Bob, U.S. Army retired in Colorado Springs, asks:

“What are the real differences between custom cabinets and the stock ones in the big box stores?”

Bob, I’m happy to elaborate! A few thoughts …

If you’re considering upgrading your home, cabinets are a vital component of that process. Not only do they provide incredible functionality when it comes to organizing your kitchen or bathroom, but they also set the tone of the entire room. Picking the right quality cabinets is essential to maximizing your storage potential and functionality, creating an aesthetically-pleasing living space, and increasing the value of your home.

When you’re considering replacing your cabinets, you have two options to choose from: stock cabinets or custom cabinets.

Stock cabinets are exactly as their name implies, limited pre-designed choices but with a more affordable price tag. With custom cabinets, you have a wide variety of styles to choose from, and designers keep your particular home in mind when planning cabinet size and placement. If you have an unusual space you would like to place a cabinet, custom-built is the only route to follow.

If you’re looking for a middle ground between the two, semi-custom cabinets are an option. These cabinets are built to order but have fewer options than fully custom cabinets.

Keep Function in Mind

New cabinets are a major investment. As such, you’ll want to get as much functionality as possible out of them. Consider the biggest storage needs you have in your kitchen, bathroom, home office and other rooms.

Base cabinets increase your countertop space while wall cabinets add out-of-the-way storage. Additionally, your kitchen could benefit from cabinet drawers specifically designed to hold utensils, pull-out pantry shelves that allow easy access to ingredients, or a lazy Susan that creates extra and easy-to-access storage space.

Choosing a Design

Once you’ve decided on the function of your new cabinets, it’s time to select their design. The design you choose should complement the decor of your kitchen or bath as well as fit in with your other furnishings. When it comes to cabinet design, keep these properties in mind:

• Wood: Choose from beautiful, strong woods such as cherry, walnut, maple, alder, hickory and more.
• Finish: For an opaque finish or bold colors, choose an appropriate finish. semi-transparent stains will bring out the natural colors, grain and qualities of the wood. Glazes emphasize edges and moldings.
• Style: Pick a cabinet style that complements your decor. Visit our showroom to see the many styles available, including modern, traditional, rustic, contemporary and others. You can also choose from glass fronts, open fronts and a variety of different door profiles.

Quality cabinets are an integral part of any kitchen, bathroom or home remodel and are often the first pieces of furniture to draw the attention of your guests. They are certainly worth the investment for their storage capacity and their centrality to the decor. Professionally designed cabinets help your kitchen or bathroom reach their full potentials.

Have questions or want to learn more? Call Kitchen Concepts. We have offices in Denver (720.725.0000) and Colorado Springs (719.330.5474).