Category: Luxury Kitchens

Many people believe that custom cabinetry is only useful in large spaces where there is plenty of room to expand.  Or they mistakenly believe they must have a big area to do a renovation that involves custom cabinetry.  But the truth is, custom cabinetry is ideal for small spaces where you need to use every inch of space effectively to create a functional room.  Custom Cabinets for Small Spaces, with accessories designed to maximize your space, can truly make a difference in a home.

At Kountry Kraft we have the ability to truly customize cabinetry to the homeowners exact needs.  Working with one of our talented designers, you can analyze your lifestyle, map your space, and build custom cabinets that fit exactly within the space you have available.  If you have a small space with high ceilings, you can add floor to ceiling cabinetry to maximize your space.  If you have an odd corner where stock cabinetry cannot fit, our skilled designers can make that a usable space.  If countertop space is a challenge, we can build an appliance garage that takes small appliances off the counter and tucks them away neatly for future use.  Custom cabinetry for small spaces can make the most out of the existing space in your room.

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas PA

We also offer a wide variety of accessories that can maximize your space.  Our base pull-out storage cabinets, wooden spice racks, pantries with food file racks, double level cutlery drawers and pull out cutting boards are just a few items that can provide maximum impact within a minimal space.  The images above demonstrate a few of ideas for custom cabinetry for small spaces. Many other options are available – and special accessories can be built especially to suit your needs.

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas with painted and glazed finish

If you have a small space, it is worthwhile to speak to a skilled kitchen designer for an estimate on adding custom cabinetry for small spaces to your home.  Why choose stock cabinetry when it won’t effectively use the space you have available?  Visit our dealer locator to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you, and check out some of our Houzz projects for design inspirations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Kountry Kraft we are proud to associate with an amazing custom kitchen designer network who are responsible for creating amazing designs with our cabinetry.  We are happy to feature one of those designers today – Stonington Cabinetry & Designs in Madison, NJ.   Like Kountry Kraft, Stonington has a strong family heritage, and was by four members of the family; parents Karen and Robert and sons, Justin and Tyler Sachs. Firstly, the company creates revolutionary home renovations and beautiful custom cabinetry work in homes throughout the northern New Jersey area.  Above all, they are craftsmen who stand by their commitment to building quality one-of-a-kind constructions that are an accurate expression of their customer – a philosophy which is very similar to our own.  They have been in business for more than 30 years.

Stonington Cabinetry

Over the years, Stonington has created some beautiful projects with our cabinetry, and we are pleased to highlight this beautiful kitchen and butler’s pantry designed by Justin Sachs for a home in Madison, NJ.  For example, this traditional style kitchen features cabinets with a White Dove painted finish. The kitchen island cabinets have a contrasting English Walnut stain.  The Door Panel Style is TW10.  The butler’s pantry adds additional storage for small appliances and food preparation space. We just love the clean look, open space, and warm feel of this design.

Overall, Stonington can create custom designs for all areas of your home, and has many satisfied customers.  You can view more of their projects and read reviews on their Houzz page, or visit their website for more information.  They are a member of the NKBA, have earned many Houzz badges for customer service and design, and are remarkable partners.

Finally, Kountry Kraft is proud to have a great custom kitchen designer network including the team at Stonington, and we welcome you to search our dealer locator to find one near you for your next project.

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Dee Hurst-Funk is the Chief Kitchen Designer and CFO of Kountry Kraft – Custom Cabinets -
Dee-Hurst-Funk

Does this scenario sound familiar to you?  You’ve spent the holidays entertaining family and friends, frustrated with your kitchen, struggling with your lack of storage, food preparation area, and serving space.  Now that it’s a new year – you are making good on your resolution to treat yourself to a new kitchen.  You find yourself on the internet searching Design My Kitchen – baffled with the options before you and ready to give up.

Planning a new kitchen can be an intimidating process.  You may know what you need but may not be aware of the universe of possibilities that will allow you to truly maximize your space and take advantage of all the latest advancements in cabinetry and appliances.  Trying to teach yourself everything you need to know can be a recipe for failure.  If you find yourself wondering how to know what style of wood to choose, or what finishes will accomplish the look you wish to achieve, solicit the help of a talented kitchen designer.

Certified kitchen designers make your kitchen redesign easier for you.  They can simplify the planning process and guide you carefully through the steps necessary to build the kitchen of your dreams.  They are knowledgeable about all of the options available to you, and can help you decide on the cabinets, finishes, layout, and options that best fit within your budget, and match the design of your home.

Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Alexandria, VA

 

Kitchen designers will develop the best possible layout using the latest in state-of-the-art kitchen planning software. They will manage all of the details behind the scenes – such as electrical needs, plumbing, carpentry, flooring, hardware, and more – to help bring your kitchen together as you have imagined.   They will truly design the space – so it is not only functional but a beautiful addition to your home.  They are trained professionals – with many hours of continuing education behind the designs they create.

You may be intimidated at the process of finding a designer, but it truly is simple.  Search for a reputable designer in your area either by asking your friends for references, or using the tools available to you on Houzz to find a professional in your area.  Make an appointment to see some of their designs, ask them for references and read reviews on Google+ or Houzz.  At Kountry Kraft we believe we have the most talented group of designers available – visit our dealer locator to find a dealer near you to get on your way to your new kitchen today!

Custom Cabinetry Accessories

At Kountry Kraft we pride ourselves in our ability to truly customize a kitchen to a homeowners specifications with a wide variety of custom cabinetry accessories.  Unlike semi-custom and stock cabinetry lines, our talented designers can work with homeowners to evaluate their lifestyle, and then unleash their creativity, developing some amazing customization options of which we are very proud.

One example of the amazing level of customization we can offer is this kitchen designed by our designers here at Kountry Kraft for a homeowner in Ephrata, PA.  The cabinetry style of this kitchen is transitional, and it features wall cabinets constructed from quarter sawn white oak and finished in our Silver Fox stain with black glaze. The base cabinets are constructed from hard maple, painted and then finished with Sable colored glaze. Hardware is supplied by Top Knobs, TK75BSN.

This kitchen is certainly beautiful, but the true customization can be found in the amazing finishing details hidden behind the doors and drawers.  This kitchen truly features a wide variety of our top features, adding a high level of functionality and organization to the space. Here is a summary of a few of the most interesting features – you can scroll through the images in the slideshow below to see photos of each:

  • Opening the drawer under the stove reveals two drawers in one – one to hold pots and the other specifically designed to hold lids.
  • The utensil drawer also has 3 tiers to maximize storage and minimize clutter, safely storing knives away from other utensils.
  • The corner pullout maximizes space in a hard to reach section of the kitchen, giving you much needed storage area for larger appliances like toasters and food processors and enabling you to clear the countertop clutter.
  • A cleaning caddy conveniently stored under the sink keeps all of your household cleaners neatly organized.
  • Because the kitchen often serves as the business center of the home, we have added a filing drawer and a truly customized message center that closes away from view when not in use.
  • An integrated computer monitor or television cabinet allows you the opportunity to close the cabinet door when you want to conceal the screen.

Follow us on Houzz to see photography of more of our custom cabinetry accessories. Find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you and begin planning your very own custom kitchen storage cabinets.

 

 

 

 

luxury kitchen designs

At Kountry Kraft we are known for high quality custom cabinetry made to spec and delivered with very few errors on-time 99% of the time.  Our skilled team of craftsmen are proud of every order we produce, but occasionally we have the opportunity to produce some truly customized luxury kitchen designs that we are especially proud of.  One of those is this Horizontal Grain Walnut kitchen we created for one of our top dealers, the talented Tom Kelly, at TRK Kitchen and Interior Design, with locations in Florida, Massachusetts and Maine.

Tom has been one of our valued dealers for more than 25 years, and over that time we have built some really beautiful luxury kitchen designs for him.  This kitchen was created for professional architects who have a keen eye for design.  The focal point of the room is the beautiful Horizontal Grain Walnut cabinetry, which is grain matched for a stunning visual effect.  The horizontal grain in the cabinetry, the pulls and the tile continue the horizontal pattern, and the glass pendants play off the tile.  Sub Zero, Wolf, and Miele appliances luxury kitchen designsfinish the design, adding cutting-edge functionality to the beautiful high end design of this kitchen space.

 

Our Skills

Many designers and dealers may not realize that Kountry Kraft has the ability to work with new and unusual materials, and we can build cabinetry that features intricate and complicated designs.  We have built many truly superior custom projects over the years and are proud luxury kitchen designs we have created because they truly illustrate the broad depth of our capabilities.

