Kitchen Cabinets are The Soul Of Your Kitchen

Kitchen Cabinets are The Soul Of Your Kitchen

 by: Mike Yeager

Kitchen cabinets reflect the heart and soul of the homeowner. The cabinets you have in your kitchen have the greatest impact on a kitchen's look. They come in many shapes and sizes as well as in a rainbow of colors. Only your imagination and your bank account limit the color and design of your cabinets. You can buy cabinets pre-made at your local home supply store or have them custom built.

You can also give your kitchen a fresh, new look with a makeover for your older kitchen cabinets. If you're happy with your existing cabinet layout, and the cabinets are still in good condition, then cabinet re-facing is an alternative to replacing them. Cabinet re-facing can be accomplished in a number of ways.

Kitchen cabinet doors can be sanded and re-painted using any color and texture you choose or stripped using a variety of chemical products available at any home supply store. It is always important to read the label and precautions on any chemical stripper prior to using them. Many of these products can cause serious health problems if the instructions are not followed.

When choosing new kitchen cabinets it is important to pay attention to type of wood used and the quality of the construction. The look of your kitchen cabinets will also be reflected in the hardware you choose from the hinges to the knobs. Once you finish all the choices and have them in place you will enjoy them for years to come.

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-kitchen-cabinets-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Cleaning Out The Cabinets in Your Kitchen

Cleaning out and finding space in your kitchen cabinets can be a hard, trying experience. There seems to be so many items, and just no where left to put them!

There are several methods you can incorporate into your kitchen to save shelf space, store items easier, and save time searching for the right thing. And there are also a few basic pointers I will give you along the way.

The first thing is to group like mined items together. Be sure all your spices and herbs are in the same location, and also that your pans are together, ect. Unfortunately, the kitchen is the one area of the household where the use it or lose it rule doesn't always apply. Meaning, in most other areas of the house, if you don't use something frequently, or have a purpose for it even if that purpose is aesthetic, you need to throw it away or donate it. However, in the kitchen there are a whole lot of things you may not use frequently but will need to save, such as herbs, spices, specialty pans, canned items, and more.

So now that you have clustered items together, now what? Well, you figure out which "groups" will need the most space. Start by placing the largest groups in the largest available spaces, and working your way down. At this time you may need to incorporate several space saving techniques.

The first technique is what I call the Martha Stewart technique. This is where if you have the money and resources, you go out at this time and buy all those specialty gadgets for saving space, such as lazy suzans, expandable drawer inserts and shelf racks, wall hooks, and such. This can be a very attractive and simple way to achieve organization...but I am assuming you are reading this because you know how to buy space, you just don't know how to do it with what you have, right?

So the next technique is what I call the easy-find box method. This method works particularly well with spices, herbs, flavorings, and small jars. Find a box that will hold the group of items you need to store. Shoeboxes and gift boxes work well for this purpose. Take all the items in a group, and label each one on the lid using small yard sale type sticker labels stating what they are. Place all the items in the group in the box selected in alphabetical order. Then store the box, and the next time you need to get something from it you will be able to just take the lid off and quickly locate an item. If you have more than a few of these boxes, I recommend labeling them with magic marker on the side or top to be able to locate certain groups quickly. You can expand upon this idea by decorating the boxes by gluing fabric to them, wrapping them in countertop sticky paper, or whatever else suits your fancy. This method works well for storing any number of things including canned goods and pastas.

The other method we will list is the painting method. This is a great method to use if you are a creative type, and also if you have children who have difficulty putting things where they should. Simply acquire several different colors of paint ( the surface depends upon what type paint. Please use your best judgment), and a paintbrush. After grouping your items, look at and evaluate your space available. Make out a map of sorts, and be sure to leave room for future accommodations. Once you have decided in your mind or on a sheet of paper where everything will go you can do one of the two following things. First you can simply paint lines around the areas where certain groups will sit. For instance, draw a square line in the corner of the cabinet exactly where your spices will be. You can ,make the lines straight, wavy, dotted, curly...whatever your imagination desires! Then after letting the paint dry, place the items in their designated areas. The other way of doing this is to paint the entire area in instead of just drawing lines. This can be a lot more challenging, but also a lot prettier. Imagine for a moment, opening a pretty white cabinet with brass handles, and finding the inside painted with four different pastel colors, each having its own group of like minded items. Very pretty indeed! In fact, if you are an artist, you can paint any type of motif or design for a specific category.

