Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips »

Choosing Cabinets

Feb 212013

Whether building a new home or remodeling, choosing cabinetry is a major decision. Cabinets are a large portion of the kitchen or bath budget and a long term investment and commitment. After determining your layout, the next steps are selecting custom or stock cabinets, wood species, finish, door style and features. Let’s take a look at the five areas you will need to consider.

cabinets3

Custom, semi-custom or stock?

custom cabinets – can be made in any configuration, any design, and any size; highest cost
semi-custom cabinets - built when ordered so have the ability to make minor adjustments on standard cabinets including height and depth; universal sizes, more colors and finish options than stock; cost may be comparable to higher end stock choices
stock cabinets - as name implies, in stock to take home today; good quality, many style options; fewer features; affordable

cabinets2 cabinets1

Wood Species
The most common choices of wood are maple, cherry, oak, birch, and hickory, though other options are available as shown below.

Maple – light to medium color; smooth, even grain
Cherry - red tint; fine grain
Oak – color variations from red or white oak; strong grain pattern
Birch – light color; smooth grain
Hickory – contrast of light and dark color with knots; straight to wavy grain

Finishes Want maple cabinets a little darker? Think about stains. Want lighter cabinets that are not quite so stark? Try a glaze. Want to bring out the details of the woodwork? Stains and glazes are both options. Kitchen cabinets are trending to darker finishes such as walnut, mahogany or chestnut but it really is your personal preference. Here’s an overview:

Stain – base color, covers evenly
Glaze – meant to settle in crevices and corners to accentuate styling features; can be used over stain or paint
Paint – white is the most popular color but other colors can create a very custom space
Mixed finishes – use of multiple finishes, such as stained and painted cabinets, in one room

glazed_cabinets painted_cabinet2

Door Styles
The door style creates the feel of the room: smooth fronts for contemporary or transitional, arched and raised panels for traditional or transitional, beadboard for transitional or country, etc. Specific wood species and finishes can also lend themselves to door styles, especially with the application of the above finishes, though there are no hard rules.

Traditional – maple, cherry, oak
Transitional – maple, cherry, oak
Contemporary – birch, cherry, paint
Rustic/country – oak, hickory, paint

cabinet_styles

Features
Once you have chosen what the outside of the cabinetry will look like, it’s time to turn your attention to the functionality on the inside. There are so many storage solutions to consider but options will vary with custom, semi-custom or stock and also the brand of cabinets. Below is a partial list. If you want it, it’s probably available.

roll out trays
organizer inserts for drawers
drawer and cabinet dividers
pantry units
trash units
pots and pans organizer
plate racks
spice racks
wine racks
inside door organizers for cleaning supplies
lazy susan trays
bookcases
office files
vanity organizers

cabinet_spice_rack

Decisions
After reviewing all the above areas, it’s time to make decisions. Making your selection can be confusing but working through each of these steps will help ease the process.

Special thanks to Stacey Krieg, Interior Designer, for sharing her time and expertise.

Choosing Cabinet Pulls

Designs and Trends, Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips No Responses »

Feb 132013

Cabinet Pull

Cabinet pulls are jewelry for your cabinetry. Changing hardware can give your kitchen or bath a completely different look. As a personal preference, many people elect to have no hardware but hardware can save the wear and tear on your cabinets and is another area to express your style. Technically, cabinet hardware includes hinges but this discussion centers on what shows – pulls and knobs.

Colors and Finish
The first decision is to determine what color and finish you want. Colors include copper, brass, chrome, and nickel. Next determine which finish you like. For instance, nickel finishes include bright, brushed, satin and weathered. The variations make a big difference so check them out.

Style
What’s the feeling of your space: old world, French country, mission, art deco, modern, rustic? Your hardware selection is another opportunity to add to the style of the room. There are numerous hardware choices to fit every possible style. Big box stores have many options but custom styles can be found on-line and at specialty home stores.

Cabinet Pull

Handle vs. Knob
The next step is determining type. Will a pull or knob function better? Knobs work great for drawers but can look undersized and awkward on larger drawers and cabinets. Use the style of your cabinets to determine the size of the hardware. For example, a longer span pull or a handle that runs the entire length of the door or drawer creates a contemporary look. More detailed knobs lend themselves to an old world style.

