There are so many benefits to spending time together in the kitchen. Studies suggest that enjoying a meal together can have several positive impacts on your family, including:

• Better academic scores and language development for teens and children.
• Improved family relationships and strengthened by family discussions.
• The ability to make healthier, more nutritious food choices.
• Decreased risk of teenagers engaging in high-risk behaviors.
• Less emotional stress, thanks to a stronger support system.

Encourage your family to spend more time in the kitchen by creating the ultimate family-friendly space.

SIX TIPS FOR CREATING A FAMILY-FRIENDLY KITCHEN DESIGN

A family-friendly kitchen is one that is comfortable, functional, safe and engaging for the whole family. Following these six tips to begin designing your own family-friendly kitchen:

SEATING IS EVERYTHING

In a family-friendly kitchen, seating is everything. Whether your family gathers around a traditional dining room table or sits on counter-height barstools around the kitchen island, make sure there is plenty of comfortable seating available. The more comfortable your dinner-time seating is, the more time your family will want to spend sitting around the table.

Some of the most delicious family meals — like pasta, pizza and desserts — can also be some of the messiest. When choosing chairs or bar stools for your family kitchen, look for ones that are made with easy-to-clean fabrics. Alternatively, preserve delicate seating with washable slip-covers during mealtime.

HAVE A MENU BOARD

One of the smartest family kitchen ideas is to display a large menu in the dining area so your family can look ahead at the week’s dinner plans. Construct your menu out of chalkboard paint or use a dry-erase board, so it is easy to change each week.

Pre-planning your weekly menu is an excellent way to organize your grocery shopping list and give your family an idea of what to expect each night. For even more fun, consider implementing “theme nights” throughout the week, like Taco Tuesday or Leftovers Night.

CHOOSE EASY-TO-CLEAN BUILDING MATERIALS

Easy to clean building materials — especially for the countertops and flooring — are a must-have in family-friendly kitchens. Quartz, vinyl, and laminate countertops are all easy to maintain and stand up well to the chaos of family mealtime.

Stone, tile, and laminate materials are all great options for your floor, as they are typically non-porous and easy to clean. Avoid installing any carpet in your kitchen, as it will be difficult to keep clean and dry. Instead, opt for a colorful, washable rug to add more personality to the room.

Let’s be real. Life happens. When you use a kitchen, day in and day out, bad things can happen to good cabinets. But now you can make a mess, wipe it clean and get on with life.

CHILD-PROOF WHEN NECESSARY

If babies or toddlers live in your home, you are probably already familiar with the idea of child-proofing. In a family-friendly kitchen, child-proofing means installing high shelves and closed-door cabinetry to safely hide away dangerous items, like knives, kitchen gadgets, cleaning agents and more.

Baby gates are another good option for keeping children away from unsafe areas of the kitchen. For even more protection, consider placing corner guards on the edges of your kitchen counters, island and dining table to keep your little one from bumping their head.

LET THE KIDS GET INVOLVED

Make family time last longer and teach your child valuable life skills by letting them get involved in the meal preparations. Depending on your child’s age, there are several different ways your kid can get involved.

Teaching your children how to cook from a young age and letting them express themselves in the kitchen can encourage them to:

• Develop healthy eating habits.
• Be more creative.
• Become more adventurous eaters.
• Learn math and basic formulas while measuring ingredients.
• Improve their reading comprehension by consulting recipes.
• Learn more about where food comes from, including different cultures.
• Get a jump-start on learning how to care for themselves.
For kid-friendly kitchen design, install child-height furniture. If that isn’t possible, designate a special step-stool for your child, so they can easily assist. You could also set a special drawer in your kitchen aside for your children’s baking and cooking supplies so they can learn how to put away their tools and dishes during cleanup.

STORAGE, STORAGE, STORAGE

Kitchens for families require a lot of storage space to make room for all the dishes, pantry items, pots and pans. Implement traditional storage spaces throughout your kitchen design, including kitchen walk-in pantries, drawers, cabinetry and pot hangers.

If your kitchen is small or you are working on a limited budget, implement other space-saving tricks, like:

• Installing sliding, pull-out pantries.
• Invest in built-in spice racks inside your cabinets.
• Placing floating shelves on the wall.

For you, this means kitchen cabinetry that can:

• Withstand the heat, moisture, drops and spills that happen while cooking.
• Handle accidental scrapes and bumps without lasting damage.

Potomac Kitchen and Bath, you can also add optional additional storage or personalized touches to your cabinetry like built-in spice racks and decorative trims or moldings. Select Potomac Kitchen and Bath are available for Quick Ship, meaning you get your cabinetry within days, not weeks.

• Fast transit times: Select Potomac Kitchen and Bath are available for Quick Ship transit.
To learn more about Potomac Kitchen and Bath — or to browse our other premium cabinetry selections — visit Potomac Kitchen and Bath online. Then, find an independent Potomac Kitchen and Bath dealer near you to see the cabinets for yourself and begin designing the family kitchen of your dreams.

For further information about kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and countertops or to add granite, marble, or quartz countertops to your kitchen and vanity tops to your bathroom, call Potomac Kitchen & Bath Now! You can also make a free appointment to get service in:

Leesburg, McLean, Chantilly, Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Annandale, Dulles, Oakton,  Aldie, Warrenton, Lorton,  Sterling, Alexandria, Arlington, Potomac Falls, South Riding, Gainesville, Vienna, Gaithersburg, Great Falls, Bethesda, Rockville, Clifton, Haymarket, Burke,  Dumfries, Dalecity, Springfield, Reston, Centreville, Ashburn, Herndon, Manassas, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, VA.

