Transforming Your Kitchen with Stock Cabinetry E-Book

Jonathan Benson

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 195

Beschreibung

Design, Select, and Install for a Custom Look at the Right Price. Filled with great advice and lessons from a remodeling pro on how to transform your kitchen affordably using stock cabinets and a well-thought-out plan. Take the stress out of kitchen remodeling with advice on how to plan it, and do it affordably with the help of remodeling pro Jonathan Benson.

Leseprobe

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to our parents and children.

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Doug Hicks for his tireless efforts editing this book. We would also like to thank all of the staff at Fox Chapel for working so hard to bring this book to life. Thanks also to Kevan Stratton for helping to install the kitchen cabinets in our subject kitchen.

This book would not have been possible without the patience of the following homeowners who were so generous in letting us invade and photograph their wonderful kitchens: Jeff Benson and Margaret Elbert, Mary Kate Murray and Greg Couch, and Tina Fruchter.

We would also like to acknowledge the following manufacturers for letting us provide images of their products without any restrictions:

•   Diamond Cabinets

•   Granite Transformations

•   KraftMaid Cabinetry

•   Quality Custom Cabinets Inc.

•   Trueform Concrete

•   Wood-Mode

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM THIS BOOK

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: INSPIRATION GALLERY

CHAPTER 2: STOCK CABINET KITCHEN TRANSFORMATIONS

Manhattan Makeover

A Complete Update

CHAPTER 3: LESSONS IN DESIGN

Likes and Dislikes

Budget

14 Ways to Save Money

Work Triangle

Kitchen Layout

Universal Design

CHAPTER 4: ALL ABOUT CABINETS

Three Categories of Cabinets

Materials

Pricing

Face Frame vs. Frameless

What to Look for in Cabinets

Door and Drawer Styles

Door and Drawer Fronts

Standard Cabinet Dimensions

Special Cabinets

Getting Organized

CHAPTER 5: TEAR OUT & CONSTRUCTION

Danger: Lead Paint

Tear Out

Soffits

Ceilings

Order of Work

CHAPTER 6: CABINET INSTALLATION

Tools

Finding Level

The First Cabinet

Leveling the First Cabinet

Adding Cabinets

Filling Voids

Base Cabinets

Altering Base Cabinets

Crown Molding

Handles and Pulls

CHAPTER 7: COUNTERTOPS

Pricing and Pros/Cons

Granite and Granite Tile

Engineered Stone

Ceramic Tile

Plastic Laminate

Solid Surface

Wood

Cast Concrete

Stainless Steel

Countertop Height

Countertop and Backsplash Installation

INDEX

PAGE 40

How True-Life Homeowners Used Stock Cabinets to Renovate While Saving Money

PAGE 59

Lessons in Design, Including 14 Great Ways to Save Money on Your Kitchen Project

PAGE 67

How to Lay Out a Kitchen and Earn the Praise of Cooks Everywhere

PAGE 76

What You Need to Know About Materials, Pricing, and Construction Before You Go Shopping for Cabinets

PAGE 79

Features to Consider as You Plan the Renovation of Your Kitchen

PAGE 96

How to Tear Out Your Old Kitchen Easily and Live During Construction

PAGE 106

How to Install Stock Cabinets, Including Leveling and Alterations

PAGE 136

How to Select the Most Practical, Affordable, and Durable Surface Material for Your Countertop

PAGES 15–37

More than just pretty pictures, this kitchen gallery features helpful commentary from our author and his wife. He’s a professional cabinetmaker. She’s an executive chef. Together, they will discuss the design and functionality of over 10 gorgeous stock cabinet kitchens.

PAGE 40–57

Read about real homeowners who have been through the renovation process. You’ll learn about the design challenges they faced and how affordable stock cabinetry provided the solutions.

