About Kitchen Cabinets

Innovation is the answer to kitchen cabinet space--almost every square inch is being used. Blind-corner cabinets may still be called just that, but it's not because the space isn't being used. Pull-out shelving and Lazy Susans are being used to gain every bit of storage space available.

Expert Insight

Cabinets are the center of attention in the kitchen. If you're in the market for new ones, peruse the different models available in stores. Watch out for the material used to create the "shell" of the cabinet. The fronts, doors and drawers can be made of hardwood, but if the shell is made of material less than a half-inch thick, it won't last.

Benefits

The Lazy Susan and its variations can be especially beneficial. These can either attach to the back of a specially made door or sit inside the cabinet on a swivel to give access to the recesses created by corners. Variations of this theme include staggering shelves and baskets to hold items that just don't fit well on a shelf. Shop wisely as these benefits can be costly.

Effects

There are many possibilities in making the most of kitchen cabinets. One choice available is rich-colored wood. Exotic wood is available in most places, and some of the more expensive wood may have to be ordered. Add lighting and wall colors to the rich wood and you create an effect that will prompt compliments from friends and neighbors. Another way to add effect to kitchen cabinets is to run fluorescent lighting on the bottom side of the wall cabinets.

Type

As with anything necessary for living, kitchen cabinets come in various types and designs. Because of the demand, and the overworked imagination of others, there is practically no end to the combination that can be ordered to make your kitchen both beautiful and versatile. Raised panels on the doors and drawers, cabinet hardware from drawer systems to knobs and pulls, and arched tops are some of the options when deciding on the type of cabinets you want to put in your kitchen.

Misconceptions

One common misconception about cabinet installation is that all you need is a level tool, stepladder and variable-speed drill. While these are necessary for securing something to the wall, other tools are needed to help you get to the point where you can secure them to the wall. One tool that is not readily thought of is a short bar clamp, which is used to hold the face frames together while securing the cabinets to each other. Using bar clamps requires the removal of doors or drawers.