Custom Cabinets for your Home Office
By / September 7, 2022 August 22, 2022
Are you looking to upgrade the temporary home office setup you threw together at the start of Covid with something a bit more intentional and permanent? Or maybe you’ve had a home office for a while and want to give it a facelift with improved functionality. No matter your situation, custom cabinets for your home office should be on your radar. Let me tell you why.
Aesthetics
The office space should be a room that you actually want to be in. An aesthetically pleasing office encourages productivity and makes you want to sit down and say, “Let’s get this done.” Conversely, a bare-bones office reminiscent of the dreaded cubicle will have you dragging your feet to avoid the area.
When considering your aesthetically pleasing design, office cabinetry should be the first thing on your radar because it has the largest visual impact due to its size. Imagine walking into your office space and seeing a wall of custom built-ins behind an organized desk. Now imagine lining up a few filing cabinets along a wall. There is just simply no comparison.
Design by Thomas R. Kelly of TRK Design Company
Form Meets Function
An office needs storage not only as a matter of function, but also to keep it clean, organized, and aesthetically pleasing. Like I said, not only are filing cabinets not as pretty as custom office storage, but they often aren’t even adequate to store everything. Custom built-ins give you all the hidden storage you could ever need, plus bonus open shelving to display things like books, photos, certificates, and knick knacks—anything that will make you smile when you look up during a break from work.
Design by Mike Hinkle of Hinkle Custom Cabinets
Feeling Inspired?
Are you ready to transform your office space? Kountry Kraft’s design experts are standing by to help you decide what the best fit would be for your space. Find a dealer near you and follow @kountrykraftcabinetry for more design inspiration.
The Ultimate Custom Kitchen Island Design
By / August 29, 2022 September 30, 2022
Design by Wydian Kitchens & Design
Time and time again I see homeowners question whether or not they should include a kitchen island in their renovation. My response? A custom island is one of the best investments you can make not just for your kitchen, but for your entire home. Let’s check out why this cabinetry feature is so desirable and why custom is the way to go.
Versatility
A kitchen island will meet literally any need you have. Extra storage for pots, pans, and cookbooks? Yup. More counter space for meal prep? You got it. Additional seating for guests? Absolutely. I think you get the picture.
Kitchen Design by Dovetailed Kitchens Inc.
A Central Hub
The kitchen is often said to be the heart of the home, and a kitchen island creates a central hub for everyone to gather around. Whether the kids are doing homework while the adults cook or guests are enjoying a glass of wine and appetizer spread while you host a dinner party, the kitchen island will be at the center of it all.
Proportions
Notice that I specified ‘custom’ kitchen islands. The biggest factor in that reasoning is proportions. A kitchen island needs to fit your space, or it won’t look or feel right. Many people worry about it being too large and dominating the space, but one that is too small can be just as troublesome. A custom kitchen island will be crafted to fit your exact space so the proportions will be perfect.
Design by Justin Sachs of Stonington Cabinetry & Designs
Design Details
The other benefit of custom is that it will suit your exact style. Don’t settle for a stock design. Make it your own with custom kitchen island cabinets, countertops, seating, and features.
Start Building Yours
If you’re ready to start designing your own custom kitchen island, Kountry Kraft’s design experts are standing by to help you decide what the best fit would be for your space. Find a dealer near you and follow @kountrykraftcabinetry for more design inspiration.
Must-Have Bathroom Cabinet Features
By / August 3, 2022 June 30, 2022
So, you’re revamping your bathroom—congratulations! Before you get swept up in choosing pretty things, I’d recommend figuring out the functional aspects of your design first. And, as I’ve said so often, cabinets are the foundation of function. That’s why today I want to dive in and explore what any professional designer will tell you are must-have bathroom cabinet features.
In-Drawer Outlets
If I could recommend only one bathroom cabinet feature, it would be in-drawer outlets. They are exactly what their name suggests—outlets hidden inside a cabinet instead of being visible on the wall. While they enhance the beauty of any design by keeping this purely functional item out of sight, they are especially impactful if you want to install tile behind your vanity so that it remains a stunning, unbroken focal point. In-drawer outlets can also help keep electronics such as toothbrushes and razors off the counter.
