The Perfect Finish: Spray vs Hand Rubbed Stain

There are a lot of decisions to make when ordering custom cabinets, and some of them might be less obvious than others. While you might well expect to spend time choosing the perfect type of wood or color of stain, you might not think to ask about the pros and cons of spray vs hand rubbed stain, and it really does matter.
You see, stain is not like paint, which can easily be sprayed onto a prepared surface in a nice, even coat. Stains are meant to be absorbed, to soak into the wood, and the differences in the wood grain will naturally affect the amount of stain it absorbs, and the rate at which that happens. This is a large part of the reason why perfectionists say you should always hand rub stain into any wood, then wipe it off.
But the fact of the matter is that many manufacturers spray stain onto their cabinets. It saves a lot of time in the production process, even if the wood must be rubbed afterwards to remove the excess stain and even out the appearance of the wood. Unfortunately, there is also more waste with this process because some stain will be sprayed beyond the edge of the wood and be lost.
It is also important to note that some stains may have to be thinned in order to work well in a spray gun, and that will affect the amount of stain that the wood is able to absorb before reaching the saturation point.
When we hand craft our custom cabinets, we are focused on doing the perfect job. This means that we will take the time to hand rub stain into the wood of our cabinets. We believe that taking the time to watch and understand how the stain is absorbing into each piece of wood will result in a more beautiful finish as well as less waste of stain.
So if you’re shopping around for wood cabinets, make sure to ask how each company handles the application of stain onto their cabinets, and if you want the best results, contact us today.

Less is More in Modern Kitchen Designs

You’ve probably seen those ads on television, with the table that gets smaller when the man pushes on it, or the car weaving its way through the legs of dinosaurs. It seems that American companies are finally catching on to the fact that Americans are no longer focused on “bigger is better” like we used to be. There are a number of reasons for this trend, ranging from our still-struggling economy to concerns for the environment and sustainability. Regardless of the reasons, there is no question that today, less is more.
For example, statistics show that, after decades of building ever-larger homes, Americans are now saying that they prefer their homes to be a little smaller. Not tiny, of course, but it seems that the cost of building, maintaining, heating and cooling “McMansions” is finally getting the American homeowner’s attention. This does not, however, mean that the home of the future will shrink to the homes of 100 years ago. What we are recognizing, as a culture, and in the building industry, is that we now have the tools and awareness to be much more efficient with what we design, craft and build.
This is certainly true when it comes to kitchen cabinets. In recent years we’ve begun installing just about everything inside of those cabinets, from pull-out trash cans and spice racks to complicated shift and slide systems that allow every inch of cabinet space in the deep back corner of a kitchen to be totally filled and completely accessible. This means that cabinets are capable of holding much more than they used to, while still being strong, beautiful and a pleasing focal point to any kitchen.
Counter space has also been transformed by these efforts. Many of the appliances and dry goods storage bins that used to live on kitchen counters now fit into specifically designed spaces within cabinets and cupboards. With sufficient counter space now available for use in food preparation and cooking, kitchens do not need to grow any larger, and can sometimes even shrink slightly in size.
To learn about the “more” we are putting into our custom kitchen cabinets, contact us today.

Deciding between Refacing vs Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

The time has come.  You've finally decided that it's time to update your kitchen cabinets.  You will no longer have to look at those awful, dated cabinets that you've been itching to get rid of since you moved in.  But you only get one chance to do this and you want to make sure you're going to be happy with the results for years to come.  Maybe you are considering whether you should reface or replace your cabinets.  It's best to know what's involved before making that decision.


Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
When refacing kitchen cabinets, the cabinet box stays, and the doors get replaced.  The front of the cabinet box will be refinished, often with a wood veneer, and new doors will be attached to give it a brand new look.  While the outside will get a facelift, once you open the doors you'll be looking at the same shelving you've had in the past, so it's best to consider whether that is something you can live with.  Often shelves have wear and tear from years of use and after thinking about it, customers decide they would rather replace everything.  While refacing is often seen as less expensive alternative, it's fairly labor intensive so that isn't always the case.
New Custom Kitchen Cabinets
The word "custom" often makes people think "I can't afford that," but it is surprising how competitive the cost can be compared to other options.  When homeowners weigh the benefits of having an entirely brand new product, designed exactly the way they want it, with space-saving and convenient features, the decision is often easy.
Edgewood Cabinetry offers quality craftsmanship and design in their workmanship to give you the kitchen of your dreams.  If you're ready to update your kitchen, don't settle for refacing cabinets or choose stock cabinets from the big box store before you contact us.  With our price match challenge, we can show you how we can give you brand new custom cabinetry at a competitive price. Check out our photo gallery to start planning your dream kitchen today.

