kitchen conversations

The number one remodeling project in American homes each year is kitchens. There’s good reason for this — not only do people spend a good portion of their day in the kitchen, but a majority of home entertaining takes place there as well. To correct a poor flow in kitchen traffic, design flaws and increase storage and working space, a kitchen remodel tends to range from 10 – 30 percent of the home value.

Kitchen designer, Kathleen Kissing, whose work is currently featured in the January/February Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication – Kitchen & Baths, tells her clients to expect to spend 60 – 70 percent of the kitchen budget on the cabinetry.

Kissing offers these tips to help determine a cabinet budget before starting the kitchen design process:

1.) Room Layout and configuration will affect cabinetry pricing the most. A lazy susan cabinet is more expense than a blind corner cabinet but much more accessible. A drawer stack is higher priced than a standard drawer and two door cabinet. A wall oven with a separate cook top is an upgrade to a standard 30″ range.

2.) Cabinetry construction is about 60 percent of the total cabinetry price. Plywood construction is more expensive than fiberboard construction. Look for dovetailed drawers with full extension, under mount glides in your upper end cabinetry. For longevity it is best not to cut corners in cabinet construction.

3.) Wood species such as cherry, maple, alder, hickory and oak affects cabinetry pricing. Cherry is always a premium wood carrying a 15% up-charge over more standard woods like oak or hickory. Alder, a less expensive wood, can be stained to look like cherry. With the non grainy look so popular in cabinetry today, the price of maple has gone up and now carries an 8 percent premium

4.) Door styles can vary cabinetry pricing too. A simple door is less expensive than a door with a lot of details. Also, beaded inset doors that are set flush with the cabinet face frame is always more expensive because of the precise tolerances.

5.) Cabinet finishes are another key factor. A factory catalyzed top coat is a must in any price range and will give you lifetime durability. Painted cabinetry is at least 5 percent more expensive than standard stain wood. Glazed and distressed finishes add about 10-20 percent to cabinetry pricing. As the finish process gets more involved, the cabinetry requires more hand work, spends more time in the factory finishing area, and pricing will reflect this extra labor.

The January/February issue of the Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication – Kitchen & Baths, featuring Kissing’s work will be on newsstands until the middle of February.

Kathleen Kissing is owner of Unique Custom Cabinetry located in the historical village of Glendale in Le Petite Cottage at 21 Village Square in Cincinnati. Kissing specializes in kitchen and bath design and has been creating unique kitchens for her clients for over 19 years. For more information or to contact Unique Custom Cabinetry, visit www.uniquecustomcabinetry.com.