Tag Archive for: shaker cabinet

Find the Right Knobs and Pulls for Your Kitchen Cabinets

At Premium Cabinets of Tulsa, we are here to lessen your worries with the right type of knobs and pulls. Keep in mind that choosing the right handle is like a walk in the park, however, they are different kind for you to choose from, hence making rushed decisions just to get done with it. It may be a micro design element that could have a macro impact to the overall look.

The secret is to narrow it down in an array of many to the ones that you would prefer, and here are the ways:

  • If you want knobs and pulls based on resale the best option is to opt for the ones with top-selling finish, such as nickel, chrome and bronze.
  • Base your inspiration on kitchen faucet style and finish.

Shopping at specialty showrooms might be expensive but trust it is worth it. At Premium Cabinets, they have glass knobs, swirly knobs, modern knobs and much more, if you want to splurge for something different feel free to visit their website. Nonetheless, here are the few important ones with some of its pros and cons:

Streamline Modern: Inspired by 1930’s era also known as the steam-punk constituting of high-speed rails and ships of the art deco with thick curved, slender and horizontal lines.

These lovelies appear naturally in the modern cabinetry, keep in mind that they are made of stainless les, hence perfect for dark stained woods as well as nautical themed rooms.

Some of its pros include elegancy, sleek and roomy, nevertheless, the cons is that the large ones are way expensive than the small ones.

Bar pulls: Best suited for you if you prefer a primeval and an unfussy look, they are versatile in that they can work out with many cabinetry designs. Moreover, it not only emphasizes on the kitchen feel, but also puts aside the need of having two pulls on one wide drawer.

Rule of the thumb, one pull is approximately 18 inches, but you are allowed to choose more than that.
It offers a secure grip and has a streamlined outlook, but on the not-so-bright side, its largeness tends to stand out more. Further, it works in modern, minimalist, contemporary, traditional, transitional and shaker decor.

Bin Pulls: Also known as cup pulls, are cup-shaped pulls usually upside-down, highly popularized in the 19th century. It is god for you if your drawers are especially heavy and they can rhyme well in Shaker, traditional, vintage, country and eclectic decor.

Back to details, trying to keep up with detail and austerity the Bin pull were originally made from wood peg, cherry, maple and pine. You can easily identify it from its cup-shaped door pulls with small knobs for the doors.

Usually, they have a matte nickel finish which you can find in most cabinet hardware store, ranging from $8 to $15. Before making any decision get the number required and estimate the price together with the hinges.

Cons: Tend to go well with most traditional styles.

Pros: Easy to use, easy to clean, can go with a variety of traditional cabinet style.

Overall, there are other types of door knobs and pull which will be discussed later on, but feel free to contact your nearest Premium Cabinets location for a custom quote or expert advice the right one.

Do You Prefer Painted or Stained Wood Kitchen Cabinets?

Should you paint or stain your wood kitchen cabinets? This is one of the hardest decisions ever; nonetheless, your pick will impact on how your cabinets will end up looking in the long run. On the not-so-bright side, it seems like the stain-versus-paint debate will never end, but at Premium Cabinets of Tulsa, they are willing to give expert perspective concerning these choices.

Painted Cabinets

First and foremost, painted cabinets require materials that sustain color well, such as poplar, veneered plywood or MDF. Further, the surface must be flat, free of knots and have large patterns.
At Premium Cabinets of Tulsa, they do all the cabinet finishes through an extensive system of spray booths, ovens, and an overhead drying line, all under one roof so as to complete over a hundred cabinets a day.

Additionally, some custom cabinet shops that don’t perform any finishing, usually add a touch of stain and conversion varnish. For a painted cabinet requirement by a client from a custom shop, they are frequent to different finishing preps for both paint and sprays or brushes for the final coats.

Comparatively, regarding prices, a custom made painted cabinet is more expensive apropos to stain-grade cabinet with a clear coat finish.

Paint Types

Depending on the kind of paint, it will determine how your cabinet will look like, how they wear and tear, how much they flake, and whether they are water resistant. It is always advisable to inquire more about the kind of paint used before purchasing a stock or semi-custom cabinets.

The two types of colors used may be oil or water-based, and it may or may not have alkyd resin, which may be used to cure or solidify body conversion varnishes. Hence, it is always significant to discuss with the seller about other options that are available and their longevity and off-gassing impacts.

Paint Application Method

How will the paint be applied to the surface? Either through spraying or back-brushing, in general, a sprayed finish gives your cabinet consistency and smoothness that is hard to achieve with the brushing method.

