Pro Tip:
The biggest expense in a kitchen is usually the cabinets. Making the right choice for your kitchen will have a lasting impact on the function and the value.
by David E. Benner
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is also ranks at the top of the list when calculating market value for a home. The combination of enhanced function and increased value is the inspiration for most kitchen remodeling projects. Making a commitment to remodel is only the beginning of a number of important decisions that need to be made on the way to a successful outcome. Choosing the right contractor, solidifying the design and picking appropriate materials will all present themselves as critical components of the process.
The biggest expense in a kitchen is usually the cabinets. Making the right choice for your kitchen will have a lasting impact on the function and the value. The style of the cabinets will anchor the whole kitchen design. The layout and application of features will have a lasting impact on how the kitchen performs. Performance will also be determined by the construction of the cabinets. Cabinets come in many styles, wood species and colors, but not all cabinets are alike. Many cabinets are made to look pretty on the surface but cut corners on hardware and box material to save money. The big box stores are great at showing the impressive façade on a poorly constructed box with cheap hardware. In the long run those cabinets will fail to hold up.
Why settle when a custom-made cabinet can offer quality and a tailored fit? The cost is not a lot more than some of the big box offerings. Our cabinets are made with 3/4 inch, finished maple plywood as compared to 3/8 inch particle board in many of the cheaper cabinets. Instead of the typical 12 inch deep upper cabinets, our upper cabinets are 14 inches deep allowing for most plates to fit in with ease. Custom cabinets allow the consumer to eek every inch out of a kitchen design, big box stores w! ill have size limitations of their product. Hardware in many of the big box cabinets is light duty and frequently goes out of adjustment or fails. We are able to use the very best hinges and drawer slides in our custom cabinets insuring a lasting reliable cabinet. There may be a short term savings in choosing production cabinets from a big box store or lumber yard, but the long term value of your kitchen will be better upheld by custom quality and a tailored fit.