Our kitchen is becoming one of the most important aspects of our home and it beautifully illustrates how central our homes are to our bliss. In Lebanon Cedars, with our little experience and interactions with our friends and clients, we have come to the realization that most people don’t really know what they want in a kitchen and how they can choose a good kitchen that can fit into their budget, lifestyle and need. Some go for whatever materials they are introduced to or that they think they can afford not minding the durability and convenience that such materials can offer.

In this topic, we will try our best to give you things you should look out for while choosing or remodeling your kitchen furniture. Please feel free to ask questions and we will be glad to give you answers to our best of knowledge.

1. BUDGET

The first thing you need to consider is your budget. What are you willing to spend on the kitchen? You can give yourself a range of cost i.e. the least amount of money you are willing and ready to spend on the kitchen and the highest amount of money. This will guide you on how to go about choosing the type of kitchen you will have.

2. YOUR NEED

In choosing cabinets, take stock of what you have and your storage need and how you want to function in your kitchen. This is very important; you don’t just build kitchen just because! You have to know the kind of stock you have and what type of cabinet you will need to keep them. How quickly and efficiently do you want to function? What part of the kitchen are you mostly going to be working from and how accessible to you do you want your utensils? Are you the sort of person who loves having a neat and tidy kitchen? Then, you will need a cabinet and drawer organizer such as twin ladder, telescopic ladder, pot rack, saucer & tea cup rack etc. Do you want your worktops/kitchen top to be clear and free of clutter? Wall organizers such as midway set are a great way to create instant storage for utensils and essentials, leaving your kitchen with more room to cook. These and many more are what you need to put into your kitchen designs to make your kitchen enjoyable.

Also take stock of what you really use in your kitchen on a daily basis and toss everything else that falls into the category of "someday I might have a big backyard party where I'll need these." Look for a big box in the garage or in your store marked "low priority kitchen utensils." Apparently they're so low in priority that you never even missed them and forgot they were there. So many of us have way more than we need or will ever use.

3. YOUR KITCHEN SIZE

After you have determined what your kitchen needs are, the next thing you need to consider is your kitchen size. Will the size of your kitchen be able to accommodate what you really want? Is the kitchen too big that you will have to factor in some other furniture options?
Unlike the European countries, most of our kitchen space here can be very small; we must therefore know how we can make maximum use of the space we’ve got.

Now, we have two basic sections of kitchen cabinet namely the base/floor units and the wall/upper units. There is a third section which is not very popular and it is the islander (it stands alone at the middle of the kitchen). These sections is explained in details below:

The Base/Floor Units

This is the basic part of the kitchen cabinet on which the kitchen top sits and where most of the cooking is done. It has the largest cabinets and houses our big utensils such as pots, pan, gas cooker, microwave, fridge (sometimes), dried goods etc. Most of the kitchen accessories are also attached to these base cabinets. The width is usually 535mm and the slab/kitchen top/worktop is usually 600mm.
You need to determine therefore the part of your kitchen you will love to install the base floor. Do you want the base cabinet in all the four walls of your kitchen, or three (“u” shape) or two (“L” shape)? The size of your kitchen and your cabinet needs will determine the units of base floor you will be able to have. If your kitchen is very big then, it will be able to accommodate as many units as you want but if it is relatively small, then you will have to reduce the number of cabinet units if not, the kitchen will be choked up and you might not have enough space to function well in your kitchen.

Attached are various cabinet shapes for base unit

Some base units of kitchen cabinet.

Wall/Upper Cabinet

The addition of the part of cabinet brings out the beauty in your kitchen. This is because this part of cabinet allows display of craft and different beautiful designs. Combination of materials can also be used to accentuate the beauty of the cabinet. The wall units also give you easy access to your important kitchen items and the glass doors give you the opportunity to display your beautiful and high priced kitchen utensils.

