Mixing Kitchen Cabinet Styles and Finishes
By / August 16, 2017 March 20, 2023Mixing kitchen cabinet styles and finishes is common in today’s home. Many people are hesitant when it comes to redoing their cabinetry because of it not matching the rest of the house. Many believe that if they redo their cabinets in one room, they must redo them everywhere. This isn’t necessarily true. A house has one style; however, every room can uniquely reflect that style. Different colored cabinetry is common throughout a house, primarily because each room is going to have its own color scheme. Cabinetry doesn’t always have to match; there are many ways to meld different colors and styles together.
Most homes have a consistent trim system for door and window case molding, baseboard and other accessory trim but that doesn’t require all cabinets to be the same manufacturer and style. Mixing kitchen cabinet styles and colors is common both throughout the home and in the same room.
The kitchen above has one style of cabinetry made of two different woods and two different finishes. The perimeter cabinets are an inset cabinet style made of hard maple wood and finished with a simple white paint. The island cabinetry is an inset cabinet style as well but made of walnut wood with a natural 25-degree finish. Both of these cabinet finishes blend perfectly with the floor color and overall color scheme of the kitchen.
Check out what professionals on Houzz have to say different cabinet colors. You can also view an article by HGTV on mixing cabinet styles and finishes. Visit our paint colors page to see what colors you can combine in your kitchen!
Outdoor Kitchen Recipes – Kountry Kraft
By / August 2, 2017 August 17, 2017Summer Recipes
Beat the heat this summer with these delicious outdoor kitchen recipes. These meals are perfect for eating al fresco or in the comfort of your kitchen.
Sheet Pan Chili Lime Salmon
This recipe by Cafe Delites puts a flavorful twist on classic salmon recipes. The perfect combination of spice and citrus, this dish is flavorful, fast, and easy to make in your outdoor kitchen or inside!
Ingredients
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (or juice of 2 limes)
¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon minced garlic (or 4 crushed garlic cloves)
1½ teaspoons red chili flakes (adjust to your preference of spice)
1 teaspoon ground Cumin
1½ teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon honey
4 salmon fillets (wild caught if possible)
1 red bell pepper (capsicum), deseeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper (capsicum), deseeded and chopped
1 yellow bell pepper (capsicum), deseeded and chopped
1 onion, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to grill/broil settings on high heat. Spray a baking sheet tray with cooking oil spray; set aside.
- Whisk lime juice, parsley, olive oil, water, garlic, chili flakes, cumin, salt and parsley together to combine. Add the honey and whisk again until the honey runs smooth through the rest of the ingredients. Arrange the salmon fillets, peppers and onion in a single layer on the prepared baking tray; and pour over half of the marinade. Toss peppers and onion to coat; and rotate the salmon to coat in the marinade.
Broil / grill until the peppers are just beginning to char at the edges (about 10 minutes) and the salmon is cooked to your liking (about 10 minutes). Remove from the oven and serve immediately with lime wedges and remaining marinade for added flavor. (If the peppers are not done to your liking, simply transfer the salmon to a plate and return peppers to the oven until roasted to your liking).
Herbed Lemon Garlic Chicken Skewers
Under 400 calories, this summer meal by The Recipe Critic is easy and delicious. This dish combines fresh lemon, herbs, and garlic to create the perfect summer skewers.
Ingredients
Marinade:
1½ tablespoons finely minced garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup minced fresh herbs, I used a mix of basil, rosemary and oregano
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Skewers:
2 medium zucchini, cut into ½ inch slices
1 large red bell pepper, cut into ¾ inch squares
1 medium red onion, cut into wedges and then ¾ inch squares
1¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 lemon cut into wedges for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Set aside.
- Place cut vegetables in a zip lock bag and add 3 tablespoons of the herb marinade. Toss to coat. Place chicken in separate bag and add remaining marinade and toss to coat. Let sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to 4-6 hours.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat. Thread the skewers alternating with meat and vegetables. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill for 3-4 minutes and then flip. Continue to cook and flip when necessary until the chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees.
- Serve with lemon wedges and squeeze on top.
These summer recipes are sure to please guests during your summertime dinner parties. Check out our inspirations page for ideas to create your outdoor kitchen! Stay tuned for more of our favorite outdoor kitchen recipes. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with our latest events in and out of the shop!