Introduction

If you are reading this book, you are most likely dissatisfied with your current kitchen. You have probably seen many beautiful kitchens in show homes, magazines, and books. And this book is no exception. Within this book, you will see many photos of attractive and stylish kitchens. However, there is one important difference. The kitchens featured in this book have all been outfitted with affordable stock cabinets that can be purchased from a local home improvement center and installed yourself. The result is that you save lots of money and end up with a fabulous—but affordable—kitchen.

In the following pages, you will see the many styles that can be achieved with stock cabinets. You’ll also meet several homeowners who have been through the renovation process and used stock cabinetry to achieve their goals. You’ll see their gorgeous results and learn how they did it. You’ll also find the story of a kitchen I recently re-built in my own home using stock cabinets. I think the finished product is beautiful, and it functions as well as it looks.

Before we go much farther, let me introduce myself. My friends call me Jon, and I am a cabinet and furniture maker. I have been involved in many new and remodeled kitchen projects over the years. I am also a licensed general contractor. In addition, I have even had experience owning a restaurant and seeing many of the special needs of a restaurant kitchen—speed, efficiency, and the wise use of space. Many of these ideas can be used to create a better home kitchen. So for this book, I have also solicited the expert assistance of my wife, Executive Chef Sherry Benson. She will be inserting her thoughts and comments in some boxes that we’ll call Restaurant Lessons from a Pro.

This is the kitchen author Jonathan Benson created in his own home using stock cabinetry. Step-by-step installation instructions beginning on page 106.

Designing and installing a new kitchen can be a complex yet very rewarding project. Today’s kitchen is not just a factory for the production of meals. It is often the family gathering place, the drop-off point for school backpacks and mail, the location for entertaining guests, the communications center where family members describe their day as they prepare the evening meal, and a place for solace and quiet at the beginning or ending of the day. So it is worth it to take some time to decide exactly what you want in your kitchen even before you call a designer, contact a contractor, or begin the job yourself. I hope this book will help you achieve that.

Author Jonathan Benson and his wife, Sherry, selecting their preferred tools of the trade to slice a loaf of bread. In her feature, Restaurant Lessons from a Pro, Sherry provides insider tips for creating an organized and efficient kitchen.

—Jonathan Benson

Shaping Your New Kitchen

❏   What activities do I want to happen in my kitchen?

❏   Cooking meals?

❏   Eating in? (If so, for how many people?)

❏   Baking?

❏   Canning fruits and vegetables?

❏   Gatherings? (Central meeting place?)

❏   Entertaining?

❏   Paying bills/use as an office?

❏   Conducting hobbies and crafts?

❏   Working on children’s homework?

❏   Organizing family events?

❏   Conducting other activities besides cooking?

❏   Do I like to prepare gourmet meals? Alternatively, am I looking for a place to prepare three quick family meals a day and snacks? (Or both?)

❏   Does my kitchen have to be a place to prepare large meals (i.e. holiday gatherings, dinner parties, etc.) on a regular basis?

❏   How many people will be working in the kitchen at one time?

❏   Does there need to be a food pantry?

❏   How often do I shop and how much food do I need to be able to store between trips to the grocery store?

❏   Does anyone in my house who will be preparing meals or eating in the kitchen have special needs (disabled, special height requirements, etc.)?

❏   What needs to be stored in the kitchen in addition to the food itself?

❏   Fine china?

❏   Table linens?

❏   Glassware?

❏   Utensils?

❏   Cooking supplies (pots, pans, etc.)?

❏   Wine collection?

❏   Cookbooks?

❏   Small countertop appliances?

❏   Do I like the look and functionality of a center island or do I want space that is more open?

❏   Would my family and friends sit at a snack bar?

❏   Do I want a wine or wet bar?

❏   Do I want my kitchen to be a decorative showplace in the house?

❏   Do I want my kitchen to fit in with the rest of the house (i.e. traditional style, contemporary, etc.) or is it okay to be an independent environment?

❏   How much space do I have available in my current kitchen? Could I get more space by removing walls or completely rearranging the location of appliances and use areas?

