Next step to building a home - cabinets
We are meeting with the cabinet makers on Wed to discuss kitchen and bathroom cabinets. ONe of the things I want to ensure is that all lower cabinets have pull out drawers or shelves as we want to grow old(er) in this home and with bad backs, bending gets tougher every year. :) I heard recycling and garbage in one cabinet is good... anything you are dying to tell me before I meet with the makers would be great to hear.
full extension drawers (lets you use ALL of it ;)
double pull out trash can (love Revashelf 5349-18DM series) one for trash, one for recycling -fits in an 18" base cabinet
skip pull out trays and go for deep drawers (3 drawers in one base). Pull outs are past time ...»
tray dividers -- if you have wall ovens, put them above, its an excellent use of the deeper cavity that is typically hard to reach
soft close hinges - no brainer :)
ask for brand name drawer guides. the imports on the market are 1/2 price but wow what a pain... I had so many service calls that I decided to avoid them at all possible cause (love Blum tandem)
if you are getting painted cabinets -- do not paint the interiors, they dont hold up as well as a clear coat on birch plywood, or a solid melamine
What a CAPS contractor can provide is expert advice on how to make your home suitable for ...»
Lighting is very important for aging adults. Also counter colors are important. As we get older it is harder for use to see things. And in a kitchen with germs and all a solid color counter is easier for us folks to check to see if its clean or not. The pattern granite etc hides all sorts of stains, crumbs etc. Making a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Also look into elevated appliances. A properly placed dish washer makes it easy to load and unload when you do not have to bend over. So moving it upwards makes perfect sense.
In addition, Microwave draws are great. As you get older you do not want to be reaching up over a stove to take out that hot cereal or liquid. Do not forget about the stove. While when we were younger and had small kids we wanted our oven and stove knobs in the back. Now were older it is much safer and easier for use to use those in the front of the appliance.
Also be sure when they design the sink cabinet it can be reconfigured for someone who perhaps in the future will require a wheel chair. So proper plumbing under the sink and design into the cabinet will make the change easier and faster if your prepared for that type of a change.
The one thing everyone must understand. A properly designed kitchen, or bath and even a house can be done in such a way, you would not even realize it was for someone who is getting older.
Years ago baths were a big issue. People thought the aging adult bath looked to much like a hospital room. These days that could not be further from the truth.
So check out the like provided and look around the site. It will provide you with all sorts of better understanding of just what a CAPS professional can do for you!
So it is not all about pull outs and cabinets. Although the design of them plays a big part of the whole process. Good luck and keep us posted.
So what's my point? Concentrate on the quality/cost of the cabinets themselves before paying extra for the upgraded finishes. Tim
At the design phase, be sure to note where your hvac ducts are currently located (either floor for base cabinets or ceiling for wall cabinets). So the designer can work that into your plan.
Happy shopping!
Chuck ...»
Nest=home improvement simplified!
http://www.nesthomeimprovement.com/
With that and as Paul brought out - quality varies & a decent thermafoil style will stomp a poorly made solid / plywood cabinet - go with what you like & will meet your needs not only now but in the future
In another example of comparison, we also use Brookhaven and Wood Mode cabinetry, who offers full extension, maple dovetail drawers, and slow close doors and drawers as a standard, where another line might be an upcharge.