Kountry Kraft DIY Summer Snacks
By / July 26, 2017 March 20, 2023DIY summer snacks are a great way to gather the family and enjoy the nice weather on your outdoor patio. Our CFO, Dee Hurst-Funk, has a personal favorite recipe she wanted to share with all of you.
DIY Summer Snacks – Crabmeat Dip
Crabmeat dip is the perfect snack for almost any type of weather. Crabmeat dip is usually a thick, creamy dip prepared with cream cheese and crab meat served with crackers or bread. Dee has a special family recipe that takes crabmeat dip to a whole new level.
Crabmeat Dip from the Kitchen of Dee Hurst-Funk, CFO:
Ingredients:
- 2 Packages, 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
- 1 Cup sour cream
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 Lemon (Juiced)
- 3 Teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ Teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 2 Teaspoons sugar
- 1 Cup grated sharp cheese
- 1 lb. crab meat
- Sprinkle of paprika
Directions:
Mix first 9 ingredients until well blended – carefully stir in crab meat, add salt to taste. Put in shallow casserole and top with 1 cup grated sharp cheese. Sprinkle paprika on top. Bake one hour in a 300-degree oven. Serve warm with saltine crackers or bread of choice.
Stay tuned for more favorite DIY summer snacks brought to you by Kountry Kraft team. Be sure to like us on Facebook to stay up to date with what’s happening in and out of our shop!
View our gallery.
Choosing a Kitchen Color Scheme
By / June 28, 2017 June 7, 2017Many people struggle with choosing a kitchen color scheme, mostly because so much goes into planning a kitchen remodel. You must think about cabinetry, floor color, countertops and appliances when choosing your kitchen color scheme.
When choosing the colors of your kitchen, you should start with any of the main components. Floor color, countertop color, or cabinetry color. Depending on what you are passionate about the most, your color scheme can be based off what you begin with. Some people have a passion for one unique color and that may be the base of their color scheme.
How to Make your Kitchen Match
Choosing your kitchen cabinetry is a great first step. Complement your cabinets with the floor color and use your countertop color as an accent piece (or vice versa). Kountry Kraft offers many unique cabinet colors to choose from – which allows you to bring personality into your kitchen. Deciding your budget is the first step to choosing your cabinetry, this can be used as a guide to selecting your style. White cabinetry pairs well with dark wood floors and an accented countertop. Natural wood cabinetry pair well with neutral colored countertops and an accented backsplash.
Once you choose your cabinetry color, you can move onto your floor color. Hardwood flooring is a great choice for your kitchen space because it is warm on bare feet, absorbs sound and kinder to a long-standing chef. You may choose from light, medium or dark wood for your flooring. Once you choose your floor color, it is time for your countertops. You can get very artsy when it comes to countertops. Countertops vary in color, pattern and style making it sometimes difficult to match with your existing cabinetry and flooring. Whether you choose granite, tile, wood, etc., your countertop will become a signature piece in your kitchen – maybe even the focal point.
Kitchen Color Scheme
This colorful kitchen by Stonington features navy blue cabinetry complimented by a light wood floor and marble countertops. All three components complete the color scheme of this kitchen. Incorporating a unique backsplash along with floating shelves to create a symmetrical look on the back wall.
White cabinetry with dark wood accents create the color scheme in this kitchen. The grey subway and paint balance the white and dark wood to complete the look of the kitchen.
Kountry Kraft’s cabinetry accessories will go well with any kitchen color scheme you choose! To view more design inspiration for your kitchen, visit our houzz page.
Designers Spotlight – Evalia Designs, LLC
By / June 14, 2017 March 20, 2023As a cabinet manufacturer, we enjoy sharing designs by our talented clients. Evalia Designs, LLC is in our designers spotlight this month. Founded by a young woman, April Spagnolo, this full-service design firm’s goal is to turn your vision into a reality.
April Spagnolo, founder of Evalia Designs, is a Certified Kitchen Designer with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She has studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, La Roche College and The American University of Rome. Spagnolo has over 10 years of experience working on both remodeling and new construction residential projects, custom cabinetry and specific commercial spaces. April grew up watching her grandfather work in the construction industry. She was inspired by the way his eyes lit up with excitement when he talked about the process of completing his jobs.
Evalia Designs, LLC has incorporates Kountry Kraft Cabinetry into many of their designs. From the kitchen and beyond, our custom cabinetry can fit into any room or your home.