Now, while you are doing this there are several things to keep in mind. First, remember to clean out the shelves while you have everything out. Secondly, there will be several things you find that you know won't be used...get rid of them. Thirdly, you probably will find several items that just won't have a category of their own. For this you can make a "misc" box or section, or else place it in a different room or area.

I hope these ideas will help you to create the kitchen of your dreams, and to find things easier in the meantime. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions.

Stephanie Davies is the webmaster and author of http://www.beendreaming.com - a website that focuses on cleaning, organizing, and other homemaking related topics.

Get A New Look In Your Kitchen By Resurfacing Your Kitchen Cabinets

If you are looking for a less expensive way to give your tired old kitchen cabinets a new look then resurfacing them can be a great way to add some zip to your kitchen.

Resurfacing your kitchen cabinets means simply to give a new surface to them. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways - and not all of them have to cost a lot of money!

Typical cabinet refacing or resurfacing needs to be done by a professional. This means replacing cabinets drawer fronts and doors and adding a new veneer to the base cabinet. The choices for refaced cabinets are many - actually you can get any type of wood you want but it can be rather expensive ranging anywhere from $4000 to over $10,000. Refacing your kitchen cabinets can take 2 days to a week depending on how big your kitchen is.

Resurfacing your kitchen cabinets by a professional might seem expensive but it will still save you a bundle over replacing the cabinets. It is a good way to go if your base cabinets are in good condition and very solid and you also don't want to change the layout. On the other hand, if your existing cabinets are of low quality or are not in good condition, this is probably not your best choice.

But what if you don't have $10,000 for cabinet refacing?

Don't worry, there are still several things you can do to make your kitchen cabinets more attractive without spending thousands!

Perhaps the easiest and least expensive way to perk up your old cabinets is to simply paint them. Paint can add a huge change to the look of your kitchen, especially if you are gutsy enough to cover them in a bright splash of color! If you are artistic, you can even paint a design on the cabinet - either freehand or by using stencils. Wouldn't your retro 50's kitchen look cool with aqua cabinets? How about some roosters stenciled on your painted and antiqued cabinets in your country kitchen? Just add some coordinating drawer pulls and knobs and you've got a whole new kitchen for under $500!

Another idea to consider is to remove the cabinet doors. This would look great in a casual cottage style kitchen or even an old fashioned Victorian style. Try lining the shelves with fabric or lace that hangs over the edge. Or you can make curtains to hang instead of the doors or even try to find an old window that might make an interesting door.

If your cabinets aren't organized and you don't want everyone looking at your mess, it's probably best to leave the doors and if you don't want to paint, you could even try wallpapering them. Can't find any wallpaper that suits? Then try applying contact paper. It might be best to stick to a plain pattern and make sure it is washable or you will be sorry later. Remember to prepare the cabinets as you would a wall. You don't have to wallpaper the whole door either, use your imagination and cut out shapes or patterns from the wallpaper and paste it on.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to give your cabinets a whole new look - even simply changing the hardware can do wonders. Just use your own creativity and you'll be sure to have a unique kitchen that fits your own unique style!

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.a-kitchen-decorating-idea.com where you can learn more about kitchen decorating and resurfacing your kitchen cabinets.

Guide To Painting Kitchen Cabinets

One of the quickest and most economical ways to give a tired kitchen a make over is to paint your kitchen cabinets. Applying a coat of light paint to dark wood will not only brighten up a dingy kitchen, it will also give the illusion of more space. It doesn?t matter if your cabinets are wood or veneer, with the proper preparation both surfaces can benefit from the application of good quality paint. Bear in mind that kitchen cabinets take quite a beating ? from sticky little fingers to oil residue from cooking, so the better quality the paint, the longer the paint job will last.

This project can take about three days to complete, so allowing yourself enough time is important. The key to any successful painting job is preparation and when painting cabinets this is most important. Generally, you don?t have to bother with the insides of the cabinets, other than the insides of the doors and maybe the frames, so you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by concentrating on the outer surfaces only.

