Why Custom Kitchen Cabinets from Chmura Custom Woodworks

Custom Kitchen Cabinets

A Video Walkthrough by Bryan Chmura

Kitchen cabinets are a big investment. Custom kitchen cabinets may seem to be out of your price range until you consider everything.

In this video Bryan Chmura will walk you through some of the things you should watch for. He will also touch on why custom kitchen cabinets from Chmura Custom Woodworks may be just right for your custom kitchen.

Please leave a comment and let us know what you would like to see us cover and we will try to work it in!

Also, sign up for our newsletter and get a free ebook dealing with many of the aspects of custom kitchen cabinetry and kitchen remodeling.

Thank you!

Rick and Bryan Chmura
Serving Ohio for more than a decade!
216-533-3760
info@chmuracustomwoodworks.com

PS, Let us know what you think of the video…outtake and all!

Kitchen Cabinet Hardware: Attention to the Details

Custom Kitchen Remodeling: Understanding Kitchen Cabinetry – Part IV

“Knobs and Pulls and Hinges…Oh My!”

While kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts are the focal point of your newly installed custom kitchen cabinets, and hence the kitchen, there can be little argument that it is the cabinet hardware, at least the kitchen cabinet door and drawer knobs, pulls, and hinges that are the icing on the cake.

And let’s not forget the kitchen cabinet drawer slides!

The kitchen cabinet door and drawer knobs, pulls, and hinges are the finishing touches. It is the kitchen cabinet hardware, including the kitchen cabinet drawer slides, that defines the look, the feel, and even the utility of your kitchen cabinets. Choosing just the right kitchen cabinet hardware for your newly designed and remodeled custom kitchen will finish the job right and make a lasting impression on your friends and family as you show off your new custom kitchen.

Kitchen cabinet hardware includes:

• Kitchen Cabinet Door Knobs (although door pulls are far and away more popular, it is not a hard and fast rule)
• Kitchen Cabinet Door Pulls
• Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Knobs
• Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Pulls (less popular than knods for draweer fronts but again not a hard and fast rule)
• Kitchen Cabinet Hinges (butt hinges)
• Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides
• Kitchen Cabinet Drawer and Door Locks
• Kitchen Cabinet Drawer and Door Catches

Some of the materials used for kitchen cabinet hardware include:

• Plastic
• Wood
• Brass
• Aluminum
• Stainless Steel
• Ceramics

Kitchen Cabinet Knobs and Pulls

Kitchen cabinet knobs are generally found on the cabinet drawer fronts and the kitchen cabinet pulls are generally reserved for the doors.

However, as noted above, while this is a usually viewed as a matter of proportion and common practice throughout the kitchen design and remodeling industry, it is not a hard and fast rule.

The proper combination of knobs and pulls can look great in a kitchen, regardless of how they are distributed, as long as you pay attention to kitchen cabinet placing, functional considerations, style, and finish.

Make sure the design theme is consistent throughout your new custom kitchen, not only matching the overall aesthetics but allowing for functionality, fit, and finish, and the added attgention to detail now will pay off for years to come.

While the kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls are generally a small part of the overall kitchen remodeling project, they deliver tremendous value; it is unwise to skimp on them. Spending just a little more on just the right style, with and eye towards enhanced functionality, will pay off in the long run.

A relatively tiny investment in quality now will result in increased functionality and enhanced value. The enhanced value affects not just the newly remdodeled kitchen, it carries over to the entire home.

Because, as we have noted before:

The Kitchen is the Heart and Hearth of the Home!

Keep in mind that design and functionality go hand in hand. For this reason, and many others, it is wise to consult a custom kitchen design and remodeling specialist before you begin. It is often the small “stuff” (to use a technical term), and we mean small in terms of the items we initially view as less significant or not as important because their cost is not as great, relative to other factors in your budget, that can detract from and/or even derail your custom kitchen project.

Attend to the small stuff early and you will be happy you did so later. Or, as my grandmother used to say:

“Take care of the corners and the middle takes care of itself.”

