Aren't All Cabinets Pretty Much The Same?

Typically, the new cabinets for a kitchen remodeling project make up the largest portion of the total budget, but it always surprises me when people take little interest in how the cabinets are built, what materials are used, and what level of quality is in the hardware, finishes, and accessories.  I spend a lot of time educating our clients (and I'm happy to do it!) so that they can make informed choices based on real comparisons. And for the client who wants to add quality and value to their home, and who will be enjoying their newly remodeled space for a number of years, it is in their best interest to learn about the many differences in cabinet construction and materials.  Sometimes, however, clients just don't want to sift through all the information and they feel overwhelmed by all the cabinet details that we "in the trade" are accustomed to dealing with every day.  They would rather just trust me to provide them with high quality cabinets that will still keep them within their budget. I am happy to have earned that level of trust with many of my clients, and my goal is always to try to exceed their expectations.  Most people understand that you cannot get "all the bells and whistles", and  fine quality, for bargain basement prices.  If they were referred to us by one of our previous clients, they are aware of the high level of craftsmanship and customer service that our company is known for, and that we eschew low quality cabinetry and sub-standard installation methods. 

Sometimes, if a client is fixing up their house to sell it, they only care that the cabinets will "look nice" and the longevity and quality of the product and finishes are not a priority at all.  I realize that they don't want to make a large investment in cabinetry that will very soon be owned by someone else.  I understand their priorities and objectives in this case, and I can guide them in the direction of a cabinet design and purchase that makes the most sense for them and their budget.  Still, my goal is (and always will be) to make sure they are receiving a quality product and a functional, aesthetically pleasing design.  Period.

In future posts, I will be going into more detail regarding the different cabinet construction methods and the variety of materials used for building cabinets.  People generally associate the words "custom cabinets" with a high quality product.  The truth is that not all custom cabinets are created equal.  I have seen some custom shops that are turning out a very sub-standard product, and their customers believe they are getting high quality ---- because of the word "custom".  It's annoying that they can get away with this type of deception, but the best thing I feel I can do is to educate people when I can, so that they understand what is involved in producing real quality cabinetry.   Then they can make truly informed decisions on what to purchase and what to avoid.  All cabinets are definitely NOT the same.

"Revealing" How I Feel About Granite

I can't help it, I just LOVE granite!  The flow, the patterns, the colors and textures......... they just enthrall me.  When it comes time for a client to select granite for their kitchen remodel, I go with them to the supplier to look at the wide variety of slabs.  It's an important part of the total customer service that we offer our clients at HearthWood Kitchens.  We give them a great deal of guidance and advice so that they can make good choices for the materials that will become part of their new kitchen.  When we go granite shopping, I can guide them away from the softer and more problematic stones, and give them advice on color, pattern, texture, etc.  We make choices that will work together for a beautiful end result.  The bonus for me is that looking at granite is something I just love to do!  With my background in the visual arts, looking at some beautiful granite can give me that same "aesthetic emotion" that people get when they view a breathtaking work of art.  No surprise there, since natural stone is Nature's artwork!  And I never get tired of looking at it.

But, aside from expressing the fact that I get excited about granite, I would also like to mention one of the practical details that needs to be considered when choosing granite countertops.  That detail is called the sink reveal.  An undermount sink is the most popular sink choice when people opt for granite or engineered stone countertops (Cambria, Silestone, Hanstone, Caesarstone, etc.).  Take a look at the diagrams below.  The countertop is shown in grey.  The undermount sink will be attached to the bottom of the countertop, and the sink cut-out in the granite will have polished edges.  The "reveal" is the portion of the sink edge that will be either hidden (negative reveal in top diagram) or visible (positive reveal in middle diagram).  The bottom diagram shows a zero reveal, or a flush mount installation.

                                                             NEGATIVE  REVEAL

                                                               POSITIVE REVEAL

                                                    ZERO REVEAL (FLUSH MOUNT)

 The drawback to the positive reveal is that when you brush crumbs or spills off of the countertop into the sink, they will land on the exposed edge of the sink and you will then have to clean that off, also.   Not very practical, and it's surprising that many sink manufacturers actually recommend the positive reveal installation. We always choose the flush or the negative reveal. This is just one of the many details we guide you through when we help you select new countertops for your project.  Keep reading my blogs to learn a lot more about the process of getting beautiful new granite countertops and all the details and options that we can help you choose.