Designers Spotlight
A quote from the Evalia Designs: “The client wanted a more open floor plan, her own personal office space that could be closed off when entertaining, two islands, and a Butler’s pantry. By removing the wall between the family room and existing kitchen we were able to create an open floor plan and help them achieve their dream kitchen design requests.”
A quote from Evalia Designs: “The client wanted a social kitchen, temperature controlled wine room, seating groups, fireplaces, game areas, a secret door to access the storage room and a full bath in their new basement space. By reworking the existing space, using built-in custom cabinetry, and unique finishes we were able to achieve their dream basement remodel.”
Check out more of Evalia Design’s by visiting their website. See more of our custom cabinetry built into a variety of spaces on our houzz page!
The Best Way to Clean Wood Kitchen Cabinets
By / May 31, 2017 May 31, 2017Some cabinet manufacturers do not have the right answers when it comes to telling you the best way to clean wood kitchen cabinets. Kitchens are the most popular room in the house, and we all know what that means – they get messy fast. Whether you are dealing with fingerprints, nooks and crannies or greasy spots, we have the answers for you. Below you will find recommended cleaning products for kitchen wood cabinets!
Method Cleaning Products
There are many ammonia-free products on the market today, but they may not all get the job done. Method is the type of cleaning product you don’t need to hide under the sink. This product is ammonia-free, pet-friendly and earth-friendly. They offer many diverse products and you can use a variety of them to clean your kitchen cabinets. Its starts as simple as dish soap and water – use this combination to clean the grease spots, finger prints and scuffs off your cabinetry. Use a tooth brush with some dish soap to scrub at the nooks and crannies of your cabinetry. Method all-purpose cleaner as well as Method Daily Kitchen products are the perfect solution to wiping down the dirt and grease off your cabinets. Don’t clean your cabinets with dirty chemicals, clean them with natural, fresh products.
The Best Glass Cleaner
People think natural cleaning products are expensive but there are affordable, ammonia-free cleaning products available. This glass cleaner is an ammonia-free, foaming cleaner that you can use on windows, mirrors and other glass and plastic surfaces. The best glass cleaner can be purchased for less than $3.00 a can from local shopping centers like Target or Walmart. You can wipe down your metal hardware and chrome hardware with this glass cleaner as well. Leave your kitchen streak free and shining with this ammonia-free glass cleaner!
Cleaning with White Vinegar
Not only do we recommend natural cleaning products, but also inexpensive cleaning products. White Vinegar mixed with water can be a natural substitute for an all-purpose kitchen cleaner. Use this mixture to clean scuffs, grease marks or fingerprints off your cabinets – safe and affordable!
Families with children as well as homeowners who have guests over often know what it is like cleaning up after a crowd. Knowing the best way to clean wood kitchen cabinets will keep your space safe and clean. Keep up with our latest news and events by liking us on Facebook and keep up with our latest designs on our Houzz page.
Cabinet Hardware Ideas Available at Kountry Kraft
By / May 17, 2017 May 16, 2017Kitchen cabinet hardware ideas can help complete the look of your space. Whether you want unique or subtle cabinet hardware, Kountry Kraft offers a variety of cabinet hardware to match your personal taste.
Cabinet Hardware Ideas – Cliffside
Cliffside Industries offers two flagship hardware lines: solid brass and Cliffside Choice zinc. Many popular items and finishes are duplicated in both materials to allow a selection of price level. Traditional, transitional, and contemporary styles are available in up to eight finishes in zinc and ten in solid brass. The distinctions between the two products are a mild change in density and different manufacturing processes.
For marine climates (beachfront homes, etc.), Cliffside recommends solid brass or stainless steel materials. For all other locations, either product material should be sufficient if the product care instructions are followed. Cliffside’s brass and zinc hardware lines are finished to the same exacting standards and are designed to coordinate with our hinge line; however, minute variations in finish shading may occur between materials due to the color of the underlying metal (brass material is a gold color, while zinc is white). As always, antique finishes will vary from lot to lot regardless of material but remain within an acceptable range.
Top 10 Popular Hardware Finishes
These are the top 10 popular hardware finishes from Cliffside’s signature lines. Choose which color you like the most, and we will incorporate it into your custom cabinetry.
Visit the cliffside website to choose the cabinet hardware that will add a personal touch to your Kountry Kraft cabinets. Browse our accessories page to see how you can incorporate organization into your cabinets as well.
