Kitchen Remodeling in Northern NJ
3 easy steps to remodel a kitchen
It's Time to update Your kitchen
We know that people can become very frustrated and overwhelmed when they start thinking about the kitchen remodeling process. But it’s normal because there are so many things to consider: kitchen layout and design; cabinetry brands and quality; cabinetry door style and finish; whether you should upgrade the flooring or move walls to create more open space; upgraded appliances and countertop choices; picking the right kitchen remodeling contractor; how this investment will reflect on your personal day-to-day living and activities; budget for the project and so much more!
Let's get started
Our goal at Alexander Kitchens & Baths in Denville, NJ is to simplify the process so you actually enjoy creating your dream kitchen. With over 15 years in the kitchen remodeling industry we have gained an incredible amount of knowledge and would love to share it with you.
We break down the whole kitchen remodeling project into 3 easy phases: Plan, Design & Enjoy. Prepare yourself to deal with and visit quite a few people and places including: kitchen designers, kitchen remodeling contractors, your local town hall, appliance & lighting stores, a kitchen & bath showroom for your cabinetry, a stone yard for your counter tops, and the tile store near you for your flooring and backsplash tile.
When you choose Alexander Kitchens & Baths to remodel your kitchen we will work with you every step of the way to simplify the entire process. In our large Morris County, NJ kitchen, bath and tile showroom we provide many of the products and services you need, all under one roof: Complimentary, expert kitchen design, Quality kitchen cabinets (in hundreds of styles, materials, stains, colors and prices to fit any budget), Fabulous kitchen floor & backsplash tile options, Quartz countertops from leading manufacturers, Professional, experienced contractor’s and Designers to put the look all together.
Concentrate on one phase at a time and your remodeling project will go nice and smooth!
#1 plan
#2 Design
#3 Enjoy
#1 Kitchen Planning
If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, most likely your current set up is at the end of it’s service life or it simply doesn’t reflect your personality and way of living. Now is the perfect time to go from thinking about to actually beginning the process to create the kitchen of your dreams. Here are the questions you should be ready to answer when you contact a kitchen remodeling professional such as Alexander Kitchens & Baths.
- What are some of the must-have's for your new kitchen?
- What do you like most/least about your current kitchen?
- Describe how you use/want to use your kitchen. Do you cook often? Frequently go out to eat? Host dinner parties?
- Would you like to remove any walls to open up the room?
- Are you satisfied with your current layout of the cabinetry?
- Would you like to move or add any appliances?
- Would you like to remove the soffit if any?
- Does your kitchen window need replacement? If yes, what type and size of window would you like?
- Are you planning to update the flooring? If yes, will it be with porcelain tile, wood or floating floor?
- Do you need better ventilation? Is your current set up properly vented to the outside?
- Do you need to update the lighting in the kitchen? Would you like under-cabinet lights?
- Is the kitchen space connected to the adjacent rooms? Will this affect the construction part of the project?
- How long do you plan on staying in your home?
- And finally, what is your budget? Setting a realistic budget for the kitchen remodeling project is extremely important! In its simplest form, your maximum budget = how much cash you are able and willing to put into a project + how much you are able to borrow.
- And finally, what is your budget? Setting a realistic budget for the kitchen remodeling project is extremely important! In its simplest form, your maximum budget = how much cash you are able and willing to put into a project + how much you are able to borrow.
- Read more about the budget !
- Remember, kitchen renovation is an investment which should provide a great ROI as well as bring family and friends lots of enjoyment and great memories over many years to come.
We are here to help you to get the job done !
Measuring Guide
Now you need to take the measurements of your kitchen. Most places you go to will ask for the detailed plan to give you the quote for the cabinetry. Here is a quick guide how to properly take the measurements of your kitchen:
- Draw a sketch of your kitchen
- Number each wall on the floor plan
- Start the measure from a corner.
- Include molding when measure windows and doors.
- Continue measuring around the room.
- Measure from the corner of the wall to the middle of your sink and your range
- Measure ceiling height including the soffit if any.
