Thanksgiving is the Kitchen Nightmare!

Thanksgiving is only 1 day away!

I can only imagine the chaos ensuing around Northern Virginia as families scramble to grocery stores, loading up their carts and standing in line for what feels like hours. Thanksgiving has a way of taking a peaceful holiday and turning it into a hectic eat-a-thon. I'm not complaining about that last part.

The worst part, in my mind, is the clean up. After cooking a Thanksgiving meal, the kitchen can be a complete disaster. "How did mashed potatoes get on the ceiling?" you'll think to yourself. Appliances will stop working when you need them the most and you may feel like your kitchen is falling apart all around you.

You may need kitchen cabinet refacing. 

When it's all said and done, you will have to assess the damage to your kitchen. If you haven't updated your kitchen yet with kitchen cabinet refacing, then you are in luck. Waiting until after Thanksgiving might have been a wise choice. We know that the kitchen can take a beating during this holiday, and after it's done, it's time to treat yourself.

Kitchen cabinet refacing removes all of the visible elements of your cabinets, and replaces them with beautiful, 100% hard wood. That means that all of the scratches, grooves, and faded kitchen cabinet doors will be removed.

Just in time for Christmas, kitchen cabinet refacing is a wonderful gift to yourself.

For kitchen cabinet refacing needs, contact Signature Kitchens! Use real wood, not the vinyl stuff!

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing for Football Season!

Football season is finally here! For all of those diehard football fans, this is one of the most exciting times of the year. The fall weather reminds us that football season has finally arrived and fanatics will be glued to their televisions watching their favorite teams compete each and every week.

I love football season. If you’re not a fan of the game, it’s certainly hard to not be a fan of the food. The kitchen is twice as busy with fans running back and forth to the fridge and cabinets grabbing snacks and drinks for hours on end throughout the week.

Football season is also a great time for kitchen cabinet refacing. When there is a large group over at your house this football season, you will soon find out that functionality is everything. Do you need extra storage from your kitchen cabinets? Are there enough kitchen cabinets at all? Are they outdated or even in need of repair?

There are many factors to consider when you’re looking into kitchen cabinet refacing. But most importantly, you need to know that it’s made from a quality product, that it’s durable, that it’s visually exactly what you want, and that it comes at a great price.

All of our products are made with real wood. Each piece is custom built in our manufacturing facility to fit your cabinet frames. And since we manufacture our own product, ship it, and install it through our own company, you are getting great prices and never have to deal with a third party.

For more information on kitchen cabinet refacing or to visit our showroom, visit Signature Kitchens in Haymarket, Virginia!

It's Holiday Season...Almost: Before & After Kitchen Remodeling Projects

Chances are that you have been waiting for the perfect time to begin your kitchen remodeling project. But after being out of the house throughout the summer because the kids have so many activities, you’re on vacation, you were never home…things are about to change, because you finally have a great excuse.

It’s holiday season.

What? Of course it’s not yet. But it will be soon and it’s only a few months away.

The holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve) are some of the absolute busiest times for families, kitchens, and stomachs.

Friends and family members flock to each other’s houses to celebrate together with massive feasts prepared by…you.

So do you have an excuse yet? Yes. And fall is the perfect time to begin your kitchen remodeling project.

You know exactly what you are getting into. You are a seasoned holiday veteran. Your kitchen remodeling project has been mapped out in your mind for years, and now it’s time to reward yourself. Whether you choose to completely overhaul your kitchen with new floors, cabinet installation, countertops, etcetera, or if you choose to keep it simple by giving your kitchen cabinets a facelift with cabinet refacing, now is the time for you to make your move.

If you’re not looking to completely overhaul the kitchen, cabinet refacing is a fantastic option that gives your kitchen an entirely new look without the cabinet frame installation process. And by using real wood to reface your cabinets, forget about the vinyl coverings and say hello to a new, updated kitchen.