Restoration Hardware Dakota Square Knob

Trends
The newest trends are for cleaner lines and fewer details in both pulls and knobs. Another trend is for darker finishes including black, oil rubbed bronze, and antique copper. Weathered nickel is replacing brushed nickel as a favored finish though brushed nickel is still strong. To help make your selection, eliminate what doesn’t fit your style and then take a few pulls or knobs home to assure they work in your space. The two most important elements to coordinate are your cabinets and countertop, then backsplash and flooring. If you are updating your existing cabinets, you may want to install your selections on one or two cabinets for comparison. Using the steps above will make sure the jewelry for your cabinets complements the style of your kitchen or bath.

DIY Countertop Options

Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips 6 Responses »

Feb 062013

before-countertop after-countertop Last week we went through the options available for changing your countertops. While laminate does offer great options and has a reasonable price tag, that still might be a little more than you want to to spend. For those of you in that boat, there is the DIY countertop option. There are a few products available that allow you to very affordably change the look of your countertop.

Here are three such products:

Giani Granite -
This countertop kit offers many color and pattern options and it comes with all the supplies you will need to finish your cabinet. The website has a lot of great images of finished cabinets. There is also an instruction video that makes you feel very comfortable about using this product. The downside would be that it takes some skill to get a perfect pattern with veining. This kit covers 35 square feet, costs $69.95, and takes 2 – 3 days to complete with dry time.

Rust-oleum Countertop Tranformation -
This transformation kit comes with almost everything to redo your countertop (they don’t include the rollers).The instructions and images make it look pretty easy to accomplish. They need some more finished examples on their site to help customers decide though. This kit covers 50 square feet, costs $248.00, and takes 2 – 3 days to complete with dry time.

Instant Granite –
This is a very interesting product and it takes very few tools to install. The directions make it sound super easy and very forgiving. It sounds like if you heat the film with a heat gun the adhesive will become pliable again. The images on the site look great – I would love to see this product installed. This kit covers 36 square feet, costs $89.00, and takes less than 2 days to complete with dry time.

I wanted one of these DIY countertop options for my home. I looked at the options and the prices and decided to give the Giani Granite a try. The price is very good, and the cabinets on the site looked great. All the countertops in my house are horrible, so I decided to do a test run on our bathroom. You can see the before and after images. My favorite part is how shiny the countertop looks, and the warm color. The results are a definite improvement!

Has anyone tried any of these products for a DIY countertop upgrade? If so, I would love to hear about it!

Countertops – Choices, Choices

Designs and Trends, Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips No Responses »

Jan 302013

There are so many material options, not to mention colors, that it’s hard to make a decision on the perfect countertop for either a kitchen or bath. You can choose from granite, quartz, laminates, solid surface, ceramic tile, butcher block or wood, stainless steel, marble and concrete. The decision can be tough and includes many factors such as personal style, color options, durability, maintenance, and cost. Let’s explore the four most popular choices.

Granite is the #1 choice for new kitchens and remodeling projects. The highly polished surface contributes to its natural beauty and can become the signature feature in your room. Granite colors range from black, gray, and white to shades of brown, blue, green and red. This natural stone is very durable and will last a lifetime if maintained. It resists heat and scratches but requires sealing once a year for stain resistance. Granite countertops are priced according to thickness and size and are becoming more affordable with starting prices at $65/sq. ft. installed.

Quartz countertops are an engineered product comprised of about 90% quartz particles and are the 2nd choice for countertops. Because it is a manufactured product, more color choices are available than with granite. Quartz countertops require the least amount of maintenance of any material. Its nonporous surface resists scratches and does not require an annual sealing like natural stone. The price for a quartz countertop starts at $75/sq. ft. installed.

Solid Surface counters are made of 100% acrylic, 100% polyester or a combination of both. There are many edge profiles to choose from and seams are almost invisible. Solid surface countertops come in a variety of colors and patterns, many resembling natural stone. Hot pans can damage the surface and they can stain. However, because they are a solid material, scratches and burns can be sanded out. Solid surface counters are priced midway between stone and laminates at about $55/sq. ft.

