27blvd - blogging on interior doors, kitchen cabinets, wall panels

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September 28, 2010

Wood Wall Paneling is Back and Better than Ever

If you thought that wood paneling was a trend that ended in the 1970s you couldn’t be more wrong. It is a hugely popular option being installed in homes of all kinds, but mostly in those with a modern or contemporary “feel” or aesthetic. It can be found in an impressive array of looks and styles, but the best choices in wood wall paneling will be those made from natural wood veneers.

Why are these superior? It has a lot to do with the way these materials look when properly stained and handled. For instance, a somewhat Spartan and basic living area could have an instant amount of warmth added to it through the use of some wood wall paneling. This warmth would come from the various earthy colors of the wood, but also from the patterns of the grain in the wood too.

Consider the “contemporary” or “modern” styles of décor. They tend to feature extremely “clean” lines and will incorporate materials like metal and stone, and rely on limited palettes. If you add some wood paneling to any type of contemporary room you will automatically insert a bit of balance. Many modern designs are often at risk for being “cold” or austere, but the presence of a large quantity of beautifully treated and finished wood can really make a dramatic difference.

They can be found in almost any of the common varieties of timber, including oak and maple, but they are also found in far more exotic options too. These include things like mahogany and rosewood, but also Ebony Macassar and Zebrawood too. Such options can allow someone to do a cosmetic upgrade with very little effort or expense. For instance a room in which furnishings seem to disappear into the wall because of coordinating paint and upholstery could be saved by the installation of a few panels in a darker and contrasting color.

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September 5, 2010

Designer Choices in French Doors Replacement

When remodeling a room, it is not unusual to have to select new replacement interior French doors in order to meet the needs of the new décor. Unfortunately, not all homeowners or decorators understand that there are an extraordinary number of styles and designs available.

For example, there are options for French interior doors in a number of exotic wood veneers. This means that someone with a relatively plain or neutral design scheme could add a huge amount of style with just the right choice in French doors replacement. Consider the “wow factor” of a set of doors in heavily patterned Zebrawood, or the impressiveness of two large doors made of bleached oak. These are not standard designs, nor are they boring or featureless, and these are among the reasons that designers so often choose decorative double doors to replace less interesting or characteristic options.

Replacement French doors can also be selected for the windows or panes of glass they use as well. Almost any decorator style could easily incorporate panels, strips, or sheets of frosted glass into the room. For example, Craftsmen styled homes would be able to use Light Oak, Walnut, Wenge and other wood veneers along with vertical or horizontal windows of glass just as easily as a totally “modern” home too.

The thing to remember about replacements is the fact that they should also be seen as upgrades. Don’t short change the space by choosing a lesser quality set of doors, and this means being aware of what makes a good choice. For instance, opting to purchase doors only through vendors using eco-friendly veneers of all-natural and exotic woods is the wisest choice possible. This is because they are going to have a wide variety of creative choices thanks to the properties of the exotic woods and their highly decorative colors and grains.

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August 31, 2010

Choosing Custom Interior Doors for Big Impact

What are custom interior doors? Well, they are not custom sized, standard doors which have been ordered through a massive home improvement store. Instead, they are doors made to the highest standards and using the finest materials in order to get the best results.

For instance, there are many interior custom doors which are made from a solid wood core and finished with a gorgeous wood veneer. This might mean a single door treated with an overlay of Zebrawood veneer, a windowed door made from patterned oak, or a pair of double doors with a cleverly installed design of Teak woods. The main issue is that these doors are not “off the shelf” and therefore they can be used to make some serious effects.

Remember, when someone chooses to use custom interior doors it is usually as part of some sort of overall design scheme. For example, a family which has a very contemporary home will be likely to use lots of stainless steel, cooler palettes, and even some synthetics to create that sort of modern atmosphere. Unfortunately, such choices can leave the space feeling void of warmth or nature. The simple selection of a custom door, or a pair of custom French doors, in a warmer hue can make all of the difference. These might bring lightness, texture, and the beauty of natural wood into what was at risk of being a very austere setting.

There are also some wonderful options for doors which incorporate glass features into their designs as well. These are frequently selected by a very wide-range of people including those with Mission style homes, business offices, and contemporary spaces too.

Custom doors are a great way to give any decorating scheme an instant boost, and many professional designers actually see the door as a form of “introduction” to the design to be found inside the room.

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August 16, 2010

When to Choose Cabinet Doors Replacement

It is not easy to know where to cut costs on a remodeling job, but one of the simplest ways to really save thousands of dollars is to choose cabinet doors replacement over complete cabinets replacement. The trick is to know if your space is ideally suited for this option.

