Advantages:
- Durable
- Works well with almost any finish
- Fits in almost any kitchen design plan, from a professional chef's kitchen to traditional
Disadvantages:
- Over time, maple may fade in color and start to yellow. Depending on what you had in mind for your design, this may not be a disadvantage.
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 Maple Cabinet Doors:
Maple is the most popular wood option, along with oak. Its durability and versatility are testaments to its popularity.
Cabinet makers consider maple one of the best wood products and vouch for its durability so much that it is often recommended for countertops as well as cabinets. It is entirely possible to fill your whole kitchen with maple, use virtually any finish and have it mesh well with your appliances.
The colors of maple wood can range from white/pale yellow to tan/neutral, to deep reds and all shades of brown. It works with any design theme you have in mind. Whether you are looking for a professional chef's kitchen, a European feel, Early American, sophistication or rustic, maple will work in your kitchen.
The one downside to maple wood may not be a downside at all, depending on your design idea. Over time, maple wood may start to yellow, which is very important to keep in mind as you're designing. If your design calls for that golden feel, the transformed color may add to your space.
GREEN Considerations:
If you are considering maple to completely remodel your kitchen, do not fall into the habit of thinking everything has to be brand new. Are you simply updating your existing maple cabinetry? Good! Can any of it be reused? Even better.
Before purchasing everything that will go into your new kitchen, check to see if you can reuse existing parts from your current kitchen. Maybe your cabinet's shelves are fine, but the doors need to be replaced. By saving the shelves, you've already saved a large amount of wood and money. With all of the maple options, finding doors that are a match to your shelves should not be too difficult.
For the new maple fixtures you are purchasing, 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 plywood 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.
