Employee Appreciation Post
By / September 21, 2016 September 21, 2016Employee appreciation is a particular topic that comes easy to us. We want to take a moment to thank our employees for their hard work, dedication, and passion for producing the finest custom cabinetry.
The photo above is a sign that presently hangs above the employee entrance of Kountry Kraft, Inc. We hang this sign to recognize the hard work and determination we see in our employees each and every day. This sign is a clear communication to our employees that employee appreciation is not just one day, but every day. It is in this spirit we have the honor of working with the most talented craftsmen proudly producing made in USA products.
Employee Appreciation Since 1959
In 1959 the Hurst Family—founders of Kountry Kraft, Inc.—established the traditions of hard work, dedication, honesty and clear communication. Today, the second generation co-owners share those same qualities which continue to be valued, and expected, from each of the 125+ individuals employed by Kountry Kraft, Inc. This team atmosphere fosters success, company growth, and the wellbeing of each employee.
All in all, Kountry Kraft strives to create a dedicated team to build the finest custom kitchen cabinetry. Hard work and skilled hand craftsmanship are some qualities you will find in our Kountry Kraft workers.
Kountry Kraft is always seeking new individuals who share our vision. To view information on employment opportunities, click here.
Designing Custom Kitchen Cabinet Drawers
By / July 13, 2016 March 20, 2023Kountry Kraft offers a variety of ways for designing custom kitchen cabinet drawers that adapt to your lifestyle. From plate holders to pull out shelves, custom kitchen cabinet drawers make it easier to access all of your household items. Make your life more simple, and make the most of your space by incorporating these features right into your kitchen.
Whether you need access to dinner plates at a lower height, or you are unable to reach your coffee mug early in the morning, Kountry Kraft’s custom kitchen cabinet drawers can make your kitchen built for you.
Custom Kitchen Cabinet Drawers
The use of drawers in your kitchen will allow you to view and easily approach everything without the use of a step stool. Cabinet drawers also allow you to place dish-ware at a lower height, enabling your younger child or grandparent to assist in kitchen chores. Place your pull out drawers an arms length away from the dishwasher and sink to make the putting away of dishes easy and quick.
Pull Out Shelves
Incorporating Hafele pull out shelves into your custom kitchen cabinets will allow for easier access to back of the shelf items. Whether you’re reaching for a snack, or your morning coffee mug, pull out shelves will make accessing your every day items easy.
Built-In Shelves
Easily access your favorite recipes and books integrating these built in shelves in your custom kitchen cabinets. No need to travel down the hall to fetch your favorite cookbook when you can place it right in your kitchen! If your children love to do their homework while eating dinner, store their homework books in the built in shelves as well.
When you’re ready to incorporate custom kitchen cabinet drawers into your kitchen, click here to contact a Kountry Kraft dealer to help make your kitchen adapt to your lifestyle.
Pennsylvania Cabinetry Dealers – Hinkle Custom Cabinets
By / June 29, 2016 September 2, 2021
Each month we profile one of the many talented cabinetry dealers that we have the pleasure to do business with. This month I am pleased to profile one of our top Pennsylvania Cabinetry Dealers – Hinkle Custom Cabinets, located in Birdsboro, PA as our monthly Kountry Kraft Dealer Profile.
After 26 years of working in every phase of the custom cabinet industry, Mike Hinkle decided to create his own business and Hinkle Custom Cabinets was born. Hinkle is one of our most highly skilled Pennsylvania cabinetry dealers, and they create amazing quality custom cabinetry for any room in your home. We love their work so much we invited them to create the display pictured here for our showroom at 101 Lancaster Avenue in Devon PA. Stop by our showroom to see custom craftsmanship first hand!
In This Design
- This transitional style kitchen featured in our showroom features perimeter cabinets with our beaded inset cabinet style, door style CRP10, an OGEE framing bead and drawer style Louis XIII. They have a painted finish and are glazed with a Sable glaze.
