Posted by Jeff Baker on Fri, Mar 29, 2013 @ 03:13 PM
Updating your kitchen can breathe new life into your home and can add value to your asset if you decide to sell at a later date. If you consider the kitchen the heart of the home, it’s clearly a vital organ! It’s not news that kitchen projects are one of the most popular renovations tackled each year.
A moderate kitchen renovation project will return an average of 80% of the project cost when you decide to sell your home.
Most improvement projects can be disruptive and complicated, especially kitchen renovations. It can almost turn your world upside down. Try to break down your projects into “modules” so you are not overwhelmed with trying to complete everything at once, not only does this make completion more manageable you can complete each task independent of one another. Here are some ideas and suggestions to help you “cook up” the kitchen of your dreams.
Save Your Cabinets
Cabinet replacement can be one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodel project. But you don’t necessarily have to replace your cabinets, might only have to restore them to their “like new” appearance. You have many options available to you.
Chances are your cabinet structure are in good condition, your cabinet finish may be in need of repair. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water! Save your cabinets and save your money. Restore the finish to the original look or change the look of your kitchen with a cabinet color change. Whatever route you decide, be sure the finish coat you select does not yellow, this can be a problem especially on kitchen cabinets.
Painting your kitchen cabinets may be an option to consider. Glazing or crackling can be a beautiful effect for cabinets, especially when you select a bright color that will “pop” under a neutral color like crème or off-white.
How about replacing a couple of your cabinet doors with glass doors? If you decide this option, be sure to paint or use wallpaper for the interior. Replacing all your cabinet doors and drawer fronts is another way to update your kitchen at a minimal cost.
Replace Your Countertops
Replacing your countertops is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to make a dramatic change to your kitchen. Countertops can make a bold statement and becomes the focal point of the entire room and it’s a simple way in a short time frame to make a big change. Kitchen countertop material varies in style and in price. Natural stone is an elegant option if you are willing to make the investment in your kitchen, but laminates are a cheaper choice.
Natural stone, like granite, is the most popular countertop at this time. The advantages are it’s very durable, doesn’t burn, and it just looks great. Over the years the price has really come down so that people are able to afford granite on most budgets.
Another option: engineered stone, like quartz, is a nonporous surface and comes in a large variety of colors.
You might consider ceramic tile, laminate, butcher block, stainless steel and even concrete.
New Kitchen Floors
Changing your kitchen floors can really change the look of your kitchen with very little impact on family life. You have plenty of choices to choose from: durable vinyl and laminate products, tile, and hardwood. Engineered hardwood is a great option for the your kitchen since it responds well to heavy traffic, moisture, and just wears beautifully in the kitchen.
For all your kitchen cabinet projects and ideas, visit www.cabinetrestorations.com or call Kitchen Make-Overs @ 925 753-5002. Help us, help others with their cabinet needs, “Like” us on Facebook and be sure to tell others about our cabinet or wood restoration, new drawer boxes, roll-out shelves, cabinet refinishing and cabinet restoration services.
Posted by Jeff Baker on Wed, Dec 07, 2011 @ 04:50 PM
Depending on which study you read or what experts are saying the average weight gain during the holiday season (Thanksgiving to New Year’s) can be between 1-10 lbs. People of average weight, gain around 1-2 lbs. during this time and those who are overweight tend to gain more, approximately 5 lbs. This just doesn’t seem fair!
But now there is a way to enjoy all those holiday goodies and not put on the pounds. Simply, cut the fat. Fat makes your baked good moist and tender and you can still make them delicious with a few basic swaps.
The easiest way to cut the fat when cooking is to use less butter or oil. Eggs, oil, butter, shortening, milk and cream are the typical “fat” added to your baked goodies. Thank goodness there are several easy swaps that can be made and these swaps may change the texture slightly but it is worth it to cut out the saturated fat. The following are some ideas for you to cut the fat.
