Cyberhomes.com

Michael was quoted in a cyberhomes.com article on Old vs New Homes
http://tinyurl.com/c2g4k7

Kitchen Cabinets

As any cook will tell you, the design of the kitchen makes a huge difference in how well the kitchen functions. The basic layout of the kitchen is a work triangle measured from the center of the sink, refrigerator and cook top or range. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends that each leg of the triangle be between four and nine feet and the sum of the legs should not exceed twenty-six feet. Omit obstructions in the triangle and through traffic. Design counters to be a minimum of 42” apart for one cook and 48” for two cooks. Consider two sinks and therefore two work triangles for kitchens with multiple cooks.

There are three options in cabinet door construction with significant price differences. In Flush Overlay construction the doors and drawers completely cover the cabinet box. It has clean contemporary lines and hidden hinges. Flush overlay construction is always used for a contemporary look but can also work with a traditional door panel. It is the medium price option and creates a great look for the money spent. Reveal Overlay doors and drawers partially cover the cabinet box. The reveal dimension can be varied by the designer. Hinges can either be exposed or concealed in reveal overlay construction. This is the least expensive cabinet construction type. Flush Inset with Face Frame construction is the most expensive due to the care necessary in fitting the doors into the frames. The doors and drawers are flush with the cabinet box and are crafted as well as a piece of fine furniture. Flush inset cabinets create a very traditional look with an exposed butt hinge.

The Architectural Woodwork Institute defines three quality levels of construction for cabinetry. Premium Grade, the highest level generally reserved for special projects or features. Custom Grade is specified for most cabinetry and provides a well defined degree of control over the quality of craftsmanship, materials, and installation. Economy Grade defines a minimum expectation of work.

The next cabinet decision is whether to use stock cabinets or have them custom made by a local cabinet maker. Stock Cabinets generally have a multitude of door designs, woods and finishes, and hardware to choose between. They come in 3” increments, so you might have to use a filler panel to fit a particular wall. Custom Cabinets can be designed as a major detail component of your house. You have an endless choice of door designs, woods and finishes, as well as hardware. They can also be made to perfectly fit the dimensions of the space. We often find that custom cabinets are not more expensive than good quality stock cabinets.

The goal of any room design is for the first impression to be “Wow, what a nice room”. Only after the pleasing impact of the overall design should you then begin to notice the details. One important detail in the kitchen is the cabinet hardware. Traditional Hardware brands include Baldwin, the very popular Rocky Mountain Hardware, and Sun Valley Bronze. Contemporary Hardware is typically stainless steel and favorite brands include Häfele, Valli & Valli, and Linnea. There are many Fanciful Hardware companies. The company Modern Objects gets its inspiration from nature; they have twigs, branches, shells and stones. Susan Goldsmith creates little works of art of for each cabinet pull. Soko Studio has dogs, people and all sorts of fun pulls.

Lowcountry Sources

These are some of my favorite vendors in the Lowcountry. It is best to call and make an appointment before visiting.

Appliances:
Livingood’s
63 Riverwalk Blvd
Okatie, SC
843.379.5800
www.livingoodsonline.com

Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
114 Bluffton Road
Bluffton, SC
843.815.6080

Apex Supply
1 Kitties Landing
Bluffton, SC
843.706.2921

Billy Wood Appliance
6 Marshland Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
843.681.8441
www.billywoodappliance.com

Bath Fixtures:
Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery
114 Bluffton Road 1563 Sam Rittenburg
Bluffton, SC Charleston, SC
843.815.6080 843.571.5712

Apex Supply
1 Kitties Landing
Bluffton, SC
843.706.2921

Bird Decorative Hardware
6-A Plantation Business Park 1081 Morrison Drive
Bluffton, SC Charleston, SC 843.815.5625 843.577.5440
www.birddecorativehardware.com


Design on Tap
69 Sheridan Park Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
ph 1-843-815-7644
fax 1-843-815-7645
www.designontap.net


Hardware:
Bird Decorative Hardware
6-A Plantation Business Park
Bluffton, SC
843.815.5625
www.birddecorativehardware.com


Lighting:
The Light Post
40 Pennington Drive
Sheridan Park
Bluffton, SC
843.815.8080
www.thelightpost.com


Candelabra
404 Coleman Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC
843.849.7714
www.shopcandelabra.com


Smart House:
Coastal Home Technology
2121 Boundary Street, Suite 106
Beaufort, SC
843.5229333
www.coastalhometechnology.com

Genisystems
843.470.0700

Stone Slabs:

Distinctive Granite & Marble
516 A Browns Cove Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
843.689.3237

Stone Horse Imports

1181 May River Road
Bluffton, SC
843.757.7866

AGM Imports
4250 Scott Street
North Charleston, SC
843.747.0088

www.agmimporters.com


Stone Paving:

Savannah Hardscapes
64 McDowell Circle
Hardeeville, SC
843.784.6060
www.savannahhardscapes.com




Tile:

Creative Interiors
1404 Boundary Street
Beaufort, SC
843.524.2612

Garden State Tile

2500 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA
912.234.1122
www.gstile.com


Custom Cabinet Makers:

WD Bosworth woodworking
59 Luther Warren Drive
St. Helena island, SC 29920
843.838.9490

Marshland Millworks
50 Palmetto Bay Road, #11

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

843.341.3070

Bay Point Contractors
343 Sea Island Parkway
Beaufort, SC 29907
843.522.0083

Southern Living Award

We are really excited that our project was recogonized by Southern Living. Here is a link to the article http://tinyurl.com/csu438