Kitchen remodeling using fine kitchen cabinets has become quite expensive over the years and sometimes people simply run out money at the end of a large project. The unforeseen problems like faulty wiring or plumbing may have absorbed more of the allotted funds than were budgeted and you must make changes in your allowances in order to finish the job.  The quality of desirability of fine kitchen cabinets for that look of a custom job may have to be realized at a later date. Ready made cabinets that you purchase and install yourself can sometimes keep you within a budget and promote the project's completion.

     The mere composition of any new set of fine cabinets used in your Austin kitchen remodel can either make their installation a frustrating experience or aid in the process.  Harder woods like oak, maple, pecan, or hickory can be tougher to deal with because of their hardness.  Drilling holes, cutting, or fitting to a tight tolerance will prove to be a harder task to accomplish when you aren't working on softer woods like pine, cherry, or poplar.  Fastening can also be a problem while using the harder woods requiring pilot holes to be drilled.   When installing the crown molds at the ceiling or the cove moldings in the inside corners where the cabinets meet the wall always use caution and pre-drill when possible to prevent splitting. 

     Once you get your new cabinets home open up the boxes and let them stand in the room where they will be installed for some four to six hours.  This will  acclimate the cabinets to your building's temperature and humidity and help prevent the wood from moving once the cabinets are installed.  Don't be surprised if you still have to make some slight adjustments to your new cabinets once they take on their new environment.  Be sure that you go into a stud when screwing on the carcasses through their fastening areas.  This will insure that your new cabinets will stay hung in place and prevent future injuries from a falling wall cabinet.

     Remodeling in Austin, Texas like most other cities includes many of the same aspects.  Be sure to choose a local qualified remodeling contractor whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally.  You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only.  The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities.  This is not new construction and the use of the European cabinetry must be accommodated for.  His professional remodeling experience will include his capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards.   These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be avoided while enabling a remodeling design to come to reality.  His experience can also aid you in accomplishing remodeling upgrades that include disability issues.  The job needs to flow between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome.  This too is a reflection on his remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

Austin Kitchen Remodels

 

Bathroom Upgrades

    Whether you're looking for a local residential construction contractor to accomplish a kitchen remodel or a construction professional to complete an entire gutting and remodel of your entire home including a home office transformation,  the final accenting finishes most likely will include the use of fine cabinetry. The choice between frameless European and Northern face frame cabinetry styles will highlight any design.  

 

 

     Green building is all about using fewer natural resources and less energy while making buying decisions that are better for our health and the planet.  You should now consider restoring rather than replacing your kitchen cabinetry because green kitchen cabinets are your old kitchen cabinets.  This is one of our options since green doesn't always mean buying new stuff.  Another way to look at the big picture is the idea of becomming greener through reusing and restoring what we already have.

      Restoring your existing cabinets during a kitchen remodel causes fewer environmental problems rather than buying new no matter what new environmentally friendly materials you've chosen to construct your new cabinets.  There will be less to haul away to the landfill from a total tear out and fewer raw materials to mine and harvest.  The best part of this scenario is that refurbishing your existing cabinets is and should be cheaper than replacement.  Be advised that it is fruitless trying to salvage cabinets with structural problems or those that are poorly constructed using cheap materials.

     Your  "new to you"  fine kitchen cabinetry can be accomplished by either a simple paint job or refacing your old kitchen cabinets for staining.  The cheapest solution is repainting with a low VOC paint and this task can additionally be accomplished by the owner.  This will more than likely give you some new kitchen remodel ideas. The painted cabinets can be kicked up a notch by replacing the hardware that was stripped prior to painting.  Refacing the cabinets with either veneer or 1/4" plywood will give you that natural look and uses fewer natural resources than buying  new ones.   This will totally revive the cabinet carcass boxes.  You can further push the beauty meter by installing new doors and drawer fronts of a matching wood species.   Installing the new pulls and hinges will give the appearance that the old cabinets were totally replaced. 

     Whether you paint or resurface the old existing cabinets the installation of new countertops will enhance your kitchen upgrade and improve both the look and functionality of your  "new" greener workspace.