Top Kitchen Cabinet Colors
By / April 26, 2017 February 25, 2023Kountry Kraft has many ways to offer you a large variety of kitchen cabinet colors. With our custom stain matching room and extensive library of custom paint match formulas, we can provide our customers with custom color solutions. We can offer you custom colors to express your own unique taste!
Top Kitchen Cabinet Colors
According to Houzz, white cabinetry remains the most popular choice for kitchen cabinet colors with wood (light, medium and dark) in second place. While white cabinetry can make the overall kitchen look fresh and clean, there are many other kitchen cabinet colors by Kountry Kraft.
We produce an abundance of white cabinetry, but have seen many unique color choices from our clients – creating breathtaking spaces. There is blue cabinetry in our KBIS 2017 display. Our team wanted to showcase the unique cabinet colors Kountry Kraft can create. This cabinetry in our display became very eye-catching and brought a lot of attention to our booth.
You bring it, we create it – in other words, bring in a paint sample and we will match it. We match many known paint brands including; Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. The color of your cabinetry can reflect your style and personality. Let us build the kitchen of your dreams with our custom color options.
Be sure to visit our planning center to see all options you have to create your custom cabinetry. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Houzz to keep up with our latest design inspirations.
Most Common Kitchen Cabinet Upgrades
By / April 12, 2017 December 19, 2022A kitchen should be as functional as it is beautiful, and kitchen cabinet upgrades make this possible. Your dream kitchen should not only be beautiful, but also efficient for you and your family. Planning and functionality are the most important part of a kitchen upgrade. After all, how will your kitchen function if it’s not planned per your lifestyle?
Planning ahead for your kitchen remodel can help maximize space and organization. A Kountry Kraft designer will look at your lifestyle and analyze your needs, then they’ll transform your preferences into a custom cabinets design plan. Everyone wants the most functional cabinetry for their home. There are many cabinet accessories you can incorporate into your kitchen to increase the overall function.
Most Common Kitchen Cabinet Upgrades
Built-in storage has become a popular trend among renovating homeowners. Built-in organizers can help you easily locate items used on a daily basis. Avid bakers may choose a cookie sheet and spice organizer for their baking habits. A large family may find pull out snack cabinets and pull out laundry bins more reasonable. Depending on your lifestyle, different organizers can help suit your hobbies and activities.
Your Kountry Kraft designer will help you determine the kitchen cabinet upgrades needed in your home. There will be no more struggling to find what you need with our custom cabinet solutions. Functionality is a beautiful thing. Find a dealer near you using our dealer locator.
Meet the First Lady of Cabinetry, Helen Hurst
By / March 22, 2017 March 22, 2017First Lady of Cabinetry
Helen Hurst, could very well be known as the First Lady of Cabinetry. She has faced many obstacles growing up on a small farm in Newmanstown, PA. The absence of a high school diploma did not stop her from becoming an intelligent, successful businesswoman. Helen and her husband Elvin lived a traditional farmer lifestyle until the groundbreaking Christmas of 1958. This was the year that Helen gifted Elvin the revolutionary Craftsman table saw. “If it hadn’t been for her, there wouldn’t be a Kountry Kraft” says Husband Elvin Sr.
Helen jumped right into the business, hands first. Helen helped with all operations of the business, and became savvy using the equipment. Her favorite tool was the router she used to build countertops for the cabinetry. “I do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done” says Helen. From the start, she was a woman determined to keep her business alive, even when challenges arose.
The business stared in Lebanon, quickly growing to surrounding areas including Lancaster and Berks counties.. At the wise age of 79, Helen has seen it all, and lives up to her name as the First Lady of Cabinetry. After her daughter assumed her position in the family business, Helen went on to pursue her college degree. “Kitchens have changed through the years, people used to use their kitchens to cook” recalls Helen. Kountry Kraft has evolved with the ever-changing industry and maintains a commitment to quality that is hard to come by.
Cherished Family Values
“The old saying is to give them what they want and they’ll come back for more” comments Hurst Sr. Starting out in 1959 as a four car garage, Kountry Kraft has transformed itself into a 96,000 sq. ft. factory. With its most valuable asset being its employees, Kountry Kraft has grown into the finest custom cabinetry company in the world. Upholding their parent’s legacy and legendary work, Elvin Jr and Dee continue to operate the company today. “The key to success in custom cabinetry is commitment to quality” says Junior, the company President. Today, Kountry Kraft continues to remain committed to their cherished family values.
Read more about the history of Kountry Kraft and view our photo gallery for inspiration for every home.