Customizing Your Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen And Bathroom Renovation : Customizing Your Kitchen Cabinets

Even if you don’t have the time or need to pursue a complete kitchen remodel, there are some ways to easily freshen the look of your cabinets. You can raise a single wall cabinet within a bank of cabinets to create more space for countertop appliances or simply to change the look. This tactic works especially well on corner cabinets. Or, you can convert a cabinet to open shelving and create a new display area. Adding crown molding to stock cabinets will give your whole kitchen a more finished look. Another idea is to remove a cabinet door panel, replace it with a glass door, and form an enclosed display space.

Create a display cabinet. If your cabinets have removable shelves, you can transform one or more of them into a display cabinet. Begin by removing the door and hinges and removing the existing shelves and shelf supports. Fill the screw holes and finish to match the cabinet exterior. Paint the inside of the cabinet with gloss enamel. Create a template with guide holes for pin-style shelf supports. Drill the holes for the shelf supports. Measure the space and order tempered glass shelves to fit.

Raise a cabinet. To raise a cabinet, remove the contents of the cabinet and the adjoining cabinets. Remove any trim or crown molding. Remove the screws holding the face frames together or the binder bolts holding the cabinet cases together in a frameless cabinet. Remove the screws holding the cabinet to the wall. Move the cabinet up 4 to 6". It is likely it will stick from paint or age. If so, use a hammer against a padded piece of 2 × 4 to persuade it to move (you'll want a helper to steady the cabinet). Reinstall the cabinet at its new height. Refinish the cabinet sides to match.

Attach crown molding. This project is for face-frame cabinets, since frameless cabinets do not have the traditional look that crown molding complements. If your cabinets have exposed sides with a lip or edge trim, you will need to remove a portion of the lip or add a 3⁄4" wide x 1⁄8" trim strip to build up the side to match the lip. To remove the lip, measure down 3⁄4" from the top of the cabinets and mark a line on the lip. Use a fine-tooth backsaw to carefully cut down to the side of the cabinet. Use a chisel to remove the upper part of the lip. Cut the longest piece of crown molding first. Measure the cabinet run from end to end. Using a compound miter saw, cut each end at 221⁄2°. Install the molding 3⁄4" down from the top of the cabinets. Nail the molding in place with a finish nailer (photo). Cut the end piece to fit and nail in place.