If you’re looking to revamp your kitchen’s look, you might want to start with new kitchen cabinets. However, knowing how to measure cabinets in kitchens is an essential skill to have when you want to take your kitchen’s appearance and functionality to the next level.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with the skills you need to measure your kitchen properly.

STEPS TO MEASURE YOUR KITCHEN FOR CABINETS
To begin the measuring process, you’ll need to gather:

Grid paper
A tape measure
A pencil or pen
After collecting the materials, follow these seven steps to measure your kitchen for cabinets:

DRAW YOUR FLOOR PLAN

The first step you have to take to begin measuring your kitchen for cabinets is to draw up a floor plan. With your pen or pencil, sketch the layout of your kitchen onto a piece of grid paper. On this floor plan, you’ll need to identify the locations of:

Windows
Doors
Light switches
Water lines
Gas lines
Drain lines
Vents for heating and air
Hood vents
Electrical outlets
The first draft of your floor plan doesn’t have to be to scale, but you should make sure it conveys the layout accurately and clearly.

TAKE HORIZONTAL MEASUREMENTS

With the layout taken down, you can begin measuring your space. Your measurements should be entirely in inches. For example, instead of recording that a wall is four feet long, you should record that it is 48 inches long.

The first horizontal measurements you’ll need to make are the full wall lengths. It’s best to start taking horizontal measurements from one of the adjoining corners of the wall. Measure clockwise, moving from edge to edge with your tape measure. You’ll want to skip over appliances, windows, and other fixtures. It’s a good idea to label your walls with a specific number so you can reference them easily.

Once you’ve got the full length down, you’ll then move on to measuring the wall in smaller segments. In this stage, you’ll measure every opening. To get these measurements, you’ll measure from one outside trim edge to the next outside trim edge. Ensure you include any molding or trim in the smaller wall segment in the measurement. Like the larger walls, number your openings for simple referencing. You’ll need to record both the full and partial length measurements on your floor plan.

TAKE VERTICAL MEASUREMENTS

After recording your horizontal measurements, you’ll need to do the same for your vertical measurements. In your initial measurements, you’ll measure from the floor to the windowsill. Next, you’ll measure from the windowsill to the window’s top, and finally, from the top of the window to the ceiling.

The final step is to measure from the floor to the ceiling. Since some homes will have different ceiling heights in the same room, you should take at least three different floor-to-ceiling measurements.

NOTE OBSTRUCTIONS

With the measurements in place, you should note any obstructions alongside your walls, including vents, pipes, and radiators. It’s essential to note obstructions because they usually can’t be removed, which can influence where you place your cabinets.

IDENTIFY APPLIANCES AND UTILITIES

In your kitchen, you’ll want to determine what large appliances and utilities you’re going to want to keep in the kitchen after you’ve installed your newest cabinets. Knowing where your power sources, water supply, air vents, light switches, and electrical outlets are will help you figure out where you can and can’t place your cabinets.

Other than marking the location of these utilities and appliances on your floor plan, you should also indicate where their center points are. The center point of an appliance will usually be the point where the gas line or plumbing line begins.

PLAN YOUR KITCHEN LAYOUT

With all your measurements and notes handy, you can begin to plan out how your kitchen is going to look with your new cabinets. Since you know how much space to work with, you can pick out areas where you want to include your new cabinets.

SELECT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS

After you’ve figured out where you want your kitchen cabinets to go, you can begin to figure out which kitchen cabinets are right for you. There are a lot of different options available for you to choose from. Consider a variety of cabinets before you make a decision. Just make sure their dimensions fit before you order them.

TIPS FOR MEASURING YOUR KITCHEN FOR CABINETS

Do not forget to measure your granite countertops, quartz countertops, and marble countertops while making your measurements.

Take horizontal measurements at the same distance from the floor: You’ll need to take all the horizontal measurements of your kitchen walls at the same height. By taking your measurements at the same distance, you’ll make sure they stay consistent across all the walls you measure.

• Make accurate measurements with the right tools: To be as accurate as possible, get a reliable tape measure and pencil to help you take measurements. Additionally, use graph paper and a straight edge to help you draw up a floor plan that best represents your kitchen.
• Measure clockwise: To ensure you never miss a wall or forget where you left off, it’s best practice to measure your walls clockwise. As you move around the room, you should be labeling walls, doors, and windows with numbers to keep everything as accurate as possible.
• Don’t forget the trim: When you measure windows or doors, remember that it’s trim, or casing, is considered part of the window or door. For example, you’d measure a window from one end of its trim to the opposite side to get the window’s length or height. 

For further information about kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and countertops or to add granite, marble, or quartz countertops to your kitchen and vanity tops to your bathroom, call Potomac Kitchen & Bath Now! You can also make a free appointment to get service in:

Leesburg, McLean, Chantilly, Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Annandale, Dulles, Oakton,  Aldie, Warrenton, Lorton,  Sterling, Alexandria, Arlington, Potomac Falls, South Riding, Gainesville, Vienna, Gaithersburg, Great Falls, Bethesda, Rockville, Clifton, Haymarket, Burke,  Dumfries, Dalecity, Springfield, Reston, Centreville, Ashburn, Herndon, Manassas, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, VA.

Choosing the right doors for your cabinets is no small decision. After all, they’re an important visual element in your kitchen, meaning the design you choose will have a significant impact on the overall design of the room. Based purely on your cabinet door choices, you can set the tone for a kitchen that’s bright and fun, sophisticated and refined, or minimalistic and classic.

It’s no surprise, then, that the number of potential options can be overwhelming. To help you make the decision of which cabinet door will help you achieve the look and feel you’re going for, we’ve put together a handy guide on popular cabinet door styles, as well as which criteria you should be looking for as you make your selection. Continue reading this cabinet door styles guide to find out which is best for your kitchen style and budget.

CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING YOUR CABINET DOORS

There are plenty of different ways you could evaluate your choices of cabinet doors. Everyone has their own method, and none of these methods are wrong. If you’re feeling swamped by all the possibilities, however, it can be helpful to know some of the standard criteria for choosing your types of cabinet doors.

You can also find which kitchen cabinet is compatible with your granite countertop, quartz countertop or marble countertop from our link pages.

A few of the common criteria people evaluate while making this choice include:

KITCHEN LAYOUT AND STYLE

Your entire house has a theme, a style, and a feeling that is carried throughout. Every piece of furniture, every carpet, and every light fixture works together to contribute to this feeling, and no room is exempt from this. While the style might vary slightly from the bedroom to the hall, and the living room to the dining room, a consistent theme will likely run throughout your house. This includes the kitchen as well.

When it comes to deciding on your cabinet doors, think of them in terms of your home’s overall style. The first step is to determine what the current style of your home is and consider what look you want to achieve. Is your home classic and elegant? Is it modern and minimalistic? What about bold, bright, and fun? Whatever style your house has working for it, carry this through with your kitchen cabinet doors.

As you’re thinking about your home’s overall style, it might also be wise to devote some time to thinking about your kitchen’s layout. Is it L-shaped? U-shaped? Think about how different styles of doors will look in your current layout, and let this guide your decision accordingly.

FUNCTIONALITY

Another important consideration when choosing between different kitchen cabinet door styles is functionality.

Think about how you typically use or would like to use your cabinets. Do you frequently entertain guests and need extra storage space for all your serving dishes, plates, and drinkware?

These kinds of factors will influence what your functionality needs are.

PRICE

Like anything else, cabinet doors exist in a wide range of prices and styles. Some are less expensive, while others are more expensive — and there’s something for everyone’s budget.

As you browse cabinet door options, we recommend looking through the options available to you as a start, so you get a solid understanding of typical price ranges. Then, look at your own budget and decide how much money you’re willing to spend. Compare this decision to the prices of cabinet doors, and you’ll find that you’re quickly able to eliminate many of the options that fall on either end of your desired price range.

When you shop cabinet doors at Potomac Kitchen and Bath, you’ll find that our cabinet doors are available at a wide selection of prices. Browse from our affordable Potomac Kitchen and Bath cabinets to our semi-custom options at a middle-of-the-road price point and finally our Potomac Kitchen and Bath choices at the very top of the price range. Decide which options work best for you and your wallet, and move forward from there.

CONSTRUCTION

While there are countless different aesthetic designs for cabinets, the actual structural bones of a cabinet are available in two primary different construction options.

The first option is full-access cabinets. This is a more European style that allows for slightly more storage inside an elegant frameless construction. If you’re interested in this style, we recommend checking out our Potomac Kitchen and Bath cabinets.

On the other hand, the second, more popular option is framed cabinets. This style is more common in the United States and features framed cabinets built in many different sub-styles. We offer many different cabinets in this style, such as our Potomac Kitchen and Bath.

DOOR STYLE AND FINISH

The aesthetic is an important part of the choosing process. Ask yourself which finishes and styles you like the best, and which ones you think will look the best in your kitchen. These criteria alone should help you narrow down the choices considerably.

It’s not surprising, then, that the number of potential options is huge. We’ve put together a handy guide to help you decide which cabinet door will help you achieve the look and feel you’re looking for. make your choice. Keep reading this guide to cabinet door styles to find which is best for your kitchen style and budget.

ADDITIONAL DOOR-STYLE OPTIONS

Beyond the simple matter of overlays, there are numerous other ways your cabinet doors can vary in style and design.

Drawer fronts, for example, come in two different styles. These styles are one-piece drawer fronts — a style known as a slab — and five-piece drawer fronts — a style known as decorative. Not only can you customize your cabinets, but you can also allow yourself some freedom and expression with your drawers as well.

Stains and finishes are also important design elements to keep in mind. Cabinets and drawers come in all different colors, shades, and finishes, and we recommend basing your choice on a variety of factors such as price, taste, and overall compliance with your kitchen’s style as a whole. Some of our most popular styles and finishes for cabinets are painted, SmartShield, and glazed.

COLOR

No matter what style of kitchen cabinet doors you choose, the color palette will play a significant part in how the finished project will look. 

Lighter color palettes using cream or white can help create looks ranging from contemporary to farmhouse. Meanwhile, adding pops of color or sticking to a more earthy color palette can help you achieve anything from a modern to a mid-century style.

While cabinets were traditionally painted just one color, choosing a two-tone design — where you paint or stain the top and bottom in two different shades — can really add some visual appeal.

For further information about kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and countertops or to add granite, marble, or quartz countertops to your kitchen and vanity tops to your bathroom, call Potomac Kitchen & Bath Now! You can also make a free appointment to get service in:

Leesburg, McLean, Chantilly, Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Annandale, Dulles, Oakton,  Aldie, Warrenton, Lorton,  Sterling, Alexandria, Arlington, Potomac Falls, South Riding, Gainesville, Vienna, Gaithersburg, Great Falls, Bethesda, Rockville, Clifton, Haymarket, Burke,  Dumfries, Dalecity, Springfield, Reston, Centreville, Ashburn, Herndon, Manassas, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, VA.

Shaker-style cabinets get their name from the Shakers, otherwise known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing. Today, there aren’t many Shakers left — only one Shaker community remains. But their furniture has had a lasting effect. The hallmark of Shaker furniture is its simplistic look, using local American woods like pine or maple and doing without veneers, inlays or carving. Shakers thought this simplicity made the furniture honest. Shaker furniture is now on display as memorabilia in historical museums across the country, the Metropolitan included.