On the other hand, if you want to touch-up with a brush consider hiring a professional who will understand the paint formulation and details of your cabinet, we want to ease the situation not make it worse!

Wood Finishes

Mostly, you need to be aware of the type of wood that your cabinet requires before ordering. For example, a cherry wood cabinet is usually consistent in grain and color. Some timber species might have identical grain pattern from top to bottom also known as slipping.

Plus, when the grain pattern is in sequence with each other but flipped two at a time to emulate the grain, this is recognized as book matched.

Stain-Grade-Cabinet Samples

Stain-grade cabinets require careful thought and consideration; some companies will let you approve on a sample before framing an entire kitchen with cabinets. Although, if you look at the finished sample they are some that are luminous with either both glossy and semi-gloss or matte finish that protects them from UV rays.

Ultimately, when At Premium Cabinets of Tulsa, we always urge our customers to make decisions based on samples of their countertops and backsplashes. Thus, the question, do you prefer painting or staining your wood kitchen cabinets? Feel free to contact us anytime.

Utilizing a Kitchen Designer

When remodeling your kitchen or starting a new home construction, designing your kitchen can be very difficult, if you try doing it yourself it’s more of a living nightmare. Consulting in a professional can be extremely helpful even if you think you want to do it all yourself. Getting a second opinion on your plans can help expose some flaws or other issues your plans might contain. Some examples of this may be an inefficient placement of cabinets or a blind eye to fitting more storage into your design. Who are you purchasing your cabinets from? Ask if they have designers on staff, if they do you should take full advantage of their abilities.

Kitchen designers love what they do and with the right experience they are a tremendous help. Kitchens are often a very personal room to each individuals home. Creating a functional space that you will be using most daily is what is most important. A good designer will ask you many questions to get a good feel of what is important to you. Your opinion in these situations is still number 1, but your designer wants to make sure you are thinking about your kitchen as a whole so you are getting what you really want or maybe you find something you never thought was a possibility.

Just because you have consulted in a kitchen designer doesn’t mean you have to entertain everything they suggest.When your project is finished this is your kitchen and your home. Something to think about though is at the end of the day we live in a world where new products are introduced to the market place all the time and your kitchen designer will be in tune with the ability to integrate these items into your kitchen to make it more functional. Don’t go into your project alone, let your designer hold your hand and walk you through the process of designing your kitchen. You’ll be happy you did.

 

John Morgan, Jr.
Check out St. Louis’ Premium Cabinets
Call us today at  314-499-8800 to schedule an appointment.

Different Cabinet Door Styles

First and foremost, cabinets add impact and style to your kitchen, bathroom and living rooms and they come in a variety of styles and designs for you to choose from if you want to splurge to something unique. Further, learning the door style lingo is not hard, in fact it widens your scope to the choosing options, and hence the purpose of this article is to help you understand the different cabinet door styles.

One of the basic things that you should know is that, cabinet drawers and doors come in three types:

  • Partial overlay
  • Inset
  • Full overlay also known as Euro style

Inset cabinet doors: Consequently, most of the kitchens in the 1900s used this kind of door. It had small hinges which were mounted on the face frame with a visible frame around the opening. The hinges are usually inconspicuous when the door is shut.

As mentioned, they have a traditional twist added to it from the 1900s and surprisingly most modern doors these replicate this classic look, but be warned they are quite expensive. Also, it reduces the space in the inner cabinet creating extra blocking in the box.

Partial overlay cabinet doors: An upgraded version of the inset cabinet door, this door style is raised over the box face; the reason why it is called the partial overlay cabinet is because it does not cover the face frame completely.

This construction is versatile in that you can install more utilitarian hardware; however the frame reduces the amount of space inside the cabinet. Its downside is that the face frame is visible making the doors and drawers overwhelm the surface.

Full overlay or Euro-style cabinet doors: It is modern and the doors and drawers overlays the box completely covering the entire box face.

The hinges are invisible allowing the door to open slamming the adjacent doors and drawer, looking on the brighter side it has small gaps between the doors and drawers allowing easier access to the box. Hence, the bigger the box the more adequate space it has.

Added details

Edge banding: Usually found on every construction when you are opening your doors and drawers, it is used to cover the cut edges of the plywood.

Likewise, edge banding is made of PVC plastic, melamine or real wood, it is attached to the plywood using edge banding machine. They exist in a variety of color and style so to match with whatever cabinet choice you would like.

