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Rustic Kitchen

Dream of having a rustic kitchen? Even if you live in the city, you can still get that beautiful rustic look.

You don’t even need a log cabin or a country cottage. By using the right types of materials, it’s easy to transform your kitchen into a modern rustic dream.

All you really need is to use a few key design elements and you’re all set. Whether you want a full rustic look or just certain parts, use this is a guide to see what your rustic kitchen could look like.

Natural Wood Tones

Natural wood tones are vital to creating a rustic kitchen. From the floor to the cabinets, varying wood tones help convey that natural country feel. Darker tones are often used on cabinets and islands to help them stand out.

A lighter wood helps to brighten the floor and make the space feel more open. Of course, it’s perfectly fine to switch these around as well. If you want a lighter room, consider a white bleached wood stain. You still get the natural look of the wood, but the brightness of white too.

One thing to keep in mind is to let the natural grain and knots shine through. This is why most rustic kitchens have stained wood versus painted. This helps preserve the natural look.

Using Stone Elements

The rustic kitchen theme was born from necessity. Originally, homes were built with what was available. This included cutting down trees (hence the natural wood look) and using various stones in the local area.

While it’s much easier to build a kitchen now, you can still add those unique stone elements. Using natural large or small stones to build a backsplash or to serve as a divider wall helps to contrast perfectly with the wood. If you have a darker wood or stain, using a light colored stone will help brighten the room.

Of course, stone also works for your flooring. Just remember to coat it to seal all the pores and make it much easier to clean.

Exposed Beams

Typically, exposed beams are a sign of an unfinished project, but not with a rustic kitchen. Instead, they add a natural look and feel to the room. Plus, they work great for adding room to hang pots and pans.

You can also use them to better arrange lighting using antique fixtures. These can blend into the beams or go between them to give them feel of more natural lighting.

Mix Modern And Rustic

A rustic kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t have modern elements. In fact, it’s becoming common to mix the two. Surprisingly, the kitchen still looks more rustic than modern. Steel grey appliances work perfectly with light and dark woods, though they blend well with lighter woods and stains.

The contrast of modern looking appliances and fixtures gives your kitchen a unique look and feel.

Add Open Shelving

Cabinets are a must-have in any kitchen, but for a more rustic look, add more open shelving. Using open shelves for your plates and to hang pots and pans instantly makes your kitchen seem more rustic. Instead of everything being contained, it’s on display and within easy reach.

An alternative is to have a display shelf above your cabinets. Traditional rustic kitchens often have areas to display knick-knacks and treasured dishes.

Create Rustic Accessories

Of course, you’ll want to make your rustic kitchen truly unique with some handmade elements. Yes, you can build a few things to make your kitchen your own. For instance, you might build a small crate to hold oil and vinegar or salt and pepper.

If you’re not sure where to start, try one of these beginner’s woodworking projects. Anyone can do these and you’ll feel proud seeing your handiwork in your kitchen or other areas of your home.

Get Inspired

Have tons of ideas running through your head or do you need a little more inspiration to make it all come together? House Beautiful, Architectural Digest and Elle Decor showcase beautiful rustic kitchens in a wide variety of styles.

Ready to create your dream rustic kitchen? Contact Edgewood Cabinetry to see how we can help.

custom cabinetry custom kitchen remodel

You’ve carefully planned out your dream kitchen and now you’re ready to get started. What’s the first step?

Depending on what you’re having done, you may need kitchen remodeling permits. Certain home improvements and changes do require you to get a permit.

However, not every change requires a permit. Use the tips below to figure out when you might need to check about a permit before your remodel.

Why Bother With Permits

Since it’s your home, you might not think permits matter that much. However, if you’re hiring contractors to help with the kitchen remodel, they may not work on your project at all without the proper permits in place. After all, it’s their reputation at stake. If you work with a contractor that says they’re okay with skipping out on permits, find someone else. This is a sign that they’re not reliable and may do more harm than good in your kitchen.

