Using an antique bathroom vanity or converting a piece of antique furniture into a bathroom vanity is a very popular design trend. However, there are challenges associated with using antique furniture to create a bathroom vanity, as well as using an antique and adapting to modern plumbing.

There is a significant difference between using an antique piece of furniture and using a modern bathroom vanity made in the

This antique bathroom vanity used an oak dresser

style of antique furniture. The modern “reproductions” are designed for modern plumbing. In addition, they typically are made with wood that has been treated and sealed to prevent damage from steam and moisture. In most cases, careful measurements allow homeowners to choose a style, have it delivered, and install it by simply making the appropriate connections to pipes.

Working with antique furniture presents certain challenges. Some homeowners have the required skills to convert an antique into a bathroom vanity. Others will want to shop for the perfect piece of furniture and have a skilled cabinetmaker do the work of converting it into a vanity. A third alternative is to buy a converted antique vanity from one of the dealers who specialize in converting antique furniture for this purpose.

Bathroom vanities often are made from antique sideboards, servers, hutches, dressers, washstands, chests, trestle tables, sewing cabinets, or Victrola cabinets. All of these furniture items can be converted to either one- or two-sink vanities, depending upon the width of the item.

Several decisions must be made before the conversion can begin:

1.       Perhaps most important, is the question if the antique of sufficient value that it should not be damaged or altered. In this case, the antique might not be the best choice for use as a bathroom vanity because the finish and, potentially, the wood will be damaged by moisture and steam.

2.       Will you use the antique in its current condition, or will you refinish or paint it?

3.       Are you willing to cut holes in the surface, the back, and the bottom of the antique? If it is a taller piece (such as a server or sideboard), will you remove legs to make it the correct height?

The challenges of using an antique bathroom vanity are these:

·         You must choose the antique carefully to ensure a correct fit in the bathroom and with the current placement of plumbing. Although you can have pipes moved, doing so will substantially increase the cost of your bathroom remodel.

·         Once you decide whether you will use the antique in its current condition, refinish it, or paint it, you will need to waterproof the antique on both the inside and the outside. Without waterproofing, the wood will absorb water and steam, causing warping and, possibly, mildew.

·         Next, you must decide what type of sink you will use. A vessel sink might require the least alteration of the antique, but it might also be too high, if the antique is a taller piece of furniture.

·        

Adding a sink uses space in the cabinet of this antique bathroom vanity made from a sideboard

You will then need to decide whether you will cut a hole in the surface of the antique for the sink, or you will remove the surface and replace it with a “countertop” material, such as marble, granite, etc.

·         The next step will be to modify the cabinet(s) and drawer(s) to accommodate the correct location of pipes and install the pipes, with connections to the sink you have chosen.

·         You will then be able to complete the modifications of the antique to enclose drawers and cabinets for your use. You might also decide to install dividers or organizational inserts to make the vanity more functional.

·         Finally, install the faucets and other fixtures you have chosen to complete your décor.

Although there are challenges in using an antique as a bathroom vanity, you can overcome them. These challenges will be within the skills of some homeowners. Others will need to engage the services of an expert cabinetmaker. Whether you do the work or you hire someone, the result will be a unique bathroom that is exactly what you want.

Happy remodeling!

There are many excellent reasons to choose wood kitchen cabinets in your new home or a kitchen remodel. There can be no question that wood cabinetry is one of the most beautiful options for any kitchen design or kitchen remodel. As we work with clients who are replacing cabinetry, we hear many questions and concerns. Here are five reasons homeowners give us for choosing wood cabinets for their kitchen.

1. Wood cabinetry goes with every kitchen décor style and with every appliance finish. Whether your

these glazed maple cabinets are a good example of the beauty of wood kitchen cabinetry

2. Wood cabinets will bring warmth to any kitchen. This is an important consideration for homeowners today, when the kitchen is – once again – the center of the family’s life. Kitchens can feel sterile, due to the amount of metal, glass, and enamel finished items included. Nothing brings warmth to the room like the rich hues of natural wood finishes. Wood cabinetry also introduces depth and texture, making the kitchen warmer.