A Typical Used Kitchen That Has Possibilities

The above Turned Into This New Fine Cabinetry

     Once you have decided to commit to that kitchen transformation you need to determine if it will consist of a complete overhaul or just making a few needed updates.   You can rest assured that with the right choices you can get an eighty to one hundred percent return on your investment.  This means that you can basically increase your home's value by the amount of money you spend on the kitchen upgrade as long as you've made the right design choices.

     Kitchen remodel ideas in Austin are quite numerous.  First of all consider the layout of your cooking zone around your stove.  Include your microwave and toaster into this area.  Think about the proximity of your spices and the cabinets that will contain your pots and pans.  These items should remain close to the cooking zone so that you don't waste time wandering around looking for things.  And don't forget that gadget drawer(s)!

     The most important aspect of your kitchen is it's organization.  Implement some major organizational design ideas within your new kitchen.  You should never interrupt your work triangle formed by the stove, refrigerator, and sink with a lot of foot traffic.  Ideally the total footage for the triangle has always been fifteen feet of travel distance but this is harder to accomplish in the larger luxury type kitchens.  Pantries can really increase the triangle's distance if they are located too far away. 

     You must also make some energy minded choices for efficiency by choosing the correct lighting and lighting systems and by installing energy star appliances.  One of the greener approaches to a kitchen upgrade is to consider restoring instead of replacing your cabinets.  This can be accomplished by either painting or refacing your existing cabinets.

     Being sure that your new kitchen is easy to clean is also an important consideration when making design decisions.  Choose worktops made of easily cleaned materials that will compliment your lifestyle.  Keep all those colors sparkling and bright to prevent light from being absorbed between the worktop and back splash.

     Designing your new kitchen can be a bit overwhelming at times because there are so many things to be considered.  Do your research and make a list of your needs and prioritize those needs.  Take your time considering every aspect because it's much easier to erase a line on the design paper before it's actually built.

A Modern Upgraded Kitchen

 Commercial Cabinets Austin, Texas

     Using larger commercial cabinetry designs can compensate for the lack of separate office space if the occupants sharing the new facility participate in only one group or a single activity.  The larger pieces can be located within a crowded common room or set aside to stand alone.  They have the capability of bringing a like group together only to accomplish a given task.

     Austin commercial cabinets incorporating multiple work stations can be used as a greeting place to begin business with your customers or as a place to conclude business. Multiple work stations are great in teaching facilities requiring access to an individual computer setup.  They can be seen in bank teller desks, sales towers (see attached photo), or the main desk in a fine hotel or airport. Use them to accomplish different activities within a given space as in a guard or security area (see attached photo) of a facility. Each is totally efficient when used for a single duty.

     Whether you are dealing in commercial bathroom remodeling, breakroom upgrades, or are in the need of an interesting reception desk you will need the help of a reputable commercial contractor.  Every design that will be located within the common area must follow ADA rules for accessibility. Service desks should have designated areas with lowered heights and roll under capabilities to serve the people with special needs.  Any commercial cabinetry not located within the common area can take on standard heights and depths.

     There are basically two styles of ADA vanities that comply with an unobstructed roll under area below the sink.  This capability has everything to do with both the water supply lines and the main waste line connecting the sink.  There must be provisions made to protect the user from being scalded when coming into contact with any one of the plumbing pipes serving the sink.  These connecting pipes may become heated merely by the water passing through them creating the problem.  The open type model should always receive both waste and supply insulating jackets applied directly to the pipes providing protection for the wheelchair user.  The closed model concealing the pipes will be equipted with a removable face or face board covering the pipes.  This pipe concealing panel must be installed at the correct angle.  This allows for the needed unobstructed legroom required for the  user.  The vanity can extend beyond the sink but the area containing the sink is required to have this roll under capability.   This section of the vanity must not be any taller than 34 inches above the finished floor with sufficient lower clearance.  Clear unobstructed reach distances around the countertop area must be observed.  Any motion controlled sensors integrated into the various dispensing devices and/or plumbing fixtures throughout the restroom present a true hands free benefit to all the restroom users.  If these aren't in the budget then at least wrist handles used for controlling the faucet can be incorporated into the design of the vanity.  Furthermore, automatic flush valves should be used on all toilets and urinals that provide for hands free use.