❏   Can electric or plumbing lines be moved? Is there basement access below the kitchen for utility lines?

Inspiration Gallery

A he says/she says perspective on stock cabinet kitchens from author Jonathan Benson and his wife, executive chef Sherry Benson.

Kitchens come in all sizes and shapes. You will probably never find one the same size as yours, but you can draw inspiration for yours by looking at photos of others. In this chapter, we have pulled together photos of some of the better home kitchens we have seen built using affordable stock cabinets.

My wife, Sherry, and I sat down and studied each photo carefully. Then, drawing on our experiences working in both home and restaurant kitchens, we have added our comments. We looked at practicality as well as easily overlooked design details. We hope you get some ideas you can use in your new kitchen.

WINDHAM MAPLE

SHERRY SAYS:

This is a great kitchen for frequent entertainers. Lots of things can be going on at the same time, with mom or dad at the desk on the computer , kids doing homework on the island, and the cook, along with one or even two helpers, getting the family dinner ready.

This kitchen is set up to allow three work triangles. (For more about the Kitchen Work Triangle, see page 64.) On the left side in the background, the refrigerator-sink-stove triangle is sufficient to create a complete meal , while the right-hand side can function as a baking station , with the oven easily accessible and two sinks nearby. The dishwasher is not visible, but is in the island next to the sink . This would allow easy cleanup, and plenty of nearby storage allows easy access to dish storage. This station is also well suited as a prep station , with a refrigerator in close range and a sink for wash-up. The symmetry of the kitchen is visually appealing and the muted colors are calming.

JON SAYS:

This kitchen has a nice balance of traditional and contemporary styles. The cathedral ceiling gives the space an open feeling.

I like having a desk with storage shelves off to the side because books, mail, and papers piled on the island make it difficult to work or eat there. This is a very light and airy space and has a very symmetrical balance. Notice how most of the shapes balance off the center. I really like the contemporary fan hood centered over the stove. It seems to fit in well, even though the cabinets themselves are more traditional in style.

There is a lot of counter space in this kitchen, which could be very expensive if you plan to use stone. One option is to use stone only for the island, which has a rounded edge, and use a less expensive material for the counters.

SHILOH MAPLE

SHERRY SAYS:

I love the windows and the brightness of this kitchen, although a bit more color would be appealing. The work triangle is not obvious in this kitchen as the refrigerator is not shown.

I would have put the main sink in the corner in front of the window, but if the view were too nice, I would never get around to cooking! This is also a comfortable kitchen to work in, with the work stool and the wood floors . Jon would love the trees and the wood in this kitchen. He would also love that a beautiful kitchen comes without the expense of stone. Because of the kitchen’s subdued look and feel, good quality laminate countertops could fit beautifully here without making it look cheap.

JON SAYS:

I do love the wood and the trees, and it is true, I am mindful of budgets. With the sink in the island and if the refrigerator was just off to the left, it would create a good work triangle. The island’s wood butcher-block top is great, right in the middle of the kitchen where most work takes place.

This kitchen does have a nice open feel and the windows bring in a lot of light. The tile backsplash brings in some detail, but I agree that more color would be nice. In addition, of interest, not all of the handles always have to match. You can purchase white cabinets like these for not a lot of money and then dress them up with nice crown molding and turned legs on the island.

BRADSHAWE RUSTIC ALDER

SHERRY SAYS:

Forget functionality. This is the kitchen I want when the kids leave the nest, and Jon and I can have romantic dinners, or at least wine and cheese. The dark cabinets and appliances give it a warm, even romantic touch, while the lighter cabinets keep it from being oppressively dark.

The wooden ceiling adds a natural, almost intimate, feeling to the space. Everything in here seems to evoke a bygone era, with the exception of the appliances, which are downplayed by color or covered by cabinetry, like the stove exhaust hood .

All I would want to add is a fireplace. And champagne.

JON SAYS:

I absolutely agree. It is a date. This room does have the feel of a comfortable den and it would be relaxing to spend time here with you. I also like having access to the outside right off the kitchen , so we can cook together when I am grilling part of the meal.