3. Wood cabinetry can last a lifetime. Wood cabinets are easy to maintain, and they are durable. Unlike laminates, the finish on wood cabinets will not bubble from heat and moisture. Modern finishes are strong enough to resist most damage from drips and spills.

4. Wood cabinetry, if damaged, is easy to refinish. A small kitchen fire, a bad spill, or other accidents might damage cabinetry. Unlike many other materials, it is possible to strip wood cabinets of remaining finish, sand to smoothness, and refinish back to its original beauty. Many of these repairs can be made with no appreciable impact on the value of the cabinetry.

5. Wood cabinetry is widely perceived as a high-value material. Installing wood cabinetry in your home or in a kitchen remodel is perceived as an investment in the home. Guests will notice your choice. More important, appraisers and future buyers will value your home higher because of this and other investments in the home.

The most common reasons we hear from homeowners about why they choose wood cabinets for new kitchens and remodels clearly point to durability, appearance, value, and versatility. These and other considerations have consistently made wood cabinetry the top choice of homeowners.

If you are thinking about new wood cabinetry for your kitchen, and you would like to have quality cabinets at the best price, call us.

Shaker cognac kitchen cabinets

Do you have unique storage solutions? Share them in a comment!

Do It Yourself Cherry Kitchen Cabinet Special – $1750

Call: 586-690-6851

$1750 is for 10 feet  of upper AND 10 feet lower cabinets.
We can add or subtract as needed for your kitchen – different cabinet sizes available.
Brand new – never installed. Cash price (no credit) while supplies last.

Cabinet Description:

Wood species – Birch

Color – Cherry with chocolate glazing

• Solid wood, raised panel door and drawer faces with full overlay design.
• Solid wood, dove tailed drawers with full extension soft-close glides.
• Cabinet boxes are plywood – no MDF or particle board anywhere.

Don’t wait! The tremendous value will be obvious when you see them!

Call: 586-690-6851

Do It Yourself January Special – $1750

Call: 586-884-8812

$1750 is for 10′ of upper AND lower cabinets.
We can add or subtract as needed for your kitchen – different cabinet sizes available.
Brand new – never installed. Cash price (no credit) while supplies last.

Cabinet Description:

Wood species – Birch

Color – Cherry with chocolate glazing

• Solid wood, raised panel door and drawer faces with full overlay design.
• Solid wood, dove tailed drawers with full extension soft-close glides.
• Cabinet boxes are plywood – no MDF or particle board anywhere.

Don’t wait! The tremendous value will be obvious when you see them!

Call: 586-884-8812

One of many kitchen storage solutions

The challenge for many people is how to estimate kitchen storage needs.

The first step in the estimation of storage needs is to determine how you will use the space. For many families, the kitchen is no longer a discrete room or space. Today, in many homes, the kitchen is combined with a family room, a breakfast room, or a work area. In other homes, the kitchen is the place where guests and extended family are entertained. For the most part, the kitchen has become the center of a family’s activities (whatever they enjoy).

The second step in estimating kitchen storage needs is to determine what kind of storage space in needed or desired. If the family will eat most meals in the extended kitchen, it might make sense to store dishes and flatware, near the table. It might also make sense to put a dishwasher in that area. If there will be a work area (perhaps a place for children to do homework or for bill paying, etc.), there might be a need for a desk or bookshelves or computer connections.

The third step is to determine the types of storage required in the kitchen. Do you want glass door cabinets to display china, glassware, or food containers? Where will you keep small appliances when not in use? Do you want to organize your kitchen around the type of cooking or other food preparation most commonly used? For example, if you have children, you might want a snack area that is readily accessible to them with storage for cold water or other drinks, storage for microwaveable snack items (popcorn, for example).

Fourth, determine how much cabinet and surface area you have now. There is a simple formula for this. Measure the width and depth of your existing cabinets or other storage areas and counters, as well as the number of shelves in each cabinet: cabinet/shelf/drawer width x number of shelves/drawers x cabinet/shelf/drawer depth = storage space.