However, designers, architects, and homeowners alike still have a great appreciation for Shaker furniture. They demonstrate this through Shaker-style furniture, a near-replica of original Shaker furniture. Shaker-style cabinetry, especially, is desirable for many people who have an investment in interior design. Clean lines are the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Shaker-style cabinets, and flexibility is the second. An affection for Shaker-style cabinets comes less from their straightforward construction and more from their uninvolved charm. It also goes well with shaker-style cabinets, granite countertops, quartz countertops, and marble countertops.

Shaker cabinets are best known for their boxy look — rectangular, to be exact. Imagine a slab of wood in the shape of a rectangle. Within it, picture another rectangle engraved inside, but only slightly smaller. The overall appearance is a four-cornered frame with an inset panel. Any curves are gentle, and most lines are straight. The formal name for the panel-and-frame structure of a Shaker cabinet is rail-and-stile construction. The rail represents the inset panel’s width-side overlay, and the stile refers to the length-side overlay. Together, a Shaker cabinet has five pieces — the panel, two stiles and two rails.

You might have heard the terms Mission cabinets and Shaker cabinets used interchangeably, although there is a distinction. While Shaker cabinets originated in 1774, Mission cabinets came along much later, at the end of the 19th century. The Arts & Crafts movement prompted the design of Mission cabinets. Handcraftsmanship defined this movement, which differed from the Shakers in this way. Mission-style furniture is oak, emphasizing flat planes that bring attention to the wood grain. For this reason, Mission cabinets usually have a heavier look, whereas Shaker cabinets come off as delicate.

BENEFITS OF SHAKER STYLE CABINETS

Shaker cabinets have a versatile use in the home, but Shaker-style kitchen cabinets seem to be their most cherished use. The cabinets can give the kitchen a cleaner, less cluttered look. Most of all, homeowners like the timeless effect of Shaker cabinets. If you feel the need to remodel, there is one less thing to think about. Shaker cabinets don’t feel outdated. A simple color change — from unfinished wood to black or gray — can give Shaker cabinets a more modern look. The style of Shaker cabinets also prizes repetition. If you decide to use Shaker cabinets in your home, having all your drawers and cabinets in the same style ensures a clean, consistent look. 

In addition to all their other perks, Shaker-style cabinets also happen to be economical. When you compare Shaker cabinets to other furniture styles, they are cheaper overall because of their ease of construction. Since there are many ways to reflect the character of Shaker cabinets in the way you adorn them, you can choose to customize the cabinets to your liking or leave them as is. Either way, they’ll maintain their functional use.

TYPES OF SHAKER CABINETS

The unfettered look of Shaker cabinets allows for a diverse range of stylistic techniques to personalize them. Shakers themselves made many variations of the original style in the 1800s. Their popularity in the community made it essential to tailor the cabinets to individual tastes. Sometimes, this meant dividing the section into smaller pieces, termed mid-rails or mid-stiles. However, there are countless other ways to alter the look of your cabinets, whether Shaker or otherwise.

Cabinets, in general, have three main structural styles — inset, partial overlay, or full overlay. The construction of the cabinets alone affects the look and functionality of the piece. Here’s a look at the different Shaker cabinet structure styles.

• • Inset: Inset cabinets sit within a frame that surrounds the five-piece structure. This feature is typical of British kitchens. The design increases the stability of the cabinets as the frame grounds them to the floor. 
• • Partial overlay: Cabinets with a partial overlay have a small gap between the cabinet doors. The framing and gaps mean no internal hardware is necessary to open the cabinets, which reduces costs. On the other hand, if you want a completely flat appearance for your cabinetry, an inset or full-overlay cabinet may be a better option. This design is most common in American homes. 
• • Full overlay: With a full overlay, cabinet doors cover the cabinetry face, meaning no raised edges. People tend to like this aesthetic the most. Its construction also provides about an extra inch of space for the cabinet itself, since the cabinet doors don’t rely on actual cabinet space to close. Full-overlay cabinets typically don’t have frames. 

You should also consider the type of edge you want in your kitchen cabinets. The following Shaker cabinets have a beveled edge, which can help you achieve a unique look for your kitchen.

• • Berwyn: These full-overlay cabinets combine elegance and tradition. Berwyn Shaker cabinets feature an attractive outer edge with a recessed center panel. Get them exclusively in our Opal paint, which contains pigments of warm white and gray. 
• • York: The beveled edges of our York Shaker cabinets accent their clean lines and classic finishes, available in both stain and paint. You can find the perfect look for your kitchen. 
• • Livingston: Be ready for anything life throws your way with our Livingston Shaker cabinets. In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at the different cabinet finishes and the benefits they can offer you. 

CABINET FINISHINGS

Once you’ve decided on your cabinets’ construction, you can use the following finishing techniques to moderately change their appearance.

• • Paint: Painting the cabinets will give them a more modern or contemporary look. White cabinets look elegant, while blue ones look chic. Gray cabinets extend a neutral tone. 
• • SmartShield: Cover your cabinets in a laminate wrapping to create a seamless surface with smooth, consistent color. This finishing option will make your cabinets more durable and easier to keep clean. Enjoy the look of the paint and the durability of the laminate by choosing SmartShield as your cabinets’ finish. 
• • Polyurethane: Polyurethane is a translucent polymer base that deepens the natural color of the wood. Think of polyurethane as liquid plastic bringing a glossy edge to your cabinets. 

