The after photos…

Pictured here are CabinetNow.com’s plank cabinet doors in paint grade maple, painted navy blue. Contractor/Host James Young says “Navy blue is the new grey when it comes to cabinet doors”.

Last Tuesday’s episode featured Shelly, a young homeowner that bought a 1950′s fixer-upper because she figured it was “a good investment”. After fixing up and remodeling most of the house she found herself unsatisfied with the “chaotic”, “outdated” and “disorganized” kitchen. Shelly shares her house with three roommates and they all agreed; the kitchen was old, cramped and in need of a renovation. Cue James Young, the kitchen specialist and U.S. Army veteran, and we have a wonderful premise for a show.

Shelly’s new kitchen

A long vertical shot of the freshly renovated kitchen. At left you can see CabinetNow.com’s shaker glass cabinet doors.

Cabinet refacing vs. whole cabinet replacing

“To save on our budget, we’ll use the existing cabinets but upgrade the doors with sleek, modern, maple flat panels” said contractor James Young.

“We’re replacing the the cabinet doors instead of replacing the whole cabinets. We’re going to save thousands of dollars” said Young when talking about CabinetNow.com’s cabinet doors. “These are smooth flat panel doors–it gives you that contemporary look. We saved some money because we didn’t replace your cabinets, just replaced the doors” Young said. Shelly chimed in “they look great!”.

CabinetNow.com’s solid paint grade cabinet doors and drawer fronts painted white with polished silver knobs for a modern look. Shelly, owner of the kitchen said she was looking for a “cottage modern style” with a little vintage inspiration. Notice the seeded glass in the cabinet doors, pretty spiffy!

Seeded glass for the cabinet doors adds detail

For additional detail in the kitchen, Shelly and James decided to use seeded glass for four of the cabinet doors to give a fresh twist to the traditional cottage look. The four pieces of glass cost $135. To install the glass James Young used homemade wood cleats and silicone instead of rubber stops. CabinetNow.com sells rubber stops for $5, but the wooden cleats work just fine, are easy to install and hold the glass in place quite well. According to Shelly the hardware for all the cabinet door and drawer fronts cost about $50.

“I really like the glass cabinetry. It’s so neat to be able to display items and the modern style doors just ties everything together” Shelly said.

Parquet inlay flooring, new appliances, walnut countertops and two-tone cabinets and doors round out the final design of this beautiful kitchen.

In the end Shelly and her roommates were very pleased

In total the cabinet doors and drawer fronts cost about $1500. Considering Shelly’s budget of $20,000, brand new custom cabinet doors and drawer fronts for $1500 is a just a fraction of the cost (CabinetNow.com even offers free shipping on all order over $1500). For the entire renovation, the project cost came in at about $18,000, so they were under budget and on time, and that’s music to any renovators ears.

“Beautiful” said Shelly’s roommate Amanda. In the end Shelly and co. were very satisfied with their sparkling new kitchen thanks to James Young and a little bit of elbow grease.

Show synopsis

When a financial planning assistant, Shelly bought her 1950′s fixer-upper, she was certain it would be a good long-term investment. She’s tackled many updates herself, and practically doubled the livable space, but the kitchen remains a sore spot for Shelly and her 3 roommates. With a limited budget, licensed contractor James Young shows them how to get the most bang for Shelly’s buck. By reusing the existing cabinetry, coming up with creative storage solutions, and adding stylish, budget-friendly features, James helps them to get a chic, functional kitchen without breaking the bank.

-From DIY Network

Tune in

Photos courtesy DIY Network.

What do you think?

Do you hate your kitchen? Is it just one thing like the cabinet doors, or everything? What do you think about Shelly’s new kitchen? Leave a reply in the comments below.

Solid Panel Shutters from Cabinet Doors

Window Treatment: Raised Panel Solid Shutters – Closed

Window Treatment: Raised Panel Solid Shutters – Open

MDF Panel a Smart Choice for Window Shutters

Revere Door Panel Profile (A.K.A C-Panel)

The material chosen for these shutters was Paint Grade with MDF Panel and as you can see the paint job looks fantastic! Nice work! The frame material is mixed Alder, Poplar, and Maple for sturdiness and the raised panel is made of MDF. The MDF panel is a smart choice for this application; it’s reasonably priced but more importantly it will maintain is shape considering the changes in temperature a window goes through, including cold nights and warm sunny mornings (rainy days too as seen in the photos!).