Firstly, there are two types of cabinets – those with frames and those without. The frameless types are usually referred to as “European”, but they might also simply be labeled frameless cabinets. They require the cabinet doors replacement to have an entirely different set of hinges, and will be installed differently too. The cabinets with frames are a bit tricky to work with, particularly because it is difficult to match the cabinet frames with the doors finish, and this is often the reason that a homeowner or even a professional designer will opt for the cleaner and simply frameless types.

You will have to also understand that it isn’t just doors being updated; it is also any visible surfaces too. This is another reason to determine your type of cabinetry before beginning the process, because you are going to have to have matching veneer installed on those spaces before installing the cabinet doors replacement too.

Most people with frameless cabinets will need to purchase minimal amounts of the veneer, and tend to have a trouble-free installation because there is no “reveal” involved. The reveal is the slender strip of frame that is viewable between the cabinet doors, and if they are not even or properly installed this can become an unattractive problem.

If you are determined to cut costs on a renovation or cosmetic upgrade, you should consider replacement doors and veneers. Be sure you are buying only natural wood veneers, and avoid laminates and imitation materials as they degrade quickly and can do everything from peeling away from the surface to creating ugly bubbles beneath the surface of the finish.

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August 6, 2010

The Unique Beauty of Oak Interior Doors

We all know that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, but there are not many people who would argue about the stunning good looks of most oak interior doors. This is because the wood displays its lovely graininess and gorgeous colors while also providing a long-wearing and durable finish.

There are all kinds of interior oak doors, however, and even when it is a simple, single modern door made from this attractive wood, it makes a distinctive statement. This is the main reason to consider using oak interior doors when planning a remodel or renovation of any interior space.

When shopping for the doors it is going to be essential that you ensure the quality of the product you are acquiring. For example, there are some manufacturers who advertise their doors as all-natural oak, but this is describing only the laminate or veneer that coats the surface. In order for a oak door to be worth the purchase price and to also deliver long wear and service, it is best that it be solid wood finished with a veneer of oak. This is a perfect combination that is sure to stand up to years of service.

Additionally, an oak door is going to be significantly heavy, and this means that it is a very wise idea to purchase doors that are prehung and prefinished in the stain or treatment desired. Basically, this will allow the homeowner or apartment dweller to measure the pre-existing door, purchase the beautiful oak doors, and install them with very little difficulty or hassle. In fact, most people who have purchased a prehung door complain that it is the installation of the molding that ends up consuming a great deal of time and effort.

An oak door (or even a pair of them) will incorporate a beautiful warmth and naturalness into any space, and can easily serve as a centerpiece for almost any setting.

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July 29, 2010

Modern Options in Interior Double Doors

Planning a remodel or a redecorating project involves tons of work, and just as many decisions. What color to paint the room? What kind of flooring to install? What should the window dressings look like? How about the lighting? The list goes on and on, and one of the items that is often overlooked is the doorway leading into the room or area being remodeled. For the purpose of this discussion, we will look at the many types of modern interior double doors, and why choosing them correctly is so important to the success of a project.

So, what’s the big deal with interior double doors? Okay, let’s just start with a little visualization…you should think about a wall with a single door in it. On the other side of this door might be another room, a closet, or even a dressing room and bathroom area. That single door makes the entrance into the other space a bit restricted, and if there is a lot of empty wall space surrounding the lone door the entire space can actually seem to shrink. If, however, you replace that single door with a pair of beautifully made double interior doors you would get the impression of a larger room, along with the increased amount of access into the adjoining area.

If the space being remodeled is already outfitted with a standard set of French doors you may still want to consider changing them to suit the style of the redecorating about to begin. This is made extremely simple by the availability of high-quality doors through top-notch online vendors. The best will offer a variety of styles finished with all-natural wood veneers that can include exotic woods as well as more traditional choices. They will come as solid doors and also as those using decorative and functional glass panels and panes too.

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July 21, 2010

Finding Variety with Walnut Doors and Cabinetry

Walnut is among the most versatile of all woods to use for interior features. It can be found in a European style with heavy and dramatic grain, or it can be found in a much less elaborate variety that simply and discreetly introduces the natural warmth of wood into any setting.

It is used in many ways for its unique grain patterns, and some home furnishings and accents actually utilize the grains to create a stunning visual impression. For instance, a series of cabinets might have facings running in alternating directions to give them a modern and whimsical look.

Also consider the many types of interior doors available. Huge numbers of them are made from Walnut, but the finishes and designs give them a seemingly endless range of workability. There are extremely formal double doors with a darker stain that can add a huge amount of grandeur or elegance to a room, but there are also single transom doors that incorporate frosted glass into their design in order to bring light into any room.

There is also Walnut wall paneling that can provide a huge amount of impact in a large number of spaces and ways. Just consider the good looks of a library or office space in which one wall features a system of beautifully textured and colored wall panels made from a distinctive variety of this popular wood. Alternately, envision a bedroom with a paler color scheme, but in which the panels can be used as a substitute headboard.