But What About Quartz?

The color choices and patterns of countertop material made from quartz (known as engineered stone) have improved a great deal over the past 20 years.  Silestone, Cambria, Caesarstone, HanStone, and Zodiaq are a few of the brand names, and they are all made using the same manufacturing process.  Engineered stone is approximately 93% crushed quartz (which is why it is often just called "quartz") combined with polyester resin.  The crushed quartz usually starts out as a slightly translucent white color and it is divided into a variety of granule sizes before it is colored for the particular pattern that is being produced.

 Some colors are made from very finely ground granules for a more uniform appearance (top photo), while others use larger pieces of quartz for a chunkier look.  During manufacturing, the quartz/resin mixture is compacted by a special vacuum/vibration process at a pressure of 100 tons and is heated to form a solid and extremely hard surface.  I've toured Cambria's nice facility here in Minnesota and it really is fascinating to observe the process!  You should check into going on a plant tour if you have the time. 

Each manufacturer would like you to know that they use the best quality quartz available.  The colors and patterns vary from brand to brand.  Sometimes a company will try to imitate the color of a competitor, but they all have their own unique offerings as well.  All told, they vary little, if at all, in durability, scratch resistance, heat resistance, stain resistance and chemical resistance.  Engineered stone gets top ratings in all these categories.  Natural quartz is one of the hardest minerals on Earth and that's why engineered stone is so scratch resistant.  It is also very hygienic because it is non-porous and resists the growth of mildew, bacteria, and mold.  Keep in mind, however, that it is not completely impervious to scratches, stains, and heat damage.  Because of the resins, the engineered stone can be damaged by direct intense heat.  If you treat it with care (as you would any investment) by making use of trivets (for hot items) and cutting boards (for chopping), your quartz countertops will remain beautiful for many, many years. And your knives will thank you, too!

Check out some of the beautiful new quartz colors that are available from Silestone and Cambria:

 Looks a little like they wish they were granite......

Where do I start??

This is my first time writing a blog and I'm really not sure where to start.  I have plenty to say, make no mistake about that.  But where do I begin?  What should I talk about first?  As this thought echoed in my head, I realized that this is a question I actually hear quite often --- from people who are interested in remodeling their kitchen, but have no idea how to begin.  "I have some ideas but I don't know where to start," is the most frequent comment from them.  Here's what I tell them:  Many people start by talking to their friends, relatives, coworkers, and acquaintances who have already gone through a remodeling project.  If you start there, politely listen to their comments, but also remember that their experience with one kitchen remodel (or even two, three, or four) does not make them an expert in kitchen design.  It does not take the place of formal training or years of daily experiences in the kitchen remodeling trade.  Listen to them.......and then call a professional.  Look for a company that has designers who are certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. This is your assurance that you will receive a good design with great functionality.  AND you will be working with someone who has passed the required training and exams.  AND you will know that this designer had to work successfully in the kitchen and bath industry for years before being recommended by his/her peers and endorsed by other professionals.  You can feel confident that, with their guidance, you will be well on your way to seeing your dream kitchen become a reality.  A kitchen remodel is usually a large investment in your home and because of this, it should be handled by experienced professionals (not "Chuck-in-a-Truck" who scribbles a design on a napkin. Sorry, Chuck.). There is much truth in the saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none." Sorry again, Chuck.  And Jack.

A kitchen designer trained by the NKBA will be a goldmine of information relating to every detail of your remodeling project.  They know about all the popular choices for sinks, faucets, cabinets, flooring, lighting, hardware, and backsplash tiles ----- but they will also tell you about the products you've never heard of and the latest style trends that the average consumer does not yet know about.  He/she may ask if you have started a folder of kitchen pictures cut from magazines. This can be a great tool for the designer as they try to determine the styles, colors, and materials that appeal to you.  Let your designer be the one to help you make decisions on wood specie, stain or paint colors, tile design, etc.  The choices and decisions are yours but the designer's input can be invaluable.

So basically, that's where you start:  by clipping photos from magazines and then calling a professional kitchen designer.  They will know where to guide you from that point on.  Just jump in with both feet ---- the same way that I just finished writing on my first blog topic!