Kountry Kraft values our partnership with our incredibly talented network of dealers like Tom Kelly.  We enjoy the challenge of fulfilling their most custom luxury kitchen designs, and we encourage them to take advantage of our advanced capabilities.  Search our dealer locator to find custom kitchen designers near you to begin creating a truly beautiful cabinetry project to enhance the beauty and function of your home.

photography by Tom Kelly

custom-stain-matchingWhen creating a custom cabinetry plan, people often overlook the impact custom stain matching can have on the finish of their cabinets.  They take great care selecting the wood and door style that most appeals to the décor of their home, but often neglect to consider how cabinet finishes such as paint, stain and glaze will enhance the overall look of their cabinetry.

Often, when adding custom cabinets to a room, there is a need to custom stain match the new cabinetry with existing cabinetry within the adjacent space.  Many people don’t realize that Kountry Kraft offers custom stain matching to your existing cabinetry as an option.  It’s important to us that you love your Kountry Kraft cabinetry – and to ensure your satisfaction we are willing to take the time needed to custom match the stain on your cabinet order.  The better your cabinetry fits into the décor of your home, the more satisfied you will be.  And a satisfied customer is a happy customer, which is important to our company.  This is just one of the many services that Kountry Kraft offers that many of our competitors do not.

The process for custom stain matching on cabinetry is relatively simple for us given the skill level of all of the craftsmen here at Kountry Kraft.  We will create our own mix of stain that most closely matches your existing cabinetry using our wide selection of stain colors and glazes, and can create a nearly perfect match to your existing cabinetry.  Our knowledgeable designers can also suggest other solutions that will complement your existing cabinetry– such as painted wood cabinets in a coordinating color, or antiqued finishes that add depth to the room.

With Kountry Kraft, your options are only limited by your imagination.  We offer custom cabinetry solutions for every room in your home, and custom stain matching is a unique service that our highly skilled kitchen design experts can offer that is not found in some other cabinet lines.  At Kountry Kraft we work with you to truly bring out the design potential in your home.  Check out our gallery for cabinetry design inspirations, and get started on your custom cabinet project today.

custom cabinetry founders

The Legacy of Kountry Kraft – The Beginnings of the Custom Cabinet Maker
Kountry Kraft was founded in 1959 – when the cabinetry industry itself was still in its infancy.  Prior to the 1950s, there truly was not a custom cabinetry industry to speak of.  At that time, it was common for homes to come with standard kitchen cabinetry constructed by home builders.  These cabinets were simple and often framed against the kitchen walls without a back.  They were commonly made of metal or wood, and were rarely found in any other room besides the kitchen.  There were no custom options, and rarely did the homeowner have a choice of wood or style.  Cabinets were simply viewed as a part of home construction.

When Elvin and Helen Hurst decided to launch their own custom cabinetry company, there really was no road map to follow.  No large cabinetry companies to model after.  Not only were they selling cabinetry, they were selling the CONCEPT of custom cabinetry to builders and homeowners who had never thought about cabinets as an option or feature to their home.  It was risky – Elvin and Helen were truly pioneers of the cabinetry industry – forging a path not many had traveled before.

But there were more hurdles in their way as they launched the business.  Not only were they new business owners, with all the challenges that new business ventures present, they were also breaking the farming tradition of their Mennonite community, where everyone was expected to farm as their profession.  Their choice to launch a business other than farming truly challenged common thinking – and their choice was questioned by those who knew them.

Regardless of the challenges, Elvin and Helen were committed to launching their business.  Elvin had amazing woodworking skills and there was great demand among their friends and family for his hand-crafted cabinetry.  They had a smart business plan and a philosophy that allowed them to stay true to their Mennonite roots of hard work and impeccable quality.  They were smart and could see that their model would succeed.  And it was with this in mind that Elvin and Helen launched Kountry Kraft in their family garage – the beginning of a legacy.

Stay tuned next week for part 2 in our Legacy of Kountry Kraft series

For more information about our company heritage, visit the Experience Kountry Kraft page on our website. Follow us on Instagram and like our Facebook page for design inspiration!

Why We Dovetail Our Boxes

Dee Hurst-Funk is the Chief Kitchen Designer and CFO of Kountry Kraft – Custom Cabinets -
Dee-Hurst-Funk

At Kountry Kraft, we take our commitment to producing high quality custom cabinets very seriously.  We employ skilled craftsmen who collectively have 1500 combined years of experience and their expertise is evident in the fine details that can be found in every one of our products.  We consistently produce custom cabinetry that our customers love, that is delivered on time and to spec 99% of the time.  We are so committed to quality that we offer a lifetime warranty.

