Kitchen Cabinet Terms You Should Know

1. Kitchen Cabinet Doors

If a homeowner desires to change the mood or atmosphere of their kitchen, a quick way to accomplish this change is to replace the cabinet doors on all the kitchen cabinets. It is amazing the amount of difference it can make in a kitchen where nothing has been changed other than simply having new doors on the cabinets. If the cabinets are made from a dark, somber wood, giving the kitchen as a whole a dimmer and more oppressive feeling, a complete transformation can occur when the doors are replaced with a fresh, bright blonde wood. Suddenly the kitchen feels open, airy, and inviting. Conversely, if the cabinets are all pressed white fiberboard, making the whole room feel like a motel kitchen or a child’s dressing room, then a darker, rich grained oak or maple can transform the room into an altogether more elegant place.

2. Refacing vs. Repainting Cabinet Boxes

While pretty much everyone understands what it means to repaint old cabinet boxes, so the boxes will match better with new doors, not everyone is familiar with the idea of cabinet refacing. Kitchen cabinet refacing is simply taking strips of a self adhesive refacing material and applying it to the outside of the old cabinet boxes, again with the intention of matching the old cabinet boxes to the new cabinet doors. Do it yourself (DIY) kitchen refacing has many advantages over more traditional painting of the old cabinet boxes. For one thing, the process is less messy and almost always quicker than painting the cabinet boxes, as there is no need to wait for paint to dry in between coats and nothing to spill or accidentally drip on clothes or countertops. Also, because refacing supplies are generally made out of the same material as the new kitchen cabinet doors (assuming that they are ordered from the same place), there is no need to search for precisely the right color to match the new doors.

Another benefit of refacing instead of painting the old cabinet boxes is that, because refacing is so much less messy and there is no danger of getting paint onto the dishes, cabinets only have to be emptied, if the homeowner who is completing the projects feels that it would be easier to do so. This means that the remodeling project can be completed over the course of a couple of weekends, and the kitchen is still usable during the time when the project is unfinished. Projects which would have seemed impossible to do just by repainting the cabinet boxes, such as kitchens where the homeowners would like to go from an old, dark wood to a lighter oak or other blonde wood, become simple jobs of doing a little refacing. The old materials do not show through the new, refaced surfaces, so there is no need to apply coat after coat of paint trying to hide the old wood. For the customer who feels that painting in and of itself is something of an enjoyable process, or who wants to have a more custom feel to the kitchen, there are unfinished doors available which the customer can then paint to his or her exact specifications.

3. Replacing the Major Kitchen Appliances

If a kitchen really needs a whole new update, especially if the home is a couple of decades old and very little has changed in the years since it was built, a couple may decide to replace some or all the major kitchen appliances. This is becoming more and more common for two reasons. First, there have been great advances in energy efficiency over the past several years, and updating appliances to these more efficient models can save homeowners significant amounts of money on their energy bills, and second, in a fluctuating home buying market, modern appliances can be a concrete way to add value to a home. New appliances can include a dishwasher, a stove, a refrigerator, or even a toaster oven, convection oven, or microwave oven. All these appliances are available in a variety of finishes, so the homeowners doing the remodeling can decide upon a finish that perfectly matches their style, whether it is a simple white finish or an ultramodern stainless steel finish.

Of course, changing the look of all the major appliances in a kitchen can drastically change the overall appearance of the kitchen. Most people who are planning on changing their major appliances are also planning to do a more complete overhaul of their kitchen, so it is a good idea to select the new appliances first. That way, the new cabinets can be chosen specifically to match or to go along with the new appliances.

4. Small Changes can Make a Big Difference

Homeowners who would like to update their kitchen cabinets, but do not want to significantly change the color of the cabinets, or do not have time to attempt a kitchen cabinet refacing project should be pleased to know that there are ways to give their kitchen cabinets a fresh new look. Changing the door handles and drawer pulls is one small step that can make a surprisingly big difference in the overall look and feel of the kitchen. Additionally, the homeowner can choose to hang new doors on the existing cabinet boxes. Choosing new doors that are the same or a similar color as the current doors eliminates the need for repainting or refacing the existing cabinet boxes, and simply by changing the style of the doors, the kitchen can get a whole new feel. Cabinets can be given a streamlined and contemporary feel with straight edged Shaker type doors, or made to feel more elegant and luxurious with the simple addition of a routed cathedral arch in the door. Alternatively, cabinets which house fine china or other attractive household wares can be replaced with glass fronted cabinet doors, turning that section of the kitchen into a display area.

