Home and Design

THE KITCHEN

Where to Begin the Remodeling Process?

PART 1: CABINETRY

By Syntha Harris Interiors

Kitchens have long been called the heart of the home. Whether you enjoy cooking, entertaining, or just love a beautifully designed space, having a well planned and aesthetically pleasing kitchen is a must. Remodeling an older kitchen is also one of the best investments that can be made to increase the value of your home. Where do you begin the remodeling process? Over the next three issues we will cover the top items to consider when starting the task, and how the decisions around each of those should not be made in a vacuum. Every choice must be carefully considered to insure a successful end result. Our “Kitchen Series” will give an overview of pertinent topics, with design inspiration, things to consider, and tips from me and other industry experts that I partner with to create beautiful kitchens for our clients. Where better to start the series than with the topic of cabinetry… Kitchen Cabinets

One of the first considerations when deciding what type of cabinet you select, is to determine your budget.This decision should be tied into the style of the home and bean extension of the home’s structure and the other design elements you have incorporated. If the budget does not allow for replacing the existing cabinets then a

Syntha Harris Interiors Photography: Stylish Productions

“A true qualified designer will help you realize your vision, improve functionality, and may actually reduce costs with creative ways to maintain design integrity while lowering cost. Most computer savvy people can manipulate a design in the design software, but if they do not truly understand how cabinetry works, there may be design errors. Examples may be not “pulling” a blind corner cabinet, moulding projection issues, traffic flow issues, and missed design opportunities, etc.” Jeff Waggoner Kitchen Designer, NKBA Custom Cabinetry Direct

Framed or Frameless

Based on the style you seek there are two available options. They are full access also known as frameless, and a framed cabinet door which has three types of overlay (Inset, Standard and Full Overlay). Framed cabinets is an oft used style which permits greater ease in installation and greater offering and modification diversity. Frameless cabinets are a sleeker, more modern construction and are popular in Europe, but are definitely becoming more popular here. Though both options offer slab, shaker, and traditional door styles,

well done, professional resurfacing job is in order. However if the budget allows, ideally, replacing the cabinets will give you the latest in soft close drawers, full extension glides, removal of unattractive soffits, and of course updated cabinets that utilize all available space. Designing Your Kitchen—Layout

Design layout and flow are one of the most critical aspects of a kitchen remodeling and almost always requires the expertise of an experienced kitchen planner. We have all heard of the “kitchen triangle principal”, but the details of what that means is often not known by the lay person, and is an important consideration in design as is the “kitchen work zone” theory. “The kitchen work triangle principle is used by kitchen designers and architects when designing residential kitchens: No leg of the triangle should be less than 4 feet or more than 9 feet. The sum of all three sides of the triangle should be between 13 feet and 26 feet.” “Instead of focusing on the distance between appliances, the zone theory, divides up the kitchen into five distinct work zones by function.” If all of this seems way more than you anticipated, don’t dismay. This is exactly why there are professionals that specifically design kitchens. Through my two decades in design, I have worked hand-in-hand with kitchen designers, creating the perfect kitchen for clients. Having the right team is important; the interior designer, kitchen designer, and the contractor make up the trifecta of talent and skill that will ensure a successful project. Cabinet Species

Considering the species of wood is an important first step in the design. Most painted finishes are on Maple or MDF. If you go with a stained wood you will want to consider graining. Maple has less visible “tighter” grain, Cherry is rich, keeping incontinued on page 41

SYNTHA’S DESIGN TIP:

“Make sure to get a sample door in the finish and door style that you select. That way you can take it with you when shopping for other elements in your kitchen, like backsplash and countertops.”