PREPARATION:

? Remove all doors and hardware.

? Hardware is expensive and very often it can be salvaged rather than replaced. If it has been previously painted, you can soak your hardware in a bucket of paint remover (outside or in the garage ? as the fumes can be dangerous). After a day or so in solution, carefully remove hardware, using rubber gloves, and then soak in a bucket of warm, soapy water. If necessary, you can then give the pieces a quick scrub with a scouring pad. In most cases, the paint will peel right off and your hardware will look brand new.

? Before you begin to apply paint to kitchen cabinets, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned. Washing cabinets with a solution of warm water and TSP will remove most, if not all of the accumulated grease and oils. Allow to dry completely.

? Next, a quick swipe with fine sandpaper (A good fine paper for this project is a 200 to 300) will roughen up the surface, allowing the paint to adhere better.

PAINTING:

? Choose a good quality, washable paint. Kitchens look brighter and cleaner when the cupboards are finished with a semi to high gloss paint, but that is entirely up to your own preference.

? Lay the cabinet doors on a flat surface in a room with plenty of ventilation. Paint the outer edges with a brush then use a roller to finish the job. Allow to dry according to manufacturers? recommendation. When thoroughly dry, turn over and paint the other side. You will definitely need two coats of paint, and if you have the time and energy, three is better.

ASSEMBLY:

? When paint is completely dry, you can then re-assemble the hardware install the cabinets and your kitchen will look brand new.

Daniel Roshard is a designer fascinated by interior design, especially the making of better indoor spaces. Daniel currently writes reviews and tips about Kitchen Design and Kitchen Cabinets for ZupaTips.com.

Using File Cabinets To Get Organized

The best way to organize your office and run it more efficiently is to set up a good filing system ? file cabinets can help you do this, but simply running out to your local office supply store to pick up some cabinets isn?t necessarily going to solve all your filing dilemmas. It?s important to make a selection based on more than just the number of drawers ? there are other factors to consider, such as office space, size of your documents, and quality of construction.

The filing cabinet you are probably most familiar with is the vertical file cabinet. This type of cabinet usually has 2 to 5 drawers and can house letter or legal size documents facing the front of the drawers.

For an office that lacks wall space, vertical file cabinets are most likely the ideal choice. Vertical file cabinets don?t hold as many files, but they don?t take up as much wall space and offer drawer sizes between 15 and 28 inches.

The lateral file cabinet is another choice. With more width than traditional filing cabinets, they give you the option of storing files front to back or side to side in the drawers. Because they?re not as deep as vertical cabinets, you can also use them as wall partitions or credenzas.

This type of filing system offers more flexibility because you can store legal and letter size files in the cabinet at the same time ? vertical file cabinets only hold one or the other. Overall, lateral cabinets have room for more documents.

What to look for

To find quality file cabinets that will last a long time, you have to look for a few specific features. In the first place, take a look at the drawers? suspension system. Make sure that the drawers can open and close smoothly even when filled with the weight of many files.

Safety is also a concern when it comes to choosing high quality file cabinets. Cabinets with a mechanism designed to discourage tipping when all the drawers are open is an example ? look for counterweighted drawers and internal locking devices that only let you open one drawer at a time.

If you plan on making good use of your file cabinets, it?s better to spend a little more money up front for durable cabinets than to keep dishing out every time you have to replace a damaged unit. Higher grades of steel are thicker and more durable, which means cabinets constructed out of this material will be able to endure more usage over a longer period of time.

File cabinets are essential if you want to organize your office and improve time management - they are definitely a worthwhile purchase.

By Katerina Mitrou sponsored by http://www.officefurniture2go.com/ who sells quality office furniture such as desks, file cabinets: http://www.officefurniture2go.com/ and more. Please link to this site when using this article.

A Guide To Great Kitchen Cabinets And Countertops

Are your kitchen cabinets and counter tops an eye sore? Or maybe plain jane? Do you have a kitchen which looks very clean and organized but when the cabinets open all the things inside start tumbling out? Do you have a new house that needs a handsome kitchen to go along with it?

Once of the main focus in planning the interiors of the house is the kitchen. This area is always given much consideration since a lot of important things are done in the kitchen. So you need to look at your concept very well looking particularly on budget and over all look.