Knobs vs Pulls...Ease of Use for Aging Hands Can Make all the Difference in Quality of Life

Baby Boomers are bursting onto the scene and are changing the face- and lifestyle patterns- of the 'senior market'. Many of today's active seniors are making the choice to age in place rather than move to an assisted living or retirement community. Preparations for an active retirement lifestyle should also come with preparations of the home to adjust for physical changes that inevitably occur.
A growing trend in retirement planning is making alterations to the home before the actual need arises. Some homeowners will make drastic, expensive changes such as replacing the standard bath tub/shower with a walk-in (or if needed, wheelchair accessible) entrance; others install a ramp to replace or accompany a stairway entrance to the home. Mid-priced makeovers may incorporate changes to shower and bath faucets and entry door handles. Installation of alarm or voice communication systems also is a popular choice for safety-conscious seniors. Often, some of the best investments for quality of life come in the least expensive places...
Everyday activities that require repetitive motions can be difficult enough, but when you add debilitating factors of aging such as arthritis these tasks can become a dreaded part of the routine. Consider the cabinetry found in most homes and you will see that they most likely were installed with small metal or plastic knobs. When fingers and hands become arthritic these knobs can be difficult to grasp- some clever inventors have gone so far as to create devices that will grasp and pull them for the user who can no longer get their fingers to bend to that extent. A simple, effective solution is to replace the smaller knobs with ergonomically designed knobs or pulls.
Knobs vs Pulls...Function does not have to compromise style. Quality knobs and pulls can increase efficiency, reduce fatigue and pain, and still keep the kitchen and bathroom looking beautiful. When considering a knob versus a pull, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Pulls

• Pull sizes are specified three ways: overall length, distance between holes and projection.
• Select a pull for add functionality. Pulls are ideal for drawers that might contain heavy pots, pans or pantry items.
• Mount horizontally on center to kitchen cabinet drawers and vertically in the upper corner of base cabinet doors on the unhinged side.

Knobs

• Knobs are specified two or three ways depending on style: diameter of knob, projection and/or diameter of base.
• Select cabinet knobs that look proportional to the size of the kitchen cabinet doors.
• Kitchen cabinet knobs are often installed on the lower corner of wall cabinets on the unhinged side. On base cabinets knobs are often installed in the upper corner on the unhinged side of the cabinet door.

Making improvements or adjustments to your home- at any stage of life- can be a time to increase the function of your cabinetry. Edgewood Cabinetry is proud to offer products from Hafele that will exceed your expectations of functionality and style. When you contact us we will be happy to work with you to make your cabinets meet your expectations for improving your quality of life.

Functional Kitchen Accessories Are Taking Center Stage

Channel surf through the home improvement shows and one thing really stands out, the increasing use of functional kitchen accessories. Part of the trend may be attributed to people’s increasing desire to have an organized but informal kitchen with wide open spaces. So what functional kitchen accessories are hot right now? Let’s take a quick look:
Lazy Susans
Lazy susans are one functional kitchen accessory that’s attracting a lot of attention these days. Although it’s true that the rotating accessories have been around for centuries, the latest models are anything but antiquated. For starters, many are made with coveted materials like gorgeous maple wood, white polymer, chrome and epoxy-coated steel. They also come in different shapes that allow for custom, built-in applications.
Recycling Systems
Of course lazy susans are not the only functional kitchen accessories currently being coveted by Americans. An increasing number of people are also making use of built-in recycling systems. The systems are designed to be unobtrusive and compact as well as functional. When selecting one, today’s consumers may choose from a variety of options. They include, but are not limited to:

• Special features (i.e. backsplashes and foot pedals)
• Assorted color schemes (i.e. bins and accents)
• Under, side and bottoms mounts
• Pull or swing out doors

Organizers and Storage
Other functional kitchen accessories that are enjoying surges in popularity at the moment are associated with drawer and cabinet organization. Among them are wooden inserts and peg systems for silverware and cookware storage. Many of the systems are also designed to be mixed and matched. One of the woods that tend to show up often in such applications is beech. Given its inherent durability and beauty, its popularity comes as no surprise to us. Additional materials found in the organizers’ construction are plastic and chrome.
For a closer look at these and other functional kitchen accessories as well as attractive cabinetry, contact us.