The 3 Biggest Trends in Kitchen Cabinetry

Kitchen cabinets go through trends every few years. Typically, a few designers begin experimenting with new styles, materials, or looks. They share those looks on social media and interior design magazines. They grow in popularity, and a few years later, they’re bonafide trends. If you want to get on the cutting edge of some coming kitchen cabinet trends, here they are.

1 — Open Shelving

Open shelving can mean two similar things. An open shelf can be a cabinet that simply has no cabinet doors or not full cabinet doors. It can also mean freestanding shelving such as hanging over an island.

Open shelving has a few caveats that you should be aware of. For one, the interior of your shelf will be completely visible. Therefore, you need to makes ure you match the exterior as well as the interior of your shelf to your overall decor. If you have a cabinet door, then only the outside absolutely must match. With open shelves, everything becomes part of the overall look.

Also, you’ll need to make sure you have the dishes for it. You’ll typically see matching dining sets in an open cabinet; the matching sets might even match the overall decor. That’s a very cohesive look. However, you can have mismatched dining sets as long as the sets match either each other or the overall decor. For example, if you have a lot of neutral tones in your kitchen, you want to have neutral dining sets even if they don’t match each other.

2 — Custom Colors

For a long time, cabinets were simply painted the same color as the walls. Now, the cabinets are design items themselves. That’s especially true if you have custom-designed cabinets. You want the artistry and the beauty of the wood to stand out. To do that, you’ll need a color for your cabinets that is different from the color for the walls. Many homeowners choose a transition color. For example, if you have white walls and black floors, you might choose gray cabinets.

3 — Exposed Grain

Oak cabinets were popular from the 1970s and into the 1990s. They were gradually replaced by vinyl and other synthetics that are considered less expensive and easier to clean. Many people with wooden cabinets simply painted over them with an opaque paint. The pendulum is now swinging back towards exposed grain. Instead of painting those cabinets, you can just stain and seal them to allow the wood to shine through.

Replace vs. Reface Cabinets

Cabinets take up almost all the space in your kitchen or bathroom and the look of them can really impact how you feel about the space. The cabinets can also affect how the kitchen functions. If you cabinets are outdated, ugly or damaged you may be wondering what your options are for fixing them.

Refacing cabinets is one of your options. When cabinets are refaced it means you take the existing door fronts and drawer fronts off and replace them with updated doors. You may also reface your cabinets by painting or refinishing the fronts. Some companies even offer a service where they add a thin veneer to the existing cabinets to change the look.

There are a lot of reasons you may want to consider refacing rather than replacing your cabinets. First if your cabinets are solidly constructed and function well this is an ideal choice. IF the cabinets are worn and damaged the refacing will address the aesthetics but not fix the functionality of the cabinets. Refacing worn and damaged cabinets may give you some time before you need to fully replace your cabinets but will likely just delay the inevitable and cost you extra money. Refacing cabinets costs about more than half the cost of new cabinets so you will really want to make sure it is your ideal choice.

Cabinet replacement is necessary when you need to change the layout or functionality of the cabinets. The replacement is done to change the function of the kitchen space and may change the appearance of the space but that is generally not the main reason for the project.

If you are trying to decide between replacement and refacing you will want to sit down and think about the function. If you would keep your kitchen layout identical to how it currently is then a refacing is a great choice. If your budget is limited refacing may also be your best choice. But if you want to make structural changes, upgrade the cabinet quality or change the layout then new cabinets are your ideal choice.

Custom kitchen cabinets are an investment in your home but also a beautiful function addition you can enjoy for years and years to come.

Choosing a Cabinet Door Style for Your Kitchen

When planning out a new kitchen design you will come to the point where you need to decide what door design will work best for your home and style. Choosing a door is not as simple as choosing the design but you also have to choose the color, stain, finish and any distressing. Glazing has become a popular technique for finishing cabinet doors as well.

When looking at the design of the door you will want to consider the feel of the entire kitchen to ensure the cabinet doors will fit well into that design. If you are choosing a more modern door but want distressed glazed finishes this may clash some with the overall feel of your space.

The first step is to step back and think about the overall look you hoping to create. Do you want a modern kitchen with sleek lines? A rustic distressed kitchen? Casual? Contemporary? No matter what look you are going for there is a kitchen cabinet style that will work. Stop and think also about how you will feel about the cabinets in a few years. Choosing a trendy door style may cause you some heartbreak down the road.

Second, think about maintenance and cleaning. Some door styles work best for wiping and cleaning while others are more intriquiet and harder to clean. A flat or shaker style door are great options for homes with children that may need lots of wiping down to remove fingerprints and spills. A more ornate or decorative may work better in a home without kids. Your lifestyle can really affect the choice in this department.

