Month: March 2021

Are you planning on starting a kitchen project soon? Have you thought about enlisting the services of a professional? Getting a professional to handle your interior kitchen work can make all the difference.

Whether it is updating your tired finishes, re-imagining the look and layout of your space, or a complete overhaul of the kitchen, working with a professional kitchen designer is highly recommended.

But how do you know you`ve selected the right contractor? Or how do you even talk to a kitchen designer about what you want in your kitchen? Read on to learn everything you need for your kitchen and what to expect from a designer.

When and Why Can I Hire a Kitchen Designer?

Re-designing or remodeling your kitchen is an expensive undertaking. If you intend to remodel your kitchen, it is advisable to hire the best hand on the job, just to ensure that the job is done well, both in form and function.

It is a good idea to hire a professional when you need guidance through the kitchen design process. The kitchen designer will help you with ideas from consultation to installation. Although, not all kitchen upgrades require a kitchen designer. For instance, an interior designer can help with small changes, including replacing the countertop or backsplash. However, for installing new cabinets and other major kitchen projects, a kitchen designer is a better choice..

Kitchen designers know the latest products and trends on the market. They can also recommend good subcontractors and suppliers to the homeowner. Additionally, they can look at your kitchen with fresh eyes and suggest new layouts and appliance configurations.

Narrowing Down Your Options

Sometimes, it is not the design you want that matters most to you, but the choice of the designer to create that design. Before you decide to talk to a kitchen designer, you must already have an idea of the kind of feel and design you want to achieve in your kitchen. To help you narrow down your options to the right designer, you may need to look for similar projects that carry the same feeling you’d like to achieve.

For instance, you can browse through the repertoire of kitchen designs we have at Cabineteria for more options. You also want to look out for a kitchen designer that is a pro in what you intend to achieve. For instance, while looking at the profile of the designer, note the styles and quality projects you see, as that can also give you an idea of the experience level of that designer.

The result you`ll get may also depend on the professional affiliations of the contractor. Independent designers, for instance, may have contractors they work with regularly, but they don’t have any official affiliations with any products or brands.

On the other hand, designers affiliated with a specific product line or kitchen design shop do know the cabinetry, lighting, and flooring of the brands they represent and may play a dual role as both designer and dealer.

The Interview Process

Now that you’ve worked out all the major details you want for the kitchen as well as the kind of designer you`d like to work with, it is time to reach out to the designer. You should schedule at least 3 physical meetings where you get to talk to the kitchen designer and get a glimpse into their style, perspectives, and approach to work. This should also include a visit to the kitchen design shop of that designer.

At this point, ensure you ask all the relevant questions you need to ask, including the price of items, service charge, the designer’s past projects, how long it would take to complete your project, etc.

Plan the Project

Having selected the kitchen designer you`d like to work with, the next thing is to plan the execution of the project. Avoid rushing the process, as much as you can. Talk to the kitchen designer about the size of your kitchen, how you would like to use it, the preferred position for your heavy appliances, how long the project will take, and so on.

It is at this point that the designer begins to structure your kitchen in line with your expectations. You`ll know the kind of cabinets you want to install, and the countertop, flooring, and lighting that is ideal for you. Bear in mind that the planning phase can take up to two months, depending on the designer you are working with and the type of project you want to execute.

Final Thoughts

It is not uncommon for homeowners to want to incorporate an idea that was not initially in the plan after the project gets underway. Yes, you may want to take out or replace something in the interior kitchen work or design, but be sure to talk to the kitchen designer about it before it is too late.

Talk to us today about your kitchen remodel plans at Cabineteria, and we’d be delighted to assist. To explore our rich designs, you can reach us at (708) 78257777 and (410) 8344808 or visit any of our showrooms in Arlington, Baltimore, and Waldorf.

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One of the most common kitchen problems that homeowners complain about stems from kitchen design issues. If the design of your kitchen is gotten right at the beginning, half of the kitchen complaints that homeowners face will not even exist.

If you work with a good designer, these common design problems will be avoided because they’ll first try to understand how you live in your home; how you use or intend to use your kitchen; your lifestyle, kitchen tastes, and habits. All of this applies whether it’s a new building or a remodeling project. Here are some common kitchen problems that need solutions.

