Considerations for Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinet for You
There are considerations, such as price and finding help, to take into consideration when selecting your kitchen cabinets. Below are information that should help you:
Units for Corner Spaces
More options exist for corners than for any other kitchen cabinet space. Units designed specifically for corners make the best use of available space. The simplest corner pieces butt one cabinet up against another, which cuts off easy access to the corner. A better choice would be diagonal units with a larger door, or double-door units which provide full access to the space. You might also want to add lazy Susans or other slide-out accessories so items that were previously hard-to-reach are now easily at hand.
Quality Check
Determine the quality of your cabinetry by examining the drawers – they are subject to the most wear and tear of any part of the unit. Compare the drawers of several different makes, and you’ll likely see that joinery and quality differences are apparent.
If drawer guides and cabinet hinges are not adjustable – you should be able to fine-tune them with the cabinets in place – then you will likely run into problems later. With some frameless units, adjustable mounting hardware lets you re-level the cabinets even after you’ve installed them. Check that drawer glides allow full extension of drawers, and that doors and drawers are properly aligned.
Service Help
Simply deciding on the look and layout of your kitchen cabinets is not enough. Part of the cost of some of these items includes service and installation help.
A kitchen designer can help you figure out how to make best use of your space. Some retailers will ask you to fill out a survey so that they can zero in on the improvements you need for your kitchen – you might need a specialty area for cooking, or an extra-large dining area for entertaining guests. As well, you may need extra space in the form of pantries for storing bulk food purchases. All these needs should be taken into consideration to help weigh your options.
Go to a showroom which displays many lines of cabinets – you’ll get a more complete picture of what is out there, and what you want. Find a designer whose tastes coincide with your own, then together you can choose a look and search for the items that fit nicely into your concept of an ideal kitchen. The designer can also help you find reasonably priced units with high-quality craftsmanship. If you’re serious about buying, make arrangements to meet a designer or a cabinetmaker in a showroom. Some places will also carry the other kitchen components you may need, such as counters, sinks, appliances, and fixtures.
Some designers may have contracts to promote a particular cabinet product line, so don’t rely on one opinion alone. See a few different people, and ask if they are truly independent contractors. Bring a copy of your base plan map as well as the floor plan you devised for cabinet placement.
If budget is a big concern, try shopping in places where design services aren’t necessarily tacked onto the price of the cabinets. But remember that with a less expensive price tag comes more personal responsibility – you’ll have to be extra keen about the accuracy of each step, and not rely as heavily on an expert’s advice.
Pricing Units
The wide range of prices and styles can make buying cabinets a little tricky. But as long as you have your floor plan sketched out, personal style chosen, and budget considerations in mind, you should have no trouble getting a base price for appropriate standard cabinets. These prices are determined by the style of the doors and drawers, as well as the materials used in the construction of the basic carcass. But remember that each option and add-on will alter the original quoted price.
