So your ugly kitchen needs a face lift!
Okay, the age of kitchens. If your kitchen feels like it’s stuck in a time warp, holding your soul prisoner to its old-fashioned, worn-out, drab feng-shui…don’t worry. We have more selection available to us than ever before in the history of kitchens.
The options for kitchen cabinets in Toronto and the rest of North America in general are just mind blowing (yes, capitalism). Where do you start?
First things first, how much space do you have in your kitchen? Are you willing to tear down a wall or two to increase the space? How will that affect adjoining rooms?
Once you’ve made up your mind about the space you need, kitchen cabinets are the next item to consider. They are the focal point of the room, the most functional item in the kitchen, and basically the “thing” that “wraps” all the other items in your kitchen.
Whichever you choose will make or break the deal.
There are really 3 options at your disposal:
#1- If budget is the main criteria, stop by IKEA, Lowes, Rona and Home Depot. Cabinets are sold in individual pieces, stock measurements, and you can mix and match with enough variety to go from A to B for the most economically sensible option. The downside is that you are limited in selection. The case frames are laminated and usually their only “upgrade” is the solid doors. Don’t kid yourself, new cabinets are new cabinets and even with this option you can make a drastic upgrade to your kitchen, so if you’re on a tight budget, you still have options.
#2 – Budget is still a criteria, but you just got a bonus at work :). GREAT! Now your choices have been multiplied countless times (I love “countless”… no math involved). There are a plethora of manufacturers selling stock cabinets using “good” quality materials with enough “upgrade” options to give your kitchen the 100k look, without the 100k price tag. Higher quality crown moldings, false pillars, architectural moldings, panels, hinges/closures, etc., when well designed can make your new kitchen the envy of all your friends and neighbors. Consider option 2 as the “doors to the field” have been opened for you. Enjoy the bounty that awaits you in the options available.
#3 – Custom Cabinets… who are we kidding, when budget is NOT a criteria? But let’s say you just got a bonus at work… Think of this as the gates of HEAVEN opening for you. The sky is the limit because now we are talking about habit. Not a peasant like stock measurement/material restrictions (kidding). You can get any material, in any dimension, with custom trim and hinges, pulls, latches, shelves, etc. Of the highest quality. We are talking about hand cut joinery where a single cabinet door can have more than 10 individually cut/joined pieces. We are talking about a truly UNIQUE kitchen. NO ONE else in the world will have the exact same kitchen cabinets as you… pfft… friends and neighbors who?
If you’re in the Option 3 category, you need a designer and you need a custom cabinetmaker. I’m not going to lie to you, many people claim to be custom cabinetmakers. Sure, if custom kitchen cabinets mean your cabinets look like 50 other people’s cabinets…not so custom. For a truly unique design, you need a master cabinetmaker at your disposal, so avoid showrooms and big crews.
There are many manufacturers of custom kitchen cabinets, so be sure to look around and try to find a smaller store with lower overhead. The great sets work out of production, which means templates and a range of selections that are often recycled and reused. Find the small teams… That’s where you tend to find the best deals and the true “Custom” experience.
Whichever option you choose, planning is key. This is something you don’t want to rush into. A smart decision based on budget, design, material selection, and choosing the right vendor can add a tremendous amount of value to your home. Cabinets are undoubtedly the most important element of any kitchen. Best of luck, may the cabinets you choose provide you with years of functional and aesthetic pleasure.