Here’s an interesting project we did recently.  The client had existing cabinets on either side of his fireplace in a beautifully detailed home in Riverdale.  The request was to build a low cabinet to serve as a window seat with storage inside, that would complement the existing cabinetry and match it as closely as possible.  You can see the results below - click on a thumbnail to see a full sized image.

We built the cabinet out of MDF and had it factory-painted.  (Our production shop has a spray facility for factory finishes.)  MDF is used for paint-able cabinetry, as it provides a consistent surface for even coverage - and also allows for profiles, like the applied molding on the drawer fronts, the baseboard detail and the wonderful edge detail on the surface.  To properly fit a cabinet like this, we perform two site visits with the installation team.  The initial trip is what we call the dry fitting: before the cabinet is painted, we bring it to the site to scribe the surface and do any of the tight fitting.  (In older homes like this one, right angles are few and far between, so some cutting is to be expected, and you don’t want to be cutting the unit after painting, as that would risk ruining the finishing on the perimeter.) After confirming the fit, the cabinet is then brought back to the shop for painting, and once that has been completed, the finished cabinet is then installed, and the handles attached.  The client then outfitted his new window seat with a stylish cushion, and the result is a piece of furniture that is as beautiful as it is functional.

We can also install the cabinet for you as unfinished MDF, in which case you - or a  painter you might hire - would paint it afterwards.  You can use whatever paint you might be using say for your baseboards, and the cabinet can blend right in.  It may depend on the size and look of your project which way you’d want to go - and of course, what your budget is, as painting it yourself will be more economical than a factory finish.  We have examples of cabinets both factory-painted and hand-painted in our showroom, so you can see the results for yourself.

Click here to read another post about another factory painted cabinet project.  And click here to request an in home consultation for your next project.

While we certainly do the vast majority of our work in the Greater Toronto Area, we are performing more and more installations in the surrounding area, even as far north as Muskoka and Georgian Bay.   If your home is outside of the GTA, you don’t have to be on your own for storage solutions!  The process is similar to what we do for our more local clients, with the exception being that rather than come to you first, we will want to get some information from you at the outset so that we may put together a proposal as a starting point.  Then, once we get to a meeting of the minds, we will certainly send someone to see you and do a site visit for refining the measurements.  We don’t have an official radius for exactly how far we will go, it all depends on the nature of the work, and we’ll look at it on a case by case basis.  In the past few months, we have installed Garage cabinets, bedroom closets, family room built-ins, all outside the GTA - and we would love the opportunity to do work for you too!

Here’s how to get started - the simplest thing would be to use our Appointment Request form.  The form includes a space to submit your email address, which we can use to correspond with you with any questions we have about your requirements.   There is also a space to describe the work you would like done - use that to provide measurements and some specifics about what you would like us to do.  (You may also email us at info@spacesolutions.ca if you prefer.)  Whether you need some closets done, a family room, Garage or boathouse storage we can help!

We’re still getting our legs when it comes to making the most of social networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook and You Tube.  But please follow us there and help us build our following.  We’d love to hear from you with questions, comments and ideas.  Have a challenging space you’d like guidance with?  Want to know where to get that accessory you’ve been needing?  Want to recommend a design or structure that you’ve seen, or even promote your services?  Drop us a line through any of the following services, or feel free to use the comments section below.  We look forward to hearing from you, and following you!

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We’ve been getting asked a lot about how what we do relates to the federal government’s new Home Renovation Tax Credit.  The short answer is that yes, nearly everything that we do does qualify for the tax credit.  Since everything we do is custom designed to be installed in the space, our solutions meet the criteria of being “of an enduring nature and integral to the space”.  So whether you are redoing your walk-in closet, a garage. a murphy bed, or even just a set of sliding doors, you should be able to claim the expense under this new initiative.  Qualifying expenditures start at $1000, and you may claim against up to $10,000 of home improvements.  Our receipts and supporting documents will contain the information required for your claim.  For more information on the tax credit and how it applies to you, visit the government website on the matter at www.cra-arc.gc.ca

Most often, when we are custom building cabinets for closets and other spaces we will use laminates - melamine and thermofoil most often, and for some applications, arborite or formica for more heavily-used surfaces, such as desktops and counters.  But sometimes you will want a look that is a step above what any laminate can give you.  It may be a built-in cabinet in your living room, such as a library unit or cabinets straddling a fireplace; perhaps a built-in entertainment center in your family room or den.  Painted units offer you the ability to match any colour, so you can have a finished installation that is really part of the home.   You can take advantage of any available trim and door profile, without the limitation of colour availability.  Accenting your final storage solution with the decorative hardware of your choice provides you with unending possibilities and unsurpassed elegance.

There are two main options when having a paintable cabinet built.  One way is to have the cabinet fully installed in unfinished board, so that post-installation you, or a painter, paints the finished product in your home.  This is ideal when working with larger pieces, say a wall to wall section that will be matching the rest of the home.  We can still provide the hardware for your project, as you’ll want handles and pulls installed after the painting is completed.  We have an example of this type of option installed in our showroom at The Sunnybrook Plaza.

The other option is to have the components factory painted at our facility prior to installation.   The cabinet above - click on the thumbnail to enlarge it - which we recently installed in a client’s home, was factory painted in a black lacquer.  (We’ve lightened the image slightly so you may see the detailing.)  This design features baseboard detail and fluted columns at either end, Shaker style doors on the ends and flat panels in the middle, to accommodate the fabulous locking mechanism in the center.  The counter features an ogee molding around its edge, and the entire cabinet is custom fitted to occupy an alcove in the client’s home.  A beautiful focal point that will be a defining feature for years to come.

To learn more about how we can build a custom painted solution for you, please visit our showroom, or contact us to set up a complimentary in-home consultation.

Space Solutions proudly carries Metro Shelving for flexible, heavy duty applications.  Use it in your garage, your storage locker, your pantry (including their fantastic wine cradle shelves) - even your spare room or home office. These heavy-duty shelves assemble in a snap without the use of tools, and can hold between 300 and 800 lbs per shelf, depending on the size.  Shelves may be adjusted height-wise at 1″ intervals, so you can accommodate anything you need to store.

We stock Metro’s Professional’s Choice series in black and chrome - shelves in this series come in 6 sizes, and units can be assembled in a variety of heights.  Also available by special order is their Super Erecta shelving, considered commercial grade.  The shelves feature a denser mesh, so they may hold a  higher concentration of weight.  There are also many more sizes to choose from, with 6 depths and plenty of length options.  For either series, addons such as wheels and hooks may be added to make your units completely functional.  For more information, please come in to the store, or email us.