Butter
Replace regular butter with healthier buttery spreads like Smart Balance or Promise.
Trade half the butter with pureed fruit like mashed bananas, apple butter or prunes, which work best with chocolate recipes.
For cookie recipes, replace half the butter with egg whites, applesauce or plain yogurt.
Oil
Replace half the oil with applesauce.
Eggs
Replace each egg with two egg whites or use egg substitute (1/4 cup = 1 egg).
Cream
Replace cream with equal parts of low fat, evaporated milk.
Sour Cream
Replace equal parts of sour cream with fat free sour cream or Greek-style yogurt.
Shortening
Replace each ½ cup shortening with 1/3 cup of canola or vegetable oil.
Milk
Replace whole milk with 1%, 2% or fat free.
Cream Cheese
Replace half the cream cheese with equal parts of reduced-fat cottage cheese or part-skim ricotta cheese.
Sometimes when you cut the fat in your recipes will work. Sometimes cutting down on the fat will drastically change your recipe and you will need to replace some of that fat with other ingredients.
It may take some trial and error when you are trying to re-invent your favorite recipes in a healthy manner. Try splitting your recipe in thirds and make your adjustment to each mini batch. That way you won’t be wasting entire batches and once you have discovered what works best you can write it down for the next time.
For information on how to get your kitchen cabinet finish cleaned, repaired and restored visit www.cabinetrestorations.com or call (925) 753-5002.
Posted by Jeff Baker on Tue, Feb 22, 2011 @ 05:36 PM
Ideas and procedures can be overwhelming for any homeowner. What are my options, you may be asking yourself. Where you are in the kitchen cabinet trade or in the home improvement market, we may have some answers for you!
Why Refinish My Kitchen Cabinets?
This process allows you to update your kitchen and will give your cabinets additional years of use without having to reface or replace your existing cabinetry.
What is involved with Refinishing?
It is a fast and easy remedy for the homeowner. The refinishing takes about a day. The homeowner’s cabinets are cleaned thoroughly and the existing color stain is matched and applied to damaged areas. Cabinets endure a lot of daily wear and tear. Water, steam or sunlight fading can also cause their share of damage to your cabinet finish. A top coat is applied to all the kitchen cabinets. This seals and protects your cabinets for many years.
Does Cabinet Refinishing Take A Long Time?
The amount of damage to your cabinet finish and the size of your kitchen will affect the time frame in which your work can be completed. Typically, it takes about 1 day. Clearing off your countertop is really the only prep work that the homeowner is responsible for. The rest is up to the cabinet refinishing contractor!
The most affordable way to restore and protect your cabinet investment, cabinet refinishing! Take off $100 from any cabinet refinishing by www.kitchenmakeovers.net.
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Tue, Dec 28, 2010 @ 05:17 PM
Are your kitchen cabinets flaking, fading, have water spots, sun damage or even turning yellow? Well, Cabinet Refinishing is the answer for you! It is an inexpensive way to add years to the life of your cabinets and make them look like new! Not only does this process clean and revitalize your cabinets, it also protects them.
What is the process of Cabinet Refinishing?
This is a fairly quick process, usually taking only one to two days to complete, depending on the size of the kitchen. First, the ca
binets must be thoroughly cleaned. The stain color on the cabinets is matched perfectly and applied where there is water, steam or sun damage. Then, the color is sealed and 3 top coats of hard clear finish is added to protect the life of them and making them look like new again.
How is Cabinet Refinishing cheaper than Refacing them?
The first reason is it requires less materials such as paint, primer and a sander. It also takes less time than if you were to reface them which would take about a week. Cabinet Refinishing is the most economical solution for those who do not want to spend time and money on a big remodeling project. 
Save more and take advantage of our $100 off Cabinet Refinishing Internet Special!
