What are my options to update my existing kitchen?

When hoping to remodel your existing kitchen cabinets there are a couple of options available to you. You can reface your cabinetry, replace your cabinetry, or undergo a complete kitchen remodel. Each of these options carries with it a certain “downtime” or period of time during which your kitchen will be out of commission.

Also, depending on the size and scope of your project, each option has a specific price range. Generally speaking refacing is the quickest and most cost effective way to update the look of your kitchen cabinets. A total remodel of the space will require significantly more time and money, but will allow for the most change and result in the biggest impact.

When you reface your kitchen cabinets you are keeping the box of the cabinet you already have. Because of this, if the quality or function of your existing cabinetry is a problem for you, this option will not fix it. However, if your cabinet boxes function satisfactorily and your only real problem is with the general aesthetics of your kitchen this is an option you might want to consider.

Refacing can be as simple as hiring a decorative painter to refinish the doors and boxes of your kitchen cabinetry. You might also take the opportunity to change the hardware to match the new look. Refacing can also involve replacing the doors and drawers of the cabinets with a different door style or wood species. If you have framed cabinetry that you are refacing, it will be necessary to match the face frame to the new look, especially if you switch the door’s wood species or finish. It is up to you if you wish to replace the countertops or appliances at the same time, but doing so will add cost and time to the project.

If the function, aesthetics and/or construction of your existing kitchen cabinets is part, or all, of your problem, but the function of your work triangle is not, then replacing the cabinetry is your answer. This allows a total change in the aesthetics to take place without major construction on the room itself. Plumbing and electrical are not moved in this scenario, so if the placement of your appliances or sinks are an issue for you in your current space, then this is not the option for you. Because the countertops are removed in order to remove the existing cabinetry, most of the time they are replaced in this process as well. Of course, this adds to the downtime of your kitchen. If your existing flooring runs underneath your existing kitchen cabinets, or you are planning on replacing the flooring during the process, than the kitchen cabinet plan is open to change. If the floor is staying and does not run under your existing cabinets then the new kitchen cabinetry will have to follow the same general floor plan as the old. The type of cabinet box and organizational features within are still free to change, though, so even when keeping the same outline, function and aesthetics can still be greatly improved.

Lastly, if not only the aesthetics, the construction and the function of your kitchen cabinetry is bothering you, but the function of your work space across the board, or the aesthetics of the kitchen as a room in general are a problem, then the only solution is a complete kitchen remodel. This is obviously the most costly and time consuming of the options, but it also offers the most opportunity for change and improvement.

Plumbing and electrical can be relocated to form a better work triangle. Walls can be knocked down to open up or enlarge the space. New wall, ceiling and floor coverings can be installed during the construction time, as well as extras such as lighting, or even exterior doors or windows. A total kitchen remodel often involves replacing everything from the kitchen cabinets to the appliances to the countertops.

When trying to decide which kitchen update is right for you, consider what your issues with your current kitchen cabinets are. Next, be honest with yourself and your kitchen designer both about your budget and how long you and your family can live with an out of commission kitchen. Together you can decide based on your customized pro/con list, which option is best for you. Call, email or come by The Savannah Cabinet Shop today and we’ll start the process together.