 

Multiple Computer Work Stations

 

     Commercial fine cabinetry can support undermounted monitors providing for the full desk top area, pull out keyboard trays which also conserve space, or CPU mounts that conceal and keep the machines out of the way or taking up space within a given cabinet. These customized cabinets can give your business a sleek, efficient, and organized appearance and assist in keeping clutter out of the public eye.  Many configurations are possible to house the work stations in any required number.  Just remember that careful thought for function is required prior to settling on a design and don't forget to make your facility ADA accessible if the general public will be served.

     Whether you are dealing in commercial bathroom remodeling, breakroom upgrades, or are in the need of an interesting reception desk you will need the help of a reputable commercial contractor.  Every design that will be located within the common area must follow ADA rules for accessibility. Service desks should have designated areas with lowered heights and roll under capabilities to serve the people with special needs.  Any commercial cabinetry not located within the common area can take on standard heights and depths.

     Commercial cabinetry, because of the increased use, must pass the durability test.  Many people use and are constantly around pieces like reception desks and the traffic must flow well.  All surfaces must be durable and be able to take a pounding.  Proper drawer guides must be adequately matched with drawer content weight.  Shelf brackets should also fit the weight of the materials they are holding up.  Counter tops must be tough but look sharp.  Reach limits must be realized and comfortable so that the user never has to leave his or her chair.

     Perhaps your getting a break at the workplace and are given the chance to work remotely from home or maybe it's just something  you've always wanted to create for your own privacy.  For what ever reason customized home offices are becoming very popular in this day and time in our digital world.  There seems to always be emails that need to be dealt with  or personal research endeavors on the internet.  Many homeowners are feeling the need for a defined space within their home.

     Well thought out home office transformations and home office designs in Austin can provide you with that secluded space to both function and concentrate away from all of life's minor distractions. In order to make your new working area fully functional for all your specific needs you must first identify those needs. What do you want to accomplish on a daily basis within your new office?  Plan out the command center, starting with your desk, and visualize your monitor's new location.  Know where items like the printer, CPU, keyboard, or mouse will be located.  Will they be visible or concealed?  The careful design of fine cabinetry in your new office can provide for any specific needs.  Good planning will solve any other problems you might face concerning storage that weren't better served by one or more of the fully shelved closets.

     A typical custom desk can utilize a pullout keyboard unit with mouse tray, either an open CPU storage or one concealed by a beautiful hardwood door, plus the standard file and other specialty drawers.  The printer can be concealed on a pullout tray behind a drawer front or simply placed on the desk top with the monitor.  Storage for small office items can be accomplished using an upper unit which sits on the desk top in the old "Roll Top" fashion of design. (See Attached Photo)  Your desk can sit against the wall or out in the middle of the room.  Again, function!

 

     What other custom office cabinetry would help you to function properly?  Do you have a lot of books and want to display them?  Maybe you want to display only a select few.  Should you protect the visible books with a pane of glass set into a door or leave them out on an adjustable shelf within your new bookshelves?   Do you have enough books to go from floor to ceiling in one unit or can you use a credenza near the floor that is even deeper than the upper bookshelves?  The credenza can contain a series of drawers over pairs of doors hiding adjustable shelves.

     If your design requires hardwood raised panels on the finished sides of the desk this design can spill over onto the walls creating that "courtroom" look.  The wooden raised paneling can go from the base board to the ceiling's crown molding or used only as a lower wainescot with cap molding.  And hey let's not forget about the ceiling to share some of the new woodwork.  This repetition of style can also enhance a more sleeker European look formulated in the framess appearance of the fine cabinetry.  With only imigination to slow you down remember to design for function.

     A combination of six faces defines nearly any given room.  The four walls receive the most preparation since they are usually the focal point as one enters the room.  Much time is spent to achieve just the right color, texture, and appearance to create that lasting impression.  The fifth surface, the floor, is generally designed for durability and comfort keeping with the rooms color scheme.  It too has a great deal to do with the general feeling of the room and as such is always considered in conjunction with the walls.  The final surface at the ceiling level is hardly ever taken into account in the finish schedule beyond that of getting a coat of color scheme blending paint. 

