The kitchen has evolved from the standard oak cabinets and Formica countertops to a modern showplace with commercial grade appliances and exotic stone countertops. The days of the extreme 'over-the-top' kitchen remodel may be gone, but that still doesn't change the fact that the kitchen is one of the hardest working rooms in the house. Choosing durable yet attractive finishes is still extremely important, but it shouldn't break the bank. Here are some tips on choosing materials for your kitchen, including how to get a high end look without spending a ton of money.
Solid core passage doors are also available in wheat straw and FSC certified woods. They too are formaldehyde free and meet LEED guidelines.For some reason the backsplash is often the hardest material choice for people to decide upon. But the backsplash is one area that can have a big visual impact and help tie the design together. If you're having trouble choosing a material for the backsplash, look to the other surfaces in the kitchen for inspiration. In a more contemporary kitchen, choosing a stainless steel backsplash that matches your stainless steel appliances can be a wise decision. For a less expensive choice, consider plastic laminates that look like stainless steel that can even be installed by a do-it-yourselfer (but resist the temptation to use these on countertops because many are not rated for horizontal surface use). Glass tile can be another good choice to tie together different color materials. There are so many different glass tiles available today it can be challenging to choose one. A safe place to start is by choosing a glass tile that pulls colors from your countertop. Other material you may consider are sheets of glass, plastic laminate, stone tile, ceramic tile, or even wood (painted or sealed, of course).Natural stone counters are also a common choice and a visit to your local stone yard will show you that there are literally hundreds to select from. To help you find a suitable stone more quickly, ask for help looking for stone only within a certain price range and color range. When you find a stone you like try to take a sample home and see how it holds up to spilled wine, ketchup, mustard and oils. Beware of stones with a lot of fillers. Fillers are a sign of lower quality stone and can get damaged more easily and even fall out.Kitchen Magic was founded in Allentown Pennsylvania in 1979 by Jost and Reine Fleck. Today Kitchen Magic continues to be family owned and operated, now in the second generation, and is the largest specialty refacing and kitchen and bath remodeling company in the Northeast, serving NJ, PA, NY, CT, MA, NH, DE & RI. Kitchen Magic's headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Nazareth, PA, and the 'Kitchen Magic family' is comprised of over two hundred and fifty employees.Often the first thing I consider for flooring choices are the same materials on the floor of adjacent spaces. If there are hardwoods in nearby rooms, a good solution can be to extend the wood into the kitchen. This is especially true in a smaller room, where continuing the same flooring material will usually make a space look larger. If you do not want wood floors in the kitchen, then choose a tile that is a similar color value to the adjacent wood floor, so the transition is not harsh and it does not separate the space. A resilient material like cork can be an excellent choice for the kitchen as it is slightly soft underfoot and is more forgiving if you drop a dish on it. Natural materials like Marmoleum are also great and a good 'green' choice.How to Select Flooring"CAMBRIA clicked for us from the beginning," said Kitchen Magic President, Brett Bacho. "Both Kitchen Magic and CAMBRIA are family owned businesses, both American manufacturers and both stand behind our products with Lifetime Warranties, so we are very excited to partner with them." He added, "Our customers have told us they feel the CAMBRIA colors are superior to any other surfaces they've seen. They love the beautiful depth and unique movement of the colors."For middle-of-the road budgets look into solid surface materials such as Corian. These materials have evolved well beyond the basic white, and are now available in patterns that look more like stone. A big benefit of solid surface countertops is the ability to have a seamless integrated sink fabricated into the countertop. So wiping water into the sink and cleaning up is quicker.CabinetryThere are many countertop materials to choose from, many people simply just don't know where to start. There is also a sizable price range even within one material (such as stone). For an affordable option consider plastic laminates such as Formica. There are some sophisticated patterns and colors available today that when paired with a tile backsplash and well selected paint colors can look very good together. There are also new edge details that eliminate seams that can get damaged.NAZARETH, Pa., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kitchen Magic, the Northeast's largest kitchen cabinet refacing and remodeling company announces the addition of CAMBRIA quartz countertop surfaces to its repertoire of countertop products.Another newer countertop option is Quartz. Quartz countertops turn a natural material, quartz, into slabs that appear almost like natural stone. One of the many benefits of these countertops is that they do not absorb liquids spilled on them.
While choosing materials for the kitchen can be difficult, take it step by step and you'll get there. Start with the countertop and cabinet finish. Once you have those chosen, select a material for your floor. Then choose your backsplash and wall and ceiling paint colors. This process will help you get everything chosen more quickly, so you can get through the construction a little sooner, and then to enjoying your new kitchen.
Author: Nazim Nice
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