Here in Nigeria, the standard depth of wall cabinets is 12”. European wall cabinets are 13" deep to accommodate the bigger plates of Europe. We can also make use of 13’’ deep wall cabinets if the client so require. A depth of 14" might be too intrusive when working at the counter-top.

It is always good for you to have a wall unit wherever you have the base floor but the cabinet maker has to ensure that there is a perfect harmony between the base and wall units. Good designs such as different but harmonious height and width has to be used for the wall units to bring out its beauty. However, the units of wall cabinets can be reduced if the kitchen will be choked up. Space is of essence in any kitchen!

Some pictures of wall unit...

Prove me wrong: are the last two pictures posted were the work of yours or you lifted the last two pictures from the internet? I am sorry to say I doubt it. If you truly yours, kudos to you.

FastShipping: Prove me wrong: are the last two pictures posted were the work of yours or you lifted the last two pictures from the internet? I am sorry to say I doubt it. If you truly yours, kudos to you.

Haba bros! Do you think nothing good could ever come out of our own Nazareth, our obodo Nigeria

Furniture work is fast becoming a profession for the educated (with modern hand & machine tools) and with little encouragement from both the government and clients, we have all it takes to do even better things than our contemporaries in other nations of the world.

However, this post is not meant to showcase what we have done (we have another thread for that) but to sensitize people about the importance of our kitchen in our homes and what they should look out for when designing their kitchen. Since no one can single handedly construct every kitchen designs, we make use of what we have done combined with the work of others to drive home our point.

So, just sit back, enjoy and see if you can learn one or two things. Although we have lost the initial tread we opened to showcase some of our work (most of which were made for Nairalanders), a new one has been opened. Find the link below:

https://www.nairaland.com/1799959/re-pictorial-representation-kitchen-cabinet

The Islander

Islands are a great strategy to add functionality and convenience to your kitchen creation. They provide additional space and worktop. They also provide you with an opportunity to sit down and conveniently perform your cooking function.

They come in different sizes and designs depending on the size of the kitchen and your needs. Islander can be as small as 1ft by 2ft and can be as large as 6ft by 8f and even more. They also come in different shapes: rectangle, square, oval, round etc.

Some pictures of Islander

LebanonCedars2:

Haba bros! Do you think nothing good could ever come out of our own Nazareth, our obodo Nigeria

Furniture work is fast becoming a profession for the educated (with modern hand & machine tools) and with little encouragement from both the government and clients, we have all it takes to do even better things than our contemporaries in other nations of the world.

However, this post is not meant to showcase what we have done (we have another thread for that) but to sensitize people about the importance of our kitchen in our homes and what they should look out for when designing their kitchen. Since no one can single handedly construct every kitchen designs, we make use of what we have done combined with the work of others to drive home our point.

So, just sit back, enjoy and see if you can learn one or two things. Although we have lost the initial tread we opened to showcase some of our work (most of which were made for Nairalanders), a new one has been opened. Find the link below:

https://www.nairaland.com/1799959/re-pictorial-representation-kitchen-cabinet

I like your work and I have bookmarked your thread. Kudos!

FastShipping:
I like your work and I have booked marked your thread. Kudos!

Thank you.

4. THE CABINET CARCASS/SHELVES/BOX

These are the solid and weight carriers of the cabinet; they are the cabinet’s backbone. The strength and alignment of these carcasses determine to a large extent the durability of your cabinet.
The wall rail should be at least ¼‘’ and should not be more than ½‘’ in thickness. The structural rail should be ¾‘’ while the shelves could be ½‘’ or ¾‘’ in thickness.

Materials For Cabinet Box

Box materials include medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB), laminated plywood, marine plywood, but my favorite is plywood with dado or mortise joints (though most customers are not ready to wait for the time it will take to do this kind of professional work) and wood corner braces for rigidity.

Now, why do we in Lebanon Cedars prefer to use plywood to construct our box rather that MDF or OSB? Simple, plywood is more water- friendly and stronger than MDF and since we make use of water in the kitchen coupled with the fact that most kitchen water system pass through the cabinet and there can be leakage anytime; hence, plywood is better used.

