How to Renovate a Kitchen & Install Cabinet Sliding Drawers

Renovating Your Kitchen

• 1

  Evaluate your renovation desires and needs. A desire might be to replace a white refrigerator that works well with one made of stainless steel. A need might be to replace your cabinets because your current ones barely support the weight of a few dishes. Use your list of needs and desires to help you create renovation goals.

• 2

  Create a budget. The cost of a kitchen renovation can easily become more expensive than necessary if you do not have a budget. If you're budget is tight, lower your initial estimate by 20 percent so you have some wiggle room in the event of an unexpected repair, such as a mold-damaged wall.

• 3

  Compare replacing to refacing. For example, you might hate the look of your cabinets, but they are still perfectly functional. In that event, you might find refacing the cabinets will give you the look you want without the cost of buying new cabinetry. The same concept is true for countertops.

• 4

  Bear maintenance in mind. For example, if you use tile, you will need to seal, clean and refill the grout to keep the tile work in good condition. Weigh the pros and cons of each material that you want to use.

• 5

  Do not neglect the lighting. Adding more sources of natural light can make your kitchen appear larger without the need to extend the room. Good lighting can also make the room feel more inviting, aesthetically pleasing and make it simpler to complete simple tasks. For example, if you install track lighting, have one of the lights shine into your kitchen sink to help you see all the spots that need cleaning on your dishes.

Installing Cabinet Sliding Drawers

• 6

  Remove the cabinet doors by removing the screws from the hinges on the side and center stiles.

• 7

  Pull out any drawers that are above the cabinet. This can help maximize the amount of space in which you have to work.

• 8

  Install a cabinet partition to the back of each center stile in the cabinet where you want sliding drawers. Then install partitions on the back wall of the cabinet so they are in line with the center stiles. Use the screws that come with the cabinet partitions to secure them in place. You will use the partitions as stubs to hold the rails of the drawers.

• 9

  Install the rails for the sliding drawers. You should install each rail vertically on the sides of the cabinet partitions and the interior cabinet wall. Secure them with screws.

• 10

  Snap the drawer guides into the front rails and their corresponding back rails. The drawer guides should lie horizontally. Secure the guides to the cabinet wall or partition using the screws that come in a roll-out cabinet shelf kit.

• 11

  Cut the panels that come in the cabinet shelf kit to size, according to the dimensions of your cabinet. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the assembly of the panels into drawers.

• 12

  Attach the drawer glides to the sides of the drawers, per the manufacturer’s instructions.

• 13

  Slide the cabinet drawers into the drawer guides. Then reattach the cabinet doors and replace any drawers that you initially removed.