. Place additional groupings above each set of cabinets throughout the kitchen. For an extra touch of color add silk flowers in one or all of the vases.

Another unique option is the Mini Conservatory Garden. These can be placed as a group of four or groups of two in a slightly larger kitchen. Create a garden feel with the assortment of mini conservatories by placing small pieces of greenery in and around each conservatory. Or alternatively, add a splash of color by placing small colored candles in each conservatory. Each conservatory comes in a multicolor tin finish, and measures approximately 4"D x 9"H, perfect for your kitchen cabinets!

3. Once your accents are placed, add some silk greenery such as fern and/or lemon leaf to fill in the gaps.

That is it, that simple. Just add light, pick your favorite accents, and then finish with greenery. You have just made your kitchen complete and spectacular in no time and with very little money! Now, get ready to entertain and show it off!

Decorate Above Your Kitchen Cabinets in 3 Easy Steps

Cream Maple Kitchen Cabinets

The building blocks of the heart of homes, kitchen cabinets have been an integral part of kitchen remodeling. Among the large contributors to both overall appeal and functionality, it is a must that both factors are satisfied when choosing among your cabinetry options. This article lays out how cream maple kitchen cabinets can be the perfect solution to your unique renovation requirements boosting both appeal and efficiency.

Why Cream Maple Kitchen Cabinets?

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

This premium line of cabinetry is a great choice whether you are looking for a collection of set-off the fashion in the heart of your home, will effectively stand through the intensive conditions and use of kitchens, or a delightful combination of both.

Cream Maple Kitchen Cabinets

Stylish. Cream maple kitchen cabinets are made unique by their deliciously smooth and milky finish that makes up for an elegant façade. The whiteness is exquisitely tinged with a hint of buttery goodness that allows your cabinetry to help create a welcoming look and feel to kitchens. This cabinetry choice can fabulously blend in with other types of materials such as other finishes of hardwood, glass, natural stone countertops, tiles, and stainless steel. The raised panels and full overlay door design adds to the stylish appeal of this option that can complement beautifully with a variety of designs and color schemes.

Durable. Manufactured from one of the most durable wood species popular for furniture making, cream maple kitchen cabinets boast not only of exquisite beauty but also of natural strength. This quality of the wood is made more efficient by the use of advanced manufacturing methods and choicest hardware. This ensures that your kitchen cabinets will not fall apart in just months requiring you to buy another set or pay for repair. With proper care, you can help maintain the beauty and durability of the building blocks of your kitchen even through the everyday mess and changes in temperature and humidity. Maple cabinetry can grace your home for years and years of functional use.

Shopping for Cream Maple Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes to cabinetry, it is important that you know not all cream maple kitchen cabinets are equal. Even if they have the same product name, they may not offer the same features or quality. So be careful when shopping for the best fitting cabinetry for your needs and never fall into the pitfall of buying the first set you see on the Internet or in your local home improvement shop. To get the best quality, here are top tips to consider:

- Look into the details. Take the time to compare the features such as all wood cabinet construction, solid wood drawer fronts and doors, soft close glides, back panels, shelves, hinges, etc.

- If you are in doubt, order door samples. When it comes to website pictures, there are certain elements that may cause a difference with the actual product. It would be best if you actually compare the finish against your kitchen lighting, and colors.

- If you do not know any supplier and have not been personally referred to any, be wary of the shop that you buy from. To get the best value for your money, buy only from reputable cream maple kitchen cabinets supplier.

Cream Maple Kitchen Cabinets

A White Kitchen on a Budget

Just as fashion trends, designer trends for the home can be in today and out tomorrow. So if you don't want to spend valuable time constantly redecorating the all important room in the house that is the kitchen, consider sticking with white as a staple.

White kitchen cabinets make a great base for any kitchen. This is because white kitchen cabinets are clean and do not lean towards any one design option; they are truly timeless in every sense. If you do not already have white kitchen cabinets in your home, there are two ways you can get them.

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

Even if you do not have a large budget to allocate to redecorating the kitchen, you can give the room a new look by buying and installing RTA kitchen cabinets. RTA kitchen cabinets are ready to assemble; hence RTA. With ready to assemble cabinets, you have a wide variety of choices when it comes to finish, so if you prefer white walls in the kitchen instead of white cabinets, you can choose RTA kitchen cabinets in a rich hue such as cherry.

