Renovating a kitchen is a daunting task no matter what, but trying to do it without professional design help can induce unnecessary stress, as well as extend the timeframe of the project. Along with a designer, you may want to consider finding and working with cabinetry professional. With the significant number of decisions to be made regarding your cabinets, it helps to have someone leading the charge.
You may be curious about how to find and work with cabinetry professionals. Collaborating with a local, independent cabinet professional offers many benefits. As opposed to working with an associate at a big box store, someone from an independent studio holds highly specialized knowledge about the world of cabinetry. Whether it’s style, wood type, color, or size, these individuals will consider your needs, wants, and budget. Further, this type of cabinetry professional has access to a broad variety of cabinet manufacturers and is not tied to a handful of cabinetmakers.
Together, you and your cabinetry professional will use the following steps to select the right cabinets for your space.
Create a budget: It’s very important to set your budget from the earliest stages of the build or renovation. Part of this budget will include the amount you want to spend on cabinets. There are three categories of cabinets, which include stock, semi-custom, and custom. To break it down, stock cabinets start around $70 per linear foot and a typical kitchen has approximately 25 to 30 feet of cabinets. Though stock cabinets are less expensive and sometimes easier to install, styles and sizes tend to be limited. Semi-custom cabinets range from $150 to $250 per linear foot and come in more configurations. This type will fit your kitchen more precisely. Lastly, custom cabinets can easily cost $500 or more per linear foot. They are crafted to your exact specifications and desires.
Choose a style: The big decision regarding style centers on framed vs. frameless. Framed cabinets consist of a box and face frame with attached doors and drawers. Frameless cabinets eliminate the face frame and doors and drawers attach directly to the cabinet box. Frameless is often called “European-style” and offers a more contemporary look. The disadvantage of frameless cabinets is that it provides less rigidity. To combat this, most manufacturers use a thicker box. There are often more options with framed cabinets, but if you ever want to remove the doors for a different look, you would need frameless cabinets.
Select the features: While accessories improve functionality and can enhance appearance, they will tack extra dollars onto the overall budget. Features consist of things like a pull-out trash can, built-in charging stations, appliance garages, drawer inserts, and more. These additions will help you keep a cleaner, more organized kitchen, but keep in mind that features cost money.
Though these are the three main decisions one must make, there are other ones as well, such as color, type of finish, and type of hardware. Again, a professional can guide you through this selection process and help make the experience less overwhelming and even enjoyable. Boutique cabinet companies like Braemar are skilled at helping homeowners find the right cabinets for any space. Give us a call today and let’s get you paired with the right cabinet professional.