Specialized Storage
Ladies, do your hair styling tools ever end up cluttering the vanity because it’s just too much of a hassle to put them away every morning? Solve that problem with a specialized pull-out drawer that has custom slots for all your tools. (This is also a great feature to combo with in-drawer outlets so everything’s in one place.) Or maybe you’d be interested in a hidden laundry hamper. Take advantage of custom cabinetry to create cabinets specific to your needs.
Towel Storage
This bathroom cabinet feature is especially important if you don’t have a linen closet in your bathroom. Towel storage can take all types of different forms, from open display shelving to floor-to-ceiling cabinets. The choice largely comes down to preference, but the important thing to check is that you’re including enough storage for all your towels. While this seems like common sense, you’d be surprised how many people end up running out of room after laundry day.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree that these are must-have bathroom cabinet features? If any of them are calling to you, visit a Kountry Kraft dealer near you so our experts can get to work on delivering the bathroom cabinets of your dreams!
For more design inspiration, follow us on Instagram @KountryKraft.
Featured Designs by Stacy Nawoj of Pinnacle Kitchens.
How To Find A Custom Kitchen Designer
By / July 15, 2022 June 28, 2022
Custom kitchen cabinets are an important part of any home improvement project. They’re also a great way to add value to your home while improving its functionality. Finding a designer that understands the nuances and complexities of designing custom cabinetry is paramount to a successful design. This blog will assist you on how to find a custom kitchen designer.
Start with a Budget
Before you start shopping for custom kitchen cabinets, make sure you have a budget in mind. You’ll need to consider things like materials, labor costs, design options, and more. When speaking to design firms this will help you eliminate those outside your budget.
Do Some Research
If you’re looking for a designer who specializes in custom cabinetry, there are several ways to find them. Check out our Find a Dealer page to see if there is an authorized Kountry Kraft designer near you. If there is no designer in your area listed on our website, check with local trade organizations such as the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Look for a designer-certified CMKBD assuring they have completed the appropriate training to design your project. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) also has members skilled in this area. These groups often list members by location. Next, search online using terms like “kitchen cabinet designers” or “cabinet maker.” Finally, ask friends and family for recommendations.
Design by Stonington Cabinetry & Designs; Photography by Chris Veith
Hire a Professional
You’ll need to hire a professional to design your new kitchen. This includes choosing materials, designing the layout, and installing the cabinets. It’s also important to consider the size of your space when selecting a designer. Smaller spaces require more attention to detail than larger rooms, as every inch counts. Good luck with your search and if you need inspiration, download our brochure!
Cabinet Upgrades During Renovation
By / July 6, 2022 May 23, 2022
Did the halfway marker for 2022 sneak up on anyone else? I feel like the year has flown by! On the bright side, we now have enough dataㅡgraciously collected and reported by the 2022 US Houzz Kitchen Trends Studyㅡto discern the year’s hottest kitchen trends. The big takeaway? 65% of renovating homeowners replaced all their kitchen cabinets. Let’s explore these cabinet upgrades during renovation.
Replace Kitchen Cabinets
About two in three homeowners replaced all of their kitchen cabinets. Compound that with 29% of homeowners choosing various degrees of partial cabinet replacement and the result is that 94% chose to upgrade their cabinets as part of their kitchen renovation.
That’s a staggering number, but not wholly unexpected. Kitchen cabinets are one of the biggest visual elements of a kitchen design, and arguably the most important functional element too. It makes sense that homeowners gave them their due attention.
Going Custom
With so many homeowners deciding that replacing kitchen cabinets was worth the investment, it makes sense that they made sure they got exactly what they wanted. 43% of homeowners chose custom cabinetry, with an additional 35% selecting semi-custom cabinets so that they fit each unique space perfectly. Only 21% chose stock or ready-to-assemble cabinets.
Replacement Styles & Color
Trends in style and color didn’t change much in 2022. Shaker style doors dominated again with 64% of homeowners selecting this style. White was also clearly the favorite cabinet color again, bringing in 41% of the vote. An interesting note though: if you combine the wood tones, they make up 19% of the vote, meaning nearly 1 in 5 homeowners opted for wood cabinets.