Hinges

The type of kitchen cabinet will ultimately determine the type of hinge to be used. The standard type of kitchen cabinet door hinge for a frameless kitchen cabinet is a concealed, adjustable hinge. The traditional hinge for an inset kitchen cabinet door is the butt hinge. The butt hinges may be motised or non-mortised, depedning on design requirements, taste, and a number of other factors. Mortised butt hinges are a bit more difficult to install but it results in smoother fit along the kitchen cabinet door and farme.

Adjustable hinges, unlike butt hinges, allow for easier realignment. Concealed adjustable kitchen cabinet door hinges allow the cabinet door to open to 180 degrees, often a big advantage. Adjustable hinges are available for face-frame kitchen cabinets, as well as for frameless cabinets. However, even with adjustable hinges in the face-frame kitchen cabinets, the hinges will not allow the doors to open a full 180 degrees…but almost. The adjustable hinges do allow for much easier adjustment than butt hinges.

Note: The differences in hinge performance (e.g., opening, adjustability, and others) discussed above and in previous posts, have as much to do with the type of kitchen cabinet foundation selected, as it does the type of hinges. We have discussed features and benefits of face-frame and frameless cabinets previously and will undoubtedly mention them again as we progress through this series on custom kitchen remodeling and custom kitchen cabinetry.

Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides

In order to have access along the entire length of the kitchen cabinet drawer, a full-extension slide is required. While this may seem like a small consideration, the convenience it will afford you will offset any additional cost, particularly over the life of the home, or your time in it; and then, in terms of increased value to a prospective buyer. The advantage resulting from full-extension slides for deep drawers holding pots and pans and the long, shallow drawers holding kitchen utensils and the like cannot be overstated, particularly if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen…or if you don’t want to!

You may want to consider the added feature of quiet, self-closing kitchen cabinet drawer slides, especially if you have children in the house, or anyone else who may be fond of closing doors and drawers aggressively (i.e., slamming them), particularly if they are night cookers and feeders.

You will probably pay big money for this feature the first time you are without it at 3am!

You may also want to consider under-mounted slides as opposed to the side-mounted slides you usually see on kitchen cabinet drawers. Yes, they cost a bit more but if you amortize the investment over the number of years you intend to be in and home, particularly if the kitchen is indeed the Heart and Hearth of the Home, then it is a small price to pay. Side-mounted slides also restrict the overall width of the kitchen cabinet drawers. It is not a lot but if you are taking into consideration all of the little things, and you should, it is worth considering. Ultimately, it is crucial that you and your custom kitchen remodeling specialist take into account the load, usage, and so one as you consider which slides will be most appropriate for your custom kitchen cabinet drawers.

There are several different types of kitchen cabinet drawer slides:

• Aluminum Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides
• Stainless Steel Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides
• Ball Bearing Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides
• Mini-Ball Bearing Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides
• Classic Wood Center-Mount Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides
• Plastic Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides (careful here)
• Epoxy-Coated Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Slides

As is the case with kitchen cabinet door and drawer knobs, pulls, and hinges, I can go on for hours listing the variations, the number of different kinds of kitchen cabinet drawer slides avaialble. For this reason, and for so many others, it is important to seek professional advise before beginning a project of this kind. The money you pay for qualified custom kitchen design and remodeling help, before the remodeling even commences, will pay dividends not only during the job…but for years to come.

Finally, it’s all about the small stuff. The small stuff can make or break you kitchen remodeling project…so we take care of the small stuff!

There are a number of seemingly insignificant details that must be attended to when purchasing the right kitchen hardware, contact Chmura Custom Woodworks for more information about just the right kitchen cabinet hardware or anything else having to do with your custom kitchen remodeling project because Chmura Custom Woodworks has been serving Ohio residents for more than a decade and we are:

Your Complete Source for a Custom Home!

Contact us anytime for a comprehensive in-home custom kitchen consultation.

Chmura Custom Woodworks has been serving Cleveland and all of Northern Ohio for more than a decade. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you and all your custom home needs.

Contact us today!