     One may never realize this last face even exists until they are lying in bed staring upward at a very common and unimaginable sight.  This most recently neglected surface having  such great potential has simply been made boring with the invention and use of drywall.  The old out of sight, out of mind gesture kicked in following the sheetrock revolution.  Consulting with a residential construction professional in Austin can give you some workable ideas.

     Long before drywall was slapped upon the ceiling and left to disappear in monotony, ceilings were both ornate and beautiful.  Wood was generally used on the ceiling enabling beams, coffered units, and box ceilings to be limited only by creativity. Klapp board houses had boarded ceilings covered with cheese cloth so that colorful wall paper could be hung.  Beaded and v-groove boards were another way to make ceilings interesting.  A metalic look was obtained using stamped tin panels of many patterns.  When all else failed and a homogeneous look was desired plaster was used.

     The look of fine cabinetry along with detailed woodwork and trim can be used on the ceiling to make any job more interesting and "kick it over the top".  You can combine creative  woodwork with faux or actual metal surfaces for that certain but different look.  Beamed and coffered ceilings also create a warm and rich feeling that is beyond the norm. Any use of these special ceilings will give any bath or kitchen upgrade a unique overall feel and look.  They can enhance bedrooms, home offices, libraries, vestibules or any room you'd like to reveal a looming accent. 

How would you like waking up to this Oak ceiling daily?

Try spending some of those building funds on the aspects that are only seen when you're at total rest and staring up into dullness!

     If you plan to remodel the ‘food production room’ in your home, then choosing your kitchen cabinets is probably going to be part of the plan. Not surprisingly, kitchen cabinetry is up for scrutiny in terms of the modernization tsunami changing home decor trends in recent times.

     Modern cabinets are breaking away from the ornate design found in traditional cabinet styling, rather reflecting minimal trends such as simple, clean design features. Streamlining and modernizing kitchen cabinetry or the storage cabinets used in bathroom transformations works in tandem with other kitchen or bathroom furnishings.  The use of new-age quartz countertops with complimentary glass tile backsplashes is becoming the norm.

     To the untrained eye a cabinet is just a box within a given space that fulfills a storage need.  But have you ever taken the time to look closer at the cabinet's makeup beyond the cost?   Before investing your hard earned money into cabinetry for a fine bathroom or kitchen upgrade take some time to get acquainted with the cabinet's parts and pieces.

     Cabinets are like anything else in our lives and sometimes we can be deceived by the bells and whistles the cabinet manufacturers want us all to see.  They create a sense of false quality for the consumer by blinding them with noticeably concealing finishes  masking the innermost important aspect of the cabinets general makeup.  In the North American face frame cabinet type the use of hardwood stiles and rails covered by hardwood cabinet doors fills the bill.  The most important weight bearing carcass sides, the top, and bottom or floor in a base cabinet are buried by the outer window dressing. The makeup of these aspects  is not aesthetic but structural.  These are the parts that sit perpendicular to the floor holding up the cabinet top and whatever is upon it.  They may cut this expense by using 1/2" or 5/8" thick matrix materials like MDF or particle board and covering these with a vinyl similar to shelf paper that creates "picture wood"of any wood species.  The European frameless cabinet types are generally covered entirely in a thin plastic exterior as in the case of melamine which covers up the particle board insides.  Check out the picture below representing how a simple plumbing leak creating melamine failure has lead to an entire cabinet replacement.  This customer had no choice!

     Our kitchens are no longer the "Orphan Annie’s” of our homes. This space now integrates with the rest of the home, and beautifully remodeled kitchens now serve as the main meeting space for our friends and families. You can even have wireless built into the kitchen cabinetry to power up all manner of gadgetry. It all goes to prove that kitchen cabinet design trends are moving in line with advances in technology, and why not – kitchens are the hearts of our homes.

     Their next trick is to associate quality cabinet type buzzwords like dovetail jointed drawers, European concealed cup hinges or other specialty hardware, special finishes or paints, and hardwood trim with faces as mentioned above.