Don’t be left unprepared and over-stressed this holiday season by dealing with a kitchen that is small, out of date and difficult to manage.

Signature Kitchens in Haymarket, Virginia, serves all of Northern Virginia and offers top of the line products at the industry’s most affordable prices.

You officially have your excuse. Call Signature Kitchens today.

BEFORE

AFTER

Kitchen Remodeling: Enormous Resale Value

In the last few blogs I wrote about the increasing popularity of kitchen remodeling and some of the latest trends. How the kitchen is no longer just a room to cook and eat in, but has become a multipurpose space functioning as the home office, dining room, and the central hub of your home.

Other than the visual appeal that complete kitchen remodeling projects bring, there is a much bigger reason that you should consider updating the most important room in your home: resale value.

Remodeling magazine’s 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report stated that minor kitchen remodels, including new countertops, appliances, and cabinet refacing, see a national average of receiving a 72% return on investment. Major kitchen remodeling projects including flooring, lighting and cabinet installation see nearly a 66% return on investment.

These numbers are enormous. Nearly 70% of the money you invest into your kitchen, whether cabinet refacing, new countertops and the like, will be returned to you upon the sale of your home. The more current the design and functionality of your kitchen the better. Having your home up to date on the latest trends can add a ton of value to your home’s worth making for an easier sale in the long run and an enjoyable environment while you are still living in the home, as well.

Signature Kitchens specializes in complete kitchen remodeling jobs, as well as minor kitchen renovations, and everything in between: cabinet refacing, cabinet installation, custom pieces, etc. For all of your kitchen makeover needs, contact Signature Kitchens in Northern Virginia today.

Kitchen Remodeling by Signature Kitchens

The Showroom at Signature Kitchens

This week, I took some time out of my day to tour the absolutely beautiful Signature Kitchens showroom conveniently located in Haymarket, Virginia. The front of the building looks just like a small home, but upon entry, the walls seem to expand as the showroom opens up, full of fantastic kitchens and exquisitely-crafted cabinetry.

The kitchen showroom provides an amazing experience full of breathtaking kitchens, but it also proves educational as guests see firsthand the process behind their legendary kitchen cabinet refacing, or “recrafting” process.

What makes the kitchen cabinet refacing process so incredible is the ability to completely transform the entire physical appearance of the existing cabinetry without a complete overhaul of the cabinet frames and installation process. It may sound like a complete kitchen remodeling project, but the recrafting process can be done in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost.

The selection of new cabinet and drawer faces is vast and the entire collection is as stunning as the piece before it. There were so many great samples to choose from, and some of my favorite pieces were even found in photos of their completed projects proudly hanging on the showroom walls.

Most of all, the showroom felt intimate. It wasn't a large, impersonal business that didn't care, it was personal and catered exactly to what each guest wanted. I felt like I was standing in someone's home when I was there, and that is the perfect way to envision your new kitchen.

Stop by the showroom sometime and see for yourself. Haymarket is a beautiful town and truly adds to the whole experience. (The diner across the street is amazing, as well!)

The Signature Kitchens showroom is located at 6612 James Madison Highway, Haymarket, Virginia 20169.

Completed Project by Signature Kitchens

Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

This summer is already a very busy time for me and it hasn’t even really started yet. I have five weddings to attend and I have no idea how many more to come in the fall. The age of the engaged couples is fairly young and it is likely that they will be either renting a place to live or buying a small starter home. Buying a home is daunting task and chances are that the home will require a little TLC. Nothing is guaranteed to be in top shape, so it’s time for them to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

While potential DIY projects may abound in their new homes, there are some projects that are simply too large to undertake, or projects that require a certain set of skills. Kitchen remodeling is one of those projects. As a newly married couple with a shoestring budget, it’s likely that no major renovations will be taking place. However, kitchen cabinet refacing can be an affordable alternative to cabinet installation.

