Chris & Dick's

Kitchen ventilation

keith — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:14:27 +0000

Several years ago while I was working for a cabinet manufacturer I was sent down to a manufacturer of kitchen ventilation systems. They taught us how ventilating the kitchen not only removes the odor from your kitchen, it also removes heat. I was fascinated and excited that I had learned some important facts about ventilation.

We redid our kitchen 2 years ago and one of the items that I insisted on was a hood that vented to the outside. This as it turns out was the best decision that we could have made. After using the kitchen for two years I think that I have a good feel of how this has worked out. In the past when my wife would cook in the winter our windows would steam up with condensation. This no longer happens as the ventilation system takes all the heat and steam away from the cooking area and sends it outside.

When she cooks bacon I can smell it outside but not inside. In the past when she cooked fish we could smell it for the next day or two, but no longer. Also as a side benefit I have noticed that the cleaning of the kitchen has become easier. There is not any grease residue in the house as this also gets exhausted to the outside. I believe the air quality inside the house is better.

In our modern world of cabinets and appliances, it seems like no one ever exhausts the kitchen fan to the outside. The space saver microwave used in so many kitchens, is capable of doing this but no-one ever bothers to take the time and expense to run ducting out.

Today’s cabinet manufacturers provide many options that can be used for this purpose. Many wall decorations can be designed behind the range making this an attractive option. From tile to paint, your imagination is the only limit. In our case we opted for a microwave built into a cabinet and then made the hood a central focal point in the kitchen. And with this simple addition, I believe our kitchen looks rich and elegant. I would never have another kitchen that wasn’t vented to the outside.

Reface vs new cabinets

keith — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:28:52 +0000

A kitchen remodel is one of the more expensive things that you can do to your home. I am often surprised with how many people come into our showroom with the misconception that re-facing their cabinets will save them money. Most of the cost of any cabinet is in the face-frame, doors and drawers. Add to this the amount of labor it takes to pull all the old doors off and add the new facing and all the new doors and drawers and your cost is comparable to replacing the old cabinets. Think about it, if your cabinets are worn out on the outside then chances are they are also worn out on the inside.

There are endless possibilities of space saving items that are in new modern cabinets. Cabinet companies are continuously competing for the market with how well their cabinets can help with storage and working areas. With all the new interior space saving options that are available today in the modern cabinets, it would be better and more often than not, less expensive to upgrade to new cabinets rather than try to retrofit all these new things into old existing spaces.

There is also the argument that re-facing takes less time. That may or may not be true. Your refacing will still need the doors and drawers ordered and built. You will also have workers in your house for days while they are changing all these things. With new cabinets your installer is in the house a short time installing your new cabinet.

There are a few exceptions that would make refacing a viable option. If your cabinets are fairly new and you just want a change in color or style. If you don’t want any layout changes and you have an expensive Granite, quartz or Solid Surface countertop. If these are part of your situation then by all means reface. But if you can and want to really update your kitchen then new cabinets are the only way to go.

Ultimately it is up to you to decide what is best for you. Make sure you do your homework. Price out both ways so that you can compare and get the best value for your money. Ask for references on jobs and follow through with calls to make sure the job went as well as expected. If your money is as hard earned as mine, then you will definitely want to get the best bang for the buck

Soft Close Mechanisms

keith — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:41:33 +0000

Out of all the cool stuff that the cabinet companies have come out with I think the one that stands out the best for the money is the soft close mechanisms. These are available on both the doors and the drawers. With the drawers, not only do these items make sure your drawer closes and stays closed but they also cushion them from impact. And all the drawers that come with the soft close are also full extension giving you total access to the entire drawer interior. How many times in the past, what you are looking for is at the back of the drawer. This makes it difficult to see let alone reach.

Having worked in the cabinet industry for 35 years I have seen my share of broken drawers and doors. On all the cabinets that have soft close I have seen zero breakage. The reason for this is simple. The soft close mechanism takes the impact instead of the door or drawer. Most often with drawers the drawer head breaks away from the drawer. This is caused by the impact of the drawer head continually hitting the frame. And the doors that seem to break is also from impact over time. With soft close mechanism this type of damage is minimized and can add years of life to your cabinets as well as peace and quiet in the kitchen.

Keith

Perfect Timing!

austin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:59:25 +0000

I’ve always thought that this time of year is the best to remodel your kitchen. Think about it. The kids are back in school, summer vacations are in the books, and the next big family holiday is a couple months away. Plenty of time. Who wouldn’t want to spend the holiday season entertaining friends and family in a stylish and invitingly warm new kitchen! Judging by the showroom traffic I’ve noticed steadily increasing over the past few weeks, I’m not alone. Many manufacturers are quick to capitalize on this trend too by timing various incentives and promotions to make the perfect kitchen an achievable reality. Actually, we are following the trend too by doing some remodeling of our own to keep up with ever changing styles and trends. If you get the chance, you really should stop by and check out what we’ve done so far. Who knows, you might just find the right inspiration!

Thanks for reading!