Another Window: Revere Paint-Grade MDF Panel Cabinet Doors for Window Shutters – Closed

Another Window: Revere Paint-Grade MDF Panel Cabinet Doors for Window Shutters – Open

Patience Pays Off

Finally, here is a comment from the awesome customer herself regarding the cabinet door/window shutter project.

You probably thought I forgot about you. I did not. It has taken me all this time to make the shutters. Having never done anything like this before, it required a lot of thinking and a lot of patience. Nothing to do with the doors I bought from you, though. They were perfect!

Attached are pictures of the finished product. There are two large windows and two small. The pictures are of the shutters on each, open and closed.

We would like to express our thanks to this particular customer. Thanks for staying in touch!

If you would like to send in photos of your finished project, we’d love to see. Please get in touch!

Buying kitchen cabinet doors can be very confusing if you’re not familiar with the various styles – you may know what you like, but how do you describe it? It’s actually fairly simple as there are only several primary styles and just about everything else is a variation of these looks. The first thing to remember is that the basic shape of a cabinet door is rectangular or occasionally square. If you see any other shape, the odds are pretty good that it’s a custom cabinet. The primary styles are:

1. Flush – these kitchen cabinet doors have a surface that’s all on one plane – they’re basically flat although they may have a design routed into the face. Flush cabinet doors are often associated with a contemporary look. Also called “solid” or “plank” cabinet doors.
2. Recessed Panel – if you see a door with a raised perimeter and the center plane is set back into the door, this is considered a recessed panel door. The perimeter width can vary and the recessed center can be square at the top or curved to create an arched or cathedral recessed panel door.
3. Raised Panel – doors with a flush surface and a significant routed design between the perimeter and the center panel are called raised panel doors. The routed area is wide enough to create a defined center panel and if it’s flat across the top, it’s called a square raised panel door. A curved top route can define an arched raised panel door and if the bottom route is also curved, this is called a double arched raised panel door.

Shaker, Mission style, and just about any other kitchen cabinet doors you’ll see are all modifications of these primary styles.

1. Flush

Plank – this is your standard flush cabinet door.

Contemporary – a variation of the plank cabinet door with a round edge on the top and bottom.

European – also considered a flush cabinet door.

2. Recessed Panel

Shaker – a very popular style recessed panel door style.

New Hampshire – a recessed door with intricate routing design.

Atlanta – a recessed panel door style with an arch.

3. Raised Panel

Revere – a popular raised panel door style that you have probably seen.

Liberty – an arched top in a bell shape makes this style stand out.

Juliano – the arch top on this raised panel door style is curved slightly.

→ Click here to see A LOT more panel styles

1. A diverse group of strangers are stranded on an island after their plane crashed.
   
2. They must find a way to work together to survive.

Some survivors play well with others; some never learned how to share toys in the sandbox. Care to guess who survives?

(Clue, these people. Well most of them.)

Some survivors play well with others; some never learned how to share toys in the sandbox. Care to guess who survives?

Without coexistence between the castaways chances of survival are none to even less. An effective social media marketing campaign faces the same ultimate truth. Your contracting/home improvement/design business is probably not staring down a rabid polar bear with nothing more than a rock tied to a stick. However without collaboration with surrounding companies a social media mix stands the same chance of survival.

Online relationships are paramount to getting off the social media island where your brand and messages are completely lost on their audience.  Consistent interaction with other accounts, formal and informal partnerships, and cross promotions will bring you to potential customers and an eager audience. The first step is identifying businesses that are not in competition with your own, and reaching out for first contact. If they know what is good for them they will respond (and usually they do.)

Many think that social media is less “Lost” and more “Field of Dreams.” If you post it, they will come. This could not be further from the truth. The necessity for collaboration cannot be overstated. Over the next few weeks the following pieces will detail how and why survival will not be attained solo:

1. Identify and Introduce (who you should and will be working with)
2. Interaction that Cultivates Online Relationships
3. Formal and Informal Partnerships
4. Cross Promotions

These steps will make your accounts infinitely more dynamic, appealing, and of course FOLLOWED. Disregard these sage words? Your social accounts and viral presence will be stranded on an island alone with little chance of prosperity.

What has been your experience in social media?

One of the most economical ways to give your kitchen a makeover is using rigid thermofoil cabinet doors and drawer fronts (a.k.a RTF cabinet doors). RTF is a foil type material that is applied to particle or fiberboard to give it a finished appearance with the look of real wood. The result is a product that can be cleaned with soap and water, doesn’t easily scratch, and is a fraction of the cost of a solid wood kitchen cabinet door or drawer front.

