What Makes a Custom Kitchen Custom?

By Leslie A.M.
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

This is a good question. Do you have to gut your kitchen and take it "to the studs" for it to be considered custom? Absolutely not! Custom means it is made to fit somebody's requirements better. You can have stock kitchen cabinets and basic appliances to compose your custom kitchen. The essence of a custom kitchen means that it doesn't look exactly like all of your neighbors' kitchens.

Custom Cabinet Doors

You can order custom cabinet doors or customize them yourself to update the look of your kitchen and bring it in line with your taste and style. If that means you have a wall of glass kitchen cabinets or open shelving where there were stock kitchen cabinets, then you likely have achieved a unique custom kitchen look.

Kitchen Counter

Another great way to customize your kitchen is to change the kitchen counter. Granite, tile, or even concrete can set your kitchen years away from where it is now. There are ways to resurface some materials that may save you bundles at the checkout stand. If changing the kitchen counter is a job bigger than your kitchen renovations call for, try updating the backsplash. You can add some decorative tiles on top of your existing plain canvas to completely change the look. Try glass tiles or even stainless steel accents for a dramatic change.

Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets

If you are ambitious and have the ability, reconfigure your kitchen and build your own kitchen cabinets to get exactly what you want.

Regardless of what you decide, just by making your kitchen your own, you have made a custom kitchen.

About The Author

Leslie A.M. Smith lives in a 1929 house in Long Beach, California. When she isn't fixing things and redecorating, she is a freelance writer and public relations consultant.