For further information about kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and countertops or to add granite, marble, or quartz countertops to your kitchen and vanity tops to your bathroom, call Potomac Kitchen & Bath Now! You can also make a free appointment to get service in:

Leesburg, McLean, Chantilly, Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Annandale, Dulles, Oakton,  Aldie, Warrenton, Lorton,  Sterling, Alexandria, Arlington, Potomac Falls, South Riding, Gainesville, Vienna, Gaithersburg, Great Falls, Bethesda, Rockville, Clifton, Haymarket, Burke,  Dumfries, Dalecity, Springfield, Reston, Centreville, Ashburn, Herndon, Manassas, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, VA.

The majority of kitchen cabinets, particularly those made out of wood, are designed to survive for many years. The timeless elegance of high-quality solid wood cabinets makes them a perfect complement to any kitchen. However, no matter the material of the cabinet, as time passes, some form of damage is bound to happen. At first glance, this damage may appear to have come out of nowhere. Most cabinet damage is caused by fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Humidity in the kitchen may lead to the wood expanding and contracting. This can, for instance, cause the paint on your cabinets to chip and reveal the joint lines. Aside from that, water damage, faulty installation, relocating the cabinets, and unprepared wood prior to painting are all possibilities. For this preseason, we are going to discuss the top five things that can damage your kitchen cabinets.

Extreme Moisture and Temperature Change

Kitchen temperature and humidity fluctuations are the leading cause of cracks in the wood center panel and cabinet doors that damage your kitchen cabinets. Wood is a natural material that will adjust to the humidity and temperature of your house over time. However, even the best kitchen cabinets and wood countertops can swell in summer and other humid months because wood easily absorbs extra moisture from the air due to higher relative humidity. When winter arrives, the humidity lowers, causing the wood to compress. Additionally, kitchen cabinet paint wears off over time due to the wood’s continual movement. These flaws manifest as tiny openings or thin fractures in the cabinet’s doors, joints, or corners. That being said, if you manage the kitchen’s humidity properly, problems with painting won’t arise. On the other hand, if you wish to prevent cracks, you will need to maintain a constant humidity level of between 40 and 50 percent.

Damage Caused by Water

The kitchen is one of the busiest areas in the home, so it’s not surprising that water spills and stains are common on painted cabinet surfaces. If your high-quality wood cabinets or countertops absorb even a tiny bit of water, they can quickly lose their quality and beauty. Cracking of butt joints in corner cabinets, paint peeling or bubbling, and expansion of wood materials are all possible results. However, if you have plywood cabinets and countertops rather than solid wood ones, it’s highly unlikely that your cabinets will become damaged due to water alone.

Failing to Properly Prepare Cabinetry Prior to Painting

When the wood in your kitchen cabinets isn’t properly treated or prepped before the final painting process, cracks may form in either a small piece or across an entire panel. For instance, the paint may bubble or shatter if you work on an unclean surface. Therefore, you need to make sure to remove any dirt, grease, and dust from the wood surface before painting. It’s also not a good idea to paint your wood cabinet doors and panels while they’re still wet. This may cause bubbles to develop on the paint and eventually peel off, leaving behind unsightly fissures.

Household Pests Can Damage Your Kitchen Cabinets

No one wants to believe they have a problem with pests in their kitchen. It still can be. Cockroaches in particular are often attracted to the greasy residue that builds up behind the stove. Additionally, pests such as termites love moist environments in kitchen cabinets. This makes your kitchen cabinets the perfect place for them to establish their colony. Termites can seriously damage the woodwork inside your kitchen cabinets and in the process can wreak havoc on your home. That’s why it’s so important to regularly inspect your cabinets for signs of infestation so you can take immediate action to minimize further damage and prevent the infestation from spreading to other areas of your home.

Poor Installation

Failing to install it properly weakens the overall structure of a cabinet, which over time leads to cracks and damage. If you want your cabinets to last a long time without breaking, you need to use professionals who know how to correctly secure the joints and install the cabinets.

How to Increase the Longevity of Your Kitchen Cabinets?

If you have recently purchased or are planning to purchase a custom cabinet set for your kitchen and are looking for ways to make it last longer, you should:

Keep Them in Working Order

As soon as you notice that they are not performing properly, you must determine what is causing the problem and resolve it. As we have mentioned, leaving technical issues unattended can cause further damage to your kitchen cabinets.

Clean Them Frequently

Wardrobe cleaning is a tedious job that no one wants to do. However, you don’t need to be completely thorough. You can wipe it regularly with a damp cloth.

Minimize the Humidity in Your Kitchen to Avoid Damage to Your Kitchen Cabinets

Moisture is the worst enemy of kitchen cabinets. As a result, make sure to air out any cooking streams and deal with spilled liquid as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Now that you understand what the top five things that can damage your kitchen cabinets are, we hope that you will take the necessary precautions to protect your investment. Regularly following these tips will save your kitchen cabinet set a lot more for years to come.

The kitchen often serves as the focal point of any home where food brings people together. A beautiful renovation project that adds second-hand value to your home, you can personalize your kitchen.

Take a look at the benefits of renovating your kitchen and how it can boost your profits when deciding to sell.

Individual Features in Kitchen Remodels That Increase Home Value the Most

The most significant design changes come from the smaller details in your kitchen. You can create your vision of the perfect kitchen by modifying the features around the room that you use daily. Minor kitchen upgrade ideas or even a new kitchen will increase home value due to the upgraded functionality and style you install in your house.

Consider these common kitchen home improvement ideas that can spark inspiration and improve your home’s value.

Cabinets

Think of your kitchen cabinets as a blank canvas that you can paint and decorate to make the space come to life. These features pull the whole room together effortlessly.