Kitchen cabinet refacing, or recrafting as we call it, is a process that replaces all of the visible elements of cabinets with new pieces. Most companies will reface cabinets with vinyl tape that resembles wood, but Signature WoodCrafters uses solid wood that is custom made in our own facilities. This makes us a go-to resource for so many kitchen remodeling projects.

The custom look will give your new home a high-end look with a much smaller budge than cabinet installation requires. Kitchen remodeling doesn't have to be super expensive! Owning a home at such a young age requires a little innovation and some research. Come check out Signature WoodCrafter’s showroom and see what we’re all about!

A Great Resource for Realtors

Over at Signature WoodCrafters, we have a long history of working closely with realtors who are looking an inexpensive way to spruce up a home. Often we come in and quickly renovate staircases, cabinets, and other structures and features that may be outdated or have a worn look to them. We even do full kitchen renovations and cabinet remodeling.

Signature WoodCrafters has the perfect solution for a home that isn’t selling as well as expected. By completely ReCrafting an outdated kitchen with new cabinets, built-ins or countertops, the home will take on entirely new, custom-built look without the headache or cost of a full-scale remodeling project. Quickly doing a full or itemized kitchen renovation is a great solution.

Signature WoodCrafters also ReCrafts stairs. Transforming stained, worn-down carpet into a custom-made wood staircase eliminates the embarrassing walk up to the second floor with a client. The ReCrafting process resembles our cabinetry remodeling process, as we discard the carpet or old wood from the previous staircase, and fit our custom-built wood pieces over top of the existing stairs. This again provides you with a quick fix to a major eyesore in the home you are trying to sell. Once the custom pieces are built, the installation can be done within days so you can get back to work as soon as possible.

Working with Signature WoodCrafters ensures a beautiful, custom-built piece for your kitchen, stairway, countertop, or built-in at a fraction of the price and time it would take to complete an entire remodeling project. Our kitchen renovation and cabinet remodeling services are second to none.

Realtors need superior products in a quick, cost-effective manner, and that is exactly what Signature WoodCrafters provides. Don’t pay more and wait longer. It doesn’t make sense.

Kitchen Remodel: Arlington, VA

Kitchen Remodel: Arlington, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

This is an excellent example of an out-dated, problematic kitchen and the creative solutions our design team came up with to give it both an updated, beautiful new look and much greater functionality.The original design of the kitchen was a typical condo unit with laminate countertops and cabinetry. Storage space was lacking & inefficient, and the sink faced a wall.

To remedy these problems, our designer, Erin Watson, moved the sink to a new location on the free-standing part of the counter, allowing for the addition of more cabinet space on the wall where the sink used to be. Part of the counter next to the entry door was shortened, making room for a new floor-to-ceiling pantry. The cabinets were also re-configured around the refrigerator to increase usable storage space, and one of the floor cabinets next to the new sink was replaced by a stack of large drawers.

The homeowners selected a raised-panel door style in Mocha Maple and Blue Pearl granite countertops.

Kitchen Remodel/Recraft: Warrenton, VA

Before Picture of Kitchen: Warrenton, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

This kitchen was a standard 14-yr old builder grade kitchen from 1994. The cabinets were a gold flat panel oak and the oak wood veneers on the side of the exposed ends had faded from exposure to the natural sunlight, which is very typical in such an old kitchen. The laminate countertop was also the same countertop that had been in the house for 14 years, and while it had held up extremely well for all that time, it was time for a new, updated look.

The kitchen after being recrafted by Signature WoodCrafters. The cabinet boxes were kept in place, but the existing face frames, doors, and drawers were replaced with custom-manufactured Natural Maple Raised Panel doors. The exposed ends, which used to be covered in wood veneers, were replaced with finished door panels. Crown moulding and a valance were added to give a polished, continuous look to the top of the cabinets. The old white laminate countertop was replaced with a Baltic Brown granite countertop. The end result is a stunning difference.