Austin

Half price granite countertops?

austin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:19:07 +0000

How many of you have recently been considering a granite countertop to add new life to your kitchen or bath? It would seem quite a few by the number of television, radio, and print adds I’m seeing every direction I turn. Some of them promising “half price” or “granite for the price of laminate” or any number of seemingly unbelievably good deals. Some of them almost too good right? Admit it, the thought did cross your mind. Remember when your parents taught you that if something seems to good to be true, it usually is? Some find out too late, but since you’re reading this I’m going to assume that it’s not too late for you because you’re still shopping and putting in your homework time making sure you get the best deal possible on the highest quality countertop. Im also going to assume you’ve heard those same adds i’ve heard and I would like to tell you what most of them are advertising.
All local custom quality stone fabricators are buying their raw materials from one of a few granite slab dealers in town, and for the most part, color for color, 2cm or 3cm thickness, most of these wholesalers will be pretty close price wise per square foot as their competitor. So how can so many small “fabricators” offer granite for half of the price? Well, they have a couple options. One, they can buy the poorest quality stone and fabricate it with less than impressive machinery and then install it by the cheapest and thus least experienced workmen. Is that who you want to give your hard earned money to? Or two, and more common, they can choose to stock granite “blanks” or pre-polished, pre-edged Chinese stone that comes pre cut to kitchen cabinet depth and in various straight lengths. Usually these are offered in two or three market saturated colors with either a square or bullnose rounded edge. Besides the lack of uniqueness in color or edge choice, my biggest gripe with this type of granite is that where with full sized custom cut slabs you can minimize any necessary seams, and depending on particular color and fabricator almost make them unnoticeable, this pre fab Chinese granite usually has even more seams than a laminate top. Always in the corners, and even sometimes in the middle of straight runs or islands and bars. Who would want that? Besides that, frequently I have seen estimates done with this type of material that when compared to my estimate in a similar stone but cut from a full quality slab aren’t a whole lot different. Frustrating for me and the people who bought the pre fab and found out too late to say the least.
Look. Buying a granite countertop is a great investment in your home and a good way to make an average kitchen stunning. Just make sure you do your homework and ask the right questions. After all, this investment when done right will last a lifetime!

As always I welcome your comments.

Thanks for reading!

Austin

Discover Your Style: The Showroom

keith — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:17:01 +0000

We’re close to finishing a complete update of Chris & Dick’s Salt Lake City showroom, and we’d love to know what you think! But why renovate a perfectly good showroom, you may ask?

Perhaps this scenario sounds familiar: You’re visiting a few local stores one weekend to scope out some new countertops and cabinets, see what’s available, and maybe get a few ideas for your remodel. But after a few minutes of walking around their showrooms, you’re feeling kind of lost. Everything you like is scattered around the store. Kitchens are next to bathrooms, new styles are mixed with old, and it all starts blurring together.

Why do so many stores force you to hunt around every single corner of the showroom to find what you want? It doesn’t make sense. Instead of bogging you down with a maze of unwanted options, a showroom should actually help you discover your style.

That’s why we’ve completely redesigned our store. The new Chris & Dick’s showroom has been divided into areas that each highlight a different style sensibility. Do you want sleek, modern lines in your new kitchen? Take a look at the “Cool Contemporary” section. Or maybe you really like natural stonework and deeper colors. You’ll probably find everything you want in “Rustic Comfort.”

We want you to be able to walk into Chris & Dick’s, discover the style that makes you say “This is me. This is the look I want in my home,” and find everything you’re looking for right there.

So come take a look at our showroom and give us some feedback on the new layout.

-Ben

Laminate Countertops

austin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:01:54 +0000

Lets talk for a minute about laminate countertops. I’m surprised sometimes by how quickly people dismiss the idea of a laminate countertop for their project without considering the benefits that today’s laminate surfaces can offer. First, let me start by saying that if it’s been a few years since you’ve browsed your local dealer’s color sample board, you don’t know what you’re missing. Today’s laminate is not the “same old laminate”. New options from innovators like Formica with their 180FX series, and Wilsonart with their HD series, have completely raised the bar. These products offer new levels of durability, and most importantly patterns, styles, and textures that until a few years ago were just a dream. I sometimes find it amusing when I’m interviewing a consumer and they wince at the first suggestion of a laminate surface, and a few moments later I find them gravitating to a display kitchen with a 180FX top saying “this would look great in my kitchen”. My favorite part is telling them that the countertop they are admiring is a laminate top, and even better that I can build it for them at a fraction of what they had budgeted. Granted there are certain projects that are better suited for a Quartz or Acrylic Solid Surface countertop, but there is also a lot of remodelers for whom laminate would suite their needs perfectly, compliment their design flawlessly, and save them lots of money, but who are swift to dismiss the idea of laminate because they haven’t taken the time to check it out.

I’de love your thoughts on the topic.

Austin

Thanks Chris and Dicks

mark — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:23:42 +0000

From Josh Hanson:

We love Chris and Dicks! The allowed me and my wife to come in and pick everything out we wanted. They put it all together in their design mannequin and we saw what our new kitchen was going to look like before we even had it paid for. Then when my granite came in they allowed me to come down and watch it get cut on their new flow jet cutter. The kitchen came out perfect and more importantly my wife loves it.

Thanks to everyone at Chris and Dicks you are great!