Kitchen cabinets are one of the most versatile and customizable features that allow you to incorporate your personal style into one of the most popular areas in the home. Not to mention, these stylish fixtures add incredible function via storage — and many homebuyers seek out ample storage when shopping around for homes.

Start your kitchen home improvement project with a few cabinet styling options to explore:

Materials: The base of the cabinet starts with the material you choose. Texture, appearance, and finishes can drastically change the wood and fiberboard look. You can select a few options for your cabinet material — cherry, oak, hickory, maple, laminate, and many others.
Styles: Cabinets can arrive with various styles of wood carvings and detailed appearances. With a splash of color, you can use these small intricate features to stand out to add more flair to your kitchen. The styles of cabinet doors you can choose from include versatile shaker styles, traditionally raised panels and modern slabs.
Finishes: The finish of your kitchen cabinets gives a final touch of your style that others can admire. Staining, glaze, and paints can turn your wood or laminate cabinets into the signature flair you plan to create with your renovation project. Consider a neutral finish that can become a blank canvas for future homeowners. White cabinets, for instance, are trendy right now, but they’re also timeless and adaptable for different aesthetics. You could also go for a two-tone look.

Countertops and Backsplashes

Add some depth to your kitchen renovation project with new countertops and backsplashes. These spaces are where family and friends gather to cook meals and share stories together. A change in style to these features can capture the attention of future buyers who can envision making their own memories in the same room. 

For this reason, new countertops and backsplashes that add flair to your kitchen cabinets can increase the number of potential buyers and improve your home’s resale value. Authentic marble, wood, or stone countertops are one of the most attractive kitchen upgrade ideas for buyers to observe when you sell. Backsplashes can draw in colors from your new cabinets that match the countertops to pull the whole room together.

Appliances

New appliances around the kitchen increase the functionality of the room’s primary purposes. A modern fridge, oven, cooktop, microwave, dishwasher, or other valuable devices can help make the kitchen come to life and make cooking more fun for the whole family. When the time comes to sell your home, buyers can appreciate the addition of new appliances that they will not have to purchase. They will be more inclined to spend more on the house, increasing the resale value.

Flooring

A prominent upgrade you can add to your kitchen home improvement plans is the flooring. Depending on the styles you choose for your cabinets and countertops, you can find beautiful floors that complement your selected colors and patterns. Wood, stone, tile, marble, and vinyl floors can add even more style and life to the most used room in the home.

New floors offer protection from water and steam damage and give the room a fresh shine. These upgrades are one of the first noticeable features of the kitchens that buyers admire because the floors suggest the room is in good shape, which increases the home’s value.

How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Increase Home Value?

In 2022, a mid-range, minor kitchen remodel boosted resale by over $20,000, recouping a little over 71% of the cost. For a major mid-range kitchen renovation, the return on investment (ROI) was a bit over 56%, but it increased home value by more than $45,000. Even the most minor upgrades in kitchen renovation and remodeling can add value to the entire house.

The return on investment of kitchen spending has increased significantly over the past few years. Since this area is typically the house’s most used room by all family members, buyers tend to look at the kitchen first to determine the home’s potential in the future. A quality kitchen can increase your buyer pool, potentially driving up competition on your house and earning you higher offers.

Kitchen Remodels vs. Other Remodels

Remodeling projects that offer modern upgrades or expansions in the home can typically result in a higher resale value. Kitchen renovation quickly attracts the attention of future buyers.

With this in mind, you should renovate your kitchen before selling it. The same research from 2022 that found the return on kitchen remodels found these numbers for other upgrades:

Mid-range main bedroom suite addition: 53.4%
Mid-range bathroom addition: 51.8%
An upscale bathroom remodel: 53.5%
A mid-range bathroom remodel: 58.9%

A new kitchen offers future homeowners durable floors and cabinets. Resale value can increase thanks to your efforts when you invest in new and stylish spaces for your home.

White cabinets are so versatile that you can couple them with any kitchen color scheme. This is one of the reasons white kitchens are trending now. There are multiple shades of white that help you make an aesthetic, modern, or vintage kitchen ambiance.

5 White Cabinet Shades to Furnish a Kitchen

When someone says “a white kitchen”, an image of a neat, all-white kitchen may appear in your mind. But do you know there are multiple shades of white cabinets at Potomac Kitchen and Bath ? The different shades of these white kitchen cabinets help you create different ambiances in your kitchen space.

Here are some pretty shades of white to grace your kitchen interior.

1. Ivory White Kitchen Cabinetry

Ivory white is a neutral color that you can pair with plenty of colors. You must decide what kind of vibe you want in your kitchen area.

• Ivory White with Bright Colors: If you are looking for something bold and bright, contrast a pink, green, or blue backsplash with ivory-white kitchen cabinets. Also, pairing them with white walls and backsplash will create a fully white, bright kitchen space with a sharp contrast.
• Ivory White with Dark Colors: Pairing a dark color with a lighter shade always works for kitchen interior design. When you have ivory white cabinets, make a pretty contrast with a dark backsplash. A solid or patterned kitchen backsplash with dark blue or red color would be pretty attractive.

A warm tone like brown suits best with ivory white. So, you can go for a dark brown backsplash or countertops. Also, a wooden floor and wooden textured backsplash with ivory-white cabinets offer a warm vibe in your kitchen space.

• Ivory White with Light colors: Light colors like beige, light grey, cream, etc., paired with ivory white offer an aesthetic look. It creates a neutral look that fits well with both modern and traditional kitchen interiors.