Before

After

Kitchen ReCraft/Refacing: Rockville, MD

Kitchen ReCraft: Rockville, MD, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

One of the things that I love about our Recrafting product is the moment of final transformation of a kitchen. When you see a kitchen go from looking drab to unbelievably gorgeous, you feel an acute sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that you have played a small part in bringing beauty into a person's life.

This kitchen that we recently recrafted in Rockville, MD was worked on by our designer Devonne Yankey, who helped the homeowners go from the original 20 yr. old cabinetry to a Franklin Shaker Natural Maple door complete with glass doors and contemporary mullions. The homeowners had already updated the look of their kitchen by installing new granite countertops and were looking for a way to complete the transformation. They contacted us, and well, you can see the final results up above!

Our recrafting product is best suited for homeowners that have already made an investment in their kitchen, be it their countertops or floors. Recrafting allows the installers to not cause any damage or disruption to the countertops or floors because our product is custom-manufactured to fit the existing face frames of the original cabinetry. By not disrupting the countertops or flooring, you get the same custom cabinetry that you would get from a full kitchen replacement, without causing any possible damage to the investment that you have already made.

Costs of ReCrafting

A lot of people have the misconception that Cabinet ReCrafting (Signature's own solid hardwood refacing product line for cabinetry) is cheaper than a cabinet replacement. This assumption is actually pretty false. Recrafting/refacing can actually cost just as much as a full cabinet replacement because the cost of most cabinetry is in the new doors and drawer fronts installed on the existing cabinet frame. There is a great article that talks about refacing and the appropriate costs to have in mind when considering this project. Check out the article on cabinet refacing over at Furniture Reviews by Rissla for more information and expectations on the true costs of refacing!

So, It's Been a While...

Wow - How does time fly so fast?? I can't believe that the last time I posted anything here was back in March - and it is now firmly the middle of June. Incredible.

But maybe that is what happens when you become really busy! Which is a good thing!

We've had a lot of great successes recently at Signature WoodCrafters - lots of kitchen recrafting, stair recrafting, and railing replacements going on. The staff have been busy with lots of new customers and consumers, which is a welcome respite from the past couple of months.

But all that being said, we'll be getting back to regular posts about our products and services shortly, as well as sharing some of the before and after pictures of our successes! I'm looking forward to communicating with everyone again and hope to provide some useful information to all who have questions about our products and services.

If you have any questions that you would like answers to, please leave a comment!

~Lauren

(Be sure to follow us on Twitter, @sigwood_lauren)

Thinking Outside the Box

This article was written by one of our very own designers, Kris Forness, who is a C.K.D. Check out her thoughts on new uses for cabinets, and check out her own blog, http://krisforness.wordpress.com!

Thinking outside the box….or in this case, outside of the kitchen.

Manufactured kitchen cabinets are made in standard sizes-usually 3”increments in width, limited heights and standard depths for the wall, base and tall cabinets.

These sizes work well in most kitchens and bathrooms, and have been a standard in designing these rooms for years.

But, have you thought about using these same standard cabinets in other ways? Clear your mind of the preconceived uses and get creative with these well-constructed boxes.

Here are some ideas for unusual uses for kitchen cabinets.

Tall oven cabinet = Coat Hook Cubby.

Manufactured double oven cabinets are usually 27, 30 or 33”in width, 24”deep and 84”, 90” or 96”high, The cabinet comes with a large open space for the oven installation.

Instead, finish the interior of the opening with paneling-a beaded look is nice- install coat hooks on the back wall, a finished platform at the bottom and voila, you have a perfect place for coats, backpacks, and sports gear. These cabinets usually have a deep drawer on the bottom which will provide additional storage. Install the cabinet in a mudroom or entryway for an attractive and useful addition.