Third, consider what hardwear you want. Some door styles won’t match the hardware that you are wanting. If you want a sleek modern handle you will want a sleek modern door style. If you are set on a knob or pull buy one and take it with you to choose your door style. This will help you get a better overall feel for the final look.

Designing a kitchen is a huge undertaking but when you work through each step logically you will slowly weed out the choice that don’t work for you and come down to just a few choices that work for your home. Many custom cabinet shops and designers can help you with these decisions as well based on their first hand experience.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of a Kitchen Island-

A kitchen island is a popular kitchen add on but they are not for everyone or every kitchen. When working on a kitchen remodel or design you may be wondering if a kitchen island will work for you. As kitchens become more open the kitchen island is become more popular.

First you need to think about if you have room for a kitchen island. The National Kitchen and Bath Association or NKBA says that there should be 42 inches of clearance on each side of the island. This allows you to use the space as a work area and remain functional. If it is just a walking area and not a work area 36 inches should be enough space.

Next, the cost is a big factor to consider. The cabinetry and countertops are the big costs but there are also sinks, appliances and additional features you may want to install in your island that you need to consider. Running these numbers can help you understand if an island is a feasible option.

Consider the benefits and drawbacks of the open kitchen concept. One of the big advantages of a kitchen island is the counter space and additional storage. Also many island include a bar area for eating. The island can also house small appliances and the sink freeing up other island space. If you eliminate the island you can likely regain a lot this storage and counter space by creating a u shaped kitchen. The open plan also encourages more interaction so you will have to consider if this works well for your lifestyle. It can be a great way to interact with your children while they eat lunch or do homework at the counter

An island can disrupt the natural flow of a kitchen. Most kitchens flow runs off a classic triangle layout with the sink, cooktop and fridge. The functional space is much more important than the addition of an island so you will need to be sure the kitchen will function properly. Depending on how your kitchen flow is set and the design shape of your kitchen an island may or may not be beneficial.

There are alternatives to kitchen islands. You may want to look into the idea of a table in the space, a cart or leaving the space open. A table or cart are most cost effective and give you additional space without being permanent.

In the end the choice to add an island is based on what will work for your space, budget and lifestyle. Islands are a great choice but do not fit into all kitchens so considering the specifics is important to making the best decision.

Matching Cabinets with Stainless Steel Appliances

If you have dreamt of stainless steel appliances you may have wondered how they will look alongside your cabinets. Stainless appliances are wildly popular and do work well with many different cabinets styles but are ideal with select options.

You will first want to consider if you are going to be matching your new appliances to existing cabinets or if this is a whole new kitchen design. If you are working on a full remodel you will have a lot more options for creating a beautiful finish product then if you are fitting stainless appliances into your existing kitchen. Dark cabinets with a light countertop are a great option for stainless steel cabinets.

The style of the doors and hardware are something to consider when choosing a cabinet style to work with stainless steel. Stainless steel is modern and sleek and doesn’t work great with glazed or antiqued cabinet styles. It can work but it can also feel like a noncohesive project.

Dark stained cabinets give a layer of luxury to your kitchen and the light countertop will add a luxurious element to the space. The dark cabinets have a rich element to them that feels upscale and high end. Dark wood cabinets are classy and modern and have been in style for years. Maintenance on these cabinets is also great because the dark color helps to cover and hide any issues.

White cabinets are another great option to pair with stainless steel appliance. This give your home a beautiful light and bright feel. The cabinets will stand out against the cabinet but not clash. Painted white cabinets have been a popular choice in the kitchen industry for a long time. They are wipeable and easy to maintain and perfect for a variety of different design styles.

No matter what kind of cabinets you have a stainless steel fridge, oven or dishwasher will be a great addition to your space. Stainless is the top appliance choice for a reason and the beauty and functionality keep people coming back. A custom cabinet builder is a great resource for finding options that fit your style and will work nicely alongside stainless steel appliances.

What are Shiplap Cabinets?

Thanks to certain television shows and a trend towards rustic wood, shiplap has become one of the most common building materials used in interior and exterior design. The shiplap trend shows no sign of slowing down. Before you decide if shiplap cabinets are right for your home, you need to know what shiplap is and what it’s good for.

What is Shiplap?

Shiplap is a material that is known for its use in inexpensive applications. It was first used in building barns, outhouses, and other such inexpensive buildings. Shiplap boards are rough-hewn boards, which means that they’re not sanded and finished as carefully as boards normally used for construction, especially interior construction. The boards are known for having rabbets, which are corresponding grooves on the top and bottom of each board. That allows you to fit them together much like hardwood flooring. That gives shiplap construction its distinctive look.

Shiplap Cabinets

There are two basic kinds of shiplap cabinets. You can buy MDF cabinets that have been designed to look like shiplap. They’re probably the most affordable option but they’re slightly less authentic. They also lack the distinctive feel of the rough-hewn shiplap cabinets. If you want the most authentic shiplap cabinets you can find, you should look for ones that are made from authentic hardwood.

Softwood shiplap is available but most softwoods are, as the name suggests, soft. In fact, you can often dent or scratch pine with your fingernail. That’s probably not what you want from your cabinets. However, some people do like the rustic, distressed look. In those cases, a softwood cabinet might be ideal. It will take on more character as time goes on.

Building Your Own

Shiplap is simple to work with since the wood is designed to fit together. You can build shiplap cabinets yourself with some simple tools. One way to do that is to find thin shiplap boards and lay them over your existing cabinets. Alternately, you can measure your cabinets and build wooden frames in the dimensions of your existing cabinet doors. Cut and fit the shiplap boards together to make your cabinets.

One of the benefits of using shiplap is that you don’t have to be as precise or as skilled to make them look good. They’re rustic boards that look good if they’re slightly uneven or not as carefully constructed as professional cabinets.

Shiplap cabinets are a great trend to take part in, no matter which way you decide to go with it.

Should You Buy Kitchen Cabinets Secondhand From a Restaurant?

When homeowners set out to remodel their kitchens, they’re often shocked by the high price of the repairs. Sometimes, a full remodel can stretch into the five figure range. Furthermore, a third to a half of the cost can be the kitchen cabinets. That’s because the cabinets contain a significant amount of material, they need to be sized appropriately, and they need to be functional. That price can easily rise very quickly if you want insulated cabinets, lazy susans, pull-out compartments or other features. There is a way to keep those prices down, though; you could buy your cabinets used. Specifically, you could buy your cabinets used from a restaurant.

Why a Restaurant?

Buying cabinets from a restaurant has some advantages. For one, the cabinets you get from a commercial kitchen will likely be very resilient. They’re probably stainless steel or aluminum. They’re resistant to scratching, denting, or other kinds of damage. That’s because they’re designed for the stress of commercial activity. Furthermore, they will often be deeply discounted. Commercial kitchen cabinets are deeply discounted because they’re generally priced to sell. They’re not usually priced for the restaurant to make any kind of a profit.

Also, restaurant cabinets tend to have features that standard home cabinets do not.

Cabinet Features

Typically, restaurants have three kinds of cabinets at least. They have refrigerated cabinets, insulated cabinets, and standard cabinets. The refrigerated cabinets are basically just small refrigerators that keep food at a chilled temperature. Insulated or warming cabinets will have some kind of heating element to warm food; others might not have a heating element but will be insulated to reduce heat loss. Either one of these kinds of cabinets can be very useful for someone in their home. You’ll be able to keep food at your preferred temperature for longer.

The Look

The look of commercial cabinets is one that you either love or you hate. The look of stainless steel is very modern and industrial. If your kitchen is contemporary and new, it could look great. If your kitchen is ranch-style or classic, they might not fit the look. Others simply don’t care about the look as long as they’re functional. In many ways, functional is a look in and of itself.

All of these things are reasons why people look for commercial cabinets for their own home kitchen remodel. They’re affordable, functional, and very unique. They might be exactly what your kitchen needs.

3 Common Materials for Kitchen Cabinets

The material of your kitchen cabinets determines how well they stand up to abuse as well as how they look. In the United States, wood is the unmatched leader in cabinet materials. Roughly 91% of all cabinets in the United States are made of wood. Hardwood is the preferred material, but many of them are made of a veneer of hardwood over layers of a different wood. That can be a softwood or just a less expensive hardwood. The other leading materials are metal and glass. Metal cabinets are obviously the most durable; they have an industrial look that you might find in a commercial kitchen. Glass is classic and airy. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Wood

The obvious advantage of wood is that it’s incredibly diverse. There are hundreds of different species of wood; dozens of them are used for kitchen cabinets. Red and white oak are domestic woods that are popular in the United States. They’re near the middle of the janka hardness scale; they’re widely available and affordable. Red and white oak are great choices for anyone who wants a hardwood cabinet. Furthermore, wood makes a great material because it can be stained a different color, painted, or sanded to fix scratches. It can be adapted and repaired several different times.

The disadvantage of wood, especially in the kitchen, is the porous nature of wood. Since wood is porous, it absorbs moisture in the kitchen. It then expands and warps. When it dries, it contracts. That can cause wooden cabinets to no longer fit fast. Also, they might absorb liquid stains and be difficult to clean.

Metal

There are two basic metals used for kitchen cabinets, stainless steel and aluminum. Both of them are very durable and resilient. They’re often used in commercial kitchen because they do not require much upkeep. Neither of the metals will rust under normal conditions. Since they’re nonporous, they can easily be wiped clean. They also stand up just fine to caustic cleaning chemicals.

The disadvantage of metal is that you cannot adapt them. You cannot easily paint stainless steel or aluminum. It’s possible, but it’s not ideal. They can also be somewhat expensive if you don’t find them secondhand.

Glass

Glass cabinets are great for anyone who wants to increase the amount of light in their kitchen. They’re also great if you want to display the dishes in the cabinets. Glass is very breakable and does not readily accept paint.

What Cabinet Trends Are on the Rise?

Being able to predict what will change with interior decorating trends is useful for interior decorators, sellers, and anyone who wants to change their own cabinetry. Staying ahead of the trends is useful because it offers you the opportunity to get cabinets before they become difficult to find. For example, glass cabinets were very popular for a while. If you were to get glass cabinets before the trend hit, you would pay less and have more options than someone who waited too long. So, what trends are coming in the future?

Minimalism

Minimalism has been on the rise for a variety of different industries. It has expanded from everything from running shoes to home renovations. One of the most popular trends that is on the way in the coming year is the trend of minimalism. Designers have been designing and implementing different minimalist cabinets. One element of the trend involves removing the cabinet knobs or drawer pulls. Instead, the cabinet doors just have cutouts for you to grab and pull. The lines are much cleaner and simpler. Look for that trend to become more prominent in the coming months.

Hidden Appliances

Cabinets have long been used to hide appliances and trash cans. A drawer or cabinet that contains your trash can saves you some floor space and eliminates an unsightly trash can. However, the trend only looks to be growing. Newer cabinets have been known to contain dishwashers, refrigerators, and even the oven. That will create very clean lines in your kitchen.

Heavy Woodgrain

Heavy woodgrains have become popular as the trend towards rustic or distressed wood has become more popular. Common woods such as oak often have less pronounced woodgrains. Also, higher grades of wood have more uniform and lighter woodgrains. Those were popular for a long time but they’ve been reduced in popularity. That’s because older cabinets were often made using any wood that is available, which includes lower quality woods. As rustic and distressed wood trends seek to imitate these older cabinets, they’ve moved towards heavier woodgrains.

Those grains can also be enhanced by the choice of a type of stain. There are certain stains that are thicker in consistency and tend to lay somewhat over the top of the wood and reduce the grain. Black and dark grey stains will somewhat obscure the grain. Other stains will enhance the prominence of the grain. Look for those to become more popular.

Unique Ideas For Cabinet Hardware

Cabinet hardware, such as drawer pulls and hinges, isn’t exactly the most exciting subject. However, your hardware can really pull together the look of your kitchen. That’s especially true since distressed and repurposed wood is so popular. Gray and gray undertones are also very popular. Those unique looks demand unique hardware. Fortunately, there are many ways to come up with some truly unique drawer pulls.

Pipe Fittings

Anything brass is going to look great with warm tones such as hardwood. Brass pipe fittings also lend a very industrial look to your kitchen. You could use brass flanges, sections of pipe, washers or anything else. The easiest way to attach them to your cabinets is with some brass or copper bolts. They should thread right into the existing holes for hardware.

Scrap Wood

If you want to keep with a theme of distressed or repurposed wood, you could actually use scrap wood for the fittings. They don’t have to be uniform. In fact, it’s better for the theme if they’re all slightly differently. Depending on the types of pulls you need and the scrap wood you have, pieces of wooden dowel work great as pulls. Cut them to about an inch long and attach them to your cabinets. You can also use pieces to make handles. You simply need to sand them smooth. You can also use black tea or paint thinner to make them look distressed.

Antiques

If you go to an antique mall or even just a thrift store, you’ll likely encounter several different pieces of old furniture. Many of them are in horrible states of disrepair; that doesn’t mean they can’t make good drawer pulls though. Oftentimes, the wood and paint are the first to go but the metal hardware is still good. The hardware often has a patina of age on it that looks very good. If you can get a good price on it, antique furniture is a great source for drawer pulls and hardware.

Industrial Sources

Depending on the look in your kitchen, you might not need kitchen hardware at all. It’s very popular now to use hardware from more rugged applications. Some people even use hardware from exterior doors for their kitchen cabinets. The hardware is big and bold; it’s not subtle and hidden like most kitchen cabinetry. If that’s what you want, head to the section of the hardware store with the front doors.