New Kitchen?

Benefits of RTA Cabinets

RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets are becoming increasingly popular. Now why would someone opt
to purchase unassembled cabinets instead of assembled that are ready to be installed? The answer
is simple, $$$. Although it initially may sound scary to have to assemble cabinets on your own, it is a
relatively simple and quick job. The cabinets are predrilled and notched for hinges, shelves, sides etc.
The drawers as well are already assembled thereby simplifying the process. If you are handy and can put
them together on your own it is an easy way to save money.

It used to be that if you wanted solid wood, durable and decorative cabinetry your only option was to
get custom cabinets. All of those that could not afford the insanely high price were forced to go with
cheap particleboard cabinet that started sagging and swelling after a short time. In recent years many
cabinet manufacturers have been producing magnificent lines of all-wood RTA cabinets with quality
workmanship thereby drastically reducing the pricing to almost half from a comparable custom designed
kitchen. Too good to be true? Yep but the best part is that it is true!

There is now a large variety of stocked RTA cabinetry that is solid wood and plywood construction.
Furthermore, many custom-style pieces have been added to match these lines in order to give the
kitchen a custom look. Decorative end panels, wine racks, plate racks and corbels that used to be
reserved for custom kitchens are now some of the many upgrades available with RTA cabinet lines.
There are also many storage options available to suit all needs such as soap tip-outs, trash pull-
outs, roll-out trays and drawer bases. They are all offered to keep the kitchen clean and organized.

Another benefit to purchasing RTA cabinets is their quick turnaround time. Custom cabinets typically
take 10-16 weeks for delivery as opposed to RTA cabinets which carry a 2 week lead time. Can’t beat
that! Check out RTA cabinets at instockkitchens.com

(ARA) – Does your kitchen or bathroom look like it’s stuck in a time warp? Then it might be time to update the most-used rooms in your home. For inspiration, look no further than the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), which recently shared its top 2010 kitchen and bath trends.

To compile the findings and determine the latest kitchen and bath trends, the organization surveyed those members who designed a kitchen or bathroom during the last quarter of 2009. According to NKBA, the top 10 trends for 2010 are:

1. Shaker style kitchen design
2. Maple and alder cabinetry finishes
3. Quartz countertops
4. Pull-down/pull-out kitchen faucets
5. Polished chrome finishes
6. Under-counter refrigerator drawers
7. Dishwasher drawers for small loads
8. Marble vanity tops
9. Integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks and pedestal sinks
10. Bronze and stainless steel finishes

In the kitchen
Making a big statement throughout the kitchen in 2010 is the addition of functional drawer appliances. One such example, which has been specified by nearly a third of NKBA’s kitchen designers, is modern refrigeration technology. Turning convenience into a luxury, under-counter refrigerated drawers feature adjustable horizontal and vertical dividers to keep frequently used items close at hand. Perfect for the ultimate entertainer, refrigerated drawers are quite roomy, typically tall enough to store a 2-liter bottle and wide enough to hold items such as serving trays and pizza boxes.

If you’re tired of running the dishwasher when it’s only half-full, consider installing a dishwasher drawer. Because it’s independently operated, you can wash small loads as economically as large ones. Plus, the extra flexibility to run cycles simultaneously with your traditional dishwasher makes clean-up quicker and easier, explaining why nearly a third of designers are incorporating this new trend into kitchens, as well.

Another popular element to include in the kitchen in 2010 is a pull-down or pull-out faucet. Utilized by 85 percent of kitchen designers, it’s an easy way to make a design statement at the kitchen sink while increasing functionality. The new Arbor pull-down kitchen faucet from Moen seamlessly brings simple sophistication to the kitchen with its transitional styling that complements virtually any decor. It’s available in a chrome finish, which is another 2010 trend to look for in appliances, accents and hardware throughout the entire kitchen. For more information about the Arbor pull-down kitchen faucet from Moen, visit moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).

In the bath
Granite is the dominant material chosen for vanities in current remodels – used by seven of every eight designers – however, in 2010 alternative natural materials, like marble, will continue to grow in popularity.

According to NKBA, just under half of bathroom designers utilize marble, as it provides a sophisticated look that’s reminiscent of Roman baths with its regal, refined detail that exudes a sense of luxury. Plus, marble countertops provide a stain-resistant, water-resistant, rugged and durable surface – ideal for child-friendly bathrooms or homes with just one bathroom that see a lot of traffic throughout the day.