2. Crystal White Kitchen Cabinetry

Crystal white cabinets are ideal for you if you want a glossy, chic kitchen design. Suppose your choice is an all-white kitchen, pair white walls with crystal white kitchen cabinets. It creates a modern, lavish modular kitchen outlook. An all-white kitchen looks more hygienic, clean, and spacious.

The color of stainless steel blends well with the crystal white color. Adding steel hinges, knobs, or handles to these cabinets will make your kitchen space look more stylish.

3. White Shaker Kitchen Cabinetry

If you prefer a simple, classic kitchen interior design, white shaker cabinets can be appropriate for your kitchen. Unlike crystal white, white shaker cabinets offer a matte finish cabinetry and a rustic feel.

There is a great opportunity to Install a patterned floor when you have white shaker kitchen cabinets. When you have dark kitchen cabinetry, the pattern of your floor does not create a focal point. The simplicity of white shaker cabinets makes your wooden floor perceptible more clearly. So, you can flaunt your favorite flooring pattern.

Also, a pop of color is welcome to bring in energy and vibrancy with white shaker cabinets. Installing a colorful island will create a “wow” factor in your kitchen space.

4. Venetian White Kitchen Cabinetry

Our Venetian white kitchen cabinets belong to the warm-toned shades of white. This cabinet shade is well-suited to create a vintage, antique kitchen outlook. Copper, brown, or wooden floor and furniture will pair perfectly with this shade of white.

You can install a dark brown, cream, or beige countertop contrasting these Venetian white cabinets. Add golden hinges and handles to adorn the appearance.

Fixing some pendant lighting will enhance the beauty more. The natural yellow light will create a warm cozy atmosphere in your kitchen.

5. Classic White Kitchen Cabinetry

Our classic white cabinets have a perfect shade to offer a classy elegance. This shade, among our white cabinet collection, mostly offers a neutral tone. It has a smooth finish that helps you clean easily.

Create a modern, sleek kitchen design by pairing steel appliances with classic white kitchen cabinets. Also, it allows you to show your creativity on the kitchen backsplash. Add some cool patterned or painted backsplash that would be easily noticeable in between your kitchen cabinetry.

In Bottom Line

White is such a color that stands out among others even when used single for your entire kitchen interior. It reflects the light so well that a kitchen space looks more alive. On the other side, nothing creates as striking as pairing a contrasting color with white kitchen cabinets.

There is no such rule that you have to install kitchen cabinets with a single color. You can couple your white cabinets with our other dark kitchen cabinet shades like royal blue, navy blue, red, brown, cherry, etc. Visit our website, choose your favorite cabinet shade, and let us make your dream kitchen come true!

An upgrade to your kitchen can transform your home, so you want to make sure the transformation is a positive one. Your kitchen cabinets are a defining feature of the room, so making sure they are on trend is one of the best ways to bring a fresh feel to your space. Take a look at the design ideas that will be big in 2023.

Kitchen Cabinet Trends

Over the years, many different features have been in-style when it comes to cabinets. From two-tone uppers and lowers to open shelves, homeowners have had plenty to choose from. Looking ahead, here are the ideas designers are focusing on.

1. More Drawers in Bottom Cabinets

You are probably used to seeing a few drawers in lower cabinets with cupboards with shelves. In 2023, don’t be surprised to see the drawer-to-cupboard ratio change. The segmented storage can be easier to use and hold more items in a neater arrangement. This maximizes functionality in your space.

2. Unique Glass Doors

Adding glass fronts to a few of your cabinet doors can add light and interest to a space. This trend is evolving with the return of stained glass. It’s a material that used to be common in kitchens and homes but fell out of popularity. Now, people are bringing it back to add a bit of color and design to kitchen cabinets.

3. Standout Islands

It’s clear that kitchen islands have become the heart of many kitchens since they are gathering spots for families. That has inspired many interior stylists to make the island kitchen cabinets stand out. Start with a bold color or a different type of wood for the island, and top it off with a countertop that stands out from the rest of the kitchen.

Updating Your Kitchen Cabinets

A fresh look in the kitchen will make your home seem modern and fresh, so start planning an update today. Reach out to Potomac Kitchen & Bath to find materials that match your vision.

Quartz Countertop is the Most Popular Kitchen Countertop in 2022 – 23

There’s no shortage of kitchen countertop materials, finishes, styles, and color options. However, certain types of countertops are more requested than others. Not only should your kitchen countertop look good, but it should also be durable and easy to maintain.

There are dozens of kitchen countertop options out here, but there are several types that seem to grab more attention right now. Quartz and quartzite continue to be the most popular countertop choices amongst homeowners in 2022 – 23.

Quartz

Quartz Countertop is a manmade stone that is composed of roughly 80% to 93% natural material mixed with pigments and resins, making it a very durable and low-maintenance option. With quartz, the artificial pigments that are added allow homeowners a wide variety of choices, making it a more flexible option when coordinating the other aspects of your kitchen design, too.

Average price: The price of quartz varies greatly depending on the quality. Quartz countertops cost $50 to $200 per square foot to install and about $125 per square foot on average.

Pros:

• Recyclable.
• Long-lasting.
• Easy to clean.
• Variety of color and design options.
• Ultra-durable.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Prone to heat damage.
• Heavy.

Quartzite

Quartzite is an all-natural stone that requires sealing annually, and while it’s not quite as stain-resistant and low-maintenance as quartz, it’s still more so than other natural stones. Another thing to consider is that because quartzite is a natural stone, it cannot be customized, which limits design and color options.

Average price: The cost for quartz and quartzite is generally within the same range, Kaercher adds, but quartzite is much more expensive and labor-intensive to install. Installing a quartzite countertop in a standard kitchen costs $2,300 to $8,300, assuming a size of 30 square feet to 40 square feet.