Rick and Bryan Chmura
Chmura Custom Woodworks
Serving suburban Cleveland and all of Ohio for more than a decade!
216-533-3760
Rick@ChmuraCustomWoodworks.com

Resources:

Image #1 Ewen and Donabel’s Flickr Photostream (Creative Commons)

Image #2 back_garage’s Flickr Photostream (Creative Commons)

Image #3 Chmura Custom Woodworks and UII

Kitchen Cabinet Door Fronts: The Visual Focal Point of the Kitchen

Custom Kitchen Remodeling: Understanding Kitchen Cabinetry – Part III

Kitchen Cabinet Door and Drawer Fronts: The Visual Focal Points of the Cabinet and the Kitchen

In most articles you read about kitchen cabinets, whether stock, semicustom, or custom, the author describes the kitchen cabinet door, and often the drawer fronts, as the focal point(s) of the kitchen cabinet. Kitchen cabinet manufacturers and custom kitchen cabinet woodworking craftsmen alike all spend a great deal of time and attention of the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, for good reason, they are the dominant focus of the cabinet and the kitchen as a whole.

Interestingly, because the kitchen cabinet doors (and drawer fronts) are such an integral part of the kitchen cabinet, and the kitchen as a whole, many cabinet manufacturers outsource the production of this component in order to deliver the highest quality door at the lowest possible price.

One of the most common types of kitchen cabinet doors is the frame and panel door (see an expanded list below). The frame and panel door is quite popular with many kitchen cabinet manufacturers and custom kitchen and bathroom cabinet makers and installers. The frame and panel cabinet door is constructed just like the name implies, with an outside frame and an inside panel that is loose or floats in the center. One of the many advantages of this type of a door is that it has a certain amount of “give” built in and it adjusts on its own to variations in temperature, humidity, and the effects of usage and aging.

One of the more common methods for joining the various components of the frame and panel cabinet door is the cope-and-stick joint. The top rail and bottom rail, along with the two stiles or outside edges, make up the kitchen cabinet door frame.

The cabinet manufacturer or custom kitchen cabinet maker cuts a groove with a special router and reverse cuts then make it possible for the various components to be joined together and then glued in place.

Note: If the cuts are made correctly, the cope in the end of the rail will join with the sticking profile. The kitchen cabinet door is then glued and the resulting joint will be sufficiently strong to withstand most cabinet door functions and applications without additional reinforcement. For very large, heavy doors the cope and stick joint can be reinforced with dowels or by using some other method.

Many traditionalists may take issue with the above mentioned method. However, it is only one of many and by no means the one Chmura Custom Woodworks recommends across the board for its clients. The method described above is simply one of many; it is considered by many to be the most cost effective.

Delivering strength and beauty, while being affordable, allows a homeowner the luxury of a top-of-the-line look at an affordable price.

The best of both worlds!

As stated previously in this series, you are only constrained by your imagination and your budget, particularly with Chmura Custom Woodworks and the addition of theShopBot. With the ShopBot, if you can think it, we can design and create it with this revolutionary new custom woodworking tool.

So, whether you want a face-frame or frameless kitchen cabinet, we can create a look for you in custom kitchen cabinet doors and drawers that will be uniquely your own. The look and construction of your new custom kitchen cabinets will have everyone convinced that you invested many times the actual cost.

Some of the kitchen cabinet doors available are:

• Raised Panel Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Flat Panel, Slab and Louver Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Mitered Raised Panel Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Applied Moulding Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Statesman Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Shaker Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Grooved Panel Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Arts and Crafts Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Decorative Applied Moulding Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• 1″ Thick Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Contemporary Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• International Species Collection Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• MDF & RTF Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers:  A flexible and durable design alternative to solid wood
• Mullions Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Aluminum Accent Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• Accent Doors and Drawers
• Custom Designed and Built Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers

Ultimately, the strength of the custom kitchen is in the design and the materials. Chmura Custom Woodworks will walk you through every step in the design process and create a custom kitchen you will be proud of for many years to come.

Chmura Custom Woodworks…Your Complete Source for a Custom Home!

Contact us anytime!

Rick and Bryan Chmura
Chmura Custom Woodworks
Serving Ohio for more than a decade!
216-533-3760
Rick@ChmuraCustomWoodworks.com

PS, While this series is about custom kitchens and kitchen cabinets, we can do the same thing for your bathroom…just call us for more information!

Understanding Kitchen Cabinetry: Kitchen Cabinet Drawers

Custom Kitchen Remodeling: Understanding Kitchen Cabinetry – Part III

As stated in Kitchen Cabinetry Part II: It’s All in the Foundation, a continuation of our ongoing series into Understanding Kitchen Cabinetry, there are several components to stock, semicustom, and custom kitchen cabinets.

