Knowing Your Options for New or Existing Kitchen Cabinets

There are so many ways that kitchen cabinets can really enhance the appeal of your kitchen, add value to your home, and make a stunning centrepiece!

Let's look at deciding whether you need to completely replace your existing cabinets, or if you will reface them.

If you are designing a kitchen for a new home, we'll look at the design features you ought to keep in mind, a little later on.

Replacing cabinetry is quite an expense and strain on the budget (anything from USD$12000 for an average - sized family kitchen).

And that is the lower end of the spectrum as far as type of cabinet goes...You can, of course, choose anything from pre-made 'flat packs' to custom-built especially made to your own specifications using materials and hardware you select.

This option is much less expensive and can be used to great effect- if you are remodeling the whole house, you get a new look in your kitchen to match the rest of the renovations, without having to get new custom-built ones made and installed.

Add stunning kitchen cabinet hardware - handles, pulls and knobs which you can do yourself easily enough, and you will lift the whole effect brilliantly!

Alternatively, you could opt for the very latest in a seamless, handleless storage system - a futuristic feature giving a streamlined and sleek beauty to your kitchen.
The important task of designing the kitchen cabinets in your new space will be according to your wants and needs.

But don't forget to be, above all things, practical. People who spend lots of time using the kitchen as a preparation and cooking area, love to have things 'where they ought to be'. Beauty needs to blend with functionality and efficiency.

Design ideas for your new kitchen cabinets must include these things:

Think of...

• the theme or style of your kitchen (not a good idea to put rustic painted cabinets into a sleek stainless steel modern kitchen!)
• your overall budget
• kitchen storage (primary function of cabinets)
• the colour scheme of walls, flooring and tiles
• cabinet hardware (hinges, pulls, handles and knobs)
• visual and physical access
• kitchen floor space
• lighting of kitchen work spaces (including spotlights under cabinets to light workspaces)
• cabinet doors (bi-fold, dual access)
• island benches
• access to high usage areas e.g.: pots and pans storage next to the kitchen cooker
• the colours and materials of the kitchen cabinets to enhance and complement colours and materials of the benchtops and counters.
• the ergonomics in your kitchen (best bench or counter heights etc. for you to work at comfortably)

Some people even search out second hand doors, so as to recreate the antique charm of a traditional kitchen which people all over the world love - from high rise inner city apartments to old Swiss chalets.

Perhaps you've bought a home with kitchen cabinets that need to be repositioned and resized?



What about materials?

Timber... an old favourite, stainless steel, stone countertops, or metal for new age gleam and serious hygiene standards?


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Have You Refaced Your Kitchen Cabinets?

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Other Visitors' Kitchen Cabinet Triumphs

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How we turned our dreadful old cabinets into brilliant shabby chic style beauties!  Not rated yet
This was really cool! Last year we were heartily sick of our tired, paint-flaking cabinets. The rest of the kitchen was fine, but the cabinets really needed ...

Let us help you with your kitchen cabinet decisions by giving you the best current information (all free!) about these design features for you to look at carefully...

See how to use space to the maximum in your kitchen

Go to Kitchen Storage Ideas for information about storage systems

See how well you can finish your cabinets for added value

Ideas for painting to enhance your kitchen appeal

See about the range of options for beautiful cabinet hardware

Tips about design and space when considering your cabinets

Lots of ideas for how to finish your cabinets successfully

Cabinet Handles, Knobs and Hinges will make your kitchen look fabulous

Further ideas for making beautiful cabinetry

Return to Home Page Clever Kitchen Designs