NKBA also forecasts that integrated sink tops will be a popular choice this year, as you can easily use existing items to achieve this look. By adding a sink into an antique dresser or chest, designers are creating one-of-a-kind vanities for nearly 30 percent of all clients.

Polished chrome finishes are another bathroom design trend for 2010. Look to incorporate this chic metal accent into all your hardware by updating the accessories in your bath, as well. You’ll be able to make a big impact with small updates like new towel bars and robe hooks, for a completely coordinated look.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Now that you are armed with measurements, you’ll be able to estimate approximately how much tile or countertop material you might need, or how much “play” you have with the size of the refrigerator.

This will help you get a good sense of the cost of appliances, and materials so you’ll more easily be able edit and prioritize your selections intelligently.

While the need for a pot-filler is negotiable, if you are buying new appliances, look for the Energy Star label. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that lets consumers know that certain products have met EPA and Department of Energy standards for superior energy efficiency. Certain brands such as Bosch, LG, Asko and Kenmore have consistently high rankings.

Floored…By Choice

You have vinyl, linoleum, cork, tile, stone, wood with finished stains or painted wood to choose from. There is also a lot to be said from a design standpoint for having the same flooring material, for the sake of visual continuity, carried throughout your home and into the kitchen too. If you love to cook, good wood floors are not only beautiful but have a little give to them. They are much better to stand on than stone or tile.

New is a relative term these days. If you are considering new wood floors, you are probably already clued into investigating reclaimed timber. In the case of “New equals Faux”, Trex is a flooring material made of a mixture of recycled plastic and sawdust from reclaimed hardwoods. Though the 20 ft. long planks look just like the real thing when installed, unlike the real thing, the planks won’t rot or splinter. Very well priced at around $5.50/square foot, it’s worth a look. Visit www.Trex.com for stores.

Counter Intelligence

Stone and granite counters need sealers that should be re-applied yearly. Even then, wine or oil spills should be wiped up immediately. Would you be happier with Silestone or Ceasar Stone? These materials have the look and feel of stone, but are man-made from crushed quartz. They are less expensive than other synthetics like Corian, are very dense and uniform in pattern and color, and are the most stain resistant of potential counter surfaces.

It would be remiss not to mention the new “green” countertops. Here are a few of the new.

• Richlite – This is composed of layers of paper (derived for renewable of recycled resources) mixed with resin to form a highly stain-resistant material.

• Durat – This is a polyester based product that uses 30% recycled material and is itself 100% recyclable. It has a smooth silky look and feel, is extremely durable and can be renewed with slight sanding.

• Icestone – Strong and heat-resistant, the composition is 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix that can comes with a high polish but can also be honed or sand blasted.

These are just a few of the wonderful new and green materials that are available. Happy Hunting!

Cindy Lee Bergersen is a home design consultant (Allied Member, ASID) and writer for www.DecodingDecor.com. Please visit for more info and articles on home design.

Mobile kitchen showroom.

Welcome to Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes. St Paul is the capital and it has the look and feel of a well established East Coast city, but with the Mississippi running through, the city of St Paul has its own special feel. Its a great place to live and work.

I live and work in the Twin Cities and 0ne of the jobs I enjoy most is doing kitchen cabinet refacing.

What’s not to enjoy, a well done cabinet reface will make your kitchen look great, like a new kitchen in fact. We can add new rollouts, nifty accessories, lighting, flooring, tile backsplash. The possibilities are endless. All in less time for less money than new cabinets, plus its an earth friendly makeover that keeps waste from the landfills.

Refacing is simply removing old doors and drawer fronts and covering everything in a new factory finished wood. Veneers, solid wood doors and drawers and your choices of over 12 wood species.

Call us and find out if refacing is for you.

We are MN licensed General Contractors and are experienced in all major and minor home improvements.

Paul/ Silvertree Construction

Countertop

Your kitchen is old. You’re looking for some way – any way– to update it without blowing the bank account. After much thought, you decide to replace the countertop.

I hate to break it to you, but you may be wasting your money.

With very few exceptions, countertops are not transferable from one set of cabinets to the next. Most people have no idea until it’s too late.

