By Jim Lawrence
Special to the Houlton Pioneer Times
In kitchens, there are many ways to get your cabinets and many ideas of what is important and what makes up quality in your new kitchen project. As a home owner, this article will update you with perspectives from a kitchen designer and cabinet manufacturer for over thirty years. This will give some insight to the top four qualities in your new kitchen project. Starting with quality and working our way to the #1 or best.
• No. 4 — Melamine or plywood interiors. This has got to be the most focused item and likely the least important issue in a new kitchen. Every one knows plywood is better….or is it really? There are some major advantages to the melamine finishes. First and foremost Melamine has a lifetime finish, it is very easy to wipe down, and never needs refinished, To get an idea on quality and durability of the finish melamine has the same finish as Formica counters or Pergo laminate floors. So keep in mind that plywood interiors is more of a perceived value, and does not really come into play during resale, almost all new home buyers are focused on durability and ease of maintenance.
Jim Lawrence
• No. 3 — Laminate or Granite counters. With designers and new home buyers granite is without question the best. It has the durability and resale value. But did you know there are other ways to get that $6000 look and quality for closer to $500? There is on the market now available from very few select kitchen manufacturer’s, the Avondale Seamless sinks and counter. These counters are a specialty product manufactured with no seams, they come in any shape and just like Granite counters they come with under mounted sinks. They are actually 20 percent easier to clean than real granite and best of all when you go to sell you can get the same dollar return as if you had spent the money on granite. Check it out more on www.AvondaleKitchens.com.
• No. 2 — Installing. It’s one thing to pick out a kitchen, but who is going to install it? What about all the loose ends like timing, crowns and sorting out transport damages? Typically custom kitchens suppliers include all this in their selling price, that way you the homeowner has everything delegated to one source.
• No. 1 — Designs. This has got to be by far the most important part of yours or anyone’s project. Maybe you already know exactly what you want, and how you plan to do it, that’s fine. Do yourself a favour, have a professional kitchen designer look your ideas over. Cost? Depending on the designer, most will do it at no charge and all they ask is for a chance to bid the project. The designer will likely smooth out the project and allow you to anticipate any upcoming problems. Typically professionally designed projects will fetch more than the extra cost when it comes time to sell your home… professionally designed cabinets are like money in the bank, a good investment in the best or the worst of times.
Contributed photo
BEFORE AND AFTER — Remodeling your kitchen is one of the most popular renovations to give the most bang for your buck. Aside from changing cabinets, knocking out walls to create islands can improve the flow of a room considerably.
With these top four priorities, when you get ready for your project you will now have a fresh insight to what is important. When you sit down with a professional designer it is wise to have some clippings from magazines with ideas, colours and styles that you are attracted to. With some professional help and a little planning, making your new kitchen project into a dream kitchen will be a breeze.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Jim Lawrence of AvondaleKitchens.com; they have designers in your area every week doing professional kitchen designs and quotes.
