Cabinet & Countertop Inspirations

Cabinet and hardware manufacturers continue devising new options to help organize your kitchen. As you plan a remodel, remember to discuss cabinet accessories with your designer ... they will help the efficiency and organization of your kitchen. Here are a few of the items to consider.

As we wrap up this blog series on range hoods, a few final aspects to consider are:

  • Range Hood Width -- Regardless of the type of range hood chosen, the range hood should be as wide ... or slightly wider ... than your cooktop. This provides a canopy, or capture area, that effectively traps the heat and impurities as they rise. For a 30" stove, the range hood width needs to be between 30" and 36."

The blower in a range hood is sized, or rated, by CFM ... the cubic feet of air moved per minute. It is important to correctly size a range hood based on your stove, room size, and ductwork. In this blog, we will look at ways to calculate the CFM requirements for your kitchen.

Cabinet & Countertop Inspirations

Dovetail Drawer Benefits

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Cabinet drawers -- they house a variety of items that we use on a daily basis, from kitchen utensils to pens and pencils. Kitchen cabinet drawers are opened regularly, some as much as 5 to 10 times a day. This adds up to more than 3,600 times per year!  We depend not only on the functionality of the drawer, but also on its durability. Joint design is an important aspect of the drawer's durability due to the stress the drawer incurs with each opening and closing. This is what makes a dovetail joint so desireable.

Two factors determine the strength of a joint ... 1) how the two pieces of wood are connected and 2) the size of the gluing area. In a dovetail joint, a series of pins are cut into the end of a piece of wood which interlocks with a series of tail cuts in the end of another board. Once glued, a dovetail joint creates such a strong bond, no additional mechanical fasteners are required. Below is a picture of a dovetail drawer joint.

The dovetail is one of the strongest joints used in cabinet construction. The pins and tails can only be joined together in one direction, similar to putting your hand in a glove. Once the glove is on, it will not come off except by sliding your hand out. When a drawer is opened, the pressure actually makes the joint tighter. In addition to locking mechanically, the joint creates a very large surface area for gluing. The more glue in a joint, the stronger the joint will be.

The dovetail joint is indicative of quality cabinets and a high level of craftsmanship. Drawers with this type of joint are superior to those constructed simply with a stapled or glued drawer front. With its increased strength and durability, the dovetail joint is an excellent choice for your cabinet drawers.


 

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