Characteristics of Kitchen Replacement Doors

As time passes, your kitchen would slowly deteriorate, which is also dependent on the extent of usage. Soon, you will find yourself changing the hinges of your cabinets, changing the faucet, changing the window’s glass, and so on. And some of the biggest units that you would have are kitchen replacement doors.

So what should you be looking for replacement doors? Is there any manufacturer that you should keep your eye on? Which should have the greatest value, quality or price? Below are some of the characteristics that we should be looking for our kitchen doors:

1. Fire resistant

Did you know that the wood material, coating, and the rest of finishing used for a single kitchen door make up its ‘fire-resistant rating’? This means that one door has the capacity to resist fire, giving you chance to save it when fire accidents happen.You will know the rating by checking with the store where you are buying it. 

If possible, find other kitchen units which are fire resistant, this would make it safer for you and your family. Most fire accidents happen in the kitchen because there are many flammable materials which are placed near the stove. 

2. Resistant to oils

Cleaning the kitchen is difficult especially after preparing meals which needed frying. When cooking oil boils, it goes anywhere, especially on the plate of your stove. Dusts are attracted easily which makes those oils thicker. If you leave them for a period of time, not cleaning them immediately, the build-up would cause stains which would give you a hard time removing.

If you can find doors for cabinets and the likes which material is resistant to oils, go ahead and buy it. It will give you so much advantage when cleaning. It makes maintenance less expensive as you do not need to buy tough cleaning solutions just to remove them. 

3. Resistant to abrasions

Scratches and abrasions are inevitable in the kitchen because of high traffic during mornings and evenings – time to prepare meals for the family. If you have a lot of these in the kitchen, eventually the place would look ugly and dull. So find doors which are resistant to scratches and abrasions.

These materials are usually of wood like teak. They are the premium ones. Do not ever go for softwood, no matter if the design is attractive. They would not do so much favour to you in keeping its structure in good shape.

Optional Replacement Kitchen Cabinet Doors Designs for Your Use

Sometimes, you only need replacement kitchen cabinet doors to solve the problem. To know if such a case may require you to analyze the extent of the problem. But to figure out what among all the available designs might take a lot of your time.

Of course, it would be easy if you have the exact same replica of what was broken. But what if such is not the case and you encountered difficulty on choosing the kitchen cabinet doors that would eventually fit? That is why you need to have options, and some of them can be among the following:

     1.   Mitered doors

Mitered doors have been carefully detailed to bring the best results. In fact, you can feel the quality and craftsmanship applied to it upon installation. That property alone makes it more than worthy to be included in your kitchen.

For better results, get and installed mitered drawers as well. If possible, try to retain the finishing wood material used to it so that it would stand out every single time you are in the kitchen. This will make you feel like you've got hold of some novelty furniture which is rarely found elsewhere.

     2.   Glass grid doors

Glass grid door is another perfect alternative for your kitchen. Especially if you are the type who immediately forgets what was inside a specific cabinet, these doors would allow you to see through them without difficulty.

This convenience can also help you see if there is a problem unknown to you that is already occurring inside the cabinet. An example of which is when pests have already found a different route to enter and play with whatsoever is inside it.

     3.   Panel doors

Whatever the material might be, you should have an option on what style you should use to fit with the kitchen. For this reason that panel doors are very advantageous. With lots to choose from, you will definitely find something that will attract you the most.

It also comes on different colors to choose from. So in case you wanted to change the overall kitchen theme, you can have them aligned to bring the best look.

     4.   Slab doors

The simplest of all designs would be slab doors. However, this simplicity doesn't mean that you are robbed of aesthetics or any other form of trending fashion. In fact, it lets you feel that you can keep it that way to look good.

4 Things You Should Be Concerned About in Your Kitchen

There are just so many things that we attend to daily. At the start of the day, the first thing we do is prepare meals for the family. This sounds more of a routine, but there is more than that. Some homeowners may even plan to have new kitchens to make such routine easier.

Whether your kitchen is new or not, still you need to maintain it. And maintenance is not just cleaning. It is also checking regularly if everything is doing fine. The following are the things that you should be concerned about in your kitchen:

     1.   Safety

Are your hanging racks and cabinets properly attached to the wall? Do you think they can hold heavy items that you store in them? If their contents fall, would those harm the person who gets hit by them? These questions are all leading to taking safety measures in your kitchen.

It is always better if you have taken enough precautions by seeing if the hinges of your kitchen door are still intact, or if there is any sharp edges on your island, than to be sorry once an accident happens.