Different countertops work well in this kitchen, meaning you could get by with something less expensive on the counters, but a nice stone top on the island would give the kitchen its best look, as everything else in the kitchen seems to draw you to it as a focal point. Keeping the island top simple, with no bevels, angles, or rounding would minimize finishing costs for the stone.

MONTEREY MAPLE 1

SHERRY SAYS:

I love the display space at the top of the cabinets and the natural color of the wood. The rack above the stovetop is a great feature for easy access of seasonings, dishes, or storage/cooling of baked goods, as shown here.

I think this kitchen is a great example of contrast between old and new, natural and manufactured, and dark and light. Not a big space, but nicely done. Love the stove!

JON SAYS:

This is one of the few examples in this book of display cabinets above the upper cabinets. This is a great way to utilize this space and display precious items not used daily.

There are warming lights in the exhaust hood that help to keep prepared foods hot until they are ready to serve. Note the hanging lights right above the island that can bring light in right when you need it. Also notice the combination of black and white countertops.

This would be a good design for a small kitchen as the dishwasher is located under the island. You cannot see it in this photo, but the cabinets extend out into the dining room, which is a great way to add more storage space without increasing the actual size of the kitchen.

This stove might have cost as much as the cabinets, but this is where the priorities were here. I believe this would be Sherry’s preference as well.

AURORA OAK

SHERRY SAYS:

I love the hearth feature in the range area . It gives the kitchen a warm and inviting look. The hearth is beautiful, but the space is made more functional with a faucet for pots , a rack for utensils , and a shelf for seasonings . The island has a component not usually seen in islands, glass doors , which could be used to showcase attractive crystal, china, or collectibles. One thing to note with islands is to plan how you will use the space so you are sure to include sufficient lighting and electrical outlets in the right places. The bay window would be the perfect place to grow some herbs for the kitchen, and that view would keep Jon occupied while he does the dishes.

JON SAYS:

This looks like a good use of the available space. Notice how the 45° angle theme created by the corner range is repeated in the island and counter in the foreground . This helps give the design unity and interest. It is also a good idea to have a smaller prep sink in the island and keep the larger sink and dirty dishes off to the side. The bay window also adds a nice touch and helps to capitalize on the stunning view. Be sure to use tempered glass on low glass doors such as those on the island for safety.

SULLIVAN CHERRY

SHERRY SAYS:

This would be a great kitchen for parents, with space for the kids to do homework, paint, or draw at the table, or play on the floor in the eating area. In the meantime, parents can work in the kitchen, which is big enough to hold more than one cook.

The raised dishwasher saves the user’s back for picking up kids instead of dishes, and makes it harder for toddlers and pets to get into the dirty dishes. The microwave/vent hood also is out of little hands’ reach, saves space, and is convenient for time-saving foods like frozen microwaveable vegetables. It may be a less-expensive way to go because you are buying two items in one, instead of two separate items. The combination unit is also the type of appliance you can often pick up on clearance.

JON SAYS:

This kitchen combines elements of universal design such as a raised dishwasher, a lower countertop for working while seated, and plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair.

The raised part of the island also helps to create some separation between the rooms while maintaining an open feel. These stock cabinets have no shelving or soffits above, which is a good way to save money.

BAYPORT CHERRY

SHERRY SAYS:

For the size of this kitchen, the work triangle is tight, making it a very efficient use of space, allowing for a lot of cooking with just a few steps from the cook. The stone island top provides space to make pastries in the work triangle. This is a good setup for a cook who likes to do all of the cooking themselves, but still likes some company nearby—but out of the way.

The decorative vent hood cover is a nice focal point, and the owners made a nice display area above the cabinets, thereby avoiding dead space.

The rug gives the kitchen a homey feel, but would not stay clean for 5 minutes in my kitchen. Also make sure any rugs or mats you place in your kitchen are secure, and the flooring is slip-resistant to avoid falls.