Laminate counters are made of plastic-coated synthetics providing a durable surface. This durability and price contribute to their continued popularity as laminates tie with quartz for second choice. Laminates come in hundreds of colors and many textures with newer options resembling quartz or granite. Laminates wear well with proper care and do not require any sealing. However, scratches and chips are extremely hard to repair. Updated profiles help to eliminate edge lines. Laminates are fairly inexpensive with prices starting at $20/sq. ft.

Make sure you take home samples to assure the countertop complements your cabinetry and flooring choices. It may take several trips to the showroom to make your selection or you may decide quickly what fits your decorating style and budget. A designer can help in the decision process too. Your ultimate decision reflects your personal taste and style to make your house your home.

Which one is your dream countertop?

Kitchens in the Workplace

Backsplash Designs, Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips No Responses »

Oct 262012

Have you ever noticed the kitchen in your workplace? Usually, the kitchens that we see in the offices that we work in can be very boring, dull, and ugly. Typically a kitchen at work is used for the preparation of coffee and heating up your lunch for the day, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be inviting. 1005 Design has transformed workplace kitchens into a more inviting and warm kitchen.

The Surgery Center in Toledo, Ohio has been redesigned with the Copper Brush Backsplash.

Here is another view so you can see how well the natural light reflects the beauty of the copper.

The Surgery Center chose to use the trim pieces in this application. The copper brush backsplash really creates a calm and clean look in this kitchen.

The Stainless Steel Weave pattern is located in the American Trim Design Center in Lima, Ohio

This is a nice stream line look for this sleek modern style kitchen.

The Stainless Steel Mosaic pattern has been installed into the American Trim Sindey, OH facility. This backsplash adds character and charm to a boring and bland kitchen. Watch the transformation!

Here is the kitchen before:

Redesigned Kitchen using the Stainless Steel Mosaic backsplash.

The backsplash definitely changes the look of this kitchen. The backsplash adds character and charisma to this once boring and bland kitchen.

Here a touch of class has been added to this old and outdated kitchen in the Sidney, Ohio facility for American Trim. This is the upstairs remodel.

Kitchen before:

Redesigned kitchen:

The Copper Art Nouveau pattern has been used with a border of the Copper Brush pattern. This is a creative way to add style and helps create conversation while grabbing your coffee in the morning.

The 1005 Design backsplashes not only adds quality and sophistication to your kitchens at home but to your employer’s as well. The 1005 Design backsplashes are easy to clean, they also don’t leave fingerprints like most stainless steel products, and they are very easy to install. Create a more positive environment in the break room with creativity and charisma by adding a sophisticated design to your backsplash area; 1005 Design!

How to Install 1005 Design backsplashes to fit your electrical outlets.

Backsplash Designs, Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips, Miscellaneous Topic, New/Fun Kitchen Products, Product Opinions No Responses »

May 042012

The process of making a backsplash fit to your wall configuration is relatively easy. For the most part, just adhere it to the wall unless you need to cut it to fit. The task gets a bit trickier once you try maneuvering around your common electrical outlets. However, this can easily be navigated around in a matter of 7 easy steps.

Tools needed- Pencil, Cardboard Insert (From backsplash box or scap), Drill, Jigsaw, clamps, file, and adhesive.

First measure the dimensions of your outlets-finding how far into your backsplash panel they will be helps to pinpoint your cut.
Take your measurements and trace them into a piece of scrap cardboard- the piece included with the box works particularly great for this.
Cut out the outlet pattern from the cardboard using a utility knife.
Take the template and ensure your cutouts match up with your outlets on the wall. Once your outlets match up with your template, trace the outlets onto our backsplash panel.
After tracing the pattern, use a drill to bore out the center of each outlet pattern, this allows for easier access for your jigsaw.
Once you’ve drilled pilot holes, use your jigsaw to carefully cut out the outlet patterns filing down sharp edges if needed.
Now that you’ve successfully cut your holes, apply your adhesive and secure to your wall just like your other panels.

