Hickory stands out as a superior wood even before it is shaped and fashioned into furniture. It is strong and solid and has grain patterns that no other wood possesses. Hickory is harder than oak or maple and is strong enough to last a very long time. Just think about all the things your kitchen furniture has to go through with the heat, smoke, steam and water that regularly runs over the surfaces. Kitchen cabinets probably go through more use than any other cabinets in the house as well. When properly sealed, hickory kitchen cabinets will survive whatever your kitchen has to dish out, without warping or weakening in the slightest. This is also to save money, because you will not need to replace or remodel these for a good long time.
Hickory simply looks great, which is one of the things that puts it above and beyond other types of wood. The gates come in a fantastic variety of colors, from almost white to the deep dark brown of its core. Hickory gives a really impressive accent to your kitchen. The twists and turns of color give hickory kitchen cabinets a unique look. Lower grades of hickory often have natural markings, such as pocks or knots, for that rustic, country look. Understandably, this is not for every kitchen, but for those who try to create a kitchen that gives the impression of living in the country, it is perfect.
What to look for in hickory kitchen cabinets
1. Your hickory kitchen cabinets will be the focus of your entire finished remodel. Take advantage of the distinctive colors and patterns of hickory wood to enhance the look of your kitchen.
2. Hickory kitchen cabinets are best with a clear protective sealer only. Painting the wood will only hide the distinctive look of the hickory.
3. Hickory kitchen cabinets will not only look great and last a long time, they will actually be increase the property value of your home. Products made of particle board/fiberboard/engineered wood, the so-called MDF products, which generally have a hickory veneer, cannot withstand normal kitchen environments.
4. Getting your hickory kitchen cabinets custom made will be more expensive. There is no solution to this. But having the cabinets custom made will ensure that they fit perfectly with your concept of how you want your kitchen to look. If you have an irregularly shaped kitchen, stock kitchen cabinets may not fit quite correctly.
5. How you design your hickory kitchen cabinets will also influence the bottom line when it comes time to pay for them. Items such as roll-out pantry shelves, baskets, bins, drawers and Lazy Susans will add to the price, as will certain special hardware – pulls, latches, drawer slides, hinges, handles and the like.
6. RTA hickory kitchen cabinets (ready to assemble) will save you money, not only because you do the work of putting them together yourself, but because the shipping costs are so cheap. A bulky cabinet that has already been put together is much more difficult to transport than the unassembled pieces. RTA cabinets are also much less likely to suffer damage in the shipping process. Do you like to build things yourself? With the right tools, some skill and a little patience, you can buy RTA cabinets and install them yourself. If you’re not handy, though, you can have your hickory cabinets installed by professionals and still be ahead.
7. You definitely want to see some samples of hickory kitchen cabinets that you can buy in the near future. It is important to get an idea of what you will put in your kitchen before you arrive at your home. Hickory doesn’t have a standard look, so see what you’re getting to be absolutely sure you like it.
8. Research through the Internet or through word of mouth for some good companies that supply wooden kitchen cabinets and see what suits you personally. Talk to some of the representatives from these companies to see exactly what they have to offer. Merillat, Aristokraft, Kraftmaid, and Thomasville are some of the well-known manufacturers of wooden kitchen cabinets.
How to care for your hickory kitchen cabinets
Hickory kitchen cabinets can be cleaned with a soft cloth. Use a mild soap and warm water to gently wash the cabinets, and dry them afterwards to avoid leaving standing water on the wood. Leaving water on cabinet surfaces for long periods of time can damage the finish. A quick wipe down will keep your wood looking new.
Every once in a while, use a good furniture polish on your cabinets between cleanings. Abrasive chemicals or liquids containing acetone can damage your hickory kitchen cabinets or cause discoloration.