Cabinet face construction: Initially made from solid wood with plywood, MDF or particle board. In addition, the sheet material can be overlaid with wood veneer, Thermo foil or paintable veneer surface such as a maple, poplar or MDF.

  • Flat surfaces with raised panels are mostly made from milled wood.
  • Faces with linear details, for instance the shaker-style have square cuts that have middle panels.

Ultimately, building a large door is difficult, but you can always consult your cabinet makers that will estimate the size requirements and materials needed.

Nevertheless, feel free to contact Premium Cabinets of Tulsa for custom quotes.

Alternatives to the Glass Front Cabinets

Glass fronts are attractive but if you have a toddler in the house, you may want to think of other alternatives. At Premium Cabinets of Tulsa, they save your day with alternatives available. Rest assured they are unique and most of all very neat in appearance. Below are other options:

Decorative wire mesh: Comparatively, they can be used as radiator covers and it can rhyme well in a modern farmhouse or industrial setting, it is versatile, hence do not worry much about the final outlook.

Corrugated metal: Cost effective and easily available, being tough as nails they are add a unique feeling to your kitchen design. The perfect alternative for your glass cabinets, not only can it be used as a pantry door, but also as a backsplash.

Punched steel: Punched steel are old-fashioned but decorative because of the customized patterns, works well in a contemporary space and a country home.

Sliding chalkboard panel: Similar to a barn door, it allows you to slide it open and close whatever time you want. Further, they are perfect for little spaces, but sliding it all the time could cause traffic around the kitchen. To add that playful aspect to it you can incorporate a chalkboard for your children or writing a list of groceries and messages.

Magnetic chalkboard panel: Subsequently, this takes you cabinets to a whole new level and plus it is welcoming. Use super strong magnets to prevent them from flying around when opening and closing the panels.

Cork panel: Cabinet doors with cork panels is versatile and handy, if you have a recipe, picture and much more this is the perfect place for you, just do not overstock it.

Chicken wire: Inexpensive and easy to work with, this classical feature is readily available; you can even try it as a DIY after you have removed your glass cabinet. It is important to always remember to use glove, the edges are sharp.

Metal mesh: Stronger than a chicken wire, they can also be installed by a professional or as a DIY project. To switch it up a bit, you can apply the mesh in a diagonal way to create a diamond pattern.

Galvanized metal: They are durable and tough, definitely work for you if you are on a budget. Works well in a kitchen that has that industrial feeling or a modern farmhouse.

Fabric: The best part is that you can pick on any fabric that you want, it will still be splendid. It is a life-saver because in case of broken glass or missing furniture replacing it with a fabric of your choice is the way to go.

In addition, the fabric may be opaque or translucent and before selecting one you can place it to the light and see how it is.

Mirrored: A mirror usually makes a room appear larger, henceforth; this will work for you if you have a small kitchen.

All in all, which would you prefer if you were to pick any of the above mentioned? To get a custom quote please contact your nearest Premium Cabinets location.

Turning Up The Heat: 3 Must for Your Summer Kitchen Remodel.

Summer has arrived and is quickly approaching its end, but it still isn’t too late to start your summer kitchen project to get ready for those busy holidays ahead. The Rugrats are about to go back to school and you are going to have more time on your hands to tackle some projects at home while they are away. The kitchen is the one room in a home that can instantly increase the value of any home, so we recommend you don’t let it go untouched for too long. Here are a few musts for your modern kitchen remodel.

  • Add Space! Living in a cramped kitchen is no way to perform your daily cooking task and certainly is not the way to entertain your guest. Adding space, by knocking down a wall or adding an extension may not always be a viable option for you or your home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add space. Your kitchen could have 10 different layouts, you just have to get creative. You can always make your space feel larger by brightening it up with a white shaker style cabinet and you can utilize the wall space you already have to convert your kitchen into a cooking paradise.
  • Add a large island! A large island or peninsula in your kitchen is absolutely a must have. This is a gathering point for anyone who enters your kitchen, the bigger the better. This area of your kitchen isn’t just somewhere to sit, it can also be used as prep space, a buffet style table, and the underneath cabinetry adds a tremendous amount of storage space.
  • An appliance garage. You don’t always have to stop your cabinetry where the back splash meets it. Extend your cabinetry all the way down to your countertops for even more increased storage. This will allow you to keep some of your larger amenities out of your base cabinets and hidden on your countertop. No more bending over to pick up that heavy mixer!

