Budget Advice for Kitchen Remodels: Three General Tips

Many people want to renovate their kitchens, but what usually holds them back is the idea of how much it would cost.
While it's true that kitchen renovations can often get quite expensive, they don't have to be.  There are ways to cut down on the amount of money you spend on kitchen remodeling, without cutting down on quality.
The following budget advice for kitchen remodels will give you some ideas on how to save money as you give yourself your dream kitchen.
Make the best use of the space you have.  If you want a larger kitchen, expanding the size of the room isn't the only solution to giving yourself more space.  Any remodeling project that involves tearing down walls and extending the kitchen's size is going to put a significant dent in your budget.  To save thousands of dollars, you can keep your kitchen at its current size, but just maximize the space.  For instance, installing custom-made cabinets, tailored to your kitchen, allows you to use the existing space without wasting any of it.  The result will be a lovelier and less cluttered kitchen with more room in it.
Don't cut corners by going for low-quality material.  As you search for materials for cabinets, tiles, and other basic kitchen components, you'll come across an array of cheap options.  These might seem attractive, especially if you're trying to save money.  However, they'll wind up costing you more money in the long run.  Within a short amount of time, they'll be more likely to fall apart, crack, or disintegrate, and you'll just need to replace them.  For items in your kitchen that get regular use, such as faucets and cabinets, you want durability to be a prime consideration, along with a pleasing aesthetic appearance (which is also something you won't get with cheaper products).
Keep your remodeling more simple.  Remodeling your kitchen doesn't necessarily mean changing everything about it.  For instance, if you don't absolutely need to move the kitchen sink, keep it where it is; moving a sink to a new location and redoing the plumbing would just pile on the costs.  For a fresher look, what your kitchen may need are just a few smaller-scale changes.  Replacing some of the worn out cabinetry and changing the color scheme to something lighter and more airy could be enough to give your kitchen more space and a bright new look.
To discuss strategies for remodeling your kitchen, contact us.  We offer high-quality designs that aren't exorbitant in cost, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful kitchen while saving on money.

Changing Out Decorative Hardware (using backplates if necessary) Gives Instant Facelift to Cabinetry

Looking for a quick way to give your kitchen or other cabinetry an instant makeover?  Changing out decorative hardware (using backplates if necessary) is an easy way to give your cabinetry a new look without investing a lot of money.
Maybe you just bought a new house and you compromised on the kitchen.  Or you've lived with the cabinetry you have for years but you're ready for a change.  If having brand new cabinetry is not in your budget just yet, you can still give your kitchen a little nudge towards the stylish look you want by installing new hardware.
Sometimes changing out hardware is not as easy as it sounds.  You may choose a pull where there was originally a knob, which means you will need to drill new holes in the cabinetry, as well as try to cover up the old hole.  Sometimes new pulls have their screws distanced farther apart or closer together than the old ones, leaving you with the same dilemma.  For many homeowners, backplates solve this problem by not only covering up old unused holes, but also providing a secure place to install the new hardware.
Many homeowners can tackle this job themselves with the careful use of a drill and measuring tape.  Others don't want to risk any damage to their cabinets so they have a professional tackle the job.  If you're looking to upgrade the look of your current cabinetry, contact us.  We can give you some ideas to make your kitchen more up-to-date until you are ready to do a more extensive remodel.  We can also give you an estimate on how much it will cost to install custom cabinetry down the road, which is probably much less than you would expect.
Sometimes getting the kitchen of your dreams doesn't happen all at once, but replacing hardware is a small step that can make a drastic difference, making your cabinetry look decades newer.

Don’t Fear: Custom Doesn’t Mean Expensive

It’s a sad story.  Some people will head to their local store – the same place where they pick up a loaf of bread and some milk in a pinch – for a bookshelf that they’ll assemble in 40 minutes.
It may last a few years.  But it will hardly add to the room and provide that function and design that a custom piece can bring.  It’s one thing to get something quick that can do the job in an apartment that you’ll move away from in several months – and quite another for something “more.”
But custom doesn't mean expensive.  When you compare prices for a bookshelf or a kitchen vanity, it’s actually not that much.  And when you observe the value that you receive, it’s well worth the small additional investment.
At Edgewood Cabinetry, we take your idea and put it into practice.  What does that mean?  Here are some ideas and results:

• A custom kitchen design that you envision can add significant space for items.  It can blend seamlessly with your existing look, adding much more in design and space than any other “solution.”
• Forgot about the one-size-fits-all solution.  Imagine a custom desk in your offices that maximizes space and creates the perfect wood pairing.  When you compare the cost to an expensive office store desk that won’t fit perfectly, it’s well worth the custom solution.
• You can even invest in your dream home.  Anything and everything you can imagine can take on a custom solution, adding significantly to your home.

