splintergrain's Profile

Go custom, especially in a small space, a custom cabinet manufacturer has a lot more options than you can get with a box-cabinet. They can be relativly inexpensive once you take into account that they should last a lot longer, they are built exactly for your kitchen, and you won't need a lot of excessive fillers (make sure the big-box guys include fillers and trim in the price, they are EXPENSIVE).

If you have a budget, let the cabinet designer know that ahead of time to avoid dissapointment and wasting time picking out options you can't afford. (you don't have to give them an exact amount).

There are a lot of cost-saving options like using stained American Beech instead of cherry or maple. You can get a high-dollar look for a lot less money.

You should also ask if the cabinet factory has any old material they can use to give you a discount, most companies that have been around a while will. We have a TON of old material that we'll probably never use unless we can talk someone it. If you are wanting to go "green" with your kitchen, using the old stock prevents the energy from being used to make new material, kind of like recycling.

I have sold several kitchens, where the conversation started "!@ was too expensive" or "we're on a tight budget....". Don't be afraid to ask, all they can do is say "no".

If you have any questions, let me know: robnichols@cbn.bz

I use a "pouf", I hate bar soap and rags don't produce enough suds. Whenever I'm at my girlfriend's apartment, I use a lot more body wash using just my hands or a rag. I only replace mine every few months.

I use the large "refill" bottles of Dial Gold liquid soap, they are REALLY CHEAP, last forever, clean really well, and they finally started using a water-resistant label (old label would fall apart and make a mess every time I touched it).

Since the Dial Gold is antibacterial, isn't the "pouf" self-cleaning???