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What’s the meaning of the word “Custom” in the

cabinet industry?

Custom means- changed to suit better:

altered in order to fit some-body’s requirements.

There are so many “custom” cabinet makers, how do you decide where to buy?

First look at the construction of the box, drawers and guides. What type of finish is used and does it feel smooth? Do they offer a warranty that stands behind there product?

International Kitchens offers a full custom cabinet line called Crystal. Here’s  what you should expect for a top notch quality cabinet maker:

*Green-Core no added urea-formaldehyde plywood *Interior is natural maple veneer coated with a non-emitting and exceptionally durable UV topcoat *3/4″ thick sides *Shelves ate 3/4″ plywood  *Tops and bottoms are 3/4″ thick and backs are 1/2″ thick  *Matching wood edge tape *Drawer boxes are 3/4″ thick solid wood dovetail joints *Top stretchers for added strength *Concealed full-extension under-mount guides *Guides are zinc-coated steel with self-closing feature * Luxury finish called LuxGuard exclusive to Crystal has enhanced depth of color and durability with a touchable, silky feel *Limited Lifetime warranty.

Visit our showroom to see, feel and touch this exceptional custom cabinet line Crystal.

Always looking to improve themselves (we love that!)…Crystal launches their latest changes effective on orders placed 6/1/11.  For starters, Plywood Case Construction is now standard in all four of Crystal’s lines as well as wood edge tape on their two frameless lines- Quest and Encore.  Although many manufacturers now offer plywood construction, Crystal takes it a step further by using the best American Made material available.  Their plywood is a natural maple veneer overlaying a plywood platform with no added formaldehyde and a moisture-resistant adhesive.  The interior cabinet surfaces are coated with a non-emitting and exceptionally durable UV topcoat, which greatly exceeds the performance of paper laminated surfaces offered by many others. This plywood uses only domestic materials, helping to reduce its carbon footprint and avoiding the formaldehyde emission and illegal harvesting issues common in some imported composite panels.  The majority of the harvested tree is used, supporting the sustainable use of natural resources, which means the wood will exhibit natural characteristics of maple including a mix of light and dark colors and mineral streaking.  These natural characteristics are a true reflection of the real beauty of wood!

Aside from all of the construction adds…there’s always the fun stuff too!  Imagine another drawer behind your drawer (double storage!!) or an all wood (hand made) louvered door.  Perhaps your ceilings are really tall- did you know Crystal can build tall cabinets up to 108″ high as a standard option?  These are by no means all of your options; there are really too many to list.  Bottom line, your International Kitchens Designer can help you realize your own “perfect kitchen” fantasy- try us and see for yourself!

getting the plumbing hooked up

    For the past 4 years, I have been traveling to New Orleans to help in the rebuilding of homes after the destruction left by Katrina in 2005.

    This April 16th, myself and ten other professionals from the design field, will head down to work on our 4th house. We will install kitchen cabinets, counter tops, floor tile, trim and paint….the finishing touches that help a family  finally move back home.

   As of  August 2010, there are still 20,000 people waiting for their “Road Home” money from the Government. Most all of the rebuilding that is happening in New Orleans is through volunteer groups, such as ours.

   Please check out our blog   http://seakatrun.tumblr.com/  to view our past projects, as well as client stories and photos. This year we will work on Barb and Kim’s house; a mother and daughter who were scammed out of their “Road Home” money by a contractor.

    If you would like to donate to our projects, you can contact me for more information at barbieb@ikcooks.com . 100% of donations goes to buying supplies.

Details, details and more details!
Look closely at the bump out sink with a furniture toe, shapely legs on the island, tiled inlay into the dark hardwood floor, wood and quartz countertops. Kimithy loves bringing together your dreams.

Kimithy Nagel CKD, CBD

Kimithy Nagel is a Certified Kitchen and Bathroom Designer with an Associates degree in Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Seattle and has been practicing design since 1987. 

Kimithy’s personal attentiveness to the needs of her clients transforms basic spaces into much more.  She loves to share her experience, perspective and knowledge with her clients.

     Barbie has been creating art in some form or another all of her life. After receiving a BA in Fine Arts, she began her career as a display artist, but soon launched her own commercial art business. Many of her buying trips were to Mexico, where she sucessfully sourced and imported unique finds, home to Seattle.

An avid traveler and adventure seeker, Barbie has established personal relationships with people all over the world. She has had the opportunity to experience some unique cultures, as much in the food, as well as the people. She soon made the connection of  food, family, art and home, and landed at International Kitchens in 1999 to start her career in Kitchen design.

   Barbie pulls from her diverse background and extensive travels to help design interesting and funtional spaces. She loves pulling all of the elements of design- space planning,colors and textures together, to help create a personal reflection for each of her clients.

   Always wanting to contribute to society, Barbie started a volunteer group of professionals from the building industry in 2006. Each spring, this group pools their time and talents to fly to New Orleans to help re-build from the devastation Katrina left in 2005, and of course, kitchens are their specialty.

After graduating in 1989 with a BA in Interior Design, Sylvia started her career at a family owned remodeling firm and worked there for six years, until they retired.  She quickly landed at International Kitchens, and has been here ever since.

Being the mother of five, Sylvia has mastered the art of optimizing spaces!  She carefully listens to the wants and needs each client presents, but will not hesitate to offer suggestions for better results.

As her family expanded to grandchildren, she and her husband realized they needed to expand their home to accommodate the frequent large gatherings.  They soon realized that building a custom home would better suit their needs.  Knowing how her family operates (lots of helpers!), Sylvia designed a large kitchen with multiple work zones.  There is also a large gathering room adjacent that can adjust  from being a cozy family room, to a space that has hosted a wedding.

Sylvia feels the most satisfaction when she not only helps people with their own dream project, but when they tell their friends and family what an asset she was to their project.  As a result, Sylvia’s business has thrived with a long list of referrals.

I find Crystal Cabinets is a fantastic cabinet line to work with. Features like tall pantry pull out storage units, wide drawers, wall cabinets that feature aluminum frame tip up doors with frosted glass and much more are available. The kitchen below shows a door style that has horizontal grain pattern and a raised dishwasher!

Ribbon Stripped Sapele

Leslie O’Connor started with International Kitchens in 1988; soon after completing her degree in Interior Design at The Art Institute of Seattle.  Over the years she has held an active roll in transforming kitchens from mere ‘work rooms’ into the hub of every modern floor plan.  Her wide range of creativity can adapt to fit all styles of homes and individual tastes.

Leslie became a Certified Kitchen Designer in 1995, and has continued her commitment to the industry by on-going education related to kitchens and the world of Interior Design.

In her off time, she is a self proclaimed ‘remodeling addict’ and has bit by bit completely restored the 1906 Craftsman Style home she shares with her family in Seattle.  An avid cook, baker, and entertainer, she has a terrific understanding about wants and needs in a kitchen!