JON SAYS:

The refrigerator door , which is the wood paneled door just off to the left of center, could open across the doorway to the right. We lived in a house with this configuration and the traffic jam drove us crazy. Always consider the traffic flow through the kitchen when placing appliances. The layout of this kitchen may have worked better by placing the refrigerator a little farther to the left- or on the right-hand side of the kitchen.

Sherry speaks with experience about falls in the kitchen.

BRITTANY OAK

SHERRY SAYS:

This warm, inviting kitchen seems as much like a library as a kitchen, except with fewer books. (The kitchen and library are my favorite rooms in any house!) The sink in the island creates a work triangle in an otherwise linear galley-style kitchen. The exhaust hood is an elegant focal point, as is the island. Drawers next to the stove provide easy access to pans, and the under-the-counter-level sinks add to the subtle look of the kitchen.

I love the bookshelf on the end of the island, which is something I have always wanted (that’s a hint, Jon!) One thing that concerns me is the detail on the island top corners. If there were a lot of activity or quick movement in this kitchen, the protrusions would be easy to bump up against, and could cause bruising or damage.

JON SAYS:

I will get right to work on that bookshelf. This might be a good place to add a few more layout basics. Notice the placement of the stove and refrigerator. There should always be a cabinet between them, as is the case here. It may be tempting to place them next to each other, but this can waste a lot of energy as these appliances work against each other.

Notice the location of the television , an often-overlooked item when designing a kitchen. An unplanned TV usually ends up somewhere that causes a loss of valuable counter space. It will need wiring for cable and possibly a space for a cable box. So, if you are planning to have a TV in the kitchen, think ahead. Doors called flipper doors that slide back out of the way are an excellent way to keep it out of sight when not in use.

I always like tall cabinets such as these to make the best use of available space. I sometimes add a slot in one of the lower cabinets for a short library ladder that can be pulled out when needed.

SELENA MAPLE

SHERRY SAYS:

What a kitchen! Too many cooks may spoil a stew, but you will not have any problem fitting them in this kitchen. Of course, this kitchen is much bigger than most of us will ever have, but you can adapt the features in smaller kitchens.

The different angles on the island each provide a space for different workstations. The double windows add brightness and create a space for growing herbs and flowers, for cooking and beauty. The placement of the dishwasher is ideal because it is located (next to the sink) close to storage and use areas, making cleanup more efficient. I also love the convenient plate rack on the upper-right-hand cabinet, although it might get a bit too dirty in my kitchen. The sink on the left would make a wonderful bar area, especially with a nice-sized wine rack nearby. This is a great family space, and a great entertaining space as the open layout allows easy transition between the kitchen and the living space. The upper display case near the center of the picture helps with the transition between the kitchen and the living area.

JON SAYS:

I agree: “What a kitchen!” Cabinets that extend almost to the ceiling can create a shadow around the top, which adds drama to the design. The wood flooring and wall and trim colors carried through to the living room creates unity between the two rooms.

Finally, the cook top in the island allows the cook to stay in the action and communicate with everyone, even with those in the living room. Ways to reduce costs for a kitchen like this include having less expensive countertops; a range, rather than a cook top and separate oven; and open shelving, rather than cabinets with glass doors. I will pick out a bottle of wine and let’s get started cooking!

MONTGOMERY MAPLE

SHERRY SAYS:

Talk about bright—this kitchen will open your eyes in the morning! It also has some features that I really like, including a large window above the sink, many display cabinets, and a floating island . I also like that the island has a built-in cutting board, which can really come in handy.

Even better are the extra upper cabinets on the back wall. Cabinets like these add an incredible amount of extra storage for infrequently used items, like pasta machines or seasonal dishware. On the other wall, the symmetric upper cabinets with added detail are a beautiful focal point. The little drawers on the bottom of these cabinets are useful for smaller items, like spices and yeast that might otherwise cause clutter.

JON SAYS: