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Custom and semi-custom cabinets can fulfill all the requisite needs for storage and functionality without sacrificing your own preferences for style and compatible furnishings. Your best resource: local cabinet-makers who specialize in offering you the best of both worlds. types, finishes and designs that complement the room and the rest of the home, as well as shelving options that turn the entertain- ment center into a display case for photo- graphs, vases and favorite items. Another popular custom cabinetry option is a functional yet stylish wet bar. Bar and wine cabinets are not only a decorative fur- nishing, they can also be an important part of the home for any homeowner entertains regularly. Bars serve a practical purpose by saving repeated trips to the kitchen, and add a finishing touch to any entertaining area. Van Orden says that KVO designs and installs custom wet bars on a regular basis, as people are looking to create entertaining spaces that match the décor of the rest of the home. Built-in Child-Proofing Forget the ugly plastic child proofing, or hooks and systems that even an adult has trouble opening. The latest option in child 48 | EAST IDAHO HOME & GARDEN 2010 proofing cabinets uses hidden magnets. Ask your cabinet maker about the built-in child proofing system called Tot-Loks that uses a magnet to secure cabinets. You simply wave the magnet in front of the cabinet to lock or unlock it, and the magnet can be stored on the refrigerator for easy adult access. Green Cabinets When adding or replacing cabinetry, many households are doing so with environmen- tally friendly options in mind. There are several things to consider when deciding to go “green” with cabinetry. Cabinet material—Sustainable and fast-growing softwoods and grasses are a great “green” alternative to traditional hardwoods. Wheatboard or strawboards are MDF-like products made from straw waste and are a highly sustainable. Bamboo is another material that works wonderfully as an option for green cabinets. It is a durable and eco-friendly resource, and is becoming very popular as a building material. Bamboo is a self-reliant plant that benefits from cutting and has the ability to regenerate itself quickly. Stronger and more durable than wood and with a finishing of its own, bamboo is widely being used in making furniture especially cabinets. Finishes—Look for a low-volatile organic compound (low-VOC) such as clear, water- based finishes, renewable natural oil, hard- wax finishes or low-VOC paint finishes. Adhesives—Formaldehyde and glue adhesives that release toxic VOCs are typi- cally used in cabinetry. Look for formalde- hyde-free glues, resins and adhesives. Old cabinet recycling—Reducing waste is an important part of green remodeling. Habitat for Humanity accepts used building materials and gives a tax credit as well. Cost—Green cabinets tend to be more expensive than traditional cabinetry, a fact that will hopefully change as more sustain- able products hit the market. n