     2.   Expiration dates

The next thing we have to be concerned about is expiration date. Always check whether your food items are still safe to eat. If you eat them beyond their expiration, there is a big possibility that you would poison yourself.

One thing you can do to make your tracking easier is to buy food items which expiration date would still be after 3 months or more. Most likely you were already able to eat them by that time.

     3.   Water supply

Water is one of our basic needs for living. It is also a need to maintain cleanliness. To make sure you have a smooth preparation in your kitchen, especially during rush hour, having a good supply of water is important.

If you think you are not getting enough, your pipe could be clogged or leaking somewhere. Look for a plumber to check it for you.

 

     4.   Broken appliances

Make food preparation easier and quicker with working appliances. If you fail to use your kitchen appliances properly, you are increasing the risk of breaking them. One example would be spilling some water on your microwave oven, which could lead to breaking circuits.

Always check the manual before using the appliance to make sure you are following the precautions and terms of usage.

New Kitchens for Minimalist Houses

Many of us are already living in small houses and apartments especially if we chose to move to a larger city. One of the main issues that we are dealing is with new kitchens and how to make them fit to our home which has limited space.

But we can do something to end up the worry. By choosing kitchen items carefully, what to add and what to remove, we can create a more comfortable kitchen. 

Below are some of the things that should be considered with minimalist houses:

    1.   Countertops

Who says countertops are only for big kitchens? They are actually ideal for minimalist houses to make the kitchen area more organised. You can use countertops even as dining table if you think adding one would eat much space.

You can also use countertops as preparation area for cooking. Incorporate cabinets and drawers on it where you can store your food items and kitchenware.  

     2.   Cabinets

Cabinets are inevitable in one’s kitchen. But you have to be specific on the design to make it fit for minimalist houses. Do not settle for traditional cabinets where compartments are limited. You can add your own divider to separate kitchens items.

You can also have cabinets even very close to the ceiling above your sink. Some homeowners do not do this because they do not think it is okay. But it is!  

     3.   Sink

For minimalist houses, you do not need a big sink. You can have a small one provided that it has a drainer on the side so you can wash and dry your dishes easily.

You can have a small basin while dishwashing to easily contain your utensils. You do not have to have a dishwasher since it would occupy more space. Do not forget to have a high-absorbent rag near you so you can easily wipe away water when splashed.

     4.   Lighting

No matter how small your kitchen space is, do not depend on the greater light near that area. There should be a dedicated light on it so that you will not have problems when cutting, chopping, and cooking ingredients. Remember, kitchen is one of the places where injuries commonly happen.

If you ample lighting on your kitchen cleaning will become better and faster. You will be able to check the corners for unwanted substances easily. Another good thing about having enough lighting is the clean feeling that it gives to your kitchen.

5 Tips in Buying and Planning Your Kitchen

source: echoleigh via flickr

Having functional and comfortable kitchens would indeed make your everyday life easier especially if you are the one who is preparing food for your family. Getting things done in an appropriate manner and justifiable duration of time would even make it better.

If you are getting a new kitchen or upgrading your old one, here are some tips that might help you during the buying and planning process:

1.   Know what you need

When upgrading your kitchen, it is inevitable to buy new appliances. Dishwasher, electric cooker, oven, and refrigerators are just few of the appliances which a functional kitchen should have. Check if your appliances are still working fine and replace them if not.

Do not forget to include the number of sockets in your kitchen. You might find it hard preparing meals if your sockets are not enough to accommodate the appliances you need to use.

2.   Don’t spend too much

We have a tendency to believe that when something is expensive, it is beautiful. But actually it is not. Most of the time, a kitchen unit becomes expensive because its manufacturer is already established.

It doesn't also mean that once a unit is second hand, it will eventually break down. If you have decided to check some second hand shops, you will find items which are still in good condition.

3.   Bargain and compare

Do not be shy in bargaining especially if you know that the shop is entertaining such.  You can ask your friends whether they were able to bargain at a certain shop and do the same.

To save some amount, it also would not hurt if you compare shops, their prices, and the quality of their products. It may take so much time to do so, but with the aid of the internet, it will become more convenient.

4.   Get a detailed schedule

After purchasing a kitchen unit, you may be offered an installation from the shop. If this is the case, verify if it is going to be free or not. When you agree with the installation, do not pay more than 25% of the upfront payment to avoid being busted.

You also have to get a detailed schedule of the items that they are going to install on that day so you can track if everything you need is going to be done.

5.   Think of alternatives

Always ask the installers how long the whole process would last so you would know the workarounds that you are going to do in cooking. Think of alternatives if the kitchen will not be available yet for your kitchen routine.