Not Enough Storage

Everyone wants more space in their kitchen. This is one of the most common kitchen design problems resulting from poor planning. Soon, you`ll end up having a cluttered, messy room that can often be frustrating. But with proper planning and by executing a few tricks, you can create more space inside a kitchen of any size.

Kitchen corner units, for instance, can make use of otherwise unused space. Therefore, you can use pullout corner organizers to keep the contents within easy reach. Also, drawers are better storage options than cabinets, as they’re easier to access. If your kitchen is small, you can also consider installing upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling.

Common design problems like these can be avoided by carefully factoring in your storage needs at the beginning of the design process.

Badly Planned Layout and Workflow

Another common kitchen design issue is poor kitchen layout. In this case, you hardly will enjoy working in your kitchen. It’s either you`re constantly bumping into something or your clothes keep getting caught by some devices in your way. Sometimes, the essentials you need every day are not within close reach, whereas, a well-designed kitchen should work specifically for you. The workflow and layout should be designed to cater to your individual needs.

This is achievable, but you must work closely with your designer while planning your layout, regardless of whether you prefer a traditional kitchen design or the modern type,

Insufficient Counter Space

Considering that the counter is needed for almost every activity that happens in the kitchen, we can agree that insufficient counter space accounts for a significant number of kitchen complaints. It is either there isn’t enough space on the countertop or it is not positioned where it is needed.

This concern should also be accounted for at the planning stage of the project by the designer. In essence, a good kitchen workflow also gives you enough space on the countertop to work on. A common mistake in this regard is not leaving enough space next to your fridge or oven. For instance, having space next to or opposite your oven and cooktop is important for safety. This is because you won’t have to carry piping-hot food across the kitchen if the counter was close enough for you to set down the food.

Poorly Planned Outlets and Switches

One of the most discomforting kitchen problems that need solutions include poorly positioned wall outlets. You often don’t realize how important these are until you need them. And if they happen to be poorly positioned, it can be quite frustrating. While a kitchen remodeling would take care of it, your kitchen designer ought to consider this in the beginning and hesitate to articulate your desires either.

Let the designer know if you’d like additional outlets or a particular style of switch/outlet, but this must be established during the planning stage.

Plan for Traffic Through Your Working Area

You might need enough countertop space for up to 2 or 3 individuals to operate in the kitchen at a time. This is also a kitchen design problem, and you should work with your designer to achieve this right from the start. Unless this is addressed at the design stage, you`ll likely get under one another’s feet while working on the countertop, trying to reach the fridge, cooktop, or sink.

In a home with children running around, consider how to create enough space to prevent accidents from happening. These are avoidable through careful planning.

Poor Ventilation

Ventilation is key in the kitchen. This is the only part of the house where it is a must-have at all times. A good range hood will help you achieve appropriate ventilation by removing grease, steam, and odors arising from cooking. If unattended to, these stains can stick to walls, cabinet surfaces, appliances like fridges, furniture, and even your clothes. While planning your kitchen, you should also consider getting the most suitable range hood for your kitchen.

Conclusion

Other kitchen design problems include poor task lighting and lack of planning for waste disposal and recycling if need be. But as already mentioned, all these must be established during planning. Think about how you currently use or would like to use your kitchen space, countertops, and so on.

Looking for a good kitchen designer or remodeling contractor to help you achieve the design you want? Reach out to us today at Cabineteria, and you can become one of our happy clients. With our experience in creating and implementing highly-customized kitchen designs, you can be sure of getting the best services. Simply call us at (708) 78257777 or (410) 8344808.

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The kitchen, being as important as it is, happens to be a place in the entire house where space is of paramount importance. A kitchen of any size can actually be made to feel roomy if you know a few tricks. Here, we’ll be talking about how to make a small kitchen look bigger or create the illusion of a space bigger than what you actually have.

Here are 12 ways to make your kitchen look bigger, while still conserving storage, maintaining stylishness, and sustaining sightliness.

