Advantages:
- Popular look
- Bring a sense of comfort to a room
Disadvantages:
- Does not give a modern, sleek look to your kitchen
OVERVIEW of Distressed Kitchen Cabinets
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen cabinets is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen cabinet materials and finishes. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen cabinet material and finish make sure to think through the countertop and backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinets. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant. Think of the kitchen cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes as an integrated kitchen design system, so try to avoid buying one before you get perspective and price out the materials, finishes, and installation implications for all three.
DETAILS on Distressed Kitchen Cabinets
Distressed kitchen cabinets are a great option if you want to achieve an aged, comfortable look in your kitchen. Distressed wood enhances rustic themes, and completely transforms rooms to have a cozy look of comfort.
The distressed look is popular for almost any room in the house, from the bathroom to the kitchen. Distressed wood can be achieved with any type of wood, and is available for the same price as other wood. The distressed look is attained by hand scraping, wood that is aged by time, or wire brushing.
Antique wood gives a naturally distressed look, but when the distressed look is achieved by hand, like hand scraping or wire brushing, the result is visible and original, without being rough and unnatural.
Typically, distressed wood is used to convey a rustic, country or casual theme. It is not meant for homes that have a sleek, sophisticated design in mind, but it can be used in a contemporary design.
GREEN Considerations:
If you decide to supply your kitchen with distressed wood, make sure to use FSC-certified or reclaimed wood. A Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification guarantees that wood is grown and harvested in a sustainable manner. Many companies also use reclaimed wood, meaning they use salvaged wood to produce beautiful products.
Columbia Forest Products is the largest manufacturer of hardwood in North America. They have transformed their business to supply only formaldehyde-free products, an extremely beneficial factor for the environment, as well as your home.
Checking to be sure that the products you are placing in your home are manufactured and sold in eco-friendly ways is half the battle of keeping your home environmentally-friendly.
