Tag: Custom Kitchen

custom-stain-matchingWhen creating a custom cabinetry plan, people often overlook the impact custom stain matching can have on the finish of their cabinets.  They take great care selecting the wood and door style that most appeals to the décor of their home, but often neglect to consider how cabinet finishes such as paint, stain and glaze will enhance the overall look of their cabinetry.

Often, when adding custom cabinets to a room, there is a need to custom stain match the new cabinetry with existing cabinetry within the adjacent space.  Many people don’t realize that Kountry Kraft offers custom stain matching to your existing cabinetry as an option.  It’s important to us that you love your Kountry Kraft cabinetry – and to ensure your satisfaction we are willing to take the time needed to custom match the stain on your cabinet order.  The better your cabinetry fits into the décor of your home, the more satisfied you will be.  And a satisfied customer is a happy customer, which is important to our company.  This is just one of the many services that Kountry Kraft offers that many of our competitors do not.

The process for custom stain matching on cabinetry is relatively simple for us given the skill level of all of the craftsmen here at Kountry Kraft.  We will create our own mix of stain that most closely matches your existing cabinetry using our wide selection of stain colors and glazes, and can create a nearly perfect match to your existing cabinetry.  Our knowledgeable designers can also suggest other solutions that will complement your existing cabinetry– such as painted wood cabinets in a coordinating color, or antiqued finishes that add depth to the room.

With Kountry Kraft, your options are only limited by your imagination.  We offer custom cabinetry solutions for every room in your home, and custom stain matching is a unique service that our highly skilled kitchen design experts can offer that is not found in some other cabinet lines.  At Kountry Kraft we work with you to truly bring out the design potential in your home.  Check out our gallery for cabinetry design inspirations, and get started on your custom cabinet project today.

custom cabinetry founders

The Legacy of Kountry Kraft – The Beginnings of the Custom Cabinet Maker
Kountry Kraft was founded in 1959 – when the cabinetry industry itself was still in its infancy.  Prior to the 1950s, there truly was not a custom cabinetry industry to speak of.  At that time, it was common for homes to come with standard kitchen cabinetry constructed by home builders.  These cabinets were simple and often framed against the kitchen walls without a back.  They were commonly made of metal or wood, and were rarely found in any other room besides the kitchen.  There were no custom options, and rarely did the homeowner have a choice of wood or style.  Cabinets were simply viewed as a part of home construction.

When Elvin and Helen Hurst decided to launch their own custom cabinetry company, there really was no road map to follow.  No large cabinetry companies to model after.  Not only were they selling cabinetry, they were selling the CONCEPT of custom cabinetry to builders and homeowners who had never thought about cabinets as an option or feature to their home.  It was risky – Elvin and Helen were truly pioneers of the cabinetry industry – forging a path not many had traveled before.

But there were more hurdles in their way as they launched the business.  Not only were they new business owners, with all the challenges that new business ventures present, they were also breaking the farming tradition of their Mennonite community, where everyone was expected to farm as their profession.  Their choice to launch a business other than farming truly challenged common thinking – and their choice was questioned by those who knew them.

Regardless of the challenges, Elvin and Helen were committed to launching their business.  Elvin had amazing woodworking skills and there was great demand among their friends and family for his hand-crafted cabinetry.  They had a smart business plan and a philosophy that allowed them to stay true to their Mennonite roots of hard work and impeccable quality.  They were smart and could see that their model would succeed.  And it was with this in mind that Elvin and Helen launched Kountry Kraft in their family garage – the beginning of a legacy.

Stay tuned next week for part 2 in our Legacy of Kountry Kraft series

For more information about our company heritage, visit the Experience Kountry Kraft page on our website. Follow us on Instagram and like our Facebook page for design inspiration!

Why We Dovetail Our Boxes

Dee Hurst-Funk is the Chief Kitchen Designer and CFO of Kountry Kraft – Custom Cabinets -
Dee-Hurst-Funk

At Kountry Kraft, we take our commitment to producing high quality custom cabinets very seriously.  We employ skilled craftsmen who collectively have 1500 combined years of experience and their expertise is evident in the fine details that can be found in every one of our products.  We consistently produce custom cabinetry that our customers love, that is delivered on time and to spec 99% of the time.  We are so committed to quality that we offer a lifetime warranty.

One of the features that we include on our cabinetry that is often overlooked is the dovetail of our cabinet boxes.  Dovetailing is a finishing touch that helps keep cabinetry strong, and it is a testament to fine craftsmanship.  Not only does dovetailing keep your cabinetry more secure, it also looks beautiful.  Dovetailing creates an extremely strong joint between two pieces of wood, making a stronger bond that can withstand heavy use.  Most people don’t even know to ask about dovetailing, but to us it’s an absolute requirement.

Many cabinet manufacturers don’t go through the added work and expense to dovetail, and in many cases dovetailing is only found on the cabinet drawers.  Here at Kountry Kraft, not only do we dovetail our drawers, but we also dovetail our cabinet boxes – something that is rarely seen in the industry.  Dovetailing isn’t easy – it requires a great deal of skill and experience to do it correctly.  For the skilled craftsmen at Kountry Kraft it’s no trouble. We have an entire line in our production process dedicated to dovetailing – and the work is done right – every time.