2022 Isn’t Over Yet
There’s still time to start your 2022 kitchen renovation and get in on these trends! Replacing kitchen cabinets and countertops is a big deal, so visit a Kountry Kraft dealer near you and our experts will help walk you through the design process. Follow @kountrykraftcabinetry for more kitchen design inspiration.
Hale Navy Custom Cabinetry
By / June 1, 2022 May 2, 2022
Kitchen by Stonington Cabinetry & Designs | Photography by Chris Veith
Today I’m singing the blues—Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy blue, to be exact. This beautiful shade of navy continues to be a favorite amongst designers because of its incredible versatility, especially when it comes to kitchen cabinets (seriously, it goes with everything). Let’s take a look at why this color will work for almost any design and explore some different options for hale navy custom cabinetry.
Warm or Cool?
One of the biggest reasons Hale navy is so versatile is because it’s a transitional color. This means it has both warm and cool undertones. Additionally, it will look just as at home paired with nickel and Coventry Gray as it will with brass and White Dove, both listed as hale navy coordinating colors by Benjamin Moore.
Works with Any Design
No matter what type of design you’re going for, hale navy will fit right in. Its merits for a modern or transitional kitchen are pretty obvious, but it would also look stunning in a traditional design. Hale navy’s deep, rich jewel tone was inspired by the luxury of England’s royalty during the Victorian Era, so it can be used in a more traditional design without looking out of place.
Kitchen by Stonington Cabinetry & Designs | Photography by Chris Veith
Design Tips
Now that we understand why hale navy kitchen cabinets will work for almost anyone, let’s talk about some different design options. If you choose to paint all your kitchen cabinets hale navy, I’d recommend contrasting them with a white countertop and backsplash. Continue the contrast with a light paint color for the walls to keep the room feeling open and bright.
If committing to all navy cabinets seems too overwhelming, a subtler option is a hale navy accent island paired with a neutral color for the rest of your cabinets. Remember to check out the coordinating color list when going over your options!
Need a Second Opinion?
Let one of our design experts review colors with you so you can feel confident in your selection! Find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you. For more design inspiration, follow us on Instagram @KountryKraft.
Kitchen Designs with Full Overlay Cabinets
By / May 4, 2022 March 1, 2022
It’s no secret that choosing cabinetry is one of the biggest decisions to consider when making selections for a kitchen design. Many homeowners are unaware of just how many options there are available with custom cabinetry, including the cabinet door and cabinet style. In today’s blog, let’s explore kitchen designs with full overlay cabinets – what they are, the benefits of incorporating them, and the design effects they have.
A Quick Definition
Full overlay cabinets represent one of three cabinet styles when it comes to installation (the other two being inset and partial overlay). Full overlay means that the doors are made extra-large so that they sit on top of the cabinet frame, hiding it completely.
The Benefits
Full overlay is one of the cheaper installation options because it requires less skill, but by no means does it skimp on beauty. It also gives you the most storage space because the door sits on top of the frame instead of inside it. (I know we’re talking a matter of inches here, but sometimes they can make all the difference.)
Design Effects
Full overlay cabinets are the most popular style for modern kitchen designs. They achieve a smooth, clean look that you just can’t get with partial overlay cabinets. How modern you want to take that look is totally up to you. Go ultra-modern with a minimalist slab door or recall a touch of tradition with more ornamental doors. Check out our wide selection of full overlay kitchen cabinet door styles here.
Feeling Inspired?
Check out our gallery of kitchen designs featuring full overlay cabinets. If this piece has indeed left you feeling inspired, find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you to start the design process with one of our experts! Follow @kountrykraftcabinetry for more kitchen design inspiration.
Proactively Preserving the Kountry Kraft Legacy
By / April 13, 2022 April 11, 2022Dee Hurst-Funk, CFO, and Elvin Jr. Hurst, CEO, of Kountry Kraft, are proactively preserving the Kountry Kraft legacy by welcoming Dave Riebe as President.
In his role as President, Dave will preserve the longevity of Kountry Kraft by running the company on a daily basis under the guidance of Dee and Elvin Jr. Dave has immersed himself in Kountry Kraft by working with every employee in every department. From delivering a kitchen in Annapolis, to assisting in finishing and order processing, he rolled up his sleeves to become familiar with every part of the company.
