Tag Archive for: maple cabinets

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.

How to Make Your Kitchen Cabinets Attractive

Are you curious about what you add on your kitchen cabinet to make it more attractive?  A while back people used put microwave, electric can opener and much more placed under the wall cabinets as a form of art, but these days everything has changed and now you can attach maybe your smart phone and tablet plus other added decorations to hide unnecessary outlets like electric wires and so forth. Below are attractive add-ons that could work well in your cabinet, check it out:

Lighting: This will work for you especially if you are a minimalist, you do not have to leave your cabinets clear and void. Under cabinet lighting illuminates the area for food prep, particularly during evenings.

The most appropriate lighting to use is the LED strip light, keep in mind to always consult with your electrician for the most suitable lighting application because they keep on evolving over time.

Power: Likewise, you should try to make your outlet inconspicuous; it does not make sense spending all your money installing the perfect backsplash tile with unattractive power cords creeping out.

An under cabinet power outlet strips is definitely the way to go, nonetheless, seeing your electric cords hanging down from underneath your countertops is not attractive.

Tablet mount: An under cabinet tablet mount works out for anyone who is on the move, you might want to watch a cooking video, check your emails or have a personal Skype call. It is important to remember that if you have multiple devices that you want installed in your kitchen, always check out the lighting system so that they could use the same power outlet, it makes your kitchen seem so modern and technological.

Knife block: Consequently, this adds a little oomph to your cabinet, whoever came up with the knife block is a genius! It is slim and convenient; through the touch of a finger you can just swing the knife in and out.

Jar opening: You do not need to struggle with opening your bottles and jars, a jar opening is easy to install and it works best with people who have arthritis or if you need assistance with opening tough lids.

Stemware rack: Under the cabinet is exactly what you need for this stemware design, a perfect gift for anyone who like hanging out in the kitchen, it is functional and store a large number of glasses on a small amount of space. Nonetheless, if you do not use glasses more often you won’t need these beauties as they attract grease and dust.

Bottle holder: Subsequently, this wine bottles work well with the stemware but it should be at a range where the bottles will not feel the kitchen heat, the perfect way to optimize the space underneath your wall cabinet.

In conclusion, there are some ways that you might have used to make your kitchen more attractive and beautiful which you might want to share, feel free to contact Premium Cabinets.

5 Things to Consider When Designing Your Dream Kitchen

Top 5 things to Consider When Designing Your Dream Kitchen

  1. Apron/ farmhouse sink

  • Apron sinks can add a great decorative look to your kitchen. Many companies are creating and designing these sinks to fit in with traditional, modern, and contemporary kitchens with many different colors and materials to choose from.

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  1. Grey

  • Grey is one of the hottest trends in kitchen design today but don’t forget that trends come and go. If you love the idea of grey cabinets then maybe consider accenting your white cabinets with a grey island or vice versa.

  1. Glass Accents

  • Don’t be afraid to show off what’s inside of your cabinets, try accenting a few cabinets throughout the kitchen with a glass feature.

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  1. Built in amenities

  • When designing your dream kitchen try to remember how it’s going to function on a day to day basis. Built in amenities, such as trash can units, nested cutlery, or even spice racks can really help out with the functionality of your new space.

 

(Trash Can Unit)

(Trash Can Unit)

(Nested Cutlery)

(Nested Cutlery)

(Spice Rack)

(Spice Rack)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Island

  • The island is the center piece of your kitchen. This is where family and friends will gather, so don’t be afraid to give some extra attention to detail when designing your island. Having an Island is also a great opportunity for extra storage and additional seating in your space.

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Thank you,

John Morgan, Jr.

Premium Cabinets

tel:314-499-8800

PremiumCabinets.com/st-louis

 

Want to Sell Your Home for More Money? Here’s 5 Ways to Make It Happen

(One of those ways is of course to upgrade your kitchen)

 

A kitchen serves as both the place we have our food and also as the family’s gathering point. We do not only eat but also we have fun. Consequently, it is crucial that every member of the family feels comfortable with the interior of the kitchen.

Good kitchen cabinets should be all-wood having soft close drawers. In fact, kitchen cabinets define the features of a kitchen.  And when considering a kitchen remodel, the cost of kitchen cabinets and countertops is about 50% of the average kitchen remodeling project cost. Therefore, it is important to know the  options available.

However, both the aesthetics and functional factors should be considered before embarking on kitchen cabinets remodel.

The first step in kitchen cabinets remodel is choosing a style, Victorian or contemporary simplicity. Before you decide a cabinet style, you need to consider the overall theme and décor of the home and ensure that your choice should complement the existing theme of the entire house.

The second step is to consider spacing and measurements. Expanding the kitchen or remodeling the existing space will determine how much space you can allocate to the kitchen cabinets.

If not professionally or correctly done, a kitchen cabinets remodel can be a big mess and/or head ache. Some people believe that a kitchen cabinets remodel requiring the demolition of the old cabinets and making of new ones, has to be very expensive.

Methods such as cabinets striping, cabinets scraping, cabinets refacing, and cabinets full overlay have been considered efficient and inexpensive ways to remodel the kitchen cabinets. Quite a large number of people firmly believe in those methods and adopted them in remodeling their kitchens.

However, there is another option that is the same price or less, less strenuous, more convenient, and time-efficient than the methods highlighted above. It adds more beauty and value to your kitchen. In fact, the process involves new all-wood cabinets with soft close drawers in the style of your choice.

How can that be.  Traditional logic says that new cabinets will be very expensive.  That was true in the past.  But, these days we have  new options.  Manufactured cabinets are doing to custom cabinets what the manufacturing process has been doing to every other industry for years.  Creating quality products at great value.

The remodeling option in question is simply kitchen cabinets replacement. Yes, REPLACEMENT. Replacing your existing cabinets is far more profitable than going through repairs and refinishing. However, there is a secret to this method, and that is PREMIUM CABINETS.

Premium Cabinets is a company that specializes in the sale of highest quality cabinets at the best price. It is incredible that you can get brand new kitchen cabinets at our company for less than people can reface or refinish them for you.

How is this possible?

  1. We work directly with the factory; therefore, we eliminate the middlemen and their markups.

  2. We keep our overhead low.

  3. The cabinets are made to common sizes avoiding the high cost of labor for the production process.

Cabinets not only increase the value but also help a home sell faster. At Premium Cabinets, we guarantee the best value in cabinets today. Contact us on at www.premiumcabinets.com.

 

Thank you,

Randy Lorensen

Premium Cabinets

512-731-8778

randy@premiumcabinets.com

www.premiumcabinets.com

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