OVERVIEW of Glass Cabinet Doors:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen cabinets 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 cabinet materials and finishes. 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 cabinet material and finish make sure to think through the countertop and 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 cabinets. 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. Think of the kitchen cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes as an integrated kitchen design system, so try to avoid buying one before you get perspective and price out the materials, finishes, and installation implications for all three.
DETAILS on Glass Cabinet Doors:
Glass cabinet doors are great for any kitchen design and will add an element of elegance and originality to any room.
There is a wide variety of options to choose from in glass styles. These options include carved, etched and textured. Your cabinet doors can be designed with an art theme, with mullion or with cut for glass designs.
Cabinets with glass can be ribbed or etched with a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal angle. Some prefer that the glass be ribbed or etched so that it hides what is behind the cabinet door. You also have the option of making the glass clear or colored.
Beaded Inset Kitchen Cabinet Doors
Advantages:
- Popular style
- Almost any door can be made into a beaded style
- Offer versatility and originality
Disadvantages:
- More time consuming/labor intensive door treatment
- More costly than overlay and other styles
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 Beaded Inset Styles:
Beaded inset cabinet styles are popular because almost any door can be fashioned into a beaded design. Both beaded inset and flush insets (the same style as beaded without the bead) are very popular and easily found.
The beaded cabinets are set inside the frame of the cabinet, except a bead is cut into the inside edge of the cabinet frame. It is more time consuming and labor intensive to design and beaded inset style, so it is more costly than an overlay or other style. But a beaded inset style gives you the opportunity to be original and unique with your kitchen. And though it is more costly to design a beaded inset, it is easy to find someone who will do it, so you are not paying for the rarity of the designs.
Beaded cabinets offer versatility to your kitchen and can be molded with any design. They enhance design styles and will offer a new, updated look to your kitchen.
GREEN Considerations:
When updating or replacing your wood cabinetry, make sure to use FSC-certified or reclaimed wood. A Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification guarantees that wood is grown and harvested in a sustainable manner. Many companies also use reclaimed wood, meaning they use salvaged wood to produce beautiful products.
Columbia Forest Products is the largest manufacturer of hardwood in North America. They have transformed their business to supply only formaldehyde-free products, an extremely beneficial factor for the environment, as well as 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.