Colors/Foils for RTF Cabinet Doors

Mission White	Fashion Grey	Antique Matte	949 White
Almond Matte	Sakura Cherry	White Wash Maple	White Smooth
Cherry Pearwood	Wild Cherry	Anigre	Backwoods Sycamore
Wild Apple Light	Windsor Mahogany	Natural Maple

If the preservation of your new purchase is a primary concern, RTF cabinets may be the way to go even before taking their price into account. Nearly every family has a time where their kitchen receives a little love (and a lot of abuse). The ease of upkeep involved with rigid thermofoil cabinets makes them equally kid and klutz friendly.

RTF cabinet doors are available in numerous wood patterns and stain colors or go with the always popular white finish for your remodeled kitchen. The size options are practically endless, but it’s safe to say that doors for most common sized cabinets are available.

Manhattan 5 Piece RTF Cabinet Doors in 949 White

Refacing the rest of your kitchen cabinets is easy when you choose RTF kitchen cabinet doors – just use matching thermofoil covered fiberboard sheets. The panels are easily cut to cover the exposed sides and faces of your cabinets and process can be very DIY friendly. RTF veneer is available at many home improvement stores and most online retailers that specialize in cabinet refacing supplies. Add some new cabinet hardware to put the finishing touch on your attractive new kitchen.

See CabinetNow.com’s RTF Cabinet Doors

Not everyone has an unlimited budget when remodeling their kitchen – using RTF kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts can be a great way to have a little money left over for that French door refrigerator you’ve had your eye on or use that extra cash to throw a celebratory party when your renovated kitchen is complete.

Rogue Square RTF Cabinet Doors in Windsor Mahogany

“OPR-3” RTF Cabinet Doors in 949-White

Considering RTF cabinets for you kitchen or home? Ask a question in the comments below, we are happy to pop in and answer questions.

French Lites: (Left to right) Shaker, Nantucket, San Marino, Atlanta and Manhattan.

Do you have a set of dinnerware you inherited or antique soda glasses you found on Ebay that you’re particularly proud of? One of the best ways to display cherished kitchen related items and accent your cabinets at the same time is to install French Lite doors on one or more of your wall cabinets. CabinetNow.com offers several cabinet door styles in custom sizes that allow you to turn your wall cabinets into display cases that immediately draw your guests’ eyes when they enter the room.

Many homeowners like using a glass cabinet door on a corner cabinet, but they can be placed on any or all of your wall cabinets and may even give your kitchen the appearance of having more depth. If you want to really create a focal point, a small interior cabinet light can add character to your kitchen and even serve as a muted nightlight on dark evenings.

CabinetNow.com doesn’t provide glass for your French Lite cabinet doors, but your local glass company should be able to fix you right up and there are also many cabinet glass companies that offer online shopping. Choose budget friendly and easy viewing clear glass or go with some of the more elaborate styles offered such as tinted, etched, or bubbled glass panels.

Diagram showing the installation of glass in a glass or french lite cabinet door using a rubber retainer.

A question that is often asked is, “How do you install the glass on cabinet doors with french lites?“. Well there are two approaches. The first approach, and also the most common, is to use one single piece of glass mounted in the door. The second approach is to use several pieces of glass, one for each lite, this method is more complicated and requires additional pieces of wood, known as a wood stop, to create the individual lites.

French lite doors from CabinetNow.com are ready to accept the glass and there is no need to take apart the frame. Rubber stops from Hafele (Model: 706.61.411) are designed to fit perfectly in CabinetNow.com doors. Installation is a simple process of placing the glass in the frame and pressing the rubber retainer in to the specially created groove (see diagram).

There are several advantages to using rubber retainers vs. other methods, here are a few:

• They install easily (just press into place)
• They retains glass while at the same time eliminate rattle
• There is no need for molding or caulking that can appear uneven and sloppy
• No staples, screws or glue required!
• Allows glass to “flex” and helps to prevent “torquing”
• Makes it much easier to replace broken panes (ongoing maintenance)

French Lite cabinet doors are a great way to give your kitchen a custom look and provide a place to put that wedding present on display when your in-laws come over to visit.

Unfinished vs. Pre-Finished

If you want your kitchen to stand out from the rest, why not consider unfinished cabinet doors for your remodeling project. Cabinet manufacturers offer many options with their pre-finished models, but the bottom line is – you may still be choosing a finish that’s in your neighbor’s home just down the street. Unfinished cabinet doors and drawer fronts allow you to start with a blank canvas and create your own unique look for your kitchen.