1. Consider Getting Shallow Cabinets

You`ll notice that shallow lower cabinets are quite handy for creating more space in a small kitchen. To make a small kitchen look bigger, consider getting 12-inch lower cabinets instead of the 24-inch types.

Using slimmer lower cabinets opens up more space for free movement within the kitchen. However, this may reduce the amount of storage space that you have. But rarely do people use up all the space in their cabinets, so this is still a fantastic kitchen space conservation idea.

2. Reduce Your Hardware

One of the best ideas to make a small kitchen look bigger is by decluttering your countertop. It is no brainer that reducing the number of kitchen equipment on your countertop or moving out the non-essential hardware will instantly free up more space. You can install cabinet doors with touch-activated latches or integrated reach-in pulls during your kitchen remodeling project to make the space free and breezy.

3. You May Not Need A Double Sink

While a double sink is a slick idea, you might want to consider installing a single sink to free up more usable space within your new kitchen.

For instance, a 36-inch sink cabinet will give you a double sink, while a 24-inch sink cabinet will give you a single sink, but it will also free up 6 inches of space. This extra space 6 inches of adjacent space can be used for something much more important or create more space for free movement or storage.

4. Choose a Compact Dishwasher

You can save an extra 6 inches of usable space by installing a compact dishwasher, otherwise known as condo-sized dishwashers. They have a smaller 18-inch width, compared to the 24-inch width of standard dishwashers. And guess what? Compact dishwashers are growing in popularity.

5. Go With a Slimmer Fridge

One of the most effective ways to make your kitchen look bigger is by installing a smaller fridge. Most people prefer a large refrigerator or freezer, but that isn`t necessary if you`re not using it to store food constantly. In most cases, you`ll be fine with a smaller fridge that frees up enough space for more use within your new kitchen.

6. Consider Using Panel Appliances

When looking to make a small kitchen look bigger, an idea worth considering is switching to panel appliances. Unlike compact appliances, you can achieve a lighter look and a breezy space with panel-ready appliances such as dishwashers and fridges.

7. Mirror Your Backsplash

A mirrored backsplash is a tip to make any small kitchen look bigger. Your kitchen space will usually feel the smallest when you’re busy working on the stove or doing the dishes. To create the illusion of more space in your kitchen, you can use a mirror for the backsplash. You may also consider a tinted glass for a more subtle reflection.

8. Use Open Upper Cabinets

If you must install upper cabinets, then a smart way to create the illusion of more space is to remove the cabinet doors and convert them to shelves for holding your everyday-kitchen essentials like storage jars, recipes, and cookbooks.

9. Use Glass Door Cabinets

To make the look of your cabinet much airier, you can switch from the traditional wooden front doors to glass doors. In fact, this can add to the classy feel and style in your kitchen when used to display some special wares.

10. Install Cabinet Lighting

One place within your home, where extra illumination is often needed is in the kitchen. But most times, the only source of lighting in the kitchen is from the ceiling, which is often not enough.

To spice things up, you can add extra lighting under, above, and inside the cabinets. This also has a way of making the room feel much brighter and bigger, thereby easing your quest on how to make a small kitchen look bigger.

11. Use a Short Backsplash

To further enlarge the space you’ve successfully created, consider using a short, space-conserving backsplash with a color that blends with your kitchen wall. You can keep the planes of the wall looking taller by eliminating the dividing line between the starting point of the plain wall and where the tile stops.

Another option here is to install a tile that extends all the way to the ceiling or you can create a mirror-effect and a subtle sheen appearance by installing a stainless steel backsplash (if your budget can accommodate it).

12. Unwrap Your Hood

The partial cabinets wrapping around the hood fan usually serve to hide the ductwork only. You can use a beautiful range hood that can be seen, so you can create a little visual break from the upper cabinets.

Interested in more practical tips on how to make your kitchen look bigger? Contact us today at Cabinetera for the best ideas on how to increase the size of your kitchen space.

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Remodeling your kitchen often comes with several concerns. These include style, designs, and color. Of all these concerns, the choice of the perfect kitchen cabinet color can be a bit frustrating. New homeowners often consult with kitchen remodeling contractors and interior designers for help in choosing the best kitchen cabinet colors.

