This is a question that comes up quite frequently and there isn’t a simple answer as it depends on many things. The first being, how old are your existing kitchen cabinets? What kind of shape are they in? Are the cabinets damaged and how dated are they now looking? Are you happy how your kitchen looks?

Keep in mind that it is the kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts that get the most abuse in a kitchen as we are always using them. If the doors and drawer fronts are in bad shape and you really want a more updated look for your kitchen, then kitchen cabinet refacing would be the way to go and would last for many more years more than painted cabinets. Most cabinets that have been painted start chipping and showing wear within a very short time.

Having a kitchen refaced, opens up so many possibilities of updating your current look and being able to get a completely different look and making it all yours. It doesn’t matter what shape, color or condition your current kitchen is in. This is because your old door and drawer fronts will be removed and replaced with brand new doors and drawer fronts that will be custom built and installed for you. For example, if you had a dark kitchen, now you could get a light one. Or if your old cabinets are oak, you could now get maple or easy care and beautiful thermo film doors that are washable and the list goes on as endless possibilities await you.

While you may be someone who thinks Labor Day still marks the end of white as a wearable fashion, there’s no question that when speaking of fashionable kitchens, white remains a top contender year-round. Kitchen cabinets in most any shade of white are considered a classic design color, described since the 1920’s as being bright, clean and fresh. White cabinets look great with all of your accessories such as appliances, sinks, faucets and hardware of every shade. There’s sure to be a shade of white that will transform your entire kitchen, even when existing countertops, backsplash and flooring remain in place. White can also brighten up a room and still leave you open to a multitude of other colors and materials for new countertops, backsplashes and flooring, as well as some trendy new cabinet accent colors and/or wood tones for a two-tone color scheme.

Now, nearly 100 years since white kitchens basically made their debut in the U.S., producing a two-tone design by coupling white with a second accent color or a wood tone appears to be a continuing trend that will extend into 2020 and on.  Perhaps you’re thinking of just a splash of color on the island’s base cabinet or white upper cabinets with a second color or wood tone on lower cabinets.  These examples, among others, have been popular this year and trending on social media sites. We encourage you to view all the possibilities for the custom look of your choice.

Call Pacific Kitchens (858-277-0701) for a free no-obligation estimate with one of our Design Consultants. We’ll bring samples to view right in your kitchen and leave you with a written estimate. As always, we look forward to making your kitchen remodeling dreams come true!”

“When Remodeling, Pacific Kitchens encourages you to consider donating your newer or gently used items such as sinks, appliances, doors and doorknobs to Habitat for Humanity. Call them about pickup or delivery of items being donated, and for directions to “Restore”, their home improvement stores in the County. For more information: https://www.sandiegohabitat.org/ReStore/About-the-ReStore.

KNOBS, HANDLES OR FINGER-PULLS.  “OH MY!”  

Along with your kitchen cabinet refacing,  door and drawer hardware shouldn’t be scary.  However, given the glazed-over look from some customers after uttering those words, you would think I said, “Lions, Tigers or Bears?”  Of course, if you have never seen “The Wizard of Oz”, you’re now totally confused as to my point about what some people perceive as the difficulty in making this decision.  Yes, there are probably hundreds of styles of hardware you can choose from and if budget allows, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars just on hardware when remodeling your kitchen.  However, here at Pacific Kitchens, we like to give our customers options that will keep your eyes, as well as your finances, in focus.

Pacific Kitchens cabinet refacing is usually about half the cost of doing a complete tearout, so it stands to reason that we also offer modern, budget-friendly hardware choices as well as hardware-free alternatives for your cabinet doors.  For our customers who prefer the doors without handles or knobs, there are a variety of door styles to choose from featuring ‘finger pulls. We can also add ‘finger pulls’ to most other solid hardwood choices, such as maple, cherry or oak.  For customers who prefer your doors and drawers with hardware, you may choose from modern popular standards displayed in our Pacific Kitchens showroom in polished chrome, satin-brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and black — at no extra cost above or beyond your refacing cost!  Since these designs are kept updated, this option remains the most popular with our customers.  Of course, additional hardware design resources are available upon request, and we are able to purchase additional design styles through our suppliers.  Our discounted price is then passed on to our customers.  Call us for a free, no obligation in-home estimate.  We are in the business of making your kitchen remodeling dreams come true!

When Remodeling, Pacific Kitchens encourages you to consider donating your newer or gently used items such as sinks, appliances, doors and doorknobs to Habitat for Humanity. Call them about pickup or delivery of items being donated, and for directions to “Restore”, their home improvement stores in the County. Click this link for more information:  https://www.sandiegohabitat.org/ReStore/About-the-ReStore.

People often ask us what to use to clean their granite countertops. Granite countertops purchased from Pacific Kitchens come with a high-performance, stain resistant, 15-year seal, so you’ll want to clean the surface without harming the seal. While there are several cleaners, disinfectants, and anti-microbials on the market that are specifically formulated for cleaning granite, using them on YOUR granite countertops may not be necessary — or wise. Some cleaners contain compounds that will degrade the sealer over time, while cleaners containing bleach can quickly make a seal ineffective. Save your pennies and just use a mild soap and water.