- Measure the size of your appliances.
- Remember to measure everything twice 🙂
Tip: If you can’t get the full measurement of the wall in one shot, choose the reference points (like the edge of the cabinet or appliance) measure from the corner to the reference point and then to the opposite corner. Add up the measurements to get the full width.
Our company does it all for you during in-home consultation
Layout Tips
- Rethink how you use your current storage and design the kitchen to minimize extra steps. Keep utensils near your prep area and place pots and pans close to the stove for a smoother workflow. Add smart accessories to boost organization — roll-out trays remain one of the most popular solutions in today’s kitchens. They work not only in base and pantry cabinets but also in 24″-deep cabinets above the refrigerator, giving you much easier access to everything stored inside.
- Open-concept kitchens remain highly popular today, as they improve the overall flow of the home and allow more natural light to spread throughout the space. Consider removing or lowering walls to create room for an island or to expand your countertop area. Eliminating the soffit above existing cabinetry can also make the kitchen feel more open; replacing it with taller cabinets increases both the visual height of the room and the total available storage.
- Consider incorporating the classic work triangle into your design. This layout positions the sink, refrigerator, and range so they form a triangle, with 4'–6' of distance between each point. This creates efficient movement and improves workflow while cooking. Ensure that nothing obstructs your primary walking paths. Plan for at least 15 inches of landing space beside the refrigerator, oven, or range to safely place items while cooking. Avoid installing a range or cooktop directly next to a tall cabinet — it creates a fire hazard and can damage the cabinet’s finish over time.
- Walkways should be at least 36 inches wide, although in practice this feels quite tight. In cooking and prep areas, plan for a minimum of 42 inches to comfortably access appliances. If two people will be working in the kitchen at the same time, increase the clearance to 48 inches or more.
- Consider how your kitchen will work for children. Store their favorite dishes and snacks on lower shelves so they can reach them easily. You can also relocate the microwave to a lower cabinet for safer, more convenient access. To keep kids safe, position appliances away from main walkways and use cabinet safety locks in areas you want to restrict.
- Island is a great add-on to your beautiful kitchen! The space can be used for eating, prep, storage or simply be pretty 🙂 if you have the room to integrate the seating it adds great value to your kitchen design. Remember, you need 24" space per person to comfortably seat around it.
- Maintain at least 3 inches of space between cabinets or appliances and any inside corners to prevent door and drawer interference. Always consider the full depth of each appliance, including the handles. Review the refrigerator specifications carefully — many models require 6 to 12 inches of clearance from the wall to allow the interior drawers to open fully. Also ensure a minimum ½-inch gap between cabinets and adjacent walls to prevent drawers from scratching the wall during operation.
- In small kitchens, storage matters — but too many cabinets can make the room feel closed in. To keep the space lighter, it helps to break up the cabinetry with a few design elements. Choosing a range hood instead of a microwave cabinet and adding open shelves are effective ways to create a more open look. If you prefer closed storage, glass-front doors offer a great compromise. Even small design changes like these can make your kitchen feel noticeably more spacious.
Need guidance? We can discuss all the specifics when you stop by our showroom.
Congratulations, you are now ready for the step #2 !
#2 Kitchen Design
First and foremost, the kitchen is the heart of the home — it’s where your family and friends will spend many of their most memorable moments. Don’t design it with the next homeowner in mind. Design it for yourself. You are the priority.
Let’s break the process into two key steps: creating an efficient and comfortable kitchen layout, and selecting the right cabinetry, countertops, and finishes to bring your vision to life.
Which cabinets are the right for you?
Choosing the right cabinets for your home can feel overwhelming, but before you start your research, you should answer one key question: How much of your budget have you allocated for cabinetry?
As mentioned earlier, cabinetry typically represents 25–35% of the total kitchen remodeling budget. Knowing your number upfront will immediately narrow down—or expand—the options available to you.