Fifth, estimate the additional space needed and the amount of space you would prefer to use differently. For example, if you plan to create a snack area or zone, you might want a refrigerated drawer for drinks or a small under-counter refrigerator. If you do a lot of baking and you want to create a baking area separate from the usual cooking zone, you might want a second oven, and dedicated storage spaces for ingredients, bake ware, etc. Decide where it is most convenient to store each type of item you use frequently.

On the other hand, if you do not do much cooking, you might want to save the trouble of calculating the storage needs of a kitchen, you can follow the guidelines available from the National Kitchen and Bath Association.  http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/kitchen/planning/kitchen-planning-guidelines/?page=1

A final note: When you estimate kitchen storage needs it is wise to tailor your remodel less to personal tastes and more to recommendations if you are planning to sell your home in the next few years. You might do only minimal cooking and need minimal storage, but the next owner might have different needs.

There are five ways to buy kitchen cabinets. Your decision about buying cabinets for your home will factor in installation and assembly time and cost, prices, availability of what you want, your ability to work with standard cabinet sizes only, and the number of specialty cabinets or cabinets with organizational devices you need.

1. Knock-down cabinets –You can usually take these least expensive cabinets home from the store on the day you purchase them. You will probably need to assemble them. They are available only in standard sizes and will have little, if any, customization and typically do not include organizers.

2. Stock cabinets – The next step in price, stock cabinets are mass-produced in a factory. Choices will be limited to a few styles and finishes (usually the most popular at the time). They are also available in standard sizes only.

3. Semi-custom cabinets – Semi-custom cabinetry is also available only in standard sizes. However, you will find more varieties in styles and finishes. This is a good option if you want a specific style in a particular finish.

4. Custom cabinets – Custom cabinets have been the traditional way to get exactly what you want in your kitchen cabinetry. As the name implies, you can have anything you want in your cabinets – any wood or material, any finish, any style, any accessories, and any sizes. This is the most expensive way to purchase cabinets, but the result will be unique.

5. Customized cabinets – By choosing the semi-custom or stock cabinets you want and engaging a good cabinetmaker to customize them, you can create the kitchen you want without paying the price of custom cabinets. In this case, you buy the cabinets in the style and finish you want. The cabinetmaker then modifies the cabinets (invisibly) to the custom sizes you need and adds the accessories, organizers, and specialty cabinets and drawers you want. This option gives you the best of both worlds – a custom kitchen at a much lower price.

The first thing you need to know is that once again, the current trend is to use wall cabinets that extend to the ceiling. The preference for cabinetry that reaches to the ceiling or cabinets that are mounted to leave space above the cabinets changes periodically. We have been in a period when wall cabinets did not reach the ceiling. The thinking was that because people typically could not reach the top shelves of cabinets, they were a waste of space. Some ignored the space above the cabinets and others used the space for decorative items.

The current trend is to use wall cabinets that extend to the ceiling. In a small kitchen, where storage space is precious, the extra space is important – in many small kitchens, it provides an additional eight to 12 linear feet of space (or more). These top shelves are an ideal place to store seasonal or seldom used items.

The second, and perhaps most important, strategy for overcoming storage space limitations in small kitchens is organization. Organization and organizational devices are critical to maximizing the available storage space in any kitchen. The first principle of kitchen organization is to use every inch of space wisely. Remember that cabinetry can be customized to provide the precise space you need. For example, instead of using a shelf in a standard cabinet for spices, consider installing a spice cabinet that is mere inches wide, but built to make your spices accessible when it is pulled out. The same design can be used to provide accessible maximized space for canned goods. The same approach can be made to a unit beside a wall-mounted oven or beside a pantry cabinet that is fitted with the appropriate racks to store pots, pans, and lids. This reduces wasted space in base cabinets and makes everything more accessible.

We install in cabinets a surprising range of dividers, lazy Susans, racks and other devices to maximize every inch of space. We also do this in many large kitchens. Many homeowners are surprised to discover that we can find or create an organizational device to meet most storage needs in small kitchens. Many homeowners are more surprised to discover how organization can make minimal cabinet storage space ample.

If you are facing the challenge of how to overcome storage space limitations in small kitchens, give us a call before you start remodeling. We can show you how to maximize your storage space and install these customizations at a surprisingly low price.