Another problem is if you ever want to sell your home. The changes will be discovered and you might not be able to sell or rent your home without having to tear down all the hard work or paying fines, paying inspectors and still getting permits. In fact, some cities may even increase the permit cost if you didn’t get the permit before remodeling.

One final thing to consider about kitchen remodeling permits is they are for your own safety. For instance, you wouldn’t want to tear down a wall that’s necessary for supporting your second floor. Permits are designed to verify the safety of whatever home improvement you want to make.

When You Don’t Need A Permit

Legally, you don’t need a kitchen remodeling permit for basic kitchen improvements. Some kitchen remodeling projects that don’t require permits include:

  • Getting new cabinets
  • Refacing cabinets
  • Painting cabinets
  • Re-doing your kitchen floor
  • Painting the kitchen
  • Installing new appliances (if no electrical work needs to be done)
  • Adding an island (no electrical or plumbing changes)

Outside of a full-scale kitchen remodel, you usually don’t have to worry about permits. Of course, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

When You Do Need A Permit

The exact kitchen remodeling permits you need will vary based on what you’re changing and where you live. You should check with your local government office if you have any questions. Discuss your project and what you’re changing to ensure you have all the permits you need. You can also talk with reputable contractors to see if there are permits you’ll need to obtain before getting started.

If you’ll be making any plumbing or electrical changes, you will need to get a permit. For instance, if you need to re-run plumbing if you’re changing the location of your sink or adding in an island with its own sink, a permit may be required. If you need to re-wire the kitchen to add different appliances, change the lighting or anything else, a permit is necessary. Plumbing and electrical permits are necessary to ensure the changes are on record and are safe for the home.

One more major permit you’ll need for remodeling your kitchen is any changes to your home’s structure. For a kitchen remodel, this means adding or removing walls. Since walls are a major structural component, you need to acquire a permit before changing anything. The city will check the blueprints to ensure the removal or addition of a wall won’t compromise the integrity of the home. The last thing you want is your ceiling caving in on your new kitchen just as you get done.

One final thing to consider is whether you’re remodeling an existing kitchen or remodeling another room to turn it into a kitchen. Changing the purpose of a room, especially when it requires major plumbing, electrical or structural changes, does require a permit in most cities.

Our advice is to always ask your city office before proceeding with your project to be safe.

Ready to start your kitchen remodel? Contact us today to learn more about our custom cabinetry services.

Image: Bryan Boatright

Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets

You’re looking around your kitchen and realize it’s time to make a choice. Should you try to repair or replace your kitchen cabinets?

In some cases, it’s actually better to just repair. For instance, if you just want a different door design, refacing the cabinets is better than replacing.

However, sometimes you have to completely replace them. In the end, it’s not only more cost-effective, but your kitchen will thank you.

1. There’s Noticeable Damage

Do you see noticeable chips in the wood? Are shelves bowed? Maybe the backs no longer stay attached to the wall like they should. When you start seeing noticeable damage, it’s a good sign that you should consider replacements. Even when you try to just repair them, major damages often mean there are other issues with the cabinets as well.

2. They’re Made Of Cheap Materials

If your home came with pre-fabricated cabinets or you had to buy something quick and cheap for a remodel, you’ll likely need to replace your kitchen cabinets relatively soon. Many cabinets have a realistic wood veneer over particle board. All it takes is a little heat, humidity and water to cause your cabinets to warp. Particleboard and fiberboard aren’t meant to last. If you’ve had your cabinets 5-10 years or had any water damage, it’s likely time to replace versus repair.

3. Recent Water Damage Or Mold

Even hardwoods aren’t meant to withstand major water damage. While they fare better than their cheaper counterparts, a roof or sink leak may ruin your cabinets beyond repair. Even if you don’t notice anything right away, you may begin to notice a smell. This means the water has seeped into the wood and you may even have mold and mildew behind the cabinets.

