Advantages:
- Great for extra working space
- Wide variety of options when it comes to the design
Disadvantages:
- Takes up space in the middle of your kitchen
OVERVIEW of Kitchen Cabinets:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen countertops 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 counter materials. 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 countertop material make sure to think through the 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 cabinet. 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.
DETAILS on Kitchen Islands:
Kitchen islands are great if you've ever felt cramped for space in your kitchen, no matter how big it is.
Islands allow for an extra, necessary fixture in a very obvious location. There are an endless amount of designs for an island and they come with various amounts of drawers and openings. If you want to use your island for its storage space, there are designs with drawers at every possible location. If you would rather use your island as a decorative piece, there are designs with a small amount of drawers but a large amount of tabletop space.
With the endless amount of island designs comes an endless amount of designs for the rest of your kitchen. Whether you're updating or completely renovating your kitchen, you can design around your island or find an island to fit a design you've already found for the rest of your space.
If you are already working in a small space, you may not be able to fit an island; but if you have a decent amount of kitchen space and would like to be able to fit more in it, an island is a great option for you.
GREEN Considerations:
Any material that you want to use on your cabinets can be made in an eco-friendly way. If you use wood, make sure it is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) cerfitied, as that guarantees the wood was harvested in a sustainable manner. Many manufacturers also use reclaimed wood, which is salvaged wood that has been transformed into functional products.
Bamboo is the strongest plant in the world, as well as the fastest growing. It is a renewable energy source and has a great impact on the environment. Using bamboo for any area of your house is a great decision.
Stainless steel is considered an environmentally-friendly product, and is recommened for anyone who keeps an eco-friendly design at the top of their list. Stainless steel is recyclable, is not manufactured with harmful chemicals and is great in any area of your kitchen.
For whatever materials you use in your kitchen, do your homework on how they are manufactured and sold, and go with the most eco-friendly option you can. Not only is it great for the environment, if products are manufactured and sold in low-impact ways, they are better for the air quality inside 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.
