Terry, it always helps to know your location so local people can suggest local dealers for custom cabinets. Here in Atlanta there are several such places and one of them I like a lot is Affinity Kitchen. Where are you located? I cannot suggest anybody specific since I cannot see your zip code. Also a good way to find local dealers for Kitchen cabinets is to do a search here on hometalk. The search tab is on the top most part of the home page.
Custom Cabinets are a great way to get exactly what you want. Custom can fall into two basic groups...the bigger group and most common is "custom" for size. This can be for cabinet width height etc. The other "custom" category is to work with a builder for "extras" that are often not found on stock builds...Things like exotic woods or finishes, better material choices etc. Custom tend to run more $$$ but in the end may be a great. choice. As a Custom Builder I can not compete with the
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larger production shops on price...but I can build a superior product for those that have the time and money.
Terry, Quarter sawn will be much harder than the alder, and harder means more durable, at least when your talking kitchen cabinets. Alder is a pretty soft hardwood, and dents/dings pretty easy. In a room that has a lot of activity, and a lot of metal moving around, I would personally go for the quarter sawn. I'm not a fan of oak, but I do have a fondness for the quarter sawn. The way the grain shimmers, it is really very pretty. Many antique furniture pieces have quarter sawn oak, and
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they have been around for many many years.
I have installed quite a few alder kitchens, some knotty, and some pretty clear grained. It is a pretty wood too, but it is pretty plain in comparison to the quarter sawn oak.
I think you will be getting two totally different looks with the two species, so design and style may ultimately be the deciding factor for you.... Either way, it will be a good looking kitchen remodel!
thank you for your opinions , very much appreciated. we live on an acreage in the country and most all the wood in the house is oak,so i think it will work better , but i do love the knotty alder.it also looks rustic. but nice to know that it is soft.
Terry...that vanity I pictured above is mostly Alder...its not that much softer than cherry which is more common. Quarter sawn oak is a great wood (its also more stable than "flat sawn") Quartersawn oak was widely used in the "Arts and Crafts" style. ( think Greene and Greene).
When I built my bathroom cabinets I used a wood called Lacewood from australia...it has a big "ray and fleck" grain pattern like good quarter sawn...but even more so.
Hey KMS, I love Australian Lacewood! Here are a couple of pics of a bowl I turned...I use it as my change dish on my dresser...It's showing it's age a little, but I still love to look at the grain of this unique wood. Take a look!
turning 12/4 green maple...had me knee deep in shavings...what a hoot to see endless ribbons flying off the tip of the gouge when you hit the "sweet spot"
I usually use a Nova chuck, then turn off the base using either a pressure fit block and a rag, or a large set of jaws with rubber bumpers. I usually only use the screw center for roughing out logs, and irregular stock. I always look at the bottom of someone's bowl first...If you don't finish the bottom, it's not finished!
I have installed quite a few alder kitchens, some knotty, and some pretty clear grained. It is a pretty wood too, but it is pretty plain in comparison to the quarter sawn oak.
I think you will be getting two totally different looks with the two species, so design and style may ultimately be the deciding factor for you.... Either way, it will be a good looking kitchen remodel!
When I built my bathroom cabinets I used a wood called Lacewood from australia...it has a big "ray and fleck" grain pattern like good quarter sawn...but even more so.
Its been a while since I've turn a bunch...here is a link on my web page that has a number of them...
http://kmswoodworks.com/bowls.html ...»
turning 12/4 green maple...had me knee deep in shavings...what a hoot to see endless ribbons flying off the tip of the gouge when you hit the "sweet spot"