Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling – Refurbish or Replace?

If you want to update your kitchen, but are not sure you want to do a complete remodel, one possibility is to give the room a new look with a kitchen cabinet update. Depending on your budget and your design needs, you can do this by swapping or replacing them. By renovating your cabinets, you can enhance their appearance without modifying the underlying structure. Alternatively, you can start from scratch with a completely new cabinet system.

Kitchen Cabinet Cladding

The simplest and most cost-effective way to renovate your kitchen is to renovate your kitchen cabinets. This may be the best option if you are satisfied with the overall arrangement of the cabinets and their basic structure is still solid. Lining the cabinets involves replacing the doors and drawer fronts, as well as covering the cabinet face frames in a matching color or material. Restoring kitchen cabinets is a quick and inexpensive way to update your kitchen.

Kitchen Cabinet Replacement

In some cases, it may be necessary to replace all of your kitchen cabinets. A well-designed cabinet system can improve the efficiency and appearance of your kitchen, as well as the market value of your home. To determine if replacing your cabinets is the best option, check to see if any of the following apply to you.

Structural weaknesses or problems

Dilapidated cabinets can become a threat to members of your household, as well as any items inside them, should the unit fall. Old cabinets, or those that have suffered mold, water, or termite damage, may have weakened.

Awkward kitchen layout

Poorly arranged cabinets can make cooking a meal feel like running a marathon. A well-designed cabinet system features easily accessible, unobstructed cabinets, the placement of which makes sense relative to your sink, refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher. Properly placed cabinets make cooking easier and your kitchen a more pleasant place to be.

Cabinets are not functional

If you can’t reach the items in the back of your corner cabinets, they are neither useful nor functional. In a functional kitchen, you should be able to make use of all the available space. Cabinets that are not functional due to their height or that are too deep or too deep just take up valuable space that you could be using to free up much-needed counter or shelf space. Kitchen Cabinet Redesign lets you regain control over your cabinets and make them work for you.

Accessibility issues

If you can’t access items in your cabinets without straining or accidentally hurting yourself, it might be time to install new or custom cabinets and make the hardware suit your or your family’s accessibility needs.

If any of these situations apply to you, replacing may be a better option than re-coating. A local remodeling professional who specializes in kitchen cabinet redesign and other remodeling needs, such as custom bathroom cabinets, can find the right design and products to help you meet your custom cabinet needs. Make your kitchen design dreams come true, starting with the cabinets.

~ Flora Richards-Gustafson, 2010