Our Commitment to Quality Construction

It’s just like us here at Kountry Kraft not to make a big deal about our dovetailing.  We just consider it part of the process of producing cabinetry the right way – with great attention to detail.  But truly – it is a big deal – and is one of the many reasons why you will find our cabinets still looking like new in homes 25 years later.  It’s why high end kitchen designers turn to us to private label cabinets for them.  And it’s why we’ve been successful for more than 50 years.

At Kountry Kraft we credit our success to staying true to the four guiding principles on which my parents Elvin and Helen Hurst founded our company: craft the highest quality custom cabinetry; deliver on schedule every time; price it fairly; and be  honest, genuine and friendly. Dovetailing our cabinet boxes is one small part in the process of producing our high quality cabinetry – but it is a detail we are committed to continuing as a service to our customers.

Click here for more information about the quality craftsmanship of Kountry Kraft cabinets.  To find a dealer near you, visit the dealer locator on our site.  For great ideas for integrating custom cabinetry into your home, visit our Houzz idea books.  We have a strong commitment to uphold our family legacy of high quality and excellent service – and invite you to experience the Kountry Kraft difference.

Dee Hurst-Funk is the Chief Kitchen Designer and CFO of Kountry Kraft – Custom Cabinets -
Dee-Hurst-Funk

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, space is always at a premium.  Your kitchen contains a wide variety of items that you need for daily living, and it may seem impossible to find storage for it all.  Whether you are looking for a place to store canned goods, glassware, table linens or that new ice cream maker you’ve been dying to try – storage is often a challenge in today’s kitchens.

Building a custom pantry is one solution to your storage challenges.  A custom kitchen pantry will allow you to organize, and more importantly, utilize your space efficiently.  Are you searching for a place for infrequently used items like fine china?  Are your wine glasses taking up precious space needed for food storage?  Do you have a large but less frequently used appliance that takes up valuable counter space?  Our designers will examine your exact needs and create a pantry cabinet accordingly.  Because everything is designed specifically for you, the possibilities are endless!

A custom pantry can be any size and built to suit your needs.  A kitchen pantry cabinet can fit in small spaces to store odds and ends, or we can create oversized butler’s pantries to be used for storage of larger items. We offer a wide variety of accessories, such as baskets and pull out shelving to enhance the functionality of any space.  No matter the size, our designers will create an efficient custom pantry to enhance the functionality of your custom kitchen.

Kountry Kraft Custom Pantry Options

Kountry Kraft offers a variety of woods, stains, and finishes for your custom pantry, allowing you to truly customize your look to match the style and décor of your home.  Whether you like the clean look of white cabinets, prefer a more classic style, or are interested in sleek, black cabinetry – Kountry Kraft has custom cabinetry to match your style.  To view our wood, stain and finish options, click here.

Kountry Kraft’s custom pantry and custom cabinets give you virtually limitless options.  Our designers will work endlessly to ensure that your custom pantry matches your kitchen décor and provides you with the space you need to make your kitchen both functional and stylish.

Fori deas and inspiration, view our Houzz page.

Susq1

Kountry Kraft Kitchen featured In Susquehanna Style Magazine

The goal of every kitchen design is to create a room that is both a beautiful and functional addition to a home.   One of the most rewarding aspects of design is seeing how the finished product comes together. Our Kountry Kraft product line includes so many options that the possible combinations are endless, and we think every one of our finished kitchen is unique and beautiful. But every now and then a design really stands out. That was definitely the case with this  design by Shawn Preis for Roland Builder’s 2014 Home-A-Rama model, and a Kountry Kraft Kitchen was featured in the September 2015 issue of Susquehanna Style magazine.

In this design Shawn utilizes beaded inset cabinets finished in Bleeker Beige with Van Dyke Glaze. The wall cabinets feature double panel doors and stacked cabinets topped with 4-lite X-mullion glass doors. The wall and base cabinets are also at depths to give the kitchen some dramatic visual impact. The island is quarter sawn white oak with a natural finish   anSusq2d Van Dyke Glaze. The corner bead rout and applied moulding on the island give it a beautiful finished look. Extra features abound, enhancing the functionality and luxuriousness of this kitchen.

Susquehanna Style writes that the off-white finish of the cabinets brings warmth to the room calling it a nice change from the usual “crisp modern look”. They classify the kitchen as “Modern Manor” in style, and we agree – it would fit in perfectly

with the high ceilings, gabled windows and high-brow scandals of a modern “Downton Abbey” English Manor.

Above all, Kountry Kraft is happy to partner with fantastic crafters like Roland Builder and talented designers like Shawn Preis. Read the full text of the Susquehanna Style article to see a photo of the beautiful featured kitchen, and visit Roland Builder on the web to see more of their inspired home designs. Finally, for more kitchen inspirations, visit Kountry Kraft at kountrykraft.com.