Other than coming home and finding your house burglarized or on fire, the most anxiety you’ll experience as a homeowner is when you decide it’s time for a new kitchen. Feeling the jitters is an understandable reaction because it involves making decisions that can take even the most level-headed homeowners out of their comfort zone. The good news is that if you make smart choices involving design, construction and cost, you’ll improve not only the value of your home, but also the quality of your life.

A good place to begin is deciding what type of kitchen cabinets you want – stock or custom. Stock cabinets come readymade and are sold in modular units. They are pre-manufactured in a factory so your selection of styles, shapes, colors and wood types will be limited.  An advantage of stock cabinets is affordability and quick delivery time because they are warehoused and ready to ship.

Custom cabinets are like a fine tailored suit because they are constructed from scratch according to your unique preferences and specifications. Custom cabinets are exactly that – customizable. From cabinet depth, width, design, wood type and finish, you get exactly what you want instead of what someone has to sell you from their warehouse stock.

Cabinetry is generally the largest line item in a kitchen renovation budget. Kitchens are the core of the home and cabinetry is its centerpiece. As go the cabinets, so goes the kitchen is a good rule of thumb.  While stock cabinets can offer decent quality and price, custom cabinets provide unlimited design and functionality options. If you dreamed of what your cabinets looked like, rest assured an expert cabinet maker can turn your vision into reality.

Finding the right contractor to build your cabinets and kitchen is one of the most difficult tasks you’ll encounter. Select one who will ask you lifestyle questions and how you will use your kitchen instead of one just trying to sell you cabinets from a catalog. Many homeowners perform internet searches using popular contractor reputation websites and while this approach may be helpful, it’s also fraught with danger. It’s because these sites are supported by advertiser revenue meaning contractors on the top of the list are there because they spend big money to secure top placement. It is not necessarily indicative of their overall experience and reputation, so don’t assume companies listed first are the best. Some of the most reputable contractors never use these sites because the quality of their work is their best advertisement and source of referrals.

When it’s time for a new kitchen, do the right thing. Know what you want and find a contractor who shares your enthusiasm. Together, you can make your dreams come true. I am happy to provide free estimates and have a conversation about your plans and desires. Call me at 544-4647.

~ Michael Quatela, Owner

Craftworks Custom Cabinetry

Michael Quatela is owner of Craftworks Custom Cabinetry, a Rochester NY based specialty woodworking company serving area homeowners and businesses for over 25 years. www.craftworkscustomcabinetry.com