Deep wall cabinet= a bench or window seat

Wall cabinets for the area above the refrigerator are made deeper, at 24” and are from 12” to 24” in height. Take this same cabinet down to the floor and you’ll have a great bench and storage unit. It would be best to build a platform or add decorative “feet” to raise the bench to the proper seat height for your installation. This will guarantee clearance for the doors to open, as well. Reinforce the top with a piece of finished plywood or wood countertop, that rests on the frame of the cabinet. This will strengthen the bench. Add a cushion or pillows and you have a cozy spot for taking off your boots or reading a book by a window. This bench could be installed next to your Coat hook Cubby that you made above, or center it in your walk-in closet. It would also provide great toy storage in your child’s room.

Wall Cabinets=Coffee Table or Nightstand

The same deep wall cabinet mentioned above can be used as a coffee table. Many styles of decorative feet are available-bun, tapered, Queen Anne style-or add casters for mobility. Simply turn the cabinet upside down, install corner blocks diagonally for stability and attach the feet or casters in the 4 corners.

Usually the back of the cabinet is unfinished, so paneling will need to be applied to finish it. Add some molding or a decorative embellishment for detail. The top of the new table can be wood or a beautiful piece of granite.

Or, you can create a shadowbox effect. The cabinet usually has a 1”-1 ½” recessed area on the top. Stain this space or cover in a dark fabric and place your mementos or artwork in the recess. Have a ½”piece of glass cut for the cabinet top. You’ll have a personalized and useful furniture piece.

This same idea can be applied to a narrow, 30” high wall cabinet. We are often left with a narrow space bedside, leaving little room for a nightstand. Use a 12” or 15” wall cabinet, install feet and a wood top and you’ll have the perfect spot for your alarm clock.

Drawer Bases = Bedroom furniture

The depth and strength of kitchen drawers make terrific clothing storage. If you have the space, a three drawer, 24” deep kitchen cabinet can hold quite a bit more than the standard bedroom dresser. Many manufactured cabinets now have full-extension drawer glides which give you full access to the drawer contents, as well. Install 2 cabinets, side-by-side, add a wood countertop, some decorative bun feet or corbels and you’ll have a lovely, functional furniture piece.

Wall cabinet = Powder Room Furniture

There are some beautiful contemporary bathroom furniture pieces available, however their price can be beyond the budget, or size not right for your room. To get a similar look, use a deep, 21”-24”, wall cabinet, hung at vanity height. If it’s a wall to wall situation, secure the cabinet at the sides, as well. If a freestanding look is wanted, attach table legs to the 4 corners. Depending on the look you’re after, the legs can be a simple square, or an intricately turned shape. You’ll have to cut into the top of the cabinet for the sink and plumbing. Install your countertop of choice. This application works well with the vessel sinks that are popular today. For added stability, storage and aesthetics, you can add a finished shelf below the cabinet, between the decorative legs.

So many ideas, so little time…..more to come

To Remodel or Not Remodel - that is the question

If you click on the Title of this post, it will take you to an informative article on the benefits of remodeling in a slow market. It seems that 70.9 percent of the investment that you make in your kitchen is recouped when it comes time to sell (if you even want to sell after redoing the kitchen). Our Kitchen ReCrafting product line is perfect for a beautiful update, at a low price. The quality that you receive for the money that you spend is bar-none. Take a look at our portfolio page on our website, www.signaturewoodcrafters.com, to see what I mean!

New Enhancements to our website

We made a few changes to our Kitchen ReCrafting page on our website, www.signaturewoodcrafters.com. Check it out from this link!

Also, if you still don't quite get what ReCrafting is, think of it as a high-end cabinet refacing or kitchen refacing product - except our product runs laps around our competitors in terms of the quality of our ReCrafting product - for the same price!

The transformations have been pretty incredible and you should check out some of the slide shows on our Sample Projects page on our website. I will post some more later on! Stay tuned!

We'll also be posting more relevant and informational blurbs shortly - and if anyone has any ideas for posts, please pass them on!

Watch This Video!

Take a look at this video we made about our Cabinet ReCrafting product.