CabinetNow.com offers many options for your custom kitchen – just pick a wood species and door style and let the creative part of your personality do the rest. Combine wood stains until you get the perfect shade that complements your décor and you’re ready to start staining. It’s the same process that’s been used for many years on sand and finish hardwood floors and you can even use it to match the hardwood floors in your kitchen if you so desire.

Reface the Cabinets too?

Refacing your cabinets with an unfinished veneer allows you to stain them at the same time as your cabinet doors and in no time at all, you’ll have your own unique kitchen that may quickly become the envy of your neighbors and friends. The best part is that this quick and easy kitchen makeover costs a fraction of what custom cabinets might run, but that can be your little secret.

If you mix your own special combination of wood stains to end up with your unique color, it can be a good idea to write the names and portions of the stains down for future reference.

Get a Return on your Investment in New Cabinet Doors

Just about everybody could use a good deal during these challenging economic times and you may not find a better bargain than starting your kitchen remodeling project with unfinished cabinet doors from CabinetNow.com. Remodeling Magazine’s 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Survey estimates that homeowners who do a major kitchen remodeling project on their mid-range homes may recoup almost 70 percent of their costs when the time comes to sell their houses. A minor kitchen remodel can recoup over 70%. This is a national average – the percentage could be even higher in your region.

Source: Remodeling Magazine 2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report http://bit.ly/uGQYG1

Reduce Remodeling Costs by Thousands

One of the most economical methods for giving your kitchen a quick makeover is installing one of the numerous styles of cabinet doors and drawer fronts from CabinetNow.com. Using your existing cabinet boxes can reduce your remodeling costs by thousands of dollars. Depending on the size of your kitchen and the style you choose — all new cabinets could easily cost over $10,000 and possibly much more. However, if you have a few DIY skills or have the desire to learn, you can reface your existing cabinet boxes and install new cabinet doors and drawer fronts for a fraction of that cost.

Twists, squares, rectangular, antique, ring, swirls — cabinet hardware is available in many styles. Photo used under Creative Commons from Rodney.

Finishing Touches

Adding stylish cabinet hardware and a few new appliances can be a good way to put the finishing touches on your kitchen’s brand new appearance. Home improvement projects that you do yourself are often more enjoyable to use, but the knowledge that your smart shopping and hard work might have increased your home’s value and you may be getting much of your investment back in the future might be the best feeling of all.

Kitchen Cabinet Doors Before

Wanted to show you the kitchen with the new doors and drawers. [...] matched our sample perfectly and the red cedar worked out great.

Kitchen Cabinet Doors After

Kitchen Island Before

Kitchen Island After

Close up of a hinge

Mortise hinges and non-mortise hinges

Two different types of hinges are mortise hinges and non-mortise hinges. If you choose mortise hinges, the cabinet door and frame will be modified to attach the hinge. If you choose non-mortise cabinet doors, the door does not need to be altered and the hinge will be fastened with screws.

Considering weight

The weight and size of your kitchen cabinet doors will determine how many hinges you need. The heavier the cabinet door, the more hinges you’ll need.

Opening Left or Right

Lastly, figure out which way your cabinet doors will open. Hinges come in right or left-hand varieties.

Armed with this arsenal of information, you’ll be ready to choose the perfect hinges for your new kitchen cabinet doors.

Photo used under Creative Commons from Josh and Melanie Rosenthal.

Beautiful cherry cabinets

Cherry is a popular wood choice for kitchen cabinets, known for its warmth, beauty, and versatility. American black cherry is popular for paneling, but it’s not the only color available. This moderately hard, strong wood also comes in pinkish-brown, off-white, green, and gray. Cherry cabinets darken with age, have a fine to medium grain pattern, and exhibit occasional knots. It resists warping and checking and can be used for either contemporary or traditional designs.

An American Classic

Reddish-brown American black cherry is an American classic. This is what often comes to mind when one mentions “cherry” furniture. Its’ small, purple fruit matures late and its bark is dark with irregular scales. This type of cherry tree grows mainly in east-central North America, grows up to 100 feet tall, and has yellowish sapwood and a darker heartwood which deepens to its trademark mahogany color when exposed to the sun. An interesting fact about cherry is that the sapwood never darkens as deeply as the heartwood.

Standing up to the Test of Time

Cherry becomes even more beautiful with age and stands up well to the test of time. For a good visualization of the the unfinished cherry cabinet doors available at CabinetNow.com, see our cherry cabinet doors.

Photo used under Creative Commons from _rockinfree.