4. They Don’t Offer Enough Space

Sometimes you just need more space. While expert organizational strategies are helpful, you might need to replace your kitchen cabinets to take better advantage of the space you have available. You can have custom made kitchen cabinets designed specifically for your space and needs. This allows you to store more without anything feeling cluttered.

5. The Doors Can’t Be Refaced

Anytime the doors can’t be refaced, it’s a sign you should replace your kitchen cabinets. Usually, this means you have more damage beyond the doors themselves. The material might be sub-par and even if you have new doors made, they won’t fit correctly with your existing cabinets.

If it’s easy to reface the doors and get the look you want, that’s a great place to start. However, if it just feels like you’re putting a Band-Aid on a bigger issue, replace instead.

6. Your Kitchen Needs A New Layout

Are you looking for a completely new layout? Don’t try to just make your old cabinets fit. This just hinders your creativity and limits what you’re able to do. Instead, start fresh and replace your kitchen cabinets when you decide to remodel your kitchen. The last thing you want is for your kitchen to look amazing, except for your old, dingy cabinets.

Plus, you’ll be able to choose custom made options to fit any layout you have in mind. If your cabinets are still in good shape, consider donating them to a local charity or thrift store that accepts furniture.

7. They Don’t Function Well Anymore

This one is likely the most obvious out of all of the reasons. Do your doors stay slightly ajar even when the cabinet is empty? Are the hinges starting to detach or stick? Maybe the drawers sit at a weird angle. Whatever the problem might be, when your cabinets start functioning like they should, it’s a clear sign it’s time to replace them. Your kitchen cabinets should help you, not stop you from getting things done.

Ready to replace your kitchen cabinets? Get the perfect custom design for your needs by contacting our team today.

Image: Brendon Thompson

One of the biggest concerns people experience when having their kitchen remodeled is that the project will get bogged down in mistakes.  Fortunately, many errors are preventable, as long as you know about them in advance and can give them proper consideration.  The following are five major kitchen remodel mistakes to avoid.
1) Losing sight of the bigger picture
People sometimes focus on changing one part of their kitchen, such as the cabinetry or the material of the floor or countertops, without considering how those changes will fit with how they use their kitchen and affect its overall style.  Some materials or colors wouldn’t look good together.  Other changes will make the kitchen look smaller or cost you space.  Even if your renovation seems relatively minor, you need to always consider how it will affect the kitchen as a whole.
2) Leaving all the decisions to contractors and other professionals
When people don’t carefully think through what they need and make their needs clear to the professionals they work with, they’re often stuck with a kitchen they didn’t envision and don’t feel comfortable with.  Professionals can always give you feedback about your ideas and of course help you implement them, but they shouldn’t be dictating the project.
3) Cutting corners
People understandably want to save money on renovations, so they sometimes go for cheaper materials or hire professionals who aren’t reputable.  In the short term, this might save some money.  But ultimately they get stuck paying more down the road as their kitchen starts to fall apart from the shoddy renovation work and low-quality materials.
4) Getting carried away
Make sure not to ‘over-design’ your kitchen.  Sometimes people start renovations and don’t know when to stop.  There’s always some light fixture or appliance they feel like they need to update or some extra scrollwork they’re desperate to add to their cabinet doors, and ultimately their kitchen winds up looking like someone fussed with it too much.  Plus, they spend more money than they need to and can’t even relax and enjoy the beautiful kitchen they have.
5) Making unnecessary major changes
If you feel like you need more space in your kitchen, your first solution shouldn’t be to tear down walls or move around your sink or other major appliances. This will lead to a much more costly renovation. First, always consider whether there are less complicated solutions you could implement to get similar results.  Even in smaller kitchens, there are ways to make much more efficient use of the space, giving you more room to move around and making the room lighter and more airy.
If you’re considering a kitchen renovation, contact us. An important part of the kitchen, in terms of both its space and appearance, are the high quality cabinets you choose.  We’ll also be able to give you general advice about your renovation and help you design a kitchen that you’ll love.