A White Kitchen on a Budget

White is ideal for galley style kitchens because by nature these kitchens are smaller and closed off from other rooms. When the small space is painted white or features white cabinets, it becomes more open and super appealing. When you have white on cabinets or walls, you can have darker floors and the room will still feel clean and roomy. In the galley kitchen, you can also add small hanging lights throughout the room to bring in as much light as possible. Make sure lighting is not dim and yellow, but just soft white light.

Kitchens can lean towards the modern, or can just exude an airy feel. In the modern white kitchen, you could accentuate with stainless steel or black appliances. Some people, however, prefer white appliances inside of their white kitchens. This can still be quite beautiful because the bright white kitchen can be accented with aqua or green tiles and decorator items.

In many cases, white appliances are the best way to go when you are trying to keep costs down. This is especially true if you are starting fresh and need to design the kitchen as well as furnish it with appliances. It has been said that white appliances tend to cost a bit less than black appliances and are often considerably less than those of stainless steel. So if you want to save money, go with white appliances even against white walls or white kitchen cabinets. You can find other ways to add color that will look just the way you want.

White kitchens work because they are classic. The white kitchen stands the test of time, every time. When you start with white in the kitchen, you can run off in just about any design direction you please just by adding the right accessories and accent colors throughout the room. There is no need to go all out and replace every part of this important room; just a few minor changes can have an enormous impact on the style you exude.

A White Kitchen on a Budget

3 Tips for Budget Friendly Kitchen Remodeling

It's no secret that many families are operating on tight budgets these days and who knows when the economy might start to get better? However, while you may have had to put some of your more expensive home improvement projects on hold, there's no reason why you have to delay your kitchen remodel. High-end appliances and new hardwood flooring can always be added later - there are plenty of economical changes you can make right now that will give your kitchen an updated look.

DIY Friendly Kitchen Remodeling Projects

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

If you spend any time reading kitchen design magazines or browsing interior design websites, you probably think most of the kitchen remodels shown are fairly expensive and in most cases you'd be absolutely right. However, you don't have to spend a lot of money to give your kitchen a fresh new look - especially if you don't mind doing a little of the labor yourself. A kitchen remodel can even be an ongoing project where you make improvements as your budget allows. A few DIY friendly upgrades that shouldn't blow your budget:

3 Tips for Budget Friendly Kitchen Remodeling

• Painting - you might be amazed at the difference a fresh coat of paint can make in your kitchen - especially if the existing color is off-white. Color chips are available at most home improvement and paint stores - let your imagination roam free when choosing a new hue for the room. Tools for the project are fairly inexpensive and as long as they're cleaned properly, can be used again in the future.

• Cabinets - buying new cabinets doesn't have to mean taking out a second mortgage on your home. Ready to assemble cabinets are often 30 to 40 percent cheaper than units from the large manufacturers and in some cases they may be higher quality. If you know what a screwdriver is and how to use it, you should be able to easily assemble these kitchen cabinets.

• Cabinet Hardware - changing your kitchen cabinet hardware may only take about an hour, but it can completely alter the look of the room. New hardware is available at many home improvement stores and you can also find it offered by online retailers. Pricing can range from very inexpensive to higher end products from restoration hardware specialists.

You may not be able to swing that Sub-Zero refrigerator or Thermador range right now, but you can still give your kitchen a fresh new look by using these inexpensive makeover tips.

3 Tips for Budget Friendly Kitchen Remodeling

Pros Vs Cons of RTA Cabinets (Ready to Assemble)

Pros & Cons: Assembled vs. Ready to Assemble (RTA)

Kitchen cabinets are usually purchased and delivered in one of two ways: Assembled or Ready to assemble (RTA).

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

Assembled kitchen cabinets are delivered already assembled, built from the manufacturer and ready to be installed in the home. Assembled do not require the homeowner to build the cabinets; everything is complete, including all the drawers and hardware components.

Pros Vs Cons of RTA Cabinets (Ready to Assemble)

RTAs are delivered in a form that is commonly referred to as "flat packed" or unassembled. RTA cabinets require the consumer to put together and build the cabinets at the location that they are being installed. The cabinet is in a broken down form and will require a little extra work from the installer, however, are generally offered at a lower price.