The plywood can either be bought laminated or we buy the normal plywood, the laminate (Formica) and fix the laminate on the plywood. We prefer the latter though more difficult and time consuming. This is because it gives stronger and smoother surface and is easier to clean.
As a matter of tradition, we usually make use of white laminate which gives your cabinet white interior. However, if the client requires it, other laminate colors can be used.

The shelves (the surface on which your items sit) should be at least ½‘’in thickness and should be made of the same materials as the box. However, glass shelves of at least 6mm should be used for cabinet with glass door especially when such box have spot light installed on them. It gives the cabinet class and beauty. More so, your beautiful and priced kitchen items can be displayed thereon.

LebanonCedars2:

Haba bros! Do you think nothing good could ever come out of our own Nazareth, our obodo Nigeria

Furniture work is fast becoming a profession for the educated (with modern hand & machine tools) and with little encouragement from both the government and clients, we have all it takes to do even better things than our contemporaries in other nations of the world.

However, this post is not meant to showcase what we have done (we have another thread for that) but to sensitize people about the importance of our kitchen in our homes and what they should look out for when designing their kitchen. Since no one can single handedly construct every kitchen designs, we make use of what we have done combined with the work of others to drive home our point.

So, just sit back, enjoy and see if you can learn one or two things. Although we have lost the initial tread we opened to showcase some of our work (most of which were made for Nairalanders), a new one has been opened. Find the link below:

https://www.nairaland.com/1799959/re-pictorial-representation-kitchen-cabinet

Good response and insights. The guy that did my POP is a Senior Lecturer in a Poly. He did for a friend and when i asked the friend, i was shocked when he said that the guy is a Senior Lecturer at a poly. Gone are the days when these type of jobs were left for the uneducated. Skills is the other of the day now and that is why i so much like the Germans.

NL1960:
Good response and insights. The guy that did my POP is a Senior Lecturer in a Poly. He did for a friend and when i asked the friend, i was shocked when he said that the guy is a Senior Lecturer at a poly. Gone are the days when these type of jobs were left for the uneducated. Skills is the other of the day now and that is why i so much like the Germans.

Bros, I so much believe in this country. We may have bad leadership but we are not in short supply intelligent people that can make a difference in the world. If only our graduates can wake up from their pursuit of white collar jobs and do something creative with the knowledge they've acquired, Nigeria will become the envy of other Nations.

I spent about 6 years of my life working for a bank and doing same thing almost everyday. Although I was doing my job well but I didn't feel fulfilled, I felt I could do more with my life! As God would have it, I was preparing for my ACCA (Association of Certified Chatered Accountant, UK) when the inspiration came as i was trying to solve a problem that bordered on furniture business.

I began my study of the business and started to acquire necessary skills for it. When the time was ripe, I tendered my resignation letter and began the beautiful profession of woodworking despite the fact that I was begged not to go with a promise of promotion.

Now, I can't ask for anything better! The ability to turn a useless log of wood to something beautiful and homey, makes me very happy. Words cannot describe the kind of feeling one has when you finish a job, stand back and access what you've done with crude materials. It make you feel like a small creator, a god!

THE CABINET DOORS/DRAWERS

Your cabinet door style can be one of the most important factors in your kitchen design. Not only are cabinet doors one of the most visible design elements in a kitchen, but they can also be one of the most expensive. From the elaborate to the simple, there's a door style for every home design.

Type of Cabinet Doors

Listed below are seven (7) different types of cabinet door you can choose from. Whatever kitchen door type you choose revolve round these seven door designs.

Shaker Cabinet Door: The Shaker-style cabinet door is the most common door style in kitchens today. This five-piece flat-panel style has a frame made from four pieces and a single flat center panel for the fifth piece.