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Tue, Dec 28, 2010 @ 03:36 PM
New cabinets ca
n be supplied in several different ways. Kitchen Make-Overs builds custom cabinets and is also a Kraftmaid Brand dealer. Custom cabinets are not always priced out of the typical homeowner’s price range like in the past. Construction prices have come down across the board and custom cabinets are now competitive with the semi-custom modular cabinets like Kraftmaid brand. When choosing new cabinets the homeowner has more options like choice of wood species, door style and finish color.
Kitchens tend to be the heart of the home and replacing your cabinets can bring you living comfort. Be sure to use a cabinet expert that is familiar with all the phases of cabinet replacement. Don’t take a risk with an inexperienced contractor!
After your new cabinets are installed, you will need to car
e for them properly. As with all wood products, avoid any excess moisture. Wood cabinetry finishes can be cleaned and protected by using any commercially available cleaning polish. A highly recommended emulsion-type cleaner is Murphy’s Oil Soap. This is formulated without wax, petroleum solvents or silicones. The extended use of wax polishes can result in wax build up, while the use of silicone polishes can harm the cabinets finish.
So call Kitchen Make-Overs today to get your free estimate on new custom cabinets!
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Mon, Dec 27, 2010 @ 03:35 PM
Kitchens tend to be the heart of the home where families gather and make memories. If your kitchen isn’t clean and inviting, you may be missing out on some serious family fun and memories. Sealing and protecting your kitchen cabinet finish doesn’t have to be costly. Here are a few dos and don’ts that may help you decide what to do with your cabinets.
Do - Have your kitchen cabinets cleaned, restored and refinished professionally. This will add years and life to your existing cabinets and make them look like new!
Don’t - Have your cabinets oiled. Getting them oiled is a very temporary solution and may actually make your cabinets dirtier by attracting more dust particles to them. The oil sits on the surface of the cabinets until it either evaporates or is wiped off.
Do - Have a cabinet expert replace any damaged or broken drawer boxes. The new, clean properly working drawer boxes will give the kitchen more of a “remodel” feel.
Don’t - Hire a handyman type service for your kitchen cabinets. Handyman services are great for minor repairs but they typically don’t have the finish expertise needed to restore your cabinet finish to a “like new” condition. You need a cabinet expert!
Do - Add rollout drawers to your cabinets or pantry. Rollout drawers make it easier to reach items in the back of cabinets saving wear and tear on your back and knees. They are custom made and can be installed in less than a day!
So call Kitchen Make-Overs today for a free estimate and take $100 off on any cabinet refinishing project by us!
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Thu, Dec 23, 2010 @ 04:46 PM
Before you swap out your existing cabinetry, investigate your options: Refinish, Reface or Replace.
Cabinet Refinishing
If you are satisfied with the existing color of your cabinets, 
cabinet refinishing is the fastest and most affordable option for you. In most cases this process takes 1 -2 days depending on the size of the kitchen. The cabinets will be cleaned thoroughly, removing any grease or grime buildup. Then the stain color is matched and applied to the damaged areas. Lastly, 3 top coats of new finish are applied to the cabinets sealing and protecting them for years to come!
Cabinet Refacing
Cabinet refacing can give your kitchen a dramatic change with minimum disruption. With refacing you can choose to change the wood style and the color of your cabinets. This process consists of replacing the existing cabinet doors and drawer fronts. The existing cabinet boxes will be wrapped with a wood veneer to match the new door and drawer fronts making them look like new! This process usually takes 4 – 5 days to complete, however, homeowners will still have access to their kitchen while going through the reface process.
Cabinet Replacement
New cabinets can be supplied in many different ways. Kitchen Make-Overs builds custom cabinets and is also a Kraftmaid Brand
dealer. By replacing your cabinets you have the option of changing the wood species, door style and finish color. When replacing your cabinets you may consider replacing your floor as well since the new cabinet footprint most likely would not be exact and you run the risk of having gaps between your old floor and new cabinets.
Now that you know your options, you can make a sure choice!
So call Kitchen Make-Overs today to get your free estimate and even take $100 off with our Internet Special!