RTA cabinets offers both types of cabinets to appeal to different types of buyers. We have listed the pros & cons of both types and would like to get your opinion on which type you prefer.

Assembled Kitchen Cabinets

Pros-
1. Completely ASSEMBLED and built in the USA. No assembly required by the homeowner, ready to be installed.
2. Generally offers a better-finished product due to the fact that they are assembled at the manufacturer with the right tools and machines.
3. Allows for more internal cabinet accessories like trash pullout, lazy susan, etc.
4. All Wood cabinet construction
5. KCMA Certified
6. Limited Lifetime Warranty
7. Dove-tail drawers sanded and polished at the factory for perfection
8. Six-way adjustable hinge
9. Full depth shelves

Cons-
1. Longer shipping lead-time due to the fact that the cabinets are built after the order has been placed.
2. Slightly more expensive due to the extra labor and manufacturing cost.

Pros-
1. Shorter shipping lead-time, since the cabinets are in stock and ready to be shipped out as soon as the order is placed.
2. More affordable to the consumer
3. All Wood cabinet construction
4. KCMA Certified
6. Limited Lifetime Warranty
7. Dove-tail drawers
8. Six-way adjustable hinge
9. Full depth shelves

Cons-
1. Cabinets require the buyer to assemble them at the job site creating extra work.
2. Harder to guarantee the quality of the finished product since the cabinet is not being assembled at the manufacturer.

Pros Vs Cons of RTA Cabinets (Ready to Assemble)

Types of Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets play a very vital role when it comes to keeping things organized and allowing the heart of your home to efficiently serve its many functions. Other than utility, these make up one of the most visually dominant surfaces and thus have a huge effect on overall aesthetics and appeal. It's no wonder why a huge portion of the remodeling budget goes to kitchen cabinets alone. Just like any investments, success lies in exploring and knowing your options to land with the best. And this article helps you by laying out the various types.

Custom Cabinetry

Kitchen Cabinets Ready To Assemble

When it comes to versatility, nothing beats custom cabinetry as this allows homeowners to achieve a set of truly personalized kitchen cabinets that are built according to requests. This type would especially be ideal if your kitchen layout is uncommon, where you would have to work with curved corners and other such difficult home features. But because the kitchen cabinets are custom-built, the cost could prove heavy on the wallet and may take longer to build. So if you have a distinct style and layout in mind that seems to be impossible to find in the market, then going for custom cabinetry can be considered.

Types of Kitchen Cabinets

Semi-custom Kitchen Cabinets

This type of cabinetry is constructed only after the order is finalized. Though they are not as personalized as custom cabinet units, they offer a wider variety of options when it comes to materials, colors, and styles compared with stock cabinets. You can choose from pantries, drawers with slide-outs, lazy Susan and other features to boost organization in the heart of your home.

Stock Kitchen Cabinets

These are the common types that you'd find in home improvement stores. Mass produced, these pre-assembled units come in the most popular colors and finishes, and standard dimensions. Manufactured in limited range of widths, they may not exactly fit into your kitchen and will need fillers to fill-in spaces between them and appliances. These, however, are cheaper than semi-custom and custom-made cabinetry.

RTA Kitchen Cabinets

From the name, ready-to-assemble, you'd already get a clue that they are ideally designed for DIYers and indeed they are. Individual cabinet parts inclusive of everything needed to put them up together like screws, wood dowels and such are flat-packed-sold and shipped together. With just a screwdriver, just anybody can read through and follow the simple instructions to assemble the cabinetry. The increase in demand created a wide availability making RTA cabinetry available in all price spectrums and materials from laminate and particleboard to hardwood.

Deciding what's right for you and your home will all boil down to your current kitchen layout as well as your budget. But remember, the type does not necessarily speak of the quality. Just make sure that you hire the services of a qualified contractor, or buy from a reliable supplier. With a good dose of creativity, you can make the most of your budget. Create a customized look to your stock or RTA kitchen cabinets through using special touches such as crown moldings, stylish accents and hardware, and other such additions.

Types of Kitchen Cabinets