Tips for making choosing cabinets easy

Kitchen cabinets do more than store dishes and hold up countertops, they are literally the foundation of a kitchen, both functionally and aesthetically.

That can make choosing the rights ones overwhelming, says Cantebury Kitchens owner Shelley Shea.

Start by deciding what your budget will allow: 'good,” 'better,” or the 'best” cabinet?

Whatever your bottom line, there are numerous options available to fit your specific style and needs, Shea says.

Good

Good cabinets will typically be the most economical, but also offer less choice. These cabinets are typically a stock line. In other words, you order it 'as is” from a book, with limited modifications.

Some stock lines offer upgrades such as veneer versus solid doors, soft close drawer boxes and doors and a choice of particle board box construction or plywood construction.

Better

A semi-custom product allows the designer to alter sizes to use space more efficiently. In this range, the customer will have a greater selection of door styles, colors and accessories. A higher grade of materials is typically used, and greater attention is paid to finish details, such as graining characteristics and cross-grain sanding.

'Custom cabinets just offer a few more opportunities,” Shea adds. 'They're also simpler for the installer to work with.”

Best

'Versatility is the keyword with custom, including more durable construction and materials and a higher standard of quality control,” Shea says. 'The emphasis is on attention to small details in the building phase and finishing process.”

With this option, the cabinet box can be altered to specifications, and numerous woods are available.

Design your own door styles and customize stains. There are more accessory and door choices.

' Do you have a project you want to tackle? Send suggestions to Alison Gowans at (319) 398-8434; alison.gowans@thegazette.com