Before you buy or have your kitchen cabinets and counter tops done the way you like consider a few things such as: - How small or huge is my area for the kitchen? - Do I need a lot of cabinets? - What will I put inside the cabinets (so you will know what kind of cabinet organizers to put inside) - Should I consider high end materials? - What main colors and theme will I want to use for my kitchen? - Will I be cooking a lot here? Or will just be heating a lot of frozen items in the microwave? - How many cooks stay in the house? - Is having an island in my kitchen more functional for me? - Can I afford moderately high end pieces? - What type of designs do I want for my cabinets? - What kitchen equipments will I use (ex. Stoves and Ovens)? - What materials do I want to see in my kitchen (ex. Marble or granite)? - How do I want my knobs to look like? - Do I want my hinges to be visible? - Should drawer slides be considered? - What type of sink will I put in my kitchen? Will it match the overall theme? - How tall do I want my counters to be? - How high should my cabinets be? - Is my counter top durable? Scratch free? Presentable? Is it safe for children when they around and hit the edges? - Is my main focus for the kitchen just for aesthetics or will I actually need to use the area? - Do I need shelves or do I want my shelves inside the cabinets?

A lot of kitchen cabinets are available on the market today all you just need to know and think of is how you want to your kitchen to mainly look like and most importantly you need to consider your budget. You don't to have the high end pieces just to have a posh looking kitchen you just need to have a good eye for nice and beautiful things and you will be on your way to that great looking kitchen.

There are cabinets and counter tops that are already almost finished and will just be placed in your kitchen you can consider this or you may want something done exactly as your 'vision kitchen'. You may also need to consider if you need someone else to do it for you or if you can do it yourself.

If you have old kitchen cabinets and counter tops you can consider to have it remodeled, replaced, refaced or refinished (if you are on a very tight budget). Remember to have good shelving in your cabinets if you have old ones that are about to collapse change them now and don't wait for the day you precious plates increase in number but n small fragments. There are great cabinet organizers available on the market today consider them and see which will work best with your needs. Replace your old hinges specially if your cabinet doors are falling apart or have been there for a century already.

Remember good planning and budgeting is the key for your perfect dream kitchen. Your kitchen cabinets and counter tops are the focal point in every kitchen it must always look presentable, unique, simple and organized. So research well and put your dreams into reality. After all you will be spending a lot of time and money to put it together and another long hour using it.

Get that dream kitchen. Get the right kitchen cabinets and counter tops.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://cabinets.home-webzone.com/ where you can learn more about cabinets for the kitchen and how to make yours look like a million bucks!

Kitchen Cabinets - A growing market for the perfect kitchen?

The kitchen cabinet is simply a box with a door, usually made of wood that is affixed to the wall of the kitchen. They are prevalent in the kitchen due to the need for storage space and the fact that they can also be stood on the floor and the top affixed with a work surface, maximising storage efficiency.

Kitchen cabinets are produced by a massive variety of companies. Famous companies exist in Canada and Sweden but shopping for kitchen utilities can be done anywhere, so long as you take caution to shop around for a good price. It is becoming prevalent for people to buy things like cabinets in kit form and construct them at home, making transport easier, and simply requiring a little DIY skill. Cabinets of a huge variety of designs and sizes can be found in this form or ready made.

You can find base cabinets, built for the floor, with drawers fixed above the cabinet, two cabinets side by side, tall thin cabinets for kitchens with low floor space, and of course wall mounted cabinets of various shapes. Triangular cabinets that fit snugly into a corner make maximum use of the space and give the shape of the kitchen a smoother look. Some companies make two cabinets one above the other, with a space in between making a small shelf.

To make your kitchen fit your ideals, many cabinet companies produce a variety of special moulding strips for the corners of your cabinets, and panel covers in a different colours. If you can't find the cabinet you want in a certain colour, you can just customise one with these new covers, or new feet, handles, and plinths, also meaning that the height from the floor is changeable. When buying any cabinets or covers make sure that they are made from durable woods and will be easy to wipe down. Some companies even allow you to order samples, so that you can envision the perfect kitchen without any risk.

John Gibb is the owner of kitchen cabinets resources , For more information on kitchen cabinets check out http://www.kitchen-cabinet-guidance3k.info