In our showroom we carry 7 different lines of cabinetry to fit any budget
Cabinetry construction and finish options - pros & cons
- Stile-and-rail frames are typically 1½” to 3″ wide and made from solid wood. As a result, this construction helps keep the cabinet square and sturdy, even if the cabinet sides are only ½” thick. Additionally, framed boxes allow for dual-tone finishes, which create a classic, traditional look. Moreover, this type of construction is often used when creating a custom inset style, giving the kitchen a more refined appearance.
- Cons: However, because the frame surrounds the opening, you lose at least 1½” of usable drawer width, which directly reduces the interior drawer space. Furthermore, once installed, the frame remains partially visible between the doors. Depending on the door overlay, this visible gap can range from ¼” to 2″, affecting the overall appearance.
In addition, cleaning the interior can be slightly more difficult due to the small lip created by the frame along the inside edge.
- Pros: If you’re aiming for a sleek, modern look, frameless construction is often the best choice. When two cabinets are installed together, the reveal between the doors is only about ⅛”, which creates a clean, streamlined appearance. Additionally, the ¾” cabinet sides allow for slightly more interior storage, especially in drawers.
Furthermore, certain accessories that may not fit inside a framed cabinet of the same size will typically fit inside a frameless one, giving you more flexibility when planning storage solutions. - Cons: However, frameless cabinets do come with a few drawbacks. For example, some manufacturers do not use plywood for the cabinet sides, which means the hinge mounts can loosen over time. Moreover, this type of construction is generally less sturdy than a framed design, so installation requires more precision and skill.
In addition, the front edge is often finished with a color-matched veneer, which can be easily damaged and difficult to repair.
Finally, frameless cabinets usually require more frequent door adjustments, and while they offer many modern door styles, they are less traditional in appearance.
- If you see a solid color without visible wood grain – you’re looking at a painted finish.!
- Pros: Painted cabinetry offers a remarkably wide range of finish options. In fact, if a color can be painted, it can almost always be used as a cabinet finish. Typically, manufacturers rely on color selections from Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore, which provides an extensive palette.
Additionally, you can enhance the look by adding a color glaze to the door profile or applying it across the entire door surface. As a result, you can achieve a very elegant and customized appearance. - Cons: However, painted finishes do have some drawbacks. For example, the surface can scratch easily, and these scratches are extremely difficult—if not impossible—to repair, since a field touch-up will never perfectly match the factory finish. Furthermore, scratches tend to be more noticeable on lighter colors.
In addition, hairline cracks may appear at the wood joints over time, and this is not considered a defect, as it results from natural wood movement.
Finally, changes in humidity can cause the center panel to shrink, which may expose a bit of unfinished wood along the panel edge.
- Pros: Stained cabinetry provides a beautiful, natural look across a wide variety of wood species. Unlike paint, stain penetrates into the wood instead of sitting on top of it. Therefore, any minor damage is much easier to touch up, and repairs are usually far less noticeable.
Additionally, you can enhance the design by adding a color glaze to the door profiles for extra depth and character.
Moreover, if you prefer a rustic aesthetic, you can achieve it by incorporating decorative pegs, lightly sanded edges, saw-cut details, and other distressed elements. - Cons: However, wood is a natural material, and each piece absorbs stain differently. As a result, you should not expect your finished kitchen to match the sample door exactly—it will be very close but may appear slightly lighter or darker.
Furthermore, depending on the stain color and species, wood cabinetry can occasionally feel too dark or may not align with the overall architectural style of the home.
Hinge overlay refers to how much the door overlaps the cabinet frame. Visually, the difference becomes clear when the door is closed: partial overlay leaves more of the frame exposed, while full overlay covers about 95% of it.
Conversely, inset construction means the door sits flush within the frame rather than over it, creating a very precise, furniture-like appearance.
However, if you plan to use inset cabinetry, there is an important detail to keep in mind. Because inset doors sit inside the frame, you must increase the depth of the cabinets to maintain the same usable storage space.