Shaker cabinetry gets its name from the distinctive Shaker furniture style, which uses simple, clean lines and emphasizes utility. Shaker-style doors became popular because their simple style lends itself to just about any decor — from contemporary to traditional — with variations in wood types, stains, paint colors and hardware (handles, knobs, hinges etc)

This classic style can work with a variety of budgets, depending on the type of wood used. The center door panel can even be replaced with a more cost-effective material. It can be finished natural or painted.

Louvered Cabinet Door: Horizontal wood slats are typically used on windows, furniture pieces and interior doors, but they add a distinct architectural style to kitchen cabinetry. However, be aware that these beauties can be very costly.

Many louvered doors have spaces between each slat, making them great for cabinets that require ventilation.

[b]Flat Door: [/b]Simple but stylish, the flat-panel cabinet door is void of any expensive details. Its hard lines and modest form make it a great fit for contemporary and modern interiors.

Many flat doors come in decorative laminate or wood. Laminate tends to be more budget friendly and offers a greater variety of colors and sheens.

However, care must be taken in choosing your laminate. We have different type of laminate: HDF (High Density Fiberboard), MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), laminated plywood etc. Among these, HDF is most expensive (it can cost as much as N25,000.00/board)and is not very common here. It is stronger and more compact than MDF and only a professional will be able to differentiate between the two. Some cabinet makers even erroneously call laminated plywood HDF. My advice therefore is: whatever you do, do not go for HDF except you can import it yourself so you are not given what you did not bargain for.

We are now left with MDF and laminated plywood. Both can be very beautiful and come in different solid colors and wood grain imitations; however, laminated plywood is stronger than MDF and is more water-friendly.

It should also be noted that these laminates can be very difficult to repair when damaged. In fact, if a door is damaged, you might need to change it completely.

One distinct advantage of flat doors over other types of doors is that it is very easy to clean. You don’t have to go through the rigorous work of cleaning corners, depths and rough edges.

Paneled/Inset Door: Although this style tends to be one of the most expensive on the market, it has a classic look that will last for generations. The inset door gets its name because it is set inside of the cabinet frame — typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame. The door is designed and constructed with extremely precise measurements so that it nests inside the frame and opens and closes properly, even when the wood expands and contracts.

This door style usually (but not always) requires exposed hinges rather than the typical concealed hinges of other door styles.

Thank you for the good timing article.

Keji3: Thank you for the good timing article.

Thank you sir/ma

Bead-board: The center panels of the cabinet doors in this style are made to look like traditional bead-board paneling. Bead-board was used in the past as a decorative wall treatment before plaster, drywall and paint became common.

While all-white bead-board cabinetry can give your kitchen a bright and clean feel, all the little cracks and crevasses on this door style can be very difficult to clean.

Thermofoil Door: These doors are molded out of MDF (medium-density fiberboard), wrapped in a plastic-type coating and then baked under intense heat to create an impervious seal. They are otherwise known as acrylic MDF and they come in solid colors and wood grain imitation

It is relatively durable, but the good ones can be very costly. Also if damaged, it can be extremely difficult to repair. Some lighter colors can also turn yellow from sunlight and heat over time.

In our market today, there are a number of fake thermofoil MDF. These ones’ foil peals easily and the coating can crack with use. Care must therefore be taken to ensure you or your cabinet maker buys directly from a good company and not from Mushin.

Custom Door: If you cannot find any door style in the market that complement your kitchen door need; then, you can design your own through the combination of one, two or more from above. You can build a personalized door!

Take for example; the shaker-style cabinet door’s four frames can be combined with a center panel of corrugated metal instead of wood for an industrial and utilitarian look that can endure years of abuse.

CABINET HARDWARE

Cabinet handles, pulls and knobs are known as cabinet hardware and is the ultimate accessory that can impact your room style. It is the hat, shoes, and handbag of the kitchen (or any other room for that matter). The knobs and pulls you choose can send the design of your space in one direction or another, or they can bring styles together to make them work.

