“Can we reuse the existing cabinets?”
West Bloomfield, MI Kitchen Remodel
Many times when a new kitchen project is starting, the client has questions about reusing their existing cabinets and having them refinished. Sometimes, this does make sense. But many times once we start digging into the project, reusing the existing cabinets does not support their end aesthetic and functional needs. Ultimately, the goal is to design your space with longevity in mind.
Here is a list of questions to ask yourself when thinking about reusing cabinets:
How old are the cabinets and what is the quality like?
Are they showing signs of ware and tear?
Do you like the current layout of your kitchen and is it functioning as it should be?
Is there a way to modify the layout to serve you better with the existing boxes?
What is the cost to refinish/repair the existing cabinets?
Would replacing the doors as well as refinishing give you a more updated look rather than just refinishing?
And finally, does it end up making more sense to just replace all of the cabinets once all of these thoughts and costs are factored together?
For the West Bloomfield, MI kitchen pictured above, we were able to meet all of the client goals by modifying and refinishing the existing cabinetry. One of the main concerns was how small and awkward the original island was. It was a triangular shape, and it cut off the flow of the kitchen. It also did not allow enough seating to fit the entire family. By boxing in the original back end of the island and adding legs with a wood structural system to support a quartz countertop, we added significant length to the island. This additional length and the addition of two hanging pendants made the island both functional and a great focal point of the space.
The other major improvement was the upgrade from old Corian counters to quartz tops with a full height backsplash behind the cooktop. The veining brought warmth and elegance to the kitchen. We added a new sink, faucet, prep sink, prep faucet, and cooktop which captured the champagne finish of the existing cabinet hardware.
The kitchen had existing wood floors that had a pickled finish. They were brought back to life by having them sanded and re-stained in a warm brown finish.
