Kitchen Doors Guide

Posts Tagged ‘wood’

So you’ve set out to replace or install new kitchen cabinet doors? Now you just need to choose their material – wood, laminate, glass, or steel.

Wood

Wood, just like any other choice, has more options within. Do you want solid wood or just wood veneers? Veneers are said to be cheaper and less vulnerable to outside weather conditions. However, although the temperature and humidity outside can and probably will affect solid wood kitchen doors, the greatest damage will come from the temperatures and humidity of your daily kitchen activities. Veneer may look a bit more uniform because it can be cut thinly to cover the entire face. Wood is available in many colors, and it can be finished how you want – glossy, varnished, painted, or waxed.

Laminate

Laminate kitchen doors come in an even larger variety of textures and colors than wooden doors. You will probably be able to find anything you’re looking for. If you want a soft feel in your kitchen, use creamy colors with a matte finish. Want to show off an elegant kitchen? Get Italian-style doors with bold fronts and shiny colors.

One incredible advantage of laminate kitchen doors when compared to others types is that they are nearly maintenance free! Wood needs all the care and attention it can get, especially in busy households, and it may also be susceptible to temperature and humidity changes. But laminate doors just need an occasional wipe or two and you’re done! They’re clean. Laminate is also less prone to wear and tear and can therefore maintain a fresh look for several years.

Glass

Glass kitchen doors are usually used to display a collection of cutlery, but may also fit well as standard depending on your kitchen style. You also have the option of frosted glass for a concealed yet translucent appearance. Glass doors are versatile no matter what your kitchen theme is –traditional or modern.

Steel

Stainless steel can also be used for kitchen doors. It tends to be more popular as worktops and appliance casing rather than doors because it has its own character. Its look can also vary, from clean and sparkly to purposely warn and matured. Steel is also very durable – it’s low-maintenance and can be easily cleaned. Remember too that steel on its own looks very cold. To make it look warm, you’ll need to combine it with warm colors. One last important note about steel is that it also carries a high price.

Most kitchen cabinets experience a very large amount of wear just because of what they’re used for. Many experience heat, grease, food residue, and stains that result from cooking anywhere in the kitchen. Sooner or later, you’re going to come to the decision that your kitchen cabinets need replacing or a revamp. However, replacing your kitchen cabinets will probably be the expensive option. A less expensive, and often more creative, option can be replacing or repainting just the doors of your kitchen cabinets.

If you look around a bit, you’ll find you can utilize professional expertise to get custom-made laminate doors for your cabinets. Laminated doors look like wood and don’t require paint. Any professional cabinetmaker will make cabinet doors of any size, shape and color.

Laminated doors are a good option, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get doors made from real wood. A few popular woods for doors are cherry, oak, and maple. But if wood is not your style, you might even think about stainless steel or glass, which is also very popular.

When you’re ready to get them made, make sure that you measure your existing doors carefully and give the measurements to the manufacture so that you’ll get a perfect fit. Remember to also choose a style for your cabinet doors that will go with and accent the rest of your kitchen and home. Styles vary from raised to curved or even flat with intricate moldings.

You might also want to try expressing your own style by painting the cabinet doors yourself. You’ll not only have the satisfaction that you did it yourself, but you’ll also really be able to cut down on the costs of having them painted by a professional. But also keep in mind the time that it’s going to take you.

If you want to paint your own doors, first you’ll need to clean them thoroughly and remove all stains to get an even and uniform finish. You should also fill in any cracks and scratch marks with wood putty. When you’ve got them clean and read, apply a coat of paint with firm strokes. Or you may want to consider spray painting them to get a more uniform and trendy look. Then give them the final touch by selecting elegant knobs or handles for your fresh, new cabinet doors.