Keep in mind that a custom solution can add real value to your home.  Not only will the “other options” not maximize space and add to the home’s design, but they become mismatched liabilities whenever you take the next step.  Custom pieces can remain with the home and represent a real investment.
Contact us at Edgewood Cabinetry to learn more about what a custom design can mean for your home.  We’ll show you the difference in price and get something perfect for your home!

Cabinet Organization: How to Get 10x More Space

Ideally, cabinets are stylish and efficient, allowing you to maximize space in any room and store various belongings in such a way that you can easily retrieve them.
Unfortunately, if cabinets aren't well-organized, they wind up not saving you much space or improving the overall organization of your property; they may be a part of the clutter or even contribute to it.
What are some ways to improve cabinet organization, so that you get even ten times more space than usual?
Make good use of shelves.  Your cabinet may not have enough shelves, or they may be spaced inefficiently with large gaps going unusued.  Figure out the typical items you would want to place in a given cabinet, and then select the right number of shelves with the right amount of spacing between them.  In certain cabinets, you may also want shelves that are customized for certain items (e.g. a spice rack).
Select well-designed drawers.  Drawers are potentially excellent storage sites, but they could also become a jumbled mess, costing you precious space and wasting your time as you take too long searching for something.  You may want to have your drawers built with dividers or organizers, such as miniature compartments or multiple trays, where you can store more items in an efficient and organized way.
Opt for specialized features.  Sometimes, opting for a feature such as a Lazy Susan could work well for you, allowing you to make use of the full depth of a cabinet without having to worry about access to the items in the back.  Other features, such as roll-out cabinets or roll-out shelves, are excellent ways to make use of more limited spaces that you might ordinarily have given up on.
To determine which features of cabinet organization work best for you, you'll need to have a good grasp of the layout of your home.  Ideally you'll consult with a reputable company that specializes in custom-made cabinetry tailored to your particular space.  Contact us to discuss creative and effective solutions to cabinet organization that will maximize the space in your home.

Designs Beyond the Kitchen & Bath: The Mudroom

For busy families, the mudroom is what saves or sinks a family's organization.  Coats, shoes, boots, hats, gloves, backpacks, sports equipment, keys, wallets, and purses all get dropped here as the family enters the house.  Whether you just have a small entryway designated as a mudroom, or a large room, the function of the space will decide whether this area becomes a vortex of belongings, or the epicenter of the family's organization.  Custom cabinets and shelving isn't just for the kitchen.  Look at designs beyond the kitchen & bath to find a plan to make your mudroom a welcoming, organized space.
Custom Cabinetry to Organize Your Mudroom
The best way to come up with a plan for your mudroom is to look at what gathers there and find a home for those things.  Are everyone's coats and jackets stuffed in one area?  Shoes in a pile?  Providing a space for each person's belongings can make the room instantly more put together.  A common design involves a long bench with closed cabinetry or cubbies underneath to hold each person's shoes and boots.  Hooks behind the bench will give each person their own space for coats, jackets, and backpacks.  Additional cabinetry above the hooks can provide a home for hats, gloves, books, or sports equipment.
Quality Pieces Bring Design and Function to the Mudroom
Worried that the cabinetry won't stand up to constant daily use?  This is definitely a concern when using some of the particle board pre-made shelving kits you see in home improvement stores.  Edgewood Cabinetry uses only the best materials to make a quality product that will last for years, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how affordable it is.  Concerned that your mudroom will look like a locker room with so many divisions?  Check out our pictures to see for yourself that a mudroom, despite its name, can have beautiful design aspects that will be a showpiece in your home.
If you're tired of mudroom clutter and disorganization, we can help design and implement a plan to make your entryway a beautiful, functional space. Contact us to get started on your new mudroom today.