I see it all the time, more during each recession. I’m the bearer of bad news, watching the dawning realization on the faces of the people who visit me in the showroom as I explain that their old cabinets were shallower than they are today, that the heavier counters can’t be transferred (and in most cases, may break because they were fastened well), that the old cabinet layout doesn’t match anything the new stock cabinets can supply, or that the new appliances require a different installation method than your old appliances.

If your kitchen is within the last decade, the cabinets are fairly decent, and you like the layout, but you can’t stand the counters? You win – go for it. You don’t need to replace the cabinets down the road.

And, of course, if your countertop is falling apart, you may not have a choice. At least, you’ll know the options going in.

For the rest of you, here’s a checklist of things to watch before you decide on your new countertops:

Kitchen checklist

* The age and functionality of your cabinets. In many cases, if your countertop is ready to be replaced, so are your cabinets. Check the drawer glides – are they falling apart (do they even have glides?) Check the hinges – are the doors falling off? Handle holes are stripped so the handles no longer stay in place? Is the cabinet finish wearing off?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, hold off on the countertop replacement until you can replace the cabinets.

Yes, sometimes you can hire a cabinet maker or handyman to fix the cabinets. I’ve always found when the cabinets are in poor shape, they usually require some major labor. Also, in this neck of the woods, the quality of materials was horribly poor – it’s the equivalent of bandaging rot. If you’re planning to stay in the home until the kids are grown or the your contract runs out, you will be throwing the countertop money away because eventually you’re going to have to do something about the cabinets.

This doesn’t apply to heritage homes where the quality was high – I’ve blogged the story of how my father talked a client out of gutting their 1920s rosewood kitchen. Your mileage may vary, but I’m a strong advocate of not replacing cabinets where woods/craftsmanship can no longer be duplicated. Unless, of course, they’re all rotted, water damaged beyond belief, or have some other issue which prevents a good solution.

* Cabinet style. Cabinets in homes up to the 1980s were built in the home, not in a factory. There were no standards. Some of them were simply frames to hold the doors in place. There are no backs to them (you see the wall when you open the doors), and the shelves run the entire length of all the cabinets.

In this case, the old countertops were part of the cabinet construction. Remove the countertop, and the cabinets may fall apart. If your cabinets fit this description, reconsider the countertop idea.

* The layout. If your kitchen is a U-shape? This is the worst case scenario. Counter seams don’t come apart easily (if installed properly) and it’s difficult to support all points of a U-shape counter when removing it off the existing cabinets, especially if it’s 1/2 ton of granite! Also, any rigid counter is prone to weakness at a cooktop cutout or sink area. Any dip or twist in the moving could cause the counter to snap.

* New appliances. Many people considering new countertops may replace any or all of their appliances. If this is you, you should know that new appliances are not standard. Their widths, and heights may have changed. Many cooktops and ranges have specific cutout requirements and notches, which means that even if you get your new granite counter transferred, you could have some potential challenges if you don’t take study the appliance specifications before you buy.

4030_02 (Credit: Caesarstone)

Where it works (or might work)

As I mentioned, if your kitchen is relatively new, but you can’t stand the counter, you may have this option. I say ‘may’ because of the factors up above — it’s still virtually impossible to lift and replace a granite u-shape counter and hope it doesn’t break AND fits perfectly. (No pressure there.)

For the rest of you, here are some rare exceptions where the counter might be able to be transferred:

* Simple layouts, small kitchens, and some island tops: Galley shapes or single pieces countertops, such as island tops can sometimes be transferred. Easier if it’s laminate. Also easier with a newer style (1980s or later) cabinet, so at least you know the depths will match should you decide to replace the cabinets later.

* Solid surfaces, such as Corian, are easier to work with. If it does break, that piece can be cut away and a new piece installed. Once it’s seamed together, you wouldn’t be able to tell.

There are plenty of ways to fix up your kitchen – lighting, paint, molding, retrofitting rollouts, updating appliances – which will give you far more bang for your buck in the short term.

And that’s my 2 cents for the day.

Kelly Morisseau

By Kelly Morisseau

Refacing saves time and money and uses the best woods and finishes to achieve the look you want.

Quartz and Granite. Both good, both have good reasons to choose one or the other. Here’s a short informal video on both.

We come out and talk cabinets, styles and color.