- The island is weathered grain quartersawn white oak finished in Silverfox stain with Black glaze.
- The kitchen island cabinets feature a different stain color than the perimeter cabinets to help draw attention to the island, making it the key statement in the kitchen. The stain colors, although different, sync to create an overall distinguished appearance. This unique island incorporates a table and seating options, making it a great place to prep as well as serve to a small group.
- The kitchen cabinets also feature many different accessories, highlighting the organizational possibilities available in a well-designed Kountry Kraft Kitchen. A divided drawer located right below the cook top offers storage for pots, pans and lids, keeping them right at your fingertips. A pullout spice rack is located adjacent to the stove as well, enabling you to easily access spices while you cook. An assortment of pantry solutions from Hafele help keep the interiors of the cabinets functional and organized.
Hinkle Custom Cabinets makes beautiful cabinetry solutions that their customers love. If you live in their area and are looking for Pennsylvania cabinetry dealers, call Mike at (610) 404-1840, and please let them know we sent you! If you don’t live in the Birdsboro area, search for a Kountry Kraft dealer near you on our dealer locator.
Custom Cabinet Warranty
By / June 15, 2016 March 20, 2023
At Kountry Kraft we offer a lifetime custom cabinet warranty on our cabinetry and the worksmanship of our products. We have been handcrafting high quality custom cabinetry for more than 50 years, and our products are widely known for skilled craftsmanship and impeccable service. We take great pride in every custom kitchen cabinetry and custom bathroom cabinetr
y order we produce – and we back up our work with a serious warranty that demonstrates our commitment to the products we produce.
Our warranty guarantees that we will repair or exchange any of our cabinetry under normal home use as long as the original purchaser owns the products and they remain at the original site of installation. Not many cabinetry companies offer such a comprehensive custom cabinetry warranty – but it is just one of the many steps we take to provide the utmost in service to our valued customers. If a customer contacts us regarding a problem with their cabinetry, we send one of our trained craftsman to evaluate the problem and recommend a repair or replacement. It isn’t uncommon for our President Elvin Hurst, Jr. to make a warranty house call himself.
It isn’t uncommon to find a 25 year old kitchen still well equipped with Kountry Kraft cabinetry in excellent condition. Our skilled craftsmen are incredibly good at what they do – with over 1500 years of collective experience producing custom cabinetry they know the ins and outs of their craft. They take pride in every order they produce, and never compromise on quality.
At Kountry Kraft, quality custom cabinetry isn’t just our job – it’s our family heritage. We are a second generation, family-owned business, and we invest our reputation in the products we produce. We have a strong commitment to uphold our family legacy of quality and excellent service and back that commitment up with a lifetime custom cabinetry warranty. We invite you to experience the Kountry Kraft difference. Follow us on Houzz.
Cabinet Cleaning Tips for Custom Wood Cabinetry
By / June 2, 2016 March 20, 2023Kountry Kraft Custom Cabinetry is built with careful attention to detail, and by caring for them with our simple cabinet cleaning tips your cabinetry will add value to your home for many years to come. The number one question homeowners ask when we complete the installation of their new cabinetry is how to keep kitchen cabinets clean, and they are always surprised by our answer. They believe they need a special cleaning solution for kitchen cabinets or a homemade DIY kitchen cabinet cleaner, but that simply is not the case.
Customers are surprised when we tell them that we do not recommend any specific cabinet cleaning products besides a soft cloth and water with a mild detergent. We provide new customers with a list of ten simple cabinet cleaning tips to protect their cabinetry, and if these techniques are employed regularly, they prevent damage to your cabinets, and will assure you years of beautiful, functional use.
10 Simple Cabinet Cleaning Tips
- Wipe up spills, splatters and water spots as they occur – keep the cabinets dry.
- Clean as needed with a soft, lint free cloth. Use a mild detergent or soap and warm water.
- Dry surfaces immediately with a soft cloth.