Typically, this means increasing wall cabinet depth from 12″ to 13″, and base cabinet depth from 24″ to 25″. As a result, inset cabinets will offer storage comparable to full-overlay or partial-overlay designs.
Cabinetry construction and finish options - pros & cons
Framed
- Pros: stile and rail are 1-1/2″ to 3″ wide and constructed of solid wood. This frame helps to keep the cabinet squire and sturdy, sided of the cabinet can be only 1/2″ thick. With this box construction you can have a dual tone finish of the cabinet which gives a nice tradition look. Framed boxes are used for custom inset look.
- Cons: because all that frame around you actually loosing at least 1-1/2″ of the opening for the drawer – basically the drawer space itself. When installed, you will see some of the frame between the doors – depending on the door overlay it can be between 1/4″ to 2″. Clean up inside is a little harder because of the small lip the frame creates inside the cabinet.
Frameless
- Pros: If you are looking for a slick design, that’s the box to go with – when two cabinets installed together the reveal between the doors will be around 1/8″. Only 3/4″ thick sides will give you extra storage space in the drawer. Some accessories may not fit into framed cabinet of the same size as frameless.
- Cons: sometimes the sides are not made out of the plywood so the hinge mount can loosen up over the time. Not as sturdy so requires more skill to install. In most cases front edge if finished with color matched veneer and can be easily damaged and hard to fix. Less door styles available. Less tolerance between the doors requires more adjustments.
Painted Door
- If you see a solid color without visible wood grain – it’s painted !
- Pros: super wide variety of finish options. Virtually, if the color can be painted – it’s available for the finish. I most cases we would use one of the colors out of Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paints. Different color glaze can be added to door profile or applied over the whole door for really elegant touch.
- Cons: can be easily scratched but almost impossible to fix – you will never match a factory finish. Scratches will be more visible on lighter colors. Hair line cracks may appear at the wood joints on the door and it’s not considered as a defect. Shrinkage of the center panel may show unfinished surface.
Stained Door
- How to know if stained? If you clearly see the wood grain it’s stained.
- Pros: Beautiful natural look in variety of woods. Stain penetrates the wood vs paint laying on top so it’s much easier and less visible to fix if damaged. Different color glaze can added to the door profiles as the accent. Rustic look can be achieved by adding pegs, sanded edges, the look of saw cuts and etc.
- Cons: Wood is a natural product and each piece takes the stain differently that’s why you shouldn’t expect your kitchen to look exactly like your sample – it will be very close, but can be a little bit darker or lighter. Sometimes wood look cabinetry can be too dark or doesn’t fit the style of the house.
Hinge overlay refers to how much the door overlaps the frame of the cabinet. Visually, you will see the difference when the door is closed – partial overlay will show more of the frame, full overlay will cover 95% of the frame. Inset – means that the door is sitting flush with the frame and not over it. Very important – if you planning to use inset cabinetry, upper and lower cabinets should have increased depth by 1″ from standard – wall cabinets form 12” to 13″ and base cabinets from 24″ to 25″ – to create the same storage space as in the cabinets with full or partial overlay
How to choose a cabinetry style
The easiest way to begin choosing a cabinetry style is to look through photos of different kitchen designs. For example, you can browse the many images available on our website, or you can search Google Images by typing “Kitchen Design Ideas.”
Additionally, you can narrow your search by exploring specific styles such as traditional, contemporary, transitional, country, or rustic kitchen designs.
As you browse, pay attention to different door styles, color combinations, and overall aesthetics. If something catches your eye, save it—these visual preferences will help guide your final decisions and ensure your cabinetry style aligns with the look you want to achieve.
Ultimately, this kitchen is your space, so choose the style that genuinely inspires you. After all, you’re the one who will live in it, cook in it, and enjoy it every day — so make sure it reflects what you love most.
Where to buy kitchen cabinets
- Pros:
Choosing a local showroom offers many meaningful advantages. First of all, you’re supporting a local business that invests directly in your community. Additionally, you receive a complete kitchen design service, including style guidance, color coordination, and personalized recommendations.
