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Cabinet Refacing

Cabinet Refacing

by | May 23, 2018 | Architects, Cabinets 101, Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers

The term refacing refers to the process of changing the face or look of your home office, entertainment center, bathroom and kitchen cabinets by installing new doors and drawer fronts, and changing the appearance of the face frames of the cabinets to a new stain, and quite often a new wood species. Cabinet refacing is generally more ecologically sound than full scale kitchen remodeling, since the amount of debris put in the landfill is generally cut by almost three quarters. Ecologically sound materials such as bamboo can be selected to replace the outmoded hardwood or laminate doors and fronts. Most companies here in Phoenix, Arizona that perform a refacing service use thin layers of wood veneers, PVC plastics, or laminates to put on top of your existing cabinet frames to give it a new face or appearance. The work is very similar but you need to understand which technique they plan to use before you agree to have the work done. The process of refacing, using veneers etc. is very labor intensive and has many limitations, such as a substantial amount of cabinet preparation that needs to take place in order to properly reface your cabinets, a limited amount of stain or color choices, and a limited amount of wood species available. The plastics and laminates used do not look exactly like wood and quite often do not match very well with the new wood colors. Real Wood Refacing However, a new way to reface cabinets has been developed that eliminates many of the limitations that cabinet refacing companies have faced in the past. The newest and best way...

Thinking Big in Bathroom Remodeling

by | May 16, 2018 | Homeowners, Interior Designers

Just as we’re seeing in kitchen design, the clean, uncluttered Nordic style reigns in the bathroom as well. Ideal for opening space in small areas, this simple style works well to make even large bathrooms roomier. Cabinets play a pivotal role with various styles, pull-outs, and pre-organized drawers. These features, along with new advances in technology, blend to emphasize minimalistic design and geometric forms. At the same time, sinks and faucets create points of interest. Sites like Anzzi.com can illustrate how faucets can be used so that they can be a feature in the bathroom as well as being functional. Make no mistake, this doesn’t standardize or formulize how your bathroom will look. Instead, it allows you to customize your bathroom while you make it more efficient. Cabinet Design for Your Personality Shaker-style, floating and furniture-like cabinets set the stage for how your bathroom speaks about you. Shaker cabinetry is a long-established style and is experiencing a major surge. Its simplicity of design fits perfectly with clean, simple lines and supports any style hardware. Knob styles offers hundreds of choices but C and D-styles, recommended by interior designers trained in Universal Design, accommodate not only young and older residents, but those with conditions like arthritis. Another popular style is floating cabinets. Suspended from walls and approximately 10 inches off the floor, they add a zen-like appearance. The space beneath can remain empty or accommodate decorative baskets used for additional storage. At Cornerstone, we engineered a steel bracket to withstand the downward pressure exerted by the weight of the cabinets, countertops and sinks. Finally, cabinets don’t have to look like...

Quartz vs Soapstone

by | May 2, 2018 | Contractors, Interior Designers

Quartz vs. Soapstone countertops Quartz leads the race in countertop materials. As kitchen designs evolve, brands like Silestone, Caesarstone, and Cambria, open options to clients seeking their personal imprint.  Alternatively, Soapstone provides an option for natural material. Granite and marble may be receding, but they aren’t dead.  But Quartz and Soapstone have distinct characteristics and advantages that suit our clients’ changing needs. The best fit is determined by what’s most important to them. Quartz and soapstone enhance ease of use The term ‘sealant’ evokes the idea of chemicals. The non-porous surfaces of both Quartz and Soapstone appeal to clients as less work and environmentally friendly. Other advantages to non-porous surfaces are: Stain resistance. Scratch resistance. Heat resistance. Resistant to bacteria. Bacterial resistance can be a huge selling point for clients with kids and grandkids. Capturing the right kitchen design and usage When color is critical, Quartz offers more options to blend or contrast with the neutral paint shades that are currently so popular. Manufactured materials have the added advantage of uniform appearance that allows pieces to butt up to each other to make seams almost invisible. On the other hand, soapstone appeals to those who value the natural look. It can be quarried in the US, but Brazilian soapstone has the same type of veining as marble. Coming from nature limits the color choices and it’s best for those desiring gray to black surfaces. Although not required, rubbing soapstone with mineral oil darkens the color. This is definitely not the choice for a colorful kitchen and requires working with one slab per countertop to maintain its uniform appearance. The...