All of these musts are to help make your kitchen the best possible space it can be, weather its adding more space to gather with friends and family or adding more reachable storage to increase the productivity of your daily cooking, you certainly can’t go wrong.

John Morgan, Jr.

Check out St. Louis’ Premium Cabinets

Call us today at  314-499-8800  to schedule an appointment.

7 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Kitchen

Kitchens are one of the rooms in your home, which make your house special and unique. Kitchens are a place we gather with friends and family and cook our daily meals. Shouldn’t it be a room you are proud of? Here are some signs that it is time to upgrade your space.

  • Not enough space for your family or company:

Kitchens are the heart of the home, it’s where we spend our time cooking and eating and it’s also a space where we like to entertain our guest. If your kitchen is too small to do any of these then it may be time to update and expand or rearrange. Renovations can be simple or very extensive, but if your space isn’t working then it is probably time to change it up.

  • Cleaning is a hassle:

Cleaning in itself is already a hassle, if anyone else tells your otherwise run in the opposite direction, because they are crazy. Cleaning doesn’t have to be such a hassle. In today’s kitchen markets there are so many new options for kitchen finishes and appliances that are much easier to clean and keep clean. Don’t spend another minute cleaning the grout on your tile countertop, call a friend, ask to borrow their sledge hammer, and go to town.

  • Outdated appliances:

This is an easy one to detect, but a hard one to justify. For most of us as long as your appliance work efficiently and look fine you are probably happy, but what most people don’t see is that simple appliance changes can really update the look, storage and functionality of your kitchen. Appliances that are even so much as ten years old could be considered outdated with how far technology has come.

  • Lack of counter space:

Counter space is an underrated commodity in homes today. Counterpace is key in any kitchen whether you are using it for prep space, storage space, or somewhere to put the snacks for that party, its all-important. Adding more cabinets to support a counter top may not always be an option, but improving your storage inside the cabinets you have can help give your more space by eliminating the clutter on the countertops. Pullouts and dividers can be installed in any cabinet to help get you organized.

  • Stained, scratched or cracked flooring:

The options out there for flooring today seem limitless and you really can’t go wrong with any of them, although I would suggest choosing a surface that compliments the existing finishes in your home. Choose a floor that suits your lifestyle. If you have large pets maybe don’t choose a hardwood and go for a tile or if you can’t stand the cool touch of tile you could opt for an engineered or hybrid flooring that are both durable and functional.

  • Not enough light:

We aren’t in the stone ages anymore so please stop cooking in your candle lit dungeon. Lighting can be a cheap and easy fix to making your space feel new and fresh. Dark spaces feel small and gloomy, brightening up your space will make it feel larger and will give you the ability to add a finish to your space that suits your style.

  • Thinking of selling your home:

If you are thinking of selling your home with a kitchen that belongs in an episode of The Brady Bunch then stop right there. Invest some money into your home whether its new everything of just some simple fixes, it will all pay off for you in the long run. Most home buyers today are looking for something move in ready and are willing to pay a premium for that. By investing some money into your kitchen you could see a greater return on the sale of your home, allowing you to use that equity to invest in your next home.

Make your house a home again by upgrading your outdated kitchen, give yourself the space to entertain again and enjoy those moments with friends and family, give yourself the space to stay clean and organized, and add those finishes that make your space unique and special to your lifestyle. Make your kitchen the room in your house that you can truly be proud of.

 

Check out St. Louis’ Premium Cabinets

Call us today at  314-499-8800  to schedule an appointment.

Re-Facing Versus Replacing

10 Reasons to Re-place vs. Re-face

You have grown tired of your old “golden oak “cabinets from 1982. They need to go, but what to do? Re-face or Re-place? Decisions…decisions…decisions…

Maybe you have been told re-facing will be less time and money. Sometimes, that is the case. Sometimes not.

Here are 10 reasons re-placing may be the better option.

  1. Costs as much to reface as replace.
  2. Your 40 year old cabinets are in great shape inside and out. Really?
  3. Paying for labor when you reface, paying for cabinets when you replace
  4. Bigger mess in home during refacing. Trust me on this one.
  5. Many more interior cabinet options today, then when your kitchen was installed.
  6. Fixing problems (leaks, etc.) not just covering them up.
  7. Layout can be changed to reflect current lifestyle, tastes, needs, wants, etc.
  8. And no, it does not necessarily cost more to change your existing bad layout.
  9. More availability of finishes, styles, etc. when you replace.
  10. To summarize; if you could paint your 20 year old car, or buy a new one for the same price, what would you do.