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Wed, Dec 22, 2010 @ 05:46 PM
What are Rollout Drawers?
If you are tired of getting down on your hands and knees to reach items in your lower cabinets, or tired of buying duplicate canned goods because you can’t see what’s in the back of your pantry, then rollout drawers will solve your problem! Rollout drawers are customized to fit in any kitchen and have a smooth finish for easy cleaning! They are made from Baltic Birch wood and can hold up to 75lbs! Also, rollout drawers will add convenience and value to your home which is a plus when trying to sell!
When should I replace my Drawer Boxes?
If you are experiencing any of the following problems with your drawers, you may need to replace them.
• Squeaking/Sticking
• Rubbing wood to wood
• Drawer fronts coming off
• Not opening right
These are common problems experienced with old drawer boxes. No worries! Kitchen Make-Overs will build and install customized drawer boxes to fit your kitchen! All of o
ur drawer boxes are made full extension hardware so no more rummaging around in your drawers to find things in the back! Our drawer boxes also come with a soft close mechanism so there won’t be any slamming drawers or smashing fingers! Ouch!
So call Kitchen Make-Overs today or register on-line to order your Rollout Drawers and New Drawer Boxes! You deserve them!
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Wed, Dec 22, 2010 @ 03:33 PM
If you would like, but cannot afford new cabinetry, there is an ingenious way to update your existing ones. You may have thought about painting your cabinets but this is a constant maintenance issue and wood is most desirable over painted cabinets. Also, painted cabinets tend to yellow more so than stained cabinets. A better solution is to have your cabinets refinished.
Cabinet refinishing is a quick and simple process. First, the 
cabinets are cleaned thoroughly to remove any grease or grime build-up. Next the areas damaged by heat, steam or water are lightly sanded. The stain color of the existing cabinets is matched and applied. Lastly, three top coats of new finish are applied to the entire cabinet to seal and protect them for years to come!
Refinishing your cabinets allows you to update the look of your kitchen and adds tremendously to the value of your home. Many homeowners refinish their cabinetry because it is affordable and an alternative to refacing or replacing your cabinets.
Depending on the size of the kitchen and the amount of damage to the finish a typical cabinet refinishing project takes about 1 – 2 days to complete. The only preparation for the homeowner is to make sure all the countertops are clear of any clutter. The rest is up to the experienced cabinet refinisher!
Don’t be afraid to mix and match hardware for a custom look. Add drama to your kitchen with multiple hardware styles. Knobs and handles are like jewelry to your cabinets and the right pieces will make your cabinets shine!
Cabinet Refinishing is the most affordable way to protect your cabinet investment. Save more and take advantage of our Christmas Special of $100 off your cabinet refinishing project!
Posted by Sarah Riemer on Mon, Dec 20, 2010 @ 03:42 PM
Should I refinish or reface my cabinets? These techniques sound similar, but are they? This article will explain their differences.
Refinishing
Cabinet Refinishing can save you thousands of dollars! This would be a great option if you are happy with the existing color of your cabinets. Here are the steps involved:
• The cabinets are cleaned thoroughly and the existing finish is removed.
• The existing stain color is matched and applied to the damaged areas.
• 3 coats of new finish are applied to the cabinets to seal and protect them for years to come!
The process of cabinet refinishing usually takes 1 – 2 days depending on the size of the kitchen.
Refacing
Homeowners have the option to totally change the look of their kitchen with refacing. The existing doors and drawer fronts are replaced with quality, solid wood doors. Wood veneer is bonded to the existing cabinet boxes to make them look like new! Then crown moldings are installed to really “dress up” your cabinets. Refacing is a good option if you plan on keeping your existing floors and countertops. Cabinet modifications can also be completed with cabinet refacing. This process usually takes 4 – 5 days to complete.
So call Kitchen Make-Overs today to get your free estimate and $100 off with our Internet Special!