It is a step by step "Layout your design, go to Lowes, buy cabinets and we will show you how to do a total make over of your kitchen from tearing down the dry wall to setting the door handles. So, as some of you know Mike and I just moved to a new home (almost a year ago). So I am browsing through this book and Mike is waiting for his turn to look at it. So my smile is getting bigger and bigger as I look through the ideas and instructions. So Mike finally gets the book in his hand, flips through the pages and then turns to me saying, "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT" .... grin ... I didn't tell him it was too late ...
I started flipping through this book, Transforming Your Kitchen With Stock Cabinetry, without any vision of redoing my kitchen, but just after a few pages I was inspired and hopeful!
The book, by Jonathan Benson (a cabinet and furniture maker) and Sherry Benson (an executive chef), not only shows a variety of different styles and layouts of kitchens, but also walks the reader through the "how-to's" of redoing a kitchen using ready-made cabinets.
Throughout the pages, tips are given as to what to do and what "not to do", ways to reduce the costs, and how to ensure you have a workspace that is conducive to your needs as well as being functional regarding actually using the space.
For home-owners who don't have the ability to make their own custom cabinets or the finances to have some made, this is a perfect alternative - installing the ready-made variety. With the inspirational photos and the step-by-step directions, the idea of a new kitchen space is definitely a possibility!
My Ratings of The Book
Layout and Appearance: Good balance of inspirations, tips and how-to photos and directions. Thumbs Up!
Instructions: Very clear and detailed. Thumbs Up!
Overall: Thumbs Up!
The book teaches readers how a custom look can be achieved by installing stock cabinetry from a local home-improvement center and stores like Ikea as it follows the authors through their home kitchen makeover. Truth be told, there are a lot of great money-saving tips, especially on countertop and appliance selection. The authors certainly know their way around a kitchen - Sherry is an executive chef and Jonathan is a licensed general contractor - and they've owned a restaurant.
With the burgeoning selection of impressive stock cabinetry designs now available, giving your kitchen the custom look no longer need include the hefty custom price tag. Cabinetmaker Jonathon Benson takes you through the entire process of creating your dream kitchen easily and on a budget, from inspiration to design, selection of stock cabinets, tear-out and installation.
Professional furniture maker Jonathan Benson (Woodworker's Guide to Bending Wood) and his wife bring together their woodworking and kitchen expertise. The book begins with inspirational, beautifully shot photos of kitchens, but the construction images are less glamorous. The authors offer good instruction on modifying and installing cabinetry, with practical tips and techniques. This original book fills a niche and features great pro/con lists
If you're looking to redo your kitchen anytime soon, I'd recommend reading this book first. It covers everything from layout to cabinet selection to tearing out old cabinets to having a finished kitchen. Written by a husband and wife team, he's a cabinet maker and general contractor and she's an executive chef, it goes into just as much detail explaining why location of appliances is important as it does which cabinet to install first. While an experienced contractor may not find anything new in the book, it's great for a do-it-your-selfer. I have redone several kitchens and had to learn most of the information in this book the hard way. It's easy to understand and filled with pictures showing the step-by-step process as the authors completely redesign their own kitchen. If you're worried about the high cost normally involved with a complete kitchen makeover, read this book and you'll find out it may not be as expensive as you fear. This book will definitely get a lot of use at my house.