If you need more convincing, go on-line to businesses that do re-facing and read the comments. I have one “mega national chain” on my news feed with some very un-happy clients who opted for re-facing. Many have an issue with veneer peeling off and having to replace old cabinets after all, which costs even more.

At Premium Cabinets, we want to educate our clients, so they can make the best decision for their family, their finances and their life style.  After all we want our clients to always,  “Love where they Live!”

Leslie Allison

Premium Cabinet Studio

9214 Nieman Rd

Overland Park, KS  66214

‘A Custom Look Without the Custom Price!’

Preparing for a Kitchen Remodel

So you think you want to tackle a kitchen remodel? The first thing that needs to be planned is the budget.  When working with clients, sometimes they are reluctant to share exactly what their budget is.

It makes a huge difference in getting the look and quality that you expect.  Here are a few things to take into consideration:

  • The first is what can you afford? On average the kitchen is the most expensive room in the home and kitchens sell homes. Call your local realtor if you need some advice on your project. Think about how you will pay for your remodel? Home equity loans are usually the source, but often retailers will offer financing. Savings, credit cards work a tax refund or if a dearly departed loved one left you a “little something”.
  • How long are you going to live there?  If this is your “forever home” design it the way you want it.  If 5 years or less, keep it general enough to appeal to the masses.
  • Is your neighborhood modest or up-scale? You don’t want to have a gourmet chef’s kitchen in a middle-class neighborhood. If so you will lose money.  Be careful not to over improve.
  • Know the cost break down. Labor will cost about 20-35% of remodel costs. The kitchen typically is the most expensive room in a home with cabinets being the biggest chunk of it.  Here is a breakdown of the costs on average:
    • 35% cabinets
    • 20% labor
    • 20% appliances
    • 10% windows
    • 5% fixtures
    • 3% fittings
    • 7% other

Always tell your designer / remodeler what your budget is.  Never be embarrassed to share that number with them. They should be aware, so they can give you the look you want, with the function you need, all within your means.

After all, they want you to be happy and “Love where you Live!

 

Leslie Allison

Premium Cabinet Studio

Overland Park, KS

Kansas City

Love Where You Live

The kitchen is the heart of your home.  Cabinets need form and function.  They can be a major expense when remodeling your kitchen.  With thoughtful planning and design, you’ll enjoy them for years.  A few things to consider:

Kitchens sell Homes!  The Kitchen is not the room to “skip on.”  According to Home Advisor most home owners spend between $11,194 and $28,646 on a kitchen remodel.  You can expect to recoup 67% to 93% of your remodel cost depending on your local real estate market.

What’s Your Type?

Typical cabinet types: stock, semi-custom, and custom.

Stock cabinets start around $70 per linear foot and usually have limited colors and styles.  They are sold assembled or RTA (Ready to Assemble) and immediately taken home for installation.  Often they are made of MDF (particle board) to keep the cost down.

Semi-custom cabinets cost $150 to $250 per linear foot and can be configured to your space, allowing a more precise fit for your kitchen.  Lead time for these cabinets may be 4-6 weeks delivery.  These may be made of MDF (particle board) or solid wood.  Be certain to ask exactly what the cabinets are made of.

Custom cabinets are usually the most expensive option with costs of $500 and up per linear foot.  These could take 2-3 months depending on the cabinet maker schedule.  This option includes added features and exact specifications.

Features to Look For:

Solid Wood Construction

For durability and moisture resistance, components including shelves and drawers should be furniture grade wood such as birch, maple and cherry.  “All Wood” can be MDF (particle board) be certain to ask what the cabinets are made of.

Dove-tail Construction

Dovetail Joints create a strong, square, true, long lasting joint.

Soft Close Drawers and Doors

The drawer/door is eased to the closed position, gently and quietly by hydraulics.

Full Extension Drawers and Full Overlay Doors

Many cabinet drawers only extend about 80%.   Quality cabinet drawers extend completely.  Full Overlay Doors simply make your cabinets/kitchen more attractive.

Hidden 6 Way Adjustable Hinges

Cabinets with no visible hinges that can be easily adjusted in seconds to perfectly line-up the doors.

A little research to compare manufacturers, retail sites, showrooms, websites and catalogs will save you time and money.  Above all, trust your taste.  It’s your kitchen and it should complement your personality, your family needs and the rest of your home, so choose what works for you.

 

Leslie Allison
Premium Cabinet Studio
Overland Park, KS
Kansas City