Moreover, face-to-face interaction ensures that every detail receives personal attention. At Alexander Kitchens & Baths, your entire project is managed by one or two dedicated professionals—from design and ordering to construction. As a result, if any unexpected issues arise, you always know exactly who to call.Furthermore, we offer 100% customer satisfaction, because our reputation depends on it. With 5–7 cabinet lines available, we can fit nearly any budget while still offering a wide, customizable selection. In addition, you’ll have access to more countertop options and a team that takes personal pride in every project.
Ultimately, you only spend time choosing colors and finishes—we take care of everything else behind the scenes. - Cons: However, there are a few limitations to consider. For example, not all showrooms carry flooring options (although we do offer a full tile showroom). In addition, many showrooms do not have their own installation crews to manage the entire remodeling process — but we do have an in-house team.
Furthermore, smaller showrooms may not have enough space to display a large number of full kitchen setups.
Finally, pricing can be the same or slightly higher than big-box stores because local businesses carry higher operational costs, such as rent, insurance, and other overhead.
- Pros: Large space available = more kitchen displays; open for business 7am-9pm; offer in-house credit lines and accept other cards with no additional fee; different types of flooring available; free in-store design; 5-7 cabinet lines available; great advertising makes you feel that it’s the cheapest place to shop.
- Cons: One guy can’t answer all your questions regarding the project; kitchen designer never sees your home and cannot make any suggestion; they want you to sign off on the parts list which is complicated to understand; remodeling services more expensive and handles by the third parties which will point fingers in case of any issues; no quality control over whole project; no dedicated person to your project – to many people involved; customer satisfaction is not the goal, sale numbers are the priority; sometimes more expensive and limited choices on the countertops; free in-store design means you seat there for hours and wait till the guy is trying to design a kitchen.
- Pros: You can buy your cabinets without getting off your comfortable couch; cheaper cabinets; when budget is that small, that will be the way to go, but check local stores first – the have those RTA cabinets as well.
- Cons: You don’t know who deal with; very limited door styles; no onsite measurements offered – you have to do it your self; you have to take full responsibility for ordering all correct parts and quantities; your never see the actual cabinet before you get the shipment; delays if something is ordered wrong & you are responsible for the return shipping and handling; no installation offered; nobody ever saw your space and cannot offer any advice; cheap prices = do not expect anything spectacular, they are using the cheapest quality wood, hinges and drawer mechanisms; since it’s all made in the other countries it will be hard to get a replacement down the road when the problems come up; usually – the cheaper the product = less after care included.
- Well,,, there are no wholesale stores, there are no stores that “used to” sell only to contractors and designers, but NOW (what a luck) sell to public. All kitchen cabinet showrooms deal directly with the factory. If this is imported line, we deal with directly with the importer and NONE of those companies sell directly to the public. Do not fall the signs like ” Cabinets at wholesale prices” because there are no wholesale prices. In most cases those are cheaply made cabinets and basically free – but we all know that free cheese is only found in ……. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is 🙂
We have over 200 door and quartz top samples available in our showroom
Where to buy the cabinets
Local Showroom
- Pros: You supporting local business; complete kitchen design (styles, colors and etc); face to face interaction and personal attention to details; Alexander Kitchens & Baths is one stop shop, only one or two people oversee your entire project – design, ordering, construction so if any unexpected issues arise you know who to call; 100% customer satisfaction – that’s what we live on; 5-7 lines of cabinets available to fit every budget, wide selection with more custom approach; more countertop choices; personal pride on every project. You only spend time to picking out the colors, the rest being done for you behind the scenes.
- Cons: not all showrooms carry flooring (we have a tile showroom); not all showrooms have a crew to take care of entire remodeling project (we do have in-house crew); sometimes not enough space to fit many kitchen displays; same or little more pricier because of the cost to run the business – rent, insurance and other overhead.