Prior to being sealed, granite is a porous stone, so if you’ve moved into a home where granite was already installed but you’re unsure if it was sealed or if the seal was maintained properly, you might want to try a DIY ‘over-the-counter’ granite sealer. Apply the OTC seal as recommended in the instructions, then maintain with mild soap and water.  ‘Over-the-counter’ granite sealers generally last anywhere from six months to one or two years, while a high-performance sealer applied by some contractors prior to install is longer-lasting and highly resistant to stains.

Quartz is an engineered, man-made stone that combines resin binders with quartz for a uniquely characteristic look. The resins actually make the stone non-porous and highly resistant to stains. Therefore, unlike granite, a protective sealer is not required. Again, mild soap and water will do the trick. If a water ring or wine stain appears, a non-abrasive dampened ‘magic eraser’ is sometimes effective. Please keep in mind that neither granite nor quartz are stain-proof, so it’s wise to clean up any spills as soon as possible, as you would with most any countertop surface. Both granite and quartz are easy to maintain, and both provide stunning beauty and resilience.

Entertaining today often involves the kitchen as well as the family room. Together, they serve as a casual, all-encompassing entertainment area for family get-togethers, kid’s birthday parties and of course, game-day gatherings.  So let me ask you, is your kitchen ready and proudly awaiting your guest’s arrival, or is it screaming for a makeover?

Choosing kitchen cabinet refacing, means opening your eyes to a brand new kitchen in as little as 3 days for about half the cost of all new cabinets! Simply choose from a variety of door styles, refacing materials and hardware. The numerous options we offer will modernize, add 21st-century functionality and turn ordinary into extraordinary!  You’ll be laying out the chips, dips, and nachos for tasty and elegant game-day appetizers with pride. Even hotdogs and hamburgers will look fancier, and you may even think everything you cook tastes better!

Modern cabinetry not only provides a stylish backdrop without any additional fuss, the updated functionality may even shorten your preparation time. Should you need new countertops along with your kitchen cabinet reface, you can choose from beautiful samples of granite and quartz. Your stage will be set for planned-and impromptu events.  You, and your kitchen, will be looking your best and have you performing like a pro.  We’re certain you’ll have more fun perfecting your culinary masterpieces in your beautiful new refaced kitchen.

Pacific Kitchens is an award winning company specializing in kitchen cabinet refacing with an A+ Rating with the BBB.  We offer top-quality materials, a solid warranty, and more than 30 years of experience in the industry.  Our Design Consultants will help you design your new kitchen to meet your needs and your wish list.  We look forward to making your kitchen remodeling dreams come true!  Call us for a free, no obligation in-home estimate at 858-277-0701.

If you have been considering a kitchen remodel, you may be one of the few who already has a mental picture of what you would like your new kitchen to look like.  Refacing cabinets is a great solution for worn cabinet doors that are beginning to show age with their old cabinet style and colors.  You may be in for a surprise when you discover all the options that are now available.  Here are some very basic guidelines on how to customize your cabinet’s exterior appearance to fit the style and decor you wish to achieve in your new kitchen.

First, add personalized distinction by choosing the style and design of your new cabinet doors using popular hardwoods for instance such as cherry and maple.  They are available in many shades, and colors from natural to dark.  Glazes are also available in a variety of shades, or bring us a sample of a stain or paint color and we can try to match it.

You may also want to consider using the budget friendly and maintenance free Thermafoil door.  It has the look of real wood with a washable surface which is great for busy families or for those of us who would love just to wipe our doors down with a damp cloth – what could be easier!  They are available in different shades, wood grains and styles. You may also opt for glass inserts in some of your cabinet doors to enhance the look.  Matching cabinet trim and a new hardware style will add the finishing touch and complete the look of your brand new updated kitchen at half the cost of tearing out and replacing.

Note:  For options on customizing the interior of your cabinets while refacing, please see our blog post titled,  HOW TO MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS WHEN REFACING. All refacing choices at Pacific Kitchens are an environmentally friendly green alternative to tearing out existing cabinets and can be usually be completed in about a week.

For complete details and a more in-depth look at the variety of Pacific Kitchens remodeling options, we recommend getting a free, no-obligation in home estimate with one of our design consultants.  This will allow you to see the various door and countertop samples in the comfort of your home.  We look forward to making your kitchen remodeling dreams come true!  To schedule an appointment or for more information, just call us at 858-277-0701.

Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

Pacific Kitchens Inc., has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of customer service to members of the local services marketplace and consumer review site in 2017.  This is the seventh year in a row that Pacific Kitchens has received this honor.  Pacific Kitchens specializes in Kitchen Cabinet Refacing with over 30 years’ experience serving most of San Diego County.  “Only about 5% of all kitchen remodeling companies have performed consistently well enough to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie”s List Founder, Angie Hicks.  “It’s a really high standard.”

