Transforming Your Kitchen with Stock Cabinetry: Design, Select, and Install for a Custom Look at the Right Price

by Jonathan Benson, Sherry Benson

Jonathan Benson pours 30 years of furniture design and woodwork experience into a complete guide that will help anyone design, plan, and install a custom kitchen. Whether you are a novice DIY enthusiast or a seasoned handyman (or woman), his insights and tricks are laid out clearly and logically. Presenting fresh ideas and designs for renovating a kitchen without having to hire outside labor, this guide informs aspiring do-it-yourselfers on how to choose the best stock materials available at home improvement centers and how to lay out an entire functional kitchen. With full explanations of available materials, such as ceramic, wood, and laminate, this manual also provides ideas on the finishing touches to design an efficient kitchen for the modern family. From tearing out an existing kitchen and preparing it for renovation to installing new cabinets so that they are level and secure, this guide includes a photo gallery featuring commentary and case studies from those who have been through the process. Including bonus restaurant lessons from a pro—such as how to work on granite and clean stainless steel—this kitchen transformation guide is both modern and accessible to those on a budget. Divided into four sections, this book Gathering inspiration, Designing your new kitchen, Constructing the cabinets, and Installing the cabinets. Benson describes different methods and styles you might want to consider. Then, he dives into design theory. He discusses design best practices in depth. He helps you discover your likes and dislikes, set up a budget for your DIY kitchen project, save money, and use the work triangle. He makes suggestions on affordable and durable materials in the market and spends time on all the various styles that are available. The latter half of the book is practical. You'll learn the pros and cons of using different types of cabinet doors, countertops, handles, and drawers. He delves into different materials and explains why you should choose one material over another, all depending on your needs and wants. The book also contains a section on pricing, helping you stay within your budget for your project while still getting the kitchen you want. Lastly, he's included examples, pictures, and a checklist to make the entire process easier for you to follow. This is a really practical and useful guide that will allow you to save money and use your talent to create your dream kitchen.

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathan Benson's Transforming Your Kitchen with Stock Cabinetry: Design, Select, and Install for a Custom Look at the Right Price was written to help home owners remodel their kitchens using affordable cabinets found at DIY home improvement stores. The book gives quite a few tips about kitchen layout and design appropriate for those remodeling a kitchen or building one from scratch. It's a good starting place for anyone looking to learn more about kitchens, especially on a budget. Written in a critiquing commentary between Benson and his wife which I found rather annoying, there were still many well made points to consider.

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm fairly ignorant to most things involving a saw and wood. I was only expecting for this to give me a few ideas and that is all. I had no idea that this was so comprehensive in kitchen remodeling. The title is definitely misleading. There is a big focus on the cabinetry, but also removal, installation, installing counter tops, back splashes, etc. The authors do an excellent job at educating the reader concerning materials, methods, and other countless options available.

I definitely will be coming back to this book should I ever decide to take on such a task of remodeling my kitchen. I recommend it to anyone looking to do so and not wanting to pay a contractor to do it all for them.

[Iurii Okhmat · Rating 3 out of 5]

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