     Fine cabinetry Austin, Texas consists of an entire 3/4" plywood carcass with a 1/4" plywood back.  The plywood gives you some moisture protection against a leaking sink drain trap or faulty supply line or stop valve.  European frameless cabinets can be painted on the interior using oil base enamels then covering all the visible exterior surfaces plus the doors and drawer fronts along with their edges with any choice of high pressure plastic laminate.  North American face frame cabinets can either be painted or stained and finished with polyurethane.  The finish on the plywood makes even more less vulnerable to moisture problems. 

     Don't get sucked into thinking that quality is behind the brightest glowing box on the sales floor and never forget that you get what you pay for in this life especially where cabinetry is concerned.  Do your homework!

      Know that a kitchen remodel is not a DIY situation and that you will need to consult with a residential remodeling professional at some point. Be sure to choose a local qualified kitchen remodeling contractor whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally.  Check out the reviews on the company to find out how clients have responded to their experiences. You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only.  The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities.  The use of many finishes must be accommodated for.  His professional remodeling experience will include the capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards.  These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be possibly avoided while enabling a remodeling design to come to reality.  Don't forget that you get what you pay for and it certainly isn't about the lowest bid but the remodeling company's integrity and knowledge.  Some CAPS certified remodeling companies have the experience and education to assist you in accomplishing remodeling upgrades that include accessibility or disability issues.  It is important that the job flows between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome.  This too is a reflection on his remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

     Fine Kitchen Cabinetry in Austin, Texas is about the cabinet carcass and the finishes applied to it's front making up a Northern face frame or a frameless European look of your fine cabinetry.  Each type will accommodate mounting doors using a concealed cup Euro 32 mm bore hinge and installation is accomplished by varying the type of mounting plate that attaches to the carcass. The mounting plates are specific for the design once the doors are applied in an overlay fashion.  If the doors are recessed to be flush with the carcass face then other types of hinges can be used such as wrap around or door stile bore types.  Non concealed hinges come in many forms such a strap, Youngdale kerf units, flush, or offset and are used to create a certain style such as an antique look.  These hinges also come in many finishes like brass, chrome, or black to name a few.

 

• Door styles include Flat Panel, Raised Panel, Shaker, Lip Molded, and Slab
• We Create Interesting Cabinets by Varying Both The Height and Depth Along a Cabinet Line
• Featuring Red or White Oak, Poplar, Alder, Cherry, Walnut, Maple, Birch, Ash, Pecan, and many other Exotic Wood Species
• We offer full extension drawers with SOLID WOOD construction for durability mounted on ball bearing guides
  
• Our cabinets contain fully adjustable shelving supported by metal pilasters
• Many choices of hinges are available from concealed 32mm hidden hinges by Blum or many other surface mounted varieties
• Many convenient pullout options for convenience and clutter reduction are available used for  pantries, trash cans, mixer lifts, or under sink storage to name just a few

 

     Frameless European cabinets can either be wooden or covered in plastic laminate per your choice for your Austin kitchen remodel.  The laminated application makes for a cleaner application and provides for easy maintenance.  These doors are flat with no crevices to conceal grease and grime. 

     If you go for the wooden look there are many choices from which to choose.  These include a slab as above with the edges banded with heat tape or a 1/4" rip of the same wood specie as the door, a flat slab using a lip molding on the edge creating a 3/8" offset door, a raised panel with a 3/4" insert, a flat panel with a 1/4" insert, or a Shaker style with a varying divisions of the face.

     Any of these will work for a kitchen or bathroom cabinet remodel Austin, Texas and it is truly a personal preference.  So whether you are furnishing a new kitchen or bathroom space or are going for a kitchen or bath upgrade be sure you consider all the possibilities and design the room for function.

 

Raised Panel Doors Can Be Square, Single, or Double Arched

    

     If you plan to remodel the ‘food production room’ in your home, then choosing your kitchen cabinets is probably going to be part of the plan. Not surprisingly, kitchen cabinetry is up for scrutiny in terms of the modernization tsunami changing home décor trends in recent times.

