Keeping a kitchen clean, functional, and a happy place to be will depend on how much effort is needed to keep it that way. Maintenance on your cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring and more will all determine how your kitchen looks and feels on a day-to-day basis. For homeowners that are looking for a low maintenance kitchen, there are some solutions that can be implemented to make that dream a reality. 

Low maintenance kitchens can help you enjoy being in the kitchen and give your home a better sense of ease. Below are Rasmussen Custom Cabinetry’s tips to help ensure that you have a low maintenance kitchen. 

1- Keep The Stove Away From Lighting Fixtures

Cooking and baking produce lots of grease, oils, dirt, and other build-ups that can cling to the wall and appliance. If your lighting is near the stove it can start to accumulate this build-up and steam residue that reduces the light they emit to your kitchen. 

The best option for the kitchen lighting is having hanging lights away from the range like over the island or in a breakfast nook. Can or recessed lighting is a good option to brighten the room and avoid grease stains.

2- Invest In Easy Clean Cabinets

The amount of cleaning that takes place in your kitchen varies from day to day, but the cleaning can add up when each element of your kitchen requires so much attention. Choosing cabinets that are easy to clean will help protect the items that are stored in them and will save you time on household chores. 

Flat cabinet doors or those with a small amount of detail will be easier to clean. Cleaning in crown molding, deep lines, or decorative elements can be difficult and time-consuming. Anything with ridges can hold crumbs and dust and can’t be wiped away with a damp cloth. If you want your cabinets to stay bright and avoid scratches, install easy-to-clean cabinets. 

3- Build Your Cabinets All The Way To The Ceiling

Dusting the top of cabinets is not at the top of anyone’s list of fun activities. You can avoid this task and create a low maintenance kitchen by building cabinets all the way to the ceiling. This avoids a gap between the ceiling and the top of the cabinet that will require cleaning. 

If you are wanting even less maintenance, avoid including upper cabinets at all. Wiping down a flat wall is much easier than wiping down cabinets, but forgoing upper cabinets will reduce the amount of storage in your kitchen. 

4- Install An Induction Option For Your Cooktop

Most homeowners choose between a gas or electric cooktop, but induction cooktops are much safer and easier to maintain. Induction cooktops are flat and easily wipable with light cleaner and a microfiber cloth. They also only heat up when an induction metal is placed on the heating element, this means that small children or even adults won’t get burned when touching the cooktop. Induction cooktops can prevent injury, fire, and burnt food particles and help create a low maintenance kitchen.

5- Avoid Open Shelving

Using open shelving instead of traditional cabinetry has become a more common storage solution in modern homes. Open shelving is actually much harder to maintain and clean than regular cabinets. While properly styled shelving can look appealing, you will need to keep it styled and dust free in order to get the full effect. Open shelving needs cleaning almost daily, to avoid dust and grime build-up that can make them lose their luster. 

Kitchen Solutions With Rasmussen Custom Cabinetry

Building a quality kitchen increases the value of your home and makes living in your home more enjoyable. Kitchens see a lot of use and a variety of different activities occurring in the space. Low maintenance kitchens will add monetary value to your home while saving you time and money while you live there. We want your kitchen to be a place you love to be in, want others to see, and don’t give you a bad feeling when you see it. Proper cabinet solutions, quality appliances, and correctly installed accessories will help make this possible. 
RCC offers the best materials at the most affordable prices. Our team can help your design any dream and make it a reality in your home. Each member of our team looks forward to helping improve homes in the community and giving homeowners the freedom to enjoy their homes. Contact Rasmussen to get started on your next home project today!

Making products more sustainable has become more and more important for businesses in recent years. Good environmental practices will help the planet produce more natural resources and keep our environment healthy. Cabinet solutions are starting to become more sustainable and eco-friendly. Our team at Rasmussen Custom Cabinetry wants to offer you the best cabinet materials and solutions that fit your home. Whether you want sustainable kitchen cabinets, traditional wood, or pre-built cabinets, there are many options for you. 

What Makes A Cabinet Eco-Friendly Or Sustainable?

Cabinets that are sustainable are healthy for the environment and healthy for you as well. Cabinet materials are considered sustainable if they are made with renewable resources, non-toxic materials, or recycled or repurposed as a cabinet. 

Eco-friendly cabinets will be made without the use of formaldehyde and the glues that are used will not emit harmful gases that cause damage to your health. 

1- Bamboo

One of the most popular materials for sustainable kitchen cabinet building is bamboo. As this material continues to grow in popularity, it is becoming harder to find and is leading to massive harvesting in forests in China. If you decide that bamboo is the right choice for your home, keep in mind that it may take some time to be harvested and made into cabinets.

Bamboo is a beautiful, natural, and sustainable material that is known as a rapidly renewable resource. It is much stronger than other hardwood options and will help improve the air quality in your home. Since it regenerates in less than a decade, the air quality and look of your home will improve with bamboo cabinets. 

2- Recycled Materials

Reusing materials is the easiest way to make sure your kitchen cabinets are sustainable. Reusing old cabinets and making them new, using wood from other projects, or even using a mix of plastics and wood can make for unique and sustainable kitchen cabinet solutions. 