The list of components that make up most kitchen cabinets include:

• Kitchen Cabinet Carcase, Case, or Box
• Kitchen Cabinet Drawer or Drawers
• Kitchen Cabinet Shelf or Shelves
• Kitchen Cabinet Door or Doors
• Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
• Kitchen Cabinet Molding
• Kitchen Cabinet Countertops

Note: While technically in another category, one that will be handled in a separate post, the countertop is an integral component in kitchen cabinet construction.

Additionally, kitchen cabinets are generally either frameless cabinets or face-frame cabinets. Interestingly, while each has separate and distinct characteristics, both types may be customized to suit a variety of purposes and to provide the kitchen with a number of different looks, cabinets suitable for a variety of functions.

In frameless cabinets the drawers and doors generally overlay the carcase completely. However, frameless cabinets drawers and doors may also be inset, as in the traditional manner, they may overlay the frame fully, or they may paritally reveal the case.

In traditional face-frame cases the insent cabinet door hinges are visible. However, concealed adjustable hinges are an available option. The face-frame has a narrower cabinet opening, thus less shelf space may be available for a face-frame cabinet with the same overall width as the frameless cabinet.

The selection of a qualified custom kitchen cabinet design expert, someone who is able to walk you through the entire process from A to Z, will be invaluable. Consulting a custom kitchen expert will save you hundreds and in many instances thousands of dollars, providing you with custom kitchen cabinets suitable to your everyday needs and the overall design requirements of your kitchen…and your home.

The kitchen is after all the heart and hearth of the home!

Once you have decided which type of kitchen cabinet carcase is best for you and you’re your needs, the other components generall fall into place.

Kitchen cabinet drawers can range from:

• Doweled melamine drawers, typical of frameless cabinets
• Dovetailed hardwood drawers, often considered the top-of-the-line
• Doweled hardwood drawers with a ½” plywood drawer bottom (for drawers that may hold heavier objects)
• Glued drawers with a wood veneer surface and a 3/16” drawer bottom
• And many more…your only limitation being your imagination and your budget!

When considering your kitchen cabinet drawers, materials used in construction, as well as how the materials are joined (some noted above) is crucial:

• Solid wood
• Plywood
• Particleboard
• Fiberboard
• Melamine

Slides, ranging from an epoxy-coated, three-quarter extension unit rated at 75lb to the same at 100lb and those made with heavy-duty ball bearings are also an important consideration.

Ultimately, kitchen cabinet drawers constructed from wood and high grade wood products are the most common. The range of cabinet design and construction possibilities is, as stated above, limited only by your imagination and the size of you kitchen remodeling budget.

Custom kitchen cabinets may, at first glance, appear to be out of range financially. However, when you stop and think about exactly what you are getting for the money invested and how long quality-built custom kitchen cabinets will last, cabinets built to your precise specifications, the cost difference may be negligible.

Significantly, if a homeowner is required to replace inferior grade kitchen cabinets sooner, rather than later, it will ultimately lead to an additional long term expense. Investing a bit more in quality craftsmanship early-on may pay dividends for years to come. The added value to your home will be real and immediate in terms of function, aestetic value, and the actual enhanced value of your home.

In our next post we will discuss the kitchen cabinet door. The cabinet door is the focal point of the kitchen cabinet. The kitchen cabinet door is also the component offering both homeowner and kitchen designer alike the greatest number of possibilities for customization and creative construction, particularly when on a strict budget.

We will also explore the kitchen cabinet door in an additional post on kitchen cabinet refacing.

If you have any questions please contact us! If you have any comments or would like to add anything? Please feel free to do so!

We would love to hear from you!

Serving Ohio for More than a Decade…Your Complete Source for a Custom Home!

Rick and Bryan Chmura
Chmura Custom Woodworks
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-533-3760
Rick@ChmuraCustomWoodworks.com

PS, Exciting things will be happening in the coming week at our sister site Custom Complete Craftworks! Watch for our line of custom woodworking products, custom crafts, custom wood signs (personalized to order), wood games, custom wood wine racks, and much more!