However, in order to get the most out of your custom kitchen island, you need to make sure you won’t have the following problems:

1) Impeded movement

Depending on the size of your kitchen and the location of major appliances, your kitchen island could either fit naturally with the room or become an impediment to moving efficiently between the sink, stove, and fridge.  You should be able to circulate around the island naturally and not feel as if it’s making your kitchen incredibly cramped or blocking your ability to move smoothly from one key point in the kitchen to another.  Also, make sure that the island doesn’t prevent you from using various appliances; for instance, if the dishwasher door bangs into the island every time you’re trying to load dishes, that’s a problem.

2) Inefficient use of space

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the kitchen island should also have functionality.  You should have enough lighting to work easily on the counter space, which ideally will be made of a material that doesn’t scratch or damage easily in other ways.  Furthermore, if you need more space, the island could have built-in cabinets and drawers.  When designing and installing your island, consider what you could use it for and whether or not you’re making the best use of the extra space it gives you.

3) The island is an eyesore

No part of the kitchen should be designed independently of any other part.  Everything in your kitchen needs to come together to form some kind of harmonious whole.  Even minor details, like the knobs on cabinet doors, stand out.  When designing your island, consider how the colors, materials, and other design elements will fit in with the rest of your kitchen.

For further advice and assistance on installing a kitchen island, contact us.  We’ll make sure your kitchen island is beautiful and functional, free of mistakes that would necessitate additional renovations.

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Also known as “transitional” or “modern,” contemporary decor is all about neat, clean, crisp, smooth and serene effects.  Bring out this fantastic effect by using white kitchen cabinets or painting cabinets in white, pastel, gray and cream.  They work because it evens out bold, moody and vivid colors and bring those colors down to earth.  It also blends well with other designs and decor styles while remaining easy on the eyes because it’s such a broad trend.  As far as designs go there isn’t a lot to play with in contemporary.  If you want to add designs or patterns in the kitchen or any other room pick only one.  Over doing designs kill the simplicity of contemporary cabinets.  Contemporary cabinets work in laundry rooms, bathrooms and offices.

It’s fitting that this style is currently “in”; it fits with the simpler times we’re currently living in.  The current economy state changes the way we view valuables.  It’s viewed as a must-have instead of a luxury and contemporary fits right in with that basic frame of mind.  With less complicated lines and detailed patterns this is a cabinet trend worth spending money on.  The open, soothing and inviting feeling is the look that’s bold without the feel of dull and boring.  This is a timeless classic that will never go out of style.

Contemporary designs prove that less is more.  It’s a look that captures attention without adding so much detail to get it.  Make life simple by catching on to the contemporary design.  You can go back to basics too by adding us to your list of contacts.  We can add contemporary style to your home decor.  Contact us for more information on adding contemporary designs to your home.

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Stained cabinets have to be tested first; this is done to see how the wood reacts to being stained. Test it on extra pieces of wood (not the cabinet), and test it several times so you have an idea of what the stain will do to the wood. Before testing make sure the wood tested is the same type of wood the cabinet is made from. Make sure that the wood is sanded down with sandpaper to match the surface of the cabinet door. Another way to test is to go to a paint store and let them test it out for you. Paint stores will tell you what stain matches the wood best. The purpose of staining is to bring out the wood grain and make it look natural.

Get the exact match of stain along with one shade lighter and one shade darker. All shades must be in the same color range. A second round of testing begins with using a test sample (pieces of wood). Grab a piece and use the stain that matched the best to brush on the sample. Rub it off after a minute and compare the results with the rest of the cabinets. Mix a light shade if the results are too dark. Mix a dark shade if the results are too light. When the stain matches the rest of the kitchen cabinets, use the result to paint on the cabinet door. Finish the process by using a clear topcoat; this seals in the shade permanently. Follow the instructions on how much to use and how long to wait between coats.

Another way to tint stained cabinets is to wipe off the wax and grease with water and TSP. After drying sand it down and wipe dust off. Use a tinted polyurethane varnish for darkening the cabinets until the right shade comes. To lighten the shade, use paint remover several times and scrape off as much of the finish as possible. If possible you may have to chlorine bleach. Make sure the home is fully ventilated as removing paint releases fumes. Then use the tinted polyurethane varnish to start darkening until the right shade comes.

As you can see it’s not a hard process. Matching stained cabinets to the rest of the decor is possible if you’re willing to work at it. You can also contact us for our professional touch on stained cabinets as well as more information about stained cabinets and our company. We have experience in tinting stained cabinets and can assist in any way.

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