The following video below will help illustrate these steps!

Bland to Sweet Caramel – Dining Room Update

Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips 4 Responses »

Feb 162012

The Dining Room

While we like to stay focused on all things kitchen in our remodeling section, the dining room is where all that delicious food is taken once it leaves our kitchens. We moved into our house almost 10 years ago and our dining room has been a bland white from the beginning. You can see the boring white walls from the image (which is from when we moved in because AGAIN I forgot to take a before shot). It is also a hard copy photograph. I wasn’t even using digital at the time!

Dining room when we moved in

Sweet Caramel

Design Inspiration - Warm Caramel

I have always wanted a warm yet friendly dining room, and have thought in the past I would use the deep, chocolate brown color. Though this time I thought of caramel. Caramel has that warm feel without being quite so dark. I selected a color from the Lowes Valspar collection called Toffee Glaze. After about three coats of paint, it was looking dark enough for caramel. Then we added the white trim to the floor and ceiling to set it apart from the paint color and wood, and to go with the our white dining room chairs.

Before

Before the color

and After

After the color

Trim around the doorway

As a special addition we added wood trim around the door frame to accent it. We also have another door across the foyer, and you can see how plain it looks. So of course that is the next project – add wood to that doorway as well.

After all the major stuff was done we did a little decorating and added curtains. The other change from our old dining room design was that we took both leaves out of the table and took all the rest of the chairs upstairs to an empty room. This made the dining room look a lot more spacious. I really like the change and it now looks like a finished room instead of a blank slate.

Have you ever put off decorating a room for too long?

Kitchen Make Over

Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips 1 Response »

Jan 062012

Dark walls and cabinets with little natural light.

Our house is thirty plus years old and one of its best features is the very large kitchen with tons of cabinets and storage space. However, for as large as the kitchen is, it always gave me the feeling of confinement because of the dark drab cabinets and the dark wall color. So, finally after eight years I decided it was time to tackle this problem and give the kitchen a facelift.

There were a few things I needed to consider. First and foremost, was my virtually nonexistent budget and second, that fabulous late 70′s early 80′s swirl yellow countertop. Without a sizable budget replacing the countertop was out of the question, so I needed to consider it in the color scheme. With that in mind I made two trips to Lowes and to Joann Fabrics to pull together a pallet of color that would harmonize with the countertop and maintain enough flexibility to work with the two rooms that are directly off the Kitchen/Dining area.

I am a huge fan of color so there are literally no white walls in my home so I had to look to the two flanking rooms which are neutral earth tones, to ensure I was considering the visual harmony. I chose a pale yellow for the wall and a stark white for the wainscot below. I didn’t initially consider the cabinet color until I had the walls painted. Once I finished the walls I knew I was going to have to tone down the dark cupboards but did not want to use the Stark white I used on the walls so, I chosen a butter cream color which has a warm glow versus the cool tone of the white on the walls.

: A refreshing coat of paint makes all the difference!

A week of hard work later here is the result! Looks completely different! We still have some finishing work as the budget allows in the way of crown molding, chair railing and base board but overall I am so happy with the result. The kitchen is so bright now even with the minimal light from the windows. The space actually looks and feels as big as it is now, no more kitchen claustrophobia for me!

THE FINAL TWO– The Top 2 Contestants of “Creative Crafting with Backsplashes”

Backsplash Designs, Designs and Trends, Give-A-Way, Contests, and Consumer Insights, Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips 15 Responses »

Sep 092011

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!

SO………..IT IS TIME TO VOTE! The 1005 Design’s “Creative Crafting with Backsplashes’ Contest is done and we have two contestants who finished their project and are ready to win that free backsplash kit. Check’em out!

Types of Backsplashes

Backsplash Designs, Designs and Trends, Kitchen Remodeling and Installation Tips No Responses »

Aug 302011

Deciding on what material you want to use for your back splash? Well, I can give you some basic knowledge on the different types. When buying a back splash I’m sure you’re looking at price, ease of installation, value, maintenance, and design; and all of them are very important. Continue reading »

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