- Avoid using a dishcloth or sponge – it could contain remnants of grease or detergents.
- Do not use products with bleach, ammonia or abrasive additives.
- Never use scouring pads, steel wool or powdered cleaners.
- Do not allow oven cleaners to come in contact with wood finishes.
- Avoid placing small kitchen appliances where heat is directed onto cabinet surfaces.
- Avoid draping damp cloths or dishtowels over cabinet doors – excessive moisture can cause permanent damage.
- Do not use waxes or polishes.
Laminate vs. Wood
If you have recently upgraded from laminate cabinetry to custom made wood cabinetry, it’s especially important to note that there are important differences in care. If you use the same cabinet cleaning tips on wood that you previously used on laminate, you may damage the rich patina that solid wood provides.
- Never use a low-abrasive brush or clean sponge on laminate cabinetry – this is a common way to remove stains on a laminate surfaces, but will cause irreparable damage to solid wood.
- Never use an abrasive cleanser such as baking soda or detergent on solid wood cabinetry. This technique may work on laminates, but choose plain water or soap water with a gentle cleanser to clean your custom wood cabinetry.
- Removing stains from laminate cabinetry sometimes calls for all-purpose cleansers. Using an all-purpose cleanser on solid wood cabinetry may remove the finish and damage the wood.
You’ve taken the time and the resources to invest in classic, high quality wood cabinetry – why shorten its lifespan with neglect or misuse? Follow these simple tips anytime you wonder how to freshen wood kitchen cabinets or how to clean cabinet doors, and you will protect your investment in custom cabinetry for many years to come. For cabinet designs, view our gallery and follow us on Houzz.
Home Entertainment Cabinetry
By / May 4, 2016 March 18, 2023Home entertainment cabinetry is a great idea for any home. Because many people choose to stay at home for family entertainment, or choose to entertain gu
ests in the comfort of their own home, having a custom
entertainment area with home entertainment cabinetry is a great investment in your home. Entertaining at home takes space, and finding room to store your Blu-ray collection, AV equipment and family games is often a challenge, and can cause a clutter problem in your home. At Kountry Kraft we can create home entertainment cabinetry to clear the clutter and enhance the fun.
Developing entertainment areas in your home by adding home entertainment cabinetry is a great way to enhance your family’s together time, create memories and build a place to unwind and relax. Home theaters with built-in entertainment centers are a great addition to any room in your home. Recreation space allows you to invite friends and family to gather to watch a movie, play games, or have a party – the possibilities for your new entertainment area are endless.
Custom entertainment centers for your home theater also help reduce the stress caused by clutter in your home. Piles of movies stacked on your entertainment unit or crammed in every corner of your home creates an unsightly mess – and makes it hard to find what you need. Home entertainment cabinetry organizes the mess and create a unique space to relax and enjoy family and friends. And with custom cabinetry every corner of your home can carry your style and express your individuality, while providing functionality and storage.
Home entertainment cabinetry considerations:
- What is the primary leisure activity of your family? Who will be the primary users of this space?
- Do you entertain large groups? Do you need a separate home theater room or can you integrate your entertainment area into an existing family or play room?
- How much space do you have to devote? Do you need to maximize storage, or maximize entertainment space?
- How long will the space you’re planning fit the needs of your family? Make sure the area you’re planning will have longevity or be a flexible space that can evolve as your family evolves.
Custom cabinetry isn’t just for kitchens – consider adding home entertainment cabinetry to enhance the functionality of your home. Contact a Kountry Kraft dealer near you that can help you start planning your entertainment space today.
Profile of Cabinet Dealers – Hanford Cabinet and Woodworking
By / April 27, 2016 September 2, 2021
Each month we profile one of our talented cabinet dealers and this month we are excited to profile Hanford Cabinet and Woodworking, located in Old Saybrook, CT. Hanford is a fantastic dealer led by owner and founder Stephen Hanford and a truly talented group of hardworking cabinet designers and staff. Hanford established his renowned firm in Connecticut over 35 years ago, based on his love of wood and the inherent beauty and warmth that it brings to life, and they pride themselves in creating quality projects built to last a lifetime.
