Choosing Cabinetry for Your New Home

Norcraft Cabinets from Drexel Building Supply

What is the most important room in a home? When your family and friends gather, where do they usually end up? The kitchen! So, what exactly is the mysterious draw to the kitchen? It's just where you prepare and cook meals, right? Yes, but today it’s so much more! Our kitchens have evolved into the central headquarters of our homes, not only for family meals, but also team huddles. It's the place friends talk about the latest news over a glass of wine or cup of coffee. Often, it contains the family business office where we pay bills. Many science and art projects have been created on the family kitchen table. And, of course, it's the place to be during any party, usually with the game on, music playing, and great food & drinks.

People invest a lot into building a new home and much of that expense goes into the kitchen. Not only for their own use and enjoyment, but also because it adds to the resale value of a home. A great kitchen not only creates nourishment for your family, but memories and experiences for all who visit it.

Setting the tone, look, and feel of your kitchen starts with selecting cabinetry for your new home. Experts say that cabinets compose between 30 - 50% of your entire kitchen budget. We consulted Cabinetry Sales & Design Specialists, Mira Thor and Sarah Potts with Drexel Building Supply in Brookfield, to get the low down on cabinets.

All Demlang models come with high quality Norcraft cabinets, but with so many door styles and finish options, you can really customize the look of your new home. Most people have an idea of what they like from looking at sites like Pinterest and Houzz, however it’s really beneficial to go to a showroom and see cabinet door styles, finishes, and optional accessories up-close. At the Demlang Design Gallery, we have many Norcraft cabinet options on display, as well as sample doors with different finishes you can choose from. Or, if you want to customize your kitchen further, you can visit Drexel’s showroom to see various cabinets in a kitchen space on a computer to really visualize various layouts and accessory options.

Mira stated that the first thing to consider is how you and your family use your kitchen. Think about what is most important to you: organization, storage, or functionality. This will determine what types of cabinets and drawers will work best. Next, you should determine the look you want. Styles to consider are Traditional (square outside/detailed inside), Shaker (clean lines/contemporary look), and Transitional (a blend of traditional and modern) which Sarah tells us is most popular today. There are also many colors available to pick from. Sarah sees a lot of glass accented cabinets, and cabinets that go to the ceiling, showing a clean look. She recommends putting items that are used only for special occasions in those high, hard to reach spaces. People start out not knowing what they'd ever put way up there, but they always end up filling the space.

Kitchen islands are a must have in today's kitchens. Some have a more furniture look with decorative book shelves and pedestal feet, while others are more functional with a sink, wine refrigerator, and trash pull-out. They both agree that today's trends do not typically see breakfast bars due to "open concept" designs, where the dining table is close to the kitchen.

Accessorize! This also applies to your kitchen. Features such as soft close hinges, pull-outs, spice racks, and so much more give you endless options. However, some accessories will only fit in certain spaces, so knowing which ones are important to you up-front helps determine the best fit for your kitchen layout. Mira's #1 recommendation is to know what drawer storage and organization you need, because you can't change that later. For example, if you are a baker, you'll most likely want a 9" cabinet for cookie sheets and storage for your mixer.

Coordinating with your countertop, backsplash, and sink selections will also play a role. Drexel provides a Design Planning Guide to walk you through these decisions, however Demlang’s in-house Selection Specialists provide design ideas and help you coordinate the look you want throughout this process. View our Design Gallery virtual tour.

Your kitchen serves a distinct purpose that you want to enjoy. Life is busy! Let Demlang Home Builders make your Wisconsin kitchen the heart of your home.