Cabinet doors determine a lot about a kitchen's overall style.
Any home's kitchen can add real market value to the house. Selecting appropriate kitchen cabinet doors is important, since door design and placement make an initial first impression of the kitchen. To design doors properly, homeowners should review many pre-made doors in stores, home design books and magazines. It's important to select will match the home's architectural style, but it's also wise to select doors that a potential future buyer will find appealing.
Instructions
Basic Design Choices
1. Review kitchen cabinets in books, magazines and online to gain a idea of what homeowners are currently utilizing. Make notes about special features, such as crown molding at the top of cabinets, that are appealing. Pay attention to door knob pulls and colors of metal accessories that look appropriate.
2. Sketch the basic layout of the kitchen, including an island bar or pantry cabinet. Measure the space if the kitchen is already built or use measurements from the kitchen's blue print. Plan to use doors that are at least medium-grade quality, but avoid using doors that are the least expensive. Consult with an expert at a kitchen remodeling center to review materials used for pre-made doors.
3. Select doors that are neutral or light in color, if the kitchen is small. Choose white or light oak doors, for example, to make the space seem larger. Consider two colors of cabinet doors, if hybrid cabinets will be used. Install dark cherry cabinets alternated with light maple as one option of hybrid cabinets. Sketch the cabinets using colored pencils to envision the end result in the kitchen.
4. Ask a cabinet consultant about hinges and door knobs that work over time. Inquire about customer satisfaction and popular items used for most kitchens. Consider matching the door knobs, if metal is used, with other metal in the kitchen. Use stainless steel door knobs if the stove is stainless steel, for example.
5. Plan to buy doors wide enough to fit all cabinetry without door edges showing. Carefully measure for each door individually, since side-by-side cabinetry can have size discrepancies in either store-bought or hand-made cabinets.
Details of Door Design
6. Review the kitchen layout to decide which way cabinet doors must open. Keep in mind that overhead doors above the dishwasher may need to accommodate dishes coming out of the dishwasher. Don't install the hinges or door knob pulls on the wrong side.
7. Design unique door systems for certain areas. Plan to buy two tall doors that close in the middle, in most cases, for a large pantry. Review various door styles available for corner cabinets, since door hinges can be placed in the middle crease of a corner cabinet door system.
8. Select a color and finish of cabinet doors that work well with flooring. Avoid colors that clash, since the floor area and cabinet door areas are large spaces in the kitchen. Tie the cabinetry and flooring colors together if possible. Install hybrid black and white cabinets with black and white vinyl flooring, for example.
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