Seems like old Ben Franklin was ahead of his time. With the nation in economic crisis, at no time has the adage “A penny saved is a penny earned” been more relevant. And while it may seem like an impossibility in today’s financial climate, there are plenty of ways to save quite a bit of money when it comes to renovating your kitchen. To keep things simple, let’s focus our savings efforts on the heart of the room: the kitchen cabinets.
In a recent article titled “Save a Penny With Your Kitchen,” the Post-Bulletin offered some “pennies-in-the-wall” tips for achieving satisfying results in the kitchen. Among his advice was:
Paint/Finish: “Not only is it the least expensive of almost anything you can do, it can have the biggest impact. Changing the color will create a new canvas to update the look in just a day or two.” That advice is fine and great if your existing kitchen cabinets are in good shape, but what if they need an overhaul? Look for a kitchen cabinet manufacturer that offers pre-assembled and ready-to-assemble cabinets in a variety of finish colors. Cream and white cabinet finishes add a fresh, clean appeal to your kitchen. Warm woods like cider, oak, bay, and hickory bring attractive appeal to kitchen cabinets. Darker woods like Nile gloss, burgundy, and Ruxton brown give it a rustic cabin flavor.
Cabinets: “Buy in-stock items or semi-custom cabinets that can give you custom craftsmanship.” Opting for pre-assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets saves you not only money but also time. That means you’ll be able to start enjoying your new kitchen much faster than you would if you had to wait for custom cabinetry options. However, don’t feel like you’ll lose that personalized attention to detail by choosing pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. Select a kitchen cabinet manufacturer that offers a variety of customization options for its pre-assembled and ready-to-assemble cabinets. Some of the additional features you can still expect to enjoy include accent molding, turn trays, drop-down trays, infills, light rails, matching baseboards, special end panels, and heat shields.
Increase storage: The Post-Bulletin expert “sees clients switch from a U-shaped layout to an L-shaped layout and add an island or increase the size of the island to include an eating space…the homeowner can have a new look and more storage and efficient use of space.” To that end, look for a manufacturer of ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets that offers an online design tool. In this way, you can plan your new kitchen down to the last detail, thus ensuring that your new pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble kitchen furniture fits together correctly. In this case, there’s another old adage you can ignore: “Measure twice, cut once.” That’s because the well-rounded kitchen cabinet maker takes all the guesswork out of the equation for you!
By adhering to the helpful tips and planning guidelines above, you can create an attractive and functional kitchen, as well as ensure that your project is completed to the best of its ability…all without spending a dime. Our wise founding father, Ben Franklin, would surely approve.