 

The good news, however, is that there is a wide variety of choices to pick from. Many people often go for all white or dark brown colors, but other amazing colors can add beauty and style to your kitchen. There are many different hues and shades in one color. All you need to do is find a color that matches the fixtures or appliances in your kitchen. Also, note that it is essential to ensure the kitchen cabinet color you settle for adds to the ambiance in your kitchen.

If you are having trouble selecting a suitable color for your kitchen cabinet, here`s a guide to help you make the best choice in 2021. For practical professional opinion and assistance, you will need to contact an expert for help. Otherwise, you can go the DIY route and for that, we have you well-covered.

1.   Black Cabinet color

Unlike white, black is not a very popular color. But when used right, it can be a beautiful sight to see. With the right mix of appliances color and other kitchen fixtures, black kitchen cabinets can be the best thing to happen to your cooking space.

It may be edgy but it has a classic feel. Some people love pitch black, while others prefer a toned-down version, such as off-black by Farrow & Ball, which is so fitting no matter the style of your kitchen.

2.   Mixed Wood Tones

One of the trendy kitchen cabinet colors is mixing natural wood and painted cabinets. The use of kitchen cabinet paint colors has been in vogue for years, but much recently, more people are adopting this in their homes. Here, you see lower wood cabinets of a particular color and upper cabinets painted in a complementary color. This adds texture, warmth, and depth to your cooking space.

3.   Muted Shades

These days, designers and homeowners are beginning to embrace kitchen cabinets with muted colors, such as navy, ivories, deep greens, and even charcoal. Gone are the days when kitchen cabinet color ideas hovered only around all-white and gray.

4.   White Cabinetry Colors

This is one of the oldest and still trending kitchen cabinet color ideas. White kitchen cabinet paint colors bring a crisp, classic appearance to your kitchen. When installing white kitchen cabinets or switching your cabinet colors to white, you should pair them with matching fittings and kitchenware. For instance, traditional elements, such as subway tiles are better paired with white kitchens colors.

5.   Gray Kitchen Cabinetry

Gray kitchen cabinets have been a timeless favorite of many people. Gray paint colors remain the favorite for homeowners with a classic taste and also for those with a contemporary preference. When choosing gray cabinet colors, it is advisable to pay attention to the undertones (the ceiling, tiles, appliances, sink, etc) – whether they`re warm or cool.

6.   Creamy White Color

Creamy white kitchen cabinet colors have been trending for a few years now, and we can expect to see more of them in 2021. Its popularity is probably because of the wide variety of options it offers homeowners when it comes to pairing it with other kitchen fixtures and appliances.

7.   Sage Green — Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon

Sage green is another luscious kitchen cabinet color, according to Jessica Salomone, the interior designer of Lotus and Lilac Design Studio. The Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon hue comes highly recommended by the designer. It is perfect for a broad range of decorating tastes. Whether you have a traditional or modern taste, you’ll find that it creates the perfect backdrop of a farmhouse feel in your kitchen, inspiring you with more creativity for designing the rest of the kitchen.

8.   Blue and Green

This is a move toward darker and moodier colors, and so far, they’ve come out all nice and beautiful. If you love dark and calm ambience within your kitchen, then you should consider this color for your cabinets.

9.   Old World-Inspired Hues

According to Young Huh of Young Huh Interior Design, the preference for wood finishes and warm colors is on the increase. It is more like a return to colors with an old-world charm, though they’re being used in a contemporary way.

10.  Classic Blue

This represents a classic taste in kitchen cabinet paint colors. Like most contemporary kitchen colors, when contrasted with select colors, classic blue can bring out an appeal that you want to appeal. It fits well with brushed nickel hardware and stainless-steel appliances.

Do You Need Help With Selecting Your Kitchen Cabinet Color?

If you find the process of selecting the best kitchen cabinet color seems daunting for you, don`t worry. Many homeowners find themselves in the spot. Our team of experienced interior designers at CabinetERA can help you create the perfect ambience you so desire in your kitchen. To book an appointment, reach out to us today at 703-782-5777, 410-834-4808, or 301-691-3232.

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