Pros:

• Low maintenance.
• UV resistant.
• Environmentally friendly.
• Naturally occurring stone.
• Resistant to heat.

Cons:

• Limited design and color options.
• Difficult and expensive to install.
• Prone to scratches.
• Very porous and requires annual sealing.

Colors are crucial for kitchen furnishings in order to feel really comfortable in them. The evergreens among kitchen colors include magnolia, sand, and beige tones. The cream-colored nuances give the kitchen a modern and homely ambiance. We introduce the color trend and present the most beautiful kitchens in cream, magnolia, and beige.

The color effect of beige

Beige and magnolia are shades of white with an admixture of brown. In contrast to pure white, the cream tones do not appear cold, but radiate a pleasant purity and coziness. Magnolia and cream are invigorating and warming colors and have a mentally stimulating effect. Due to the light brown content, they also radiate harmony and lightness. Beige tones appear open and light and are therefore ideal colors for kitchen design. Especially in a country kitchen, this color tone looks very natural and homely.

The spatial effect of beige

Shades of cream are particularly versatile, as they match almost any room concept. They can be used to design emphatically reduced and small rooms as well as elegant, spacious kitchens. Magnolia and cream add width and openness to a room, but at the same time have a calming effect because they are not as cold as pure white. In the room, the colors radiate warmth and give the facility a pleasant atmosphere. Since the colors are very restrained, they provide an excellent basis for further designing the room. Beige and magnolia tones work well in small spaces as they make them appear larger.

These colors go well with beige

The combination of different colors can make a kitchen interior individual and unique. Beige is a neutral color that offers a lot of opportunity for experimentation and combination. If the kitchen is designed in cream or magnolia, fresh accents can be set with other colors that have a decisive influence on the room climate.

Magnolia and cream can be combined with gray for a classic, simple and elegant kitchen. A light gray without green content should be used. Silver gray or signal gray are suitable, for example.

Those who prefer a natural style can combine beige with earth tones such as ochre, sand or even wood tones. In combination with cream colors, brown appears comfortable and homely. Dark blue looks elegant and royal and is a good contrast to cream and magnolia. However, it can make rooms look smaller and are therefore only suitable for large, spacious kitchens. Light blue and turquoise look fresh and light.

With a dominant color like red and black, beige is well suited to soften the intrusive effect. A cream-colored kitchen in front of a red wall is a real eye-catcher and the contrast between the two colors can unfold its full effect.

A girly and romantic kitchen is created when cabinets in magnolia and cream are combined with pink accents. If the kitchen is to radiate naturalness and liveliness, accents can be set in a fresh shade of green. In this way, a harmonious and relaxing kitchen oasis can be created.

These materials and finishes go well with beige

Magnolia and cream can be combined with different materials. Since the colors are very reserved, there are no limits to creativity in kitchen design.
Wood radiates warmth and naturalness and goes well with a beige kitchen. Striking accents can be set, especially with dark wood. Light wood, such as pine or beech, appears friendly and open, underscoring the effect of magnolia and cream. Wood is a good choice for the table and chairs and for the countertop.

Stainless steel and metal radiate elegance in combination with magnolia and cream. The materials appear cool, sterile, and hygienic. Paired with magnolia and cream, this can provide a pleasing contrast, especially when the metals are used for eye-catching features such as handles. If you want the kitchen to look clean and modern, glass is a good choice. It gives the kitchen openness and transparency. A highlight in a kitchen with cream-colored fronts is a cupboard with glass doors or a table with a glass top.

The material marble is undoubtedly particularly noble and of high quality.

As a worktop or tabletop, it becomes an eye-catcher in the kitchen. Natural materials underline the naturalness of magnolia and cream. Rattan furniture in particular fits well in a cream-colored kitchen. Leather can be used for a modern effect.

Kitchens in cream and magnolia suit almost every furnishing style. Depending on which materials are used and which colors are added, there are completely different furnishing styles for the kitchen design.

In the traditional country house style, beige, with its friendly and homely appearance, is a popular color in the kitchen. Combined with pastel colors and playful patterns and natural materials, the result is a dreamy country kitchen full of nostalgia.

The Scandinavian style with its light colors also goes well with a kitchen in magnolia in cream. Beige-colored kitchen fronts, a worktop made of birch or pine, plus a homely wooden floor, and the Scandinavian kitchen is already set up.

The shabby chic style also works with light beige and cream tones and old pieces of furniture. Grandma’s old beige kitchen sideboard, where the paint has already flaked off in some places, fits perfectly into a shabby chic kitchen.

Classic kitchens in beige

Classic kitchens are modern and timeless and retain their cozy charm even after years. The classic colors magnolia, beige and cream are ideal for this, as they appear reserved, durable but still cozy. Combined with wood tones, chic kitchen handles and homely furnishings, classic kitchens in beige are among the most popular kitchen styles. Be inspired by our kitchen suggestions:

Design kitchens in beige

In a design kitchen, style, functionality and aesthetics come first. Design kitchens in magnolia and cream are very popular, but they appear less cool than fitted kitchens in pure white. This creates optical clarity and simplicity, but with the certain warmth of a feel-good ambiance.

Handleless kitchens in white

Handleless kitchens are unfussy and clear. There should be no optically disturbing handle elements. If a handleless kitchen is decorated in magnolia and cream, the impression of clarity and simplicity is underlined by the flat front design. The result is a real designer kitchen that looks classy and of high quality.

Country kitchens in beige

Country kitchens are cozy and romantic. Their nostalgic charm comes from colors in light beige and cream tones. The whole family feels safe here. A spacious kitchen island or a cozy dining table underline the feel-good atmosphere in a country kitchen in beige.