Box Stores
- Pros: Large space available = more kitchen displays; open for business 7am-9pm; offer in-house credit lines and accept other cards with no additional fee; different types of flooring available; free in-store design; 5-7 cabinet lines available; great advertising makes you feel that it’s the cheapest place to shop.
- Cons: One guy can’t answer all your questions regarding the project; kitchen designer never sees your home and cannot make any suggestion; they want you to sign off on the parts list which is complicated to understand; remodeling services more expensive and handles by the third parties which will point fingers in case of any issues; no quality control over whole project; no dedicated person to your project – to many people involved; customer satisfaction is not the goal, sale numbers are the priority; sometimes more expensive and limited choices on the countertops; free in-store design means you seat there for hours and wait till the guy is trying to design a kitchen.
Online Stores
- Pros: You can buy your cabinets without getting off your comfortable couch; cheaper cabinets; when budget is that small, that will be the way to go, but check local stores first – the have those RTA cabinets as well.
- Cons: You don’t know who deal with; very limited door styles; no onsite measurements offered – you have to do it your self; you have to take full responsibility for ordering all correct parts and quantities; your never see the actual cabinet before you get the shipment; delays if something is ordered wrong & you are responsible for the return shipping; no installation offered; nobody ever saw your space and cannot offer any advice; cheap prices = do not expect anything spectacular, they are using the cheapest quality wood, hinges and drawer mechanisms; the lower the price, the more awful the after-sale service will be; cannot be KCMA certified, as there is no way to guarantee the quality of the finished product since the cabinet is not being assembled at the manufacturer; usually manufactured overseas, so replacement or missing parts cannot be obtained easily – if at all.
Wholesale Stores
- Well,,, there are no wholesale stores, there are no stores that “used to” sell only to contractors and designers, but NOW (what a luck) sell to public. All kitchen cabinet showrooms deal directly with the factory. If this is imported line, we deal with directly with the importer and NONE of those companies sell directly to the public. Do not fall the signs like ” Cabinets at wholesale prices” because there are no wholesale prices. In most cases those are cheaply made cabinets and basically free – but we all know that free cheese is only found in ……. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is 🙂
# Enjoy
You are almost there 🙂 All selections are made, everything is order! Only a few weeks left before you get to enjoy your new kitchen. Now it’s your contractor’s job to finish all that hard work you have already done. Here are a few tips how to pick tips how to pick the right contractor:
- Every construction project starts with the estimate. For everybody’s protection all specifications and the scope of work should be spelled out in the written estimate. Here is what our estimate looks like. Kitchen remodeling project is a complicated process and you should be aware of any costs that included or may come up during the process.
- Check the reviews about the contractor online , see the pictures of the previous work
- Ask questions how your house is going to be protected during renovation. For example, we cover all the floors with heavy duty cardboard called a Ram Board. That protects existing flooring from scratches and other damage that may occur during construction. Probably the most dust occurs during demolition and drywall sanding. All doorways should be closed off with plastic to eliminate the spread of the dust during the process. In addition to that, we install 1200 cfm exhaust fan which creates the airflow out of the house and not into your rooms. During drywall sanding we use professional equipment which eliminates 99% of the dust. Check out this tool if interested – Festool – Planex.
- Insurance is a must. There are 2 types – general liability and workman’s compensation. First one covers your property from the accidental damage which may occur during renovation, and the second will cover all the workers in case of personal injury while at your house. Here is our Certificate of Liability Insurance and Workmans Compensation Insurance
- It takes about 360 – 400 hours between all men in total to complete medium size kitchen remodeling project. So the crew of minimum 2 men should be there 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to speed up the process.
- Do not start the project before you get the cabinetry and other supplies for the project. If something goes wrong with the delivery or wrong product sent – you will be weeks without the kitchen. Kitchen remodeling project is long enough and we don’t think you want to extend it.
We thank you and appreciate your time that you spent reading this long page. Our company is in very competitive business but we prefer an honest environment. Incompetent contractors will go away if people will start making an informative decisions!
We look forward to working with you!
Check out this great video about the colors for your home !