Advantages:
- Provide extra storage space
- Open up kitchen space
Disadvantages:
- Not always easy to maneuver
OVERVIEW of Kitchen Cabinets:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen countertops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.
DETAILS on Corner Kitchen Cabinets:
Corner cabinets are great because they offer a lot of storage space and open up the space in your kitchen. In certain corner cabinet designs, you can give yourself more storage space than a basic cabinet, and the design can blend well with the fixtures you already have. Your cabinets will also be durable, as the materials used to manufacture cabinets are strong enough to hold the weight of dishes in a cabinet that is mounted on the wall.
The options for your cabinets are endless, and finding durable materials is an easy process. Many durable materials are also made in an eco-friendly way, so you can go green and have reliable products that will last you for years.
One important factor to keep in mind as you pick your corner cabinet is its accessibility. Though corner cabinets can offer a lot of extra storage, they may not always be easy to access. Carefully plan what you intend to use the corner cabinets for and how difficult it be to access your products once they're stored in the cabinet.
GREEN Considerations:
Any material that you want to use on your cabinets can be made in an eco-friendly way. If you use wood, make sure it is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) cerfitied, as that guarantees the wood was harvested in a sustainable manner. Many manufacturers also use reclaimed wood, which is salvaged wood that has been transformed into functional products.
Bamboo is the strongest plant in the world, as well as the fastest growing. It is a renewable energy source and has a great impact on the environment. Using bamboo for any area of your house is a great decision.
Stainless steel is considered an environmentally-friendly product, and is recommened for anyone who keeps an eco-friendly design at the top of their list. Stainless steel is recyclable, is not manufactured with harmful chemicals and is great in any area of your kitchen.
For whatever materials you use in your kitchen, do your homework on how they are manufactured and sold, and go with the most eco-friendly option you can. Not only is it great for the environment, if products are manufactured and sold in low-impact ways, they are better for the air quality inside your home. Checking to be sure that the products you are placing in your home are manufactured and sold in eco-friendly ways is half the battle of keeping your home environmentally-friendly.