One of the features that we include on our cabinetry that is often overlooked is the dovetail of our cabinet boxes.  Dovetailing is a finishing touch that helps keep cabinetry strong, and it is a testament to fine craftsmanship.  Not only does dovetailing keep your cabinetry more secure, it also looks beautiful.  Dovetailing creates an extremely strong joint between two pieces of wood, making a stronger bond that can withstand heavy use.  Most people don’t even know to ask about dovetailing, but to us it’s an absolute requirement.

Many cabinet manufacturers don’t go through the added work and expense to dovetail, and in many cases dovetailing is only found on the cabinet drawers.  Here at Kountry Kraft, not only do we dovetail our drawers, but we also dovetail our cabinet boxes – something that is rarely seen in the industry.  Dovetailing isn’t easy – it requires a great deal of skill and experience to do it correctly.  For the skilled craftsmen at Kountry Kraft it’s no trouble. We have an entire line in our production process dedicated to dovetailing – and the work is done right – every time.

Our Commitment to Quality Construction

It’s just like us here at Kountry Kraft not to make a big deal about our dovetailing.  We just consider it part of the process of producing cabinetry the right way – with great attention to detail.  But truly – it is a big deal – and is one of the many reasons why you will find our cabinets still looking like new in homes 25 years later.  It’s why high end kitchen designers turn to us to private label cabinets for them.  And it’s why we’ve been successful for more than 50 years.

At Kountry Kraft we credit our success to staying true to the four guiding principles on which my parents Elvin and Helen Hurst founded our company: craft the highest quality custom cabinetry; deliver on schedule every time; price it fairly; and be  honest, genuine and friendly. Dovetailing our cabinet boxes is one small part in the process of producing our high quality cabinetry – but it is a detail we are committed to continuing as a service to our customers.

Click here for more information about the quality craftsmanship of Kountry Kraft cabinets.  To find a dealer near you, visit the dealer locator on our site.  For great ideas for integrating custom cabinetry into your home, visit our Houzz idea books.  We have a strong commitment to uphold our family legacy of high quality and excellent service – and invite you to experience the Kountry Kraft difference.

Hanford Luxury Kitchens
Luxury Kitchen designed by Hanford Cabinet & Woodworking
Dee Hurst-Funk is the Chief Kitchen Designer and CFO of Kountry Kraft – Luxury Kitchens
Dee Hurst-Funk

The title of this blog may sound familiar. In fact, it may make you nostalgic, depending on when you were born. Recently there have been a number of Transformers reboots in Hollywood. They are movies derived from the 1984 Hasbro Toy Manufacturing Company toys with the tagline of, “The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye!” The premise is that they are robots disguised as common, ordinary objects.

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with Luxury Kitchens?”   Luxury Kitchens have a strong appeal not only because of their beautiful aesthetics, but also because of the special little nuances not outwardly visible to the casual observer. Hidden behind those gorgeous wooden panels could be any number of things – a chef’s pantry, a pull out spice rack, or even a full-size refrigerator!  Today, luxury kitchens certainly serve as the Transformers of the kitchen world.

Kitchens have become the center of all activity in modern homes, and as such our customers want their kitchens to be just as stylish and comfortable as the rest of the house. Luxury kitchens look less and less like work zones and more and more like family rooms with cabinetry integrated into paneling, sleek and less obtrusive appliances, and modern conveniences like laptop nooks and integrated tablet stations.

Luxury kitchens don’t only include unique storage solutions. There are many things that go into classifying your kitchen space as “Luxury.” Webster classifies luxury as “the state of great comfort and extravagant living.” To that end, what qualifies as a luxury kitchen is subjective to what you consider important to the comfort and enjoyment of your family.

At Kountry Kraft we provide only top quality craftsmanship and add-on options for your cabinetry. We always choose specially selected furniture grade solid woods and veneers, and inspect every aspect of finishing and assemble to ensure a quality product. We always treat every project as the most important, and handle every order with the care it deserves.

Whether it be the cabinets that conceal a work station, enhanced lighting, or unique features like column pullouts and hidden spice drawers, the hidden luxuries of Kountry Kraft luxury kitchens definitely deliver more than meets the eye. Luxury, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.  Whether cooking for a large group of people, bonding with your family, or relaxing on your own – having a luxurious kitchen that your family can live in is sure to make your house a home.

To see more of our kitchens, follow this link HERE

Visit Hanford Cabinet and Woodworking to see more luxury kitchens.