This achievement is particularly significant as Angie’s List experienced unprecedented member growth in 2016. More than 1.6 million consumers, many of whom were eager to quickly hire highly qualified service pros, joined Angie’s List after the company added a new, free membership tier.  “Companies that can meet higher demands without missing a beat in their exemplary performance standards truly do stand apart from their peers,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Only a fraction of the companies in San Diego were able to do it.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2016 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.  Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

For more than 21 years, Angie’s List restricted access to its verified reviews to consumers who paid membership fees. When the company removed that barrier, some companies worried that the new, non-paying members would not be as engaged as members of the past. Experience has shown, however, that these newly added members are just as engaged – across all age groups – as prior members. Also, because the company continues to adhere to its review verification process, there has been no degradation of review quality.The biggest change at Angie’s List is that we are connecting even more consumers to high quality service professionals,” Hicks said. “And that’s good for everyone.”

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Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than 4.5 million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly rated service providers in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of more than 10 million verified reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

A warranty with your purchase provides peace of mind, as well as a level of confidence in the quality of a product. It assures the consumer that any additional costs for repairs or replacement will be limited to the conditions of the warranty. More specifically, a warranty covers who to contact, what is covered, length of coverage, the conditions of coverage and/or the conditions that void coverage. It’s wise to review anything that is excluded from the warranty or any conditions that would necessitate additional charges for service calls, labor, or materials. Examples of conditions that void coverage might be misuse, abuse, negligence by the owner or water damage. Costly exclusions could be either the labor or materials (or both) for repairs. For instance, some vendors offer a ‘service contract’ versus a warranty, where fees are charged for labor or replacement materials for any repairs afterwards.

Determining the strength of a warranty is also essential. It stands to reason that dealing with a local company for certain products and services elicits a more timely response to your requests. For instance, waiting longer for a non-local vendor to make a repair could prove to be costly as well as inconvenient. When owners are local and reside in the community, have a Showroom, they’re also more invested in the company’s reputation within the community. The length of time a company has been in business in the community coupled with online ratings and reviews, such as those on “Better Business Bureau”, “Yelp”, and “Angie’s List” give consumers some insight into a company’s reputation. In other words, do they stand the test of time in your community in addition to enjoying a lengthy and positive business reputation.

Pacific Kitchens is San Diego’s kitchen cabinet refacing experts with over 30 years experience serving most of San Diego County.

What lies in-between your countertops and cabinets can dramatically enhance the visual appeal of your kitchen design. While you may choose to extend the granite or quartz used on your countertops to the backsplash area to camouflage where the countertop stops and the wall begins, there are obviously many other choices for your backsplash. For example, various vendors offer an extensive variety of tiles in glass, porcelain and ceramic. River rock, sandstone and tiles made out of natural stone are also possible backsplash choices that may pair well with your chosen granite or quartz countertops. Even certain metals are sometimes used as a backsplash, such as copper, tin, stainless and industrial steel. Some of these choices have gained extreme popularity, and all offer a range in pricing from ‘economical sophistication’ to ‘luxury standard’ which may somewhat help your decision-making process.

Besides your personal preference and budget considerations, other things to keep in mind when making your choice are ease of cleaning, stain resistance and durability. Also determining the appropriate backsplash height to complete your design look is key. Of course, a full-height backsplash will protect your walls between the counter and cabinet. If your choice is granite or quartz for both countertops and backsplash, enough stone would need to be ordered for both areas prior to your remodel so they would match. However, due keep in mind that this may add one or more extra slabs of granite or quartz to your job, plus the stone’s fabrication to your total price which can be very costly.

For all other choices, we highly recommend that you choose your backsplash AFTER cabinet refacing is completed and AFTER your new countertops are installed for optimum design consistency.

For more ideas, give award winning Pacific Kitchens a call at 858-277-0701.  We would love to have the opportunity to make your kitchen dreams come true.

Out with the Old and In with the New!  It’s a New Year and time for New Year resolutions. For most of us, our traditional holiday festivities are nearing the end. We scheduled time to party with friends, family, co-workers, distant relatives, and sometimes even perfect strangers throughout the holiday season, and who can blame us. We indulged in our favorite food, drink, caroling, and possibly other festivities like dancing and wearing shiny little hats while tooting our New Year horns. So now that the New Year has begun and we’ve had our fill of over-indulging, it should be easy to keep our well-intentioned New Year resolutions. Right?

While making New Year resolutions has become much more popular in the last century, some may not think kindly of whoever was originally responsible for the concept. Some of us dread the thought of vowing to lose weight, stop smoking, join a gym, eat healthier, stop procrastinating, get organized and the list goes on.  So let’s make resolutions that we’ll look forward to keeping. For instance, we can pledge to travel more, get more sleep, reconnect with old friends, start a hobby, spend more time with family, and our personal favorite here at Pacific Kitchens:  “Get a Makeover” . . . . . . For your kitchen, that is!  Our customers tell us that’s one resolution that’s easy to keep and that ensures many Happy New Years to come!

Happy New Year from Pacific Kitchens!