     Modern cabinets are breaking away from the ornate design found in traditional cabinet styling, rather reflecting minimal trends such as simple, clean design features. Streamlining and modernizing kitchen cabinetry works in tandem with other kitchen furnishings such as new-age countertops and complimentary backsplashes.

     To determine what style of kitchen cabinets are in your home you need to look  directly into their face beyond the doors.  Are they the face frame North American type or are they the European frameless version?  Fine cabinetry comes in many choices to suit your desires.

     The face frame North American type has long been a popular cabinet style.  It is characterized by the plywood cabinet box, or carcass, having a 3/4" thick hardwood front frame  application of 1 1/2"-2" widths.  These are present on both the vertical components, or stiles, and on the horizontals called rails.

     The frameless European style is just the carcass without any face frame yielding only a 3/4" outward appearance at the stiles and rails.  Both the frameless and the face frame styles use the same carcass body enabling the same European hinges, drawer guides, and cabinet legs to be used.

     The greatest difference is seen once the door or drawer fronts are mounted on fine cabinetry in Austin, Texas.  The European frameless type makes the adjacent door spacings smaller showing less of the stile beyond.  The framed units have more space between the door applications showing more of the stiles and rails beyond. 

    Frameless is a little less expensive to construct than the face frame style so that it really becomes a matter of personal preference and different styles can be mixed within the same house using one type in the kitchen and the other in the bath.

A Typical European Cabinet Design

Typical Face Frame Look

     Typically bathroom vanities are 21" deep and approximately 29" tall. The depth is not a problem but most folks would prefer a universal design height of 34".  This height will work for your son or your father making the vanity more accessible to all.   Fine cabinetry is a must for any bathroom makeover.  As for the vanity, you can work your way down from the upgraded cabinet top that has been installed at the correct height for you.  The vanity should have adequately accessible storage satisfying your needs.  Incorporating  easy operating and properly sized drawers and pull out shelves within the design can be very beneficial.  Linen, medicine, and "over the potty" wall cabinets need to be well thought out. The correct species of wood used for the construction of your fine cabinetry and the style of you cabinet doors are two very important factors to consider.  Remember, you do have a choice and you are going to be looking at these new cabinets for a while.

     There are basically two styles of ADA vanities that comply with an unobstructed 27" tall roll under area below the sink.  ADA sinks with a rear drain location provide for better plumbing drain hook ups.  This modification has everything to do with both the water supply lines and the waste line connecting the sink.  There must be provisions made to protect the user from being scalded when coming into contact with any one of the plumbing pipes serving the sink.  These connecting pipes may become heated merely by the water passing through them creating the problem.  The open type model should always receive both waste and supply insulating jackets applied directly to the pipes providing protection for the wheelchair user.  The closed model concealing the pipes will be equipped with a removable face or face board covering the pipes.  This pipe concealing panel must be installed at the correct wheelchair user clearance angle.  This allows for the needed unobstructed legroom required for the  user.  The vanity can extend beyond the sink but the area containing the sink is required to have this roll under capability.  This section of the vanity top must not be any taller than 34 inches above the finished floor with sufficient lower leg clearance.  Clear unobstructed reach distances around the counter top area must be observed.  Any motion controlled sensors integrated into the various dispensing devices and/or plumbing fixtures throughout the restroom present a true hands free benefit to all the restroom users.  If these aren't in the budget then at least wrist handles used for controlling the faucet can be incorporated into the design of the vanity.  Furthermore, automatic flush valves should be used on all toilets and urinals that provide for hands free use.

    A completely serviceable special needs bathroom must contain at least one ADA vanity and the accessible route must be defined.  The vanity must be one with a clear underneath scald protected area having an unobstructed roll under capability for wheelchairs.  These new residential vanities do not need to look institutional.  They can be designed like any other piece of fine furniture.  A five foot turning radius allowing the wheelchair to maneuver into any approach must also be associated with the ADA vanity.  A 36x48" clear approach area to the vanity must be observed and this can overlap the five foot turning radius.  The area of travel will then be enhanced by an unobstructed clear accessible barrier free route dedicated to reaching the vanity.