5. Finding Resources for DIY Remodeling and Refacing

Homeowners who do not necessarily have the time to complete a full kitchen remodeling or cabinet refacing job can nonetheless still make small changes which can improve the overall look and feel of their kitchen. In addition to traditional, stand alone home improvement stores, there are many excellent websites available to assist the DIY home remodeler. Some of these are sites designed specifically for the kitchen area, or for cabinet replacements or cabinet refacing, and these can be great resources for DIY information. Also, sites which are designed to sell a selection of cabinet doors, refacing supplies, drawer pulls, and other kitchen remodeling necessities can be the perfect place for homeowners thinking about remodeling, but unsure about the expense or time involved.

6. Easing in to the Remodeling Process

The best option for consumers who have not yet made up their minds about whether they should remodel their kitchen is to determine their dream kitchen. The customer should look through catalogs and websites to think about what they would do if they had an unlimited budget and ample amounts of time in which to complete the remodeling process. The “dream kitchen” can then be considered as a blueprint for the actual kitchen remodeling project. Once the homeowners begin research on what is actually entailed in a do it yourself kitchen refacing project, and what the real costs are, they are likely to be pleasantly surprised by its low cost and relative ease of completion.

Customers who are still unsure about whether they can afford the time or money to remodel their own kitchen can do a quick project to determine what a big difference a small change can make. The homeowners can do this by purchasing the door handles and drawer pulls which they would want on their dream cabinets. These items are generally very inexpensive and can almost always be installed throughout the entire kitchen in less than an hour. This simple change of kitchen cabinet hardware can make such a huge and positive difference in the appearance of the kitchen that in almost all cases, the homeowners decide to go through with the entire cabinet remodel. Once that first step has been completed, and the consumers have had a chance to browse through the website to see how well other peoples’ projects have turned out, and how simple and inexpensive DIY cabinet refacing can be, there is no stopping them.

7. Cabinet Refacing Does Not Have to be Expensive

There is a general misconception that remodeling a kitchen is always exorbitantly expensive, and that the cost of even simple steps like changing the kitchen cabinets can be prohibitive. This can certainly be true, especially if the homeowners hire a custom cabinet installer who will tell them that they must completely rip out their old cabinets and replace them in order to get a fresh new look in the kitchen. Meanwhile, all the dishes and small appliances that were previously in the cabinets are scattered throughout the house, and the kitchen becomes essentially off limits for a week or so. However, smart homeowners have learned that they really can do projects like these on their own. Do it yourself cabinet refacing is actually fairly simple, and only a fraction of the cost of having to replace old cabinets with new custom made ones. More and more, people are turning to DIY kitchen remodeling as a way to attain the perfect kitchen without breaking the bank.

8. Other Options for Inexpensive Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Another excellent and inexpensive option for do it yourself refacing is for homeowners to purchase unfinished cabinet doors and stain or paint them themselves. This is a great solution for homeowners who wish to save money on their remodeling project, or those who would like to achieve a custom look for their kitchen cabinet doors without paying custom prices. Unfinished doors can be painted in whatever color or style the homeowner chooses, whether it is to complement an existing kitchen style scheme or a remodeling project in the making. Another fun and creative idea is to purchase a couple of inexpensive unfinished doors and use them for cabinets in a child’s bathroom or bedroom. The child can then paint or draw on these cabinet doors, and when he or she is older, the original doors can be replaced, so the home maintains its attractive appearance. Alternatively, the unfinished doors could be painted with magnetic or chalkboard paint, so the child has these surfaces to draw on and play with again and again. This can be an excellent way to preserve high quality cabinet doors while children are still young and inclined to want to “decorate” every surface within reach.

9. Do it Yourself Kitchen Remodeling and Refacing

One of the most surprising things that homeowners discover when they first begin thinking and learning about remodeling a kitchen themselves is how deceptively easy it is. Companies which sell refacing supplies almost always have resources available for the person attempting a do it yourself cabinet refacing project, and indeed it is probably best to avoid purchasing refacing supplies from companies that don’t make this information available. There are step-by-step instructions, videos, and helpful hints located in many places on the Internet, and lots of troubleshooting resources for anyone who has difficulties during the kitchen cabinet refacing process. One of the nicest things about undertaking a DIY kitchen refacing job is that the cabinets themselves do not have to be removed, and the refacing can and should be done on one cabinet at a time, so the kitchen is still usable while the project remains unfinished. Overall, the process of DIY kitchen cabinet refacing and remodeling is a surprisingly easy one, and more homeowners are discovering every day how quick and inexpensive it is to give their kitchens a makeover.