Stephen began his passion for woodworking at a very young age. His father was a college trained instructor in woodworking and helped Steve progress in the wood medium. His love for the art grew as he became older. In fact, he chose to purchase an existing cabinet shop instead of gaining his PhD. In Botany!
Excellence in Woodworking
Stephen relishes the most unique and difficult projects because of his love and indisputable knowledge of 
woodworking and forestry. No project is too challenging for Hanford Cabinets and Woodworking. His knowledge and background in wood technology and forestry has proven to be indispensable when it comes to handling the more difficult and unusual jobs. Steve’s talent, both natural & trained, has turned Hanford Cabinet & Woodworking into the reputable Connecticut business it is today.
Stephen and his wonderful team of designers have fortified Hanford Cabinets and Woodworking as a well-established and reputable Connecticut business that we love to work with. For the Hanfords cabinetry truly is a family affair. Lane, Steve’s wife and business partner, oversees The Front Room Gallery and office duties. Sarah Hanford photographs finished work and does graphic design, and Allison Hanford is office manager, and also does design, build and install.
Hanford Cabinets and Woodworking offers cabinets, furniture, countertops, appliances, plumbing fixtures and much more. We love partnering with Hanford and are proud to include them in our list of talented cabinet dealers. Visit their website to see more of their beautiful custom cabinetry work.
Custom Cabinetry Wood Species
By / April 20, 2016 March 15, 2023The beauty of all natural wood is evident in it’s variations of color and grain. The variations and individual characteristics of natural wood make every woodworking project unique. At Kountry Kraft we know our woods! We offer 10 different wood species to choose from, each with it’s own unique set of characteristics. When coupled with our wide array of finishes and door styles, each wood species can truly make your custom cabinets an expression of your personal style.
Wood Species
Red Oak – Features a very strong open grain pattern that varies from straight to wild patterns. Color will vary from light to medium brown, often with a reddish cast. Some pin burls, dark mineral streaks, and/or white sapwood may occur, especially in machined areas
Knotty Pine – This rustic moderately soft closed grain wood that is yellowish creamy white in color and is accented with knots. Some red or black knots, split knots and possible mineral streaks enhance the rustic beauty of this wood.
Cherry – An attractive closed grain wood that is reddish in color. Can be light brown to white and may show up most often on machined areas of doors. Dark mineral streaks and pin burls are normal characteristics of the beautiful wood.
Rustic Cherry – Featuring the same characteristics as cherry but with more sapwood (whitewood), more mineral streaks and pin burls, and has varying sized knots. It is available on solid wood door styles only.
Hard Maple – Off white to light brown in color. Moderately matched blending color and grain. Allows curly grain, sugar streaks, and occasional mineral and pin knots.
Hickory – A beautiful open grained rustic hardwood. The array of colors will vary from a near white, to light brown, to dark brown. It may have pecks, burls, and mineral streaks.
White Oak – Pale brown to dark brown in color with a greenish gray tinge. The grain is very straight with a relatively porous open texture. Distinctive ray and fleck patterns may also be present.
Walnut – A closed grain wood with color that varies from off white, to light grey-brown, to deep rich chocolate brown. Streaky color, curly grain, mineral streaks, and pin knots are to be expected.
Alder – This relatively soft hardwood has a fairly straight grain. Porous end grain on panel raises and edges is to be expected. It is a light brown color with a yellow or reddish tinge.
Rustic Alder– Has the same characteristics as alder but has knots of all sizes and types. Knots will commonly have cracks and/or holes. It is available on solid wood door styles only.