Reclaimed wood is wood that has been previously used in buildings but will be used to make your kitchen cabinets. Not only will this help you have a sustainable option but will add history and character to your home. Reclaimed wood can take on a whole new life when constructed, stained, and installed by a professional company. 

3- Low VOC Paint Or Varnish

Some paints or materials can emit VOC (volatile organic compounds) that are considered toxic. Some common ones in your home can include benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, toluene, and methylene chloride. High levels of VOC can lead to nausea, dizziness, liver or kidney damage, and damage to your nervous system. Having a lower level or using varnish with VOC chemicals will help make your kitchen eco-friendly and healthier. 

Cabinets can be varnished or stained with zero VOC which will create less hazardous waste in the environment. 

4- Salvaged Wood

Similar to reclaimed wood, salvaged wood is material that is used for a new project than one it was originally harvested for. Salvaged wood or recovered wood is new wood that was harvested for other reasons besides building. Some trees are cut down to make room for other projects or are getting older. This wood is an eco-friendly material because it doesn’t require new harvesting to make cabinets. Salvaged and reclaimed wood will also limit waste in the building industry and helps promote the use of recycled materials.

The Environment Stewardship Program (ESP) Seal

A company may claim that they are sustainable or environmentally friendly, but it may not have any proof or use toxic materials. The Environmental Stewardship Program was created to encourage cabinet companies to implement practices that benefit the environment and the communities they serve. 

The program encourages pollution prevention, the use of sustainable resources, and minimizing waste. Many companies will receive a seal from ESP and be certified as sustainable cabinet manufacturer. Ask your cabinet contractor about how they are becoming more environmentally friendly or if they are certified by ESP.

Sustainable Kitchen Cabinets With RCC

Our team at RCC wants to help you have the best materials for cabinets and storage in your home. No matter what type of material you are looking for, we can help you obtain it at the most affordable price. Sustainable materials are stunning and add a historical and natural element to your home.

Our cabinets are stained with non-toxic stains and varnishes and our installation process is efficient and eco-friendly. 
If you want to learn more about what we offer, or have questions about the materials we use, reach out to us here.

Adding more unique storage options to your home will help keep clutter in its place, make your investment worth it, and give a stunning focal point to any room in your home. Built-in shelving options can help in home offices, bedrooms, living rooms, great rooms, and more. Working with our company will give you a high-quality piece at the most affordable price. Rasmussen Custom Cabinets wants to help improve the value of your home by installing quality wood cabinets. 

What Are Built-In Cabinets?

These types of cabinets are considered part of the structure of the home and do not leave the property once they are installed. They often take up the space from floor to ceiling and can have openings and shelving of different sizes. Built-ins can be made out of any type of wood, stained or painted any color, and made to your exact specifications. 

These durable home solutions last for multiple generations and help to display some of your most prized possessions. Built-in storage can be placed anywhere in your home, which makes your home more versatile and usable. The options for built-ins with Rasmussen Custom Cabinets are endless. 

Do They Take Up Too Much Space?

One of the commonly asked questions that built-in customers ask is if they will be too large for their space. Built-ins are a great option for a variety of homes and can be made to any specifications that will work for your space. They can be built around existing pieces, leave room for desks or other furniture pieces, or only cover part of the wall. Before you make the investment in built-ins, do some research and chat with a company about how to make them fit your home.

Before deciding to install built-ins, ask yourself if you are ready for the large-scale project and choose a material that you will like years down the road. If adjusting the layout of your home does not sound appealing, built-in cabinetry may not be the best choice for you. 

Why Are Built-Ins So Popular?

More and more homes are choosing the option of built-ins and utilizing this unique storage option for multiple areas in their home. One reason that built-ins are so popular is their ability to add value to your home. Because the shelves are built into the home and stay with it permanently, the addition of them increases the resale value of the home. 

Another reason that built-ins are becoming increasingly popular is their ability to fully display your items. For those who travel and collect certain items or have purchased expensive dinnerware, they want to show these items off. Built-ins can have open areas and doors to give you multiple options for showing off items while hiding others. These make them versatile for different clients and different sizes of homes.

 Including built-ins in multiple areas of your home adds character. A few built-ins here and there can do wonders for the functionality and appearance of your home without costing you an unnecessary amount of money. Adding an affordable addition to your home is worth the investment and the added value to your home.

Should I Invest In Built-Ins For My Home?

Just like any other home remodeling project, installing built-ins will be an investment. Each homeowner will need to determine if adding permanent shelving is worth it for their home and their needs. For homeowners that are looking to sell their home in the near future, installing built-ins or completing other remodel projects will increase the value of your home. Improving your home before selling will get you more money for the home that you can put toward your new home. 

Built-In Cabinets And Other Solutions With RCC

Before you consider building built-ins on your own, look into what our designers and builders can do for your home. Rasmussen Custom Cabinetry offers multiple different materials and expert advice to improve your home. Because these permanent pieces are an investment, you will want to find a company that respects your money and home.

Increase the value of your home, give yourself more room to function, and give all your items their own space with the help of quality installed built-ins. Schedule a consultation with us today!