“We’re excited about the fresh vision Dave brings to the business. He comes with knowledge and experience in manufacturing that will enrich the legacy and longevity of Kountry Kraft.” – Dee Hurst-Funk, CFO
About Dave
Dave brings a fresh vision to the business with over 25 years of experience leading organizations and developing teams in diversified manufacturing companies. He is recognized as an executive whose personal leadership style effectively balances a pragmatic management approach with strong creative and innovative abilities.
Prior to Kountry Kraft, Dave worked at Carlisle Construction Materials as Director of five different businesses, he was President of Pennex Aluminum Company, and he held various positions at Danaher Corporation (Kollmorgen) with increasing responsibility; most recently he was Vice President and General Manager, and he also served in general management, product marketing, and manufacturing roles. Mr. Riebe has also provided management consulting to senior business leaders, and he spent the first five years of his career in engineering positions at General Motors Corporation.
Dave has a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University, a Master of Science in Mechanics from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
“We sell an experience… the experience of feeling at home in the kitchen. The experience of being together. That to me is what the business is about – providing that experience for families, for generations, for life.” – Dave Riebe
Kitchen Designs with Inset No Bead Cabinets
By / April 6, 2022 March 1, 2022We’ve recently had the good fortune of creating some kitchen designs with Inset No Bead Cabinets and we’re so obsessed with the results, we just had to share. Hopefully, you’ll be as inspired by these designs as we are. Let’s break down this cabinet style to discover if it’s right for you.
Design by AMS Kitchens | Allie Fackler Photography
Inset Explained
Inset doors are one of three styles you can choose for your kitchen cabinets (the other two being partial overlay and full overlay, but that’s a discussion for a different day). The inset style means that the face of the door sits flush with the cabinet frame, creating one smooth surface that requires a knob or pull to open.
Bead Explained
“Bead” in the term “beaded inset cabinets” refers to the decorative groove on the frame surrounding the cabinet door on all sides.
But, we’re talking about no bead inset cabinets today, which means the cabinet frame is smooth as you can see in the kitchen image below. No bead inset cabinets offer a cleaner, simpler look that’s more in-line with current trends.
Design by Joan Bigg Design LLC
A Perfect Match
So now that we understand what inset and bead mean separately, we can explore what the inset no bead cabinet style means as a whole. This cabinet style has historic roots, as it was widely used throughout the 1800s into the 1920s.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking your kitchen design will be transported back to the Victorian Era if you choose this cabinet style. The truth is, you can easily transport inset no bead cabinets into the 21st century by pairing them with modern design elements. Instead of looking dated, they’ll give your design just a touch of vintage and recall the luxury of old-world fine craftsmanship.
Explore Your Options
Explore our inset no bead cabinets – along with all of our other style options – by visiting our cabinet styles page. If you’re ready to get started or want to speak with one of our experts, find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you!
Cabinet Color Visualizer
By / March 1, 2022 March 20, 2023When I made a case for green kitchen cabinets this past September, I recommended displaying large paint swatches against your existing cabinets to help you select the perfect shade. And while that was good advice at the time, now there’s an even easier option.
Allow me to introduce you to the new Kountry Kraft Color Studio Cabinet Color Visualizer.
Let’s Get Acquainted
The Color Studio was designed to enhance and simplify the cabinet color selection process. Choose from 65 different paint color options to see displayed on a virtual showroom kitchen. And you can select different colors for your base, wall, and island cabinets in case you want to mix and match. That’s 195 different color combinations for you to choose from!
How Do I Use the Cabinet Color Visualizer?
The paint swatches are displayed beneath the virtual showroom kitchen so you can easily scan the colors for ones that catch your eye. When you find one you like, click on the swatch and it will flip over to reveal the color, sheen, and wood type.
As I mentioned, you can select different colors for the base, wall, and island cabinets. Select your paint color from the drop-down menu for each option, and then click the “VIEW” button. The virtual showroom kitchen will then apply your color selections so you can see what they would look like.
Click “Clear Selection” and repeat the Cabinet Color Visualizer process until you find a combination you love!
I Could Use Some More Guidance
Of course, you’re always welcome to stop by and one of our Kountry Kraft experts would be happy to help you find the perfect paint color! Find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you.
Follow us on Instagram for more design tips and paint color inspiration.