To maintain a very competitive price point in the marketplace we do not as a standard use “Premium” grade solid wood doors in all of our wood species. Premium grade woods will have less sap marks, pin burls, or knots, and less variation in color because it is selected more tediously. This makes it a high price point, but a more highly desired wood. Although it is not standard, we do offer premium grade in red oak, cherry and hard maple at an additional premium. Check out this Janka Hardness Chart if you want to understand the hardness rating of each specie. Please contact us if you are interested in adding premium grade doors to your custom cabinetry. At Kountry Kraft, anything is possible!
Timeless White Cabinetry
By / April 13, 2016 February 25, 2023Over the years we have certainly seen our share of cabinetry fads, but one color has withstood the test of time – white cabinetry. Whether it is with a modern door style or fits into a traditional kitchen, customers still look to white cabinetry to provide them with a pure, clean space.
White Finishes
White finishes and glazes can be applied to any of our wood types to create a unique effect. You can choose white stained cabinets, or white painted cabinets for a different effect. White maple cabinets have a completely different look than white applied to cherry or knotty pine – and glazes can create a completely different effect. This color on distressed wood also has a unique appearance.
White cabinetry can truly help a small room look large. Adding white cabinetry will brighten up a room, enhancing the feeling of space in the room. Since white cabinetry can look cold, it is important mix up a variety of complementary shades of white in the paint, backsplashes, countertops, tile, flooring and cabinet stains. This can truly warm up a room and avoid a sterile feeling.
Warm Up a Kitchen
Another way to warm up a white kitchen is to add wood accents, on an island, or countertops, for instance. You can also add stainless steel pulls and appliances to a white kitchen to break up the white in the room, and hardwood flooring does a tremendous amount to warm up the space.
White can be made to fit into any design aesthetic – whether traditional, transitional, contemporary or modern. Cabinetry with full overlay doors can achieve a contemporary feel, while flat-panel inset doors, beadboard and rustic feeling knobs and accessories can give a kitchen a rustic farmhouse feel.
Over the years, we have created many beautiful white kitchens – like the beautiful white cabinets. This includes our slide show below designed by our friends at Stonington Designs in Madison, NJ and True North Cabinets in New Caanan, CT. With a wide variety of options available your custom white kitchen can have your own unique look and feel. You can also check out our Houzz projects for additional examples of white kitchens we love.
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American Heirloom Custom Chairs and Benches
By / March 30, 2016 November 22, 2016The American Heirloom Collection of fine furniture offers excellent quality and timeless designs that satisfy even the most discerning customers. This furniture line includes high quality custom chairs and benches available in a wide variety of styles to suit all of your design needs. American Heirloom custom chairs are built from Pennsylvania cherry, oak and maple harvested from the Northeastern USA and is crafted using state-of-the-art equipment to aid in the efficiency and quality of manufacturing, while still providing top quality craftsmanship consistent with handcrafted furniture.
American Heirloom custom chairs are made with fine attention to detail. We offer turned spindles that give character to chair design. Tenoned leg detail means chair legs are driven into the seat and then screwed in for additional durability. Frame chair legs are anchored with corner blocks under the seat to provide a solid structure. The line also features bent chair parts that are crafted using a steam bending process that provides beauty and comfort in chair décor. The wood is steamed for flexibility and then shaped and cramped in forms until it is set in the desired shape
American Heirlooms custom chairs offer a wide variety of seat options, including wood, fiber, leather, rush and fabric. Wood seats are by far the most durable seat option, but our other seats offer flexibility in style and design. Leather seats come in two grades – standard medium grade leather, or premium grade aniline leather imported from Europe. The line includes antique reproductions of Early American Windsor chairs that feature thick sculpted seats, leg & spindle wedge joinery and hickory bows and arms. The chair line also includes benches and stools to round out your home seating options.
Below is a gallery of some of the beautiful custom chairs in the American Heirlooms line to provide you with a sense of the scope of our seating options. To request a catalog of the full line of custom furniture, contact us at 610-589-4575.
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