Choosing kitchen cabinets can be a daunting task. Kelowna’s The Spectrum Cabinet Gallery can customize the kitchen of your dreams whether your style is traditional, transitional, or contemporary… but it can still be a little overwhelming to start.
Here are a few things to think of to get you started, and we’ll pick up where you leave off during your one-on-one free in-home consultation. Call us to book yours! 250.317.4714
Now here are some things to think about when choosing the right kitchen cabinets for your Kelowna home:
Frames or no frames? Custom? Semi-custom? Stock?
The choices for kitchen cabinets can be overwhelming. This quick rundown will help take some of the guesswork out of choosing your cabinets-to-be.
- Framed cabinets are suited for more traditional kitchen styles. Framed cabinets have a 1-1/2 inch frame, or “face,” at the front of the cabinet box. This is where the doors are hinged.
- Frameless cabinets are suited for more contemporary designs. These cabinets have a hidden frame, offering greater accessibility to the contents of the cabinet. In frameless cabinets, doors are hinged on the inside of the box, making hinges less noticeable than hinges on framed cabinets.
Once you’ve decided on a frame (or lack thereof), it’s important to establish how you want your cabinets constructed.
- Stock cabinets are found in big box stores. While stock cabinetry is the cheapest route, it’s important to be aware of the potential quality and measurement issues that sometimes arise with prefab cabinets. You will have to think about what happens when your stock cabinets measure 10′ across and your wall space is 10’4″, or worse yet is 9′ 91/2″. You may have to get creative to make it look like the kitchen was designed for that space.
- Semi-custom cabinets come in a general style and offer customization of basic finishes/sizes. The downside to semi-custom cabinets is once again, quality and measurement issues.
- Custom cabinets are created from the ground up to meet your exact specifications. This includes finishes, exact size, layout, closures, as well as special features and options. This option will fit into your entire house design and will be customized to how you use your kitchen and what is most important to you. Most people assume this means a high price tag, but you will be surprised at just how affordable custom cabinets can be. Kelowna’s The Spectrum Cabinet Gallery prides ourself on being on time and always on budget.
While looking at cabinets, it pays to keep tabs on the following telltale signs of quality (or lack thereof).
- Hinges: Regardless of style, your hinges should be both durable and adjustable. Having adaptable hinges allows you to align the doors and frame (or overall box in the case of frameless cabinets).
- Floating Panels: Make sure your cabinet’s panels (exposed sides and doors panels) are floating (not glued) in a deep groove set in the cabinet’s frame. The lack of adhesive allows the panels to expand and contract with temperature changes — thereby avoiding cracks or serious frame damage.
- Drawer Slides: Drawers supported by side-mounted slides are much stronger than a single, bottom-mounted slide.
And Now for the wood…
As a rule, it’s a good idea to avoid exotic or heavily design-oriented cabinets. For most homeowners, a solid mix of functionality and subtle good looks is the ticket. Fortunately, there are a variety of wood types that have become time-honored staples among homeowners:
- Maple is great for both traditional and contemporary designs.
- Cherry mixes well with other woods and is exceptionally durable.
- Oak is extremely durable and does well with finishes (dark or light).
- Pine has a long, continuous grain that offers a rugged look.
High-pressure laminate and Thermofoil are also becoming popular choices for homeowners looking for an alternative to (sometimes pricey) wooden cabinets.
Kelowna’s The Spectrum Cabinet Gallery services the entire Okanagan Valley including Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Summerland, Peachland and area. Call us today! 250.317.4714