Home Remodeling Guide >>  Kitchen Guide >>  10 Easy Steps to Your Dream Kitchen

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Cabinetry Basics

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), cabinetry accounts for about 40% of the cost of a typical kitchen remodeling project. Being a highly visible element in the kitchen the cabinets you select will largely define the look and style of the entire room. Good cabinetry will provide you with an assortment of organizing options and make your kitchen more efficient.

Kitchen cabinet doors can add to the beauty of your kitchen. The appearance of your kitchen cabinets rests on the quality of your cabinets. You can therefore completely change the look of your kitchen simply by changing the doors of your kitchen cabinets. Good kitchen cabinet design is also important if you want to get the most storage use possible out of your available storage space, and this should also be the goal in the design of any kitchen.

Cabinets can be grouped in four main categories depending on the way they are manufactured and sold to the consumer.

Custom cabinets, as the name indicates, are not limited in terms of size or style, rather they are built to the designer’s specifications from scratch. Generally, custom built cabinets are the most expensive and the remodeling project can take a longer time to complete.

Semi-custom cabinets are made to measure by a large cabinet company at a price that is typically lower than what a local cabinet making shop would charge for custom cabinets. Heights, widths, and depths of the cabinets can be modified to your specific needs, and the design options, styles, and color choices are virtually unlimited. Because of their versatility and reasonable pricing, semi-custom kitchen cabinets are the most popular choice of cabinetry among today's homeowners. Our company, Barefoot Remodeling Inc., offers homeowners an amazing selection of semi-custom kitchen cabinets from four leading manufactures in the kitchen cabinetry industry: Fieldstone Cabinetry, Canyon Creek Cabinetry, and Aristokraft Cabinetry. Each one of these manufacturers is well known for the high quality of their products, solid cabinetry construction, wide range of customization options, a truly amazing variety of door styles and finishes, and reliable customer support.

Stock cabinets are pre-assembled and mass produced. They come in a variety of standard sizes but with a limited choice of colors, styles, and finishes. The quality of stock cabinets varies depending on the manufacturer. Stock cabinets are often available on the spot where they are sold or can be delivered quickly.

Knockdown cabinets are the most economical choice. They are stock cabinets that require assembly and are usually shipped flat. Some of the knockdown cabinets come unfinished. The variety of styles is limited but you can add personality to your cabinets with a special finish and carefully selected hardware.

Kitchen Cabinet Wood Types

Kitchen cabinets can be made from dozens of woods including Oak, Maple, Pine, Cherry, Hickory, Poplar, Alder and Birch. Hickory and Oak are the hardest and the heaviest. Cherry, Birch and Maple are considered to be well suited to cabinetry. Less expensive and more plentiful woods such as Alder and Poplar work best with glazed finishes used in creating an 'antique' look. Pine is a soft wood that can be more prone to dents and scratches.