For instance, the simplicity of Shaker cabinet allows them to work well within many different design styles. Over-sized, tubular hardware in a brushed nickel finish makes a white Shaker-style cabinet feel distinctively modern, while glass knobs would give very similar cabinets a classic look.

Traditionally, knobs are used for doors and pulls for drawers. But a beautiful knob is useless if it doesn’t fit in your hand so that the door opens easily. Make sure the hardware feels good. And if knobs just won’t work for you, don’t be afraid to use pulls on everything. Also, keep in mind the type of maintenance your hardware will require. Textured pieces are more difficult to clean and some finishes (e.g. brass) require more upkeep.

It should also be noted that knobs and pulls made of iron are prone to rust. As much as possible therefore, go for handles made of wood, glass, aluminum or the more sophisticated materials.

KITCHEN WORKTOP

It’s where we chop, where we prep and where we sometimes eat - it’s the kitchen worktop!

Kitchen countertops are a huge decision to make, both in terms of cost and longevity of materials. They add colour, texture and interest to any scheme.

Few homeowners are willing to pull out kitchen countertops that are only a few years old simply because they do not like the counters anymore. It should be noted however that disposal is expensive, replacements even more expensive. So, once the countertops are installed, be prepared to live with them awhile which underscores the importance of getting your kitchen countertop choice right the first time.

Gone are the days when a laminate kitchen work surface in a handful of colours was the only choice. We now have fantastic range of worktop materials from cutting-edge stainless steel and rustic porcelain tiles to classic stone, minimalist Bauhaus-looking concrete, wood and of course, laminate. Each material gives a very different look to a kitchen, but whatever work surface you choose, there’s a degree of aftercare and maintenance involved.

As said above, we have quite a number of countertop materials but they are basically divided into six (6) groups namely: stones, granite, corian, wood, glass and concrete. I will try to give concise information on each of these; if anything is not clear, please feel free to ask questions.

LebanonCedars2:

Haba bros! Do you think nothing good could ever come out of our own Nazareth, our obodo Nigeria

Furniture work is fast becoming a profession for the educated (with modern hand & machine tools) and with little encouragement from both the government and clients, we have all it takes to do even better things than our contemporaries in other nations of the world.

However, this post is not meant to showcase what we have done (we have another thread for that) but to sensitize people about the importance of our kitchen in our homes and what they should look out for when designing their kitchen. Since no one can single handedly construct every kitchen designs, we make use of what we have done combined with the work of others to drive home our point.

So, just sit back, enjoy and see if you can learn one or two things. Although we have lost the initial tread we opened to showcase some of our work (most of which were made for Nairalanders), a new one has been opened. Find the link below:

https://www.nairaland.com/1799959/re-pictorial-representation-kitchen-cabinet

LOL... you dey mind the guy?

STONES

One of the most expensive worktop materials, stone gives your kitchen an air of luxury and is a classic product that outlives trends and lasts. Using stone allows you to have it crafted to be streamlined, incorporating a hole for a recessed sink or grooves for a draining board. They are basically divided into two: Quartz and marble.

QUARTZ

Quartz is manmade, very hard wearing and is available in a wide range of colours and has a mirrored-fleck. It’s available in 20 or 30mm thicknesses like granite or marble and comes with a range of edge details such as bevelled edges. Quartz has added benefit of an active built-in anti-bacterial protection making it very hygienic.

Quartz is also highly stain resistant and scratch resistant, too, but as with all worktops, extra care must be taken and always use chopping boards and trivet just in case.

MARBLE

Marble worktops are available in choice materials and are ideal for adding a beautiful, natural look to your kitchen. Your marble worktop is special and needs to be cared for. However, marble can be easily bleached by some chemicals and fruit juice. Before you decide to make use of marble for your kitchen, get a small piece of it and pour vinegar on, whatever happens to it will be what you should expect to happen to your kitchen top with use.