Additionally, many home owners and apartment dwellers decide to incorporate Walnut into their kitchen, bath, and dressing room spaces through the use of cabinetry or cabinet doors made from this wood as well. The grain lines and the colors are an ideal option for a range of décor styles in such rooms, and the material is so low-maintenance as to be virtually problem-free.

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July 12, 2010

Understanding the Appeal of Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Why would a homeowner want to install frameless kitchen cabinets? After all, what is the difference between those with frames and those without? If you take a look at a standard set of kitchen cabinets you will see gaps between doors and drawers, referred to as the “reveal”. Behind any reveal is the wood framing to which the doors are attached and which serves as a “stop” for the drawers too. When it is frameless kitchen cabinets, on the other hand, there is no reveal, no additional wood mounted to the exterior of the cabinet, and all doors are mounted to the interior of the piece.

Now that we understand this we can try to get a clearer understanding of why frameless cabinets can often be more aesthetically appealing to a certain group of people. For one thing, those with contemporary homes often express their fondness for the “clean lines” of faceless cabinets. Additionally, people with smaller homes love the extra bits of space made possible by the elimination of the framing too. Most DIY (do it yourself) enthusiasts also mention the ease in which such cabinetry is installed and expanded as well. The real key, however, is to make extremely careful measurements. There are differences in how someone must measure for cabinetry without facings, but it is not a difficult thing to master.

Because they are so remarkably popular, most faceless cabinets are also available in a huge range of materials, including many of the most beautiful exotic woods such as Rosewood, Zebrawood, and Teak. Most often they will come with veneers of these woods rather than being covered with a far less durable laminate. Many of the better manufacturers will also rely entirely on European hardware, high-quality joining on drawers, and easily adjustable shelving to ensure optimal functionality.

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July 7, 2010

Having Fun With Custom Wood Interior Doors

Although many home or office improvement projects require a lot of planning and hard work, there are usually a few really “fun” decisions to be made. These often include the choices in paint and color schemes, moldings, and major features. One area that many people almost entirely forget about are the doors, but custom wood doors can make it easy to make a very expressive statement of personal style and have a lot of fun making the choices along the way.

What sorts of custom interior doors are available? Actually, the first thing to understand is the importance of choosing only top-quality wooden doors. For instance, opting to purchase doors made from “honeycomb” materials is nearly the same as buying a “hollow core” door. This is choice to be seriously avoided, and it is best to purchase only all-natural wooden doors. After that, it is important to be sure that the vendor is offering custom wood doors treated or finished with real wood veneers.

The interior doors need also be prehung as well, since this makes the installation process a nearly “sure thing”. It isn’t always easy or simple to install wood doors, but when they come already mounted into their framework, and with their hinges securely in place, it is an incredibly valuable option or feature.

Next, it is simply a matter of deciding about the overall looks of the door (or doors) to be selected. For instance, there are doors that use all-natural veneers in highly decorative ways and which create patterns using only the grains of the wood. There are also styles that incorporate “lights” or door panels of glass. These tend to feature frosted or matte glass to allow for privacy and security while also permitting light to pass right through.

Obviously, it is relatively easy to forward the overall design scheme through a properly selected custom door, but often it is more difficult to actually make only one choice!

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Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Frameless Cabinets

Did you know that frameless cabinets can accept a wide variety of replacement kitchen cabinet doors? In fact, this is a common reason for someone to select this type of cabinetry in the first place. Just consider how difficult it can be to update the average kitchen. Often someone will have to spend a lot of time and money on the laminate or veneers necessary to cover the exterior of the cupboards, and then face the challenges of mounting the new kitchen cabinet doors in a way that displays the reveal (the space which appears between the cabinets) properly.

If, on the other hand, the original cabinetry is frameless (or European) the cabinet doors are much easier to measure and install, and there is not a lot of difficulty with the installation of the matching veneers because there is usually only a very slim area requiring such treatment around the outer edges of the boxes.

Additionally, if your original cabinetry is the frameless type, you can easily convert your boring or outdated kitchen into one that has a very distinctly “high end” appearance as well. This is because many top quality suppliers of kitchen cabinet doors offer them in all-natural wood veneers that include many exotic or rare woods as well.

For instance, you might outfit your plain white oak kitchen cabinets with remarkably unique Zebrawood doors and veneers. You could also create an Arts and Crafts-style kitchen by choosing a Walnut finish too. When you add appropriate pulls and handles, you will see that a complete transformation has taken place, and all with a very minimal amount of actual effort.

Be sure, however, that you are not buying any laminates or imitation finishes. These cannot stand up to the sort of usage that occurs in the kitchen, and may end up being a waste of time and money.

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