What’s New for Kitchen Cabinets?

The key to staying on trend with your kitchen cabinets is to always be looking ahead. What’s hot right now will obviously be old news in a year or two. If you want to stay ahead of the trends, you need to look for what seems to be emerging. There are several different looks that are promising to be big in the future. Also, looking to Europe is always a good way to see what might be coming to the United States next season.

Gray Is in

For the past few years, white has been the most popular color for kitchen cabinets. It’s clean, simple, and elegant. Also, it goes with everything. However, white can be a little bit bland, a little flat, and it shows every speck of dust or grease. If you want to be able to go a little bit longer without cleaning up smudges and spills, you want gray. Gray also offers you some versatility if you want to add layers to the kitchen. For example, gray ranges from very light grays that are almost white to grays that almost black. You can mix and match these different grays to get a lot of depth for your kitchen.

Offset the Floor

Cabinets don’t exist in a vacuum. They can complement or they can contrast with the floor. For a long time, the all-white kitchen has been the age of the internet. Now, the trend seems to be moving towards offsetting the floor with some contrasting cabinets. Dark floors seem to be here to stay; therefore, you could choose a very light color for the cabinets. That will make the cabinets adn the floor pop.

If you have a light colored floor, especially something white, a dark cabinet would look great.

Gray Undertones

As stated earlier, gray is going to be very popular soon. However, that doesn’t have to mean your cabinets are gray. Gray is a great base color for building on. You can use gray undertones to make something a little more sedate and sophisticated. A gray undertone also he3lps a cabinet look aged with a slight patina without making it look damaged or old. Gray just adds richness to the color.

Metals

Metal is very popular for cabinetry now. Small understated hardware seems to be on the way out. Bigger and bolder cabinet hardware is in. That’s great news because it really opens up your hardware options.

5 Trends in Cabinetry

Every part of your home is subject to a trend; when that trend is short-lived, it’s considered a fad. There are some trends that are destined to stand the test of time, though. These are the ones that are timeless and classic while still looking modern and contemporary. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the kitchen. It’s the room where nearly everyone goes when they come to your home. It’s where you spend a lot of your time as well. That’s why kitchen trends are always changing. Here are five trends in kitchen cabinetry that you should consider.

1 – Shaker Styles

The shaker style decor is simple and unadorned; it’s named for a group of Quakers who make quality furniture without much embellishment. Shaker-style cabinets have become very popular in kitchens. They’re especially popular when paired with either a bare wood look or a very light color of paint.

2 – Efficiency Multipliers

Cabinets have moved beyond being just rectangles where you stack your items haphazardly. The new trend in cabinetry is an emphasis on efficiency multipliers. That means hidden features such as spice racks and lazy susans. It also means bread boxes, pull-out trays, and other features that allow you to more efficiently use the space.

3 – Shades of White

Simple lines and colors are very popular at the moment. They’re often paired with a very light color for the cabinets themselves. There are more shades of white than ever, and white will never go out of style. It will always be timeless and classic; it helps to brighten any room as well as providing a sense of greater space.

4 – Glass-Front Cabinets

Glass-front cabinets are incredibly trendy at the moment. They break up the visual monotony of walls of cabinetry. They also give you an opportunity to display any types of collectible dishware you might have. If you have a collection of coffee mugs, you want someone to be able to see it.

5 – Appliances in Cabinets

Remodeling experts say they have been installing more hidden appliances than ever before. In the past, your dishwasher, refrigerator, and any other appliances stood out as a break in your cabinetry. Now, cabinet doors are being installed over the appliances to create a seamless look to your entire kitchen. It is a clean and simple look.

These are five common trends that you should think about when you are remodeling your cabinets. They’re all timeless and will look good for decades.

The Most Popular Woods For Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are made in a variety of different hardwoods. If you’re looking for the most affordable cabinets, you might even be able to find a softwood such as pine. They’re typically finished with vinyl finish, though, because pine is so soft. If you’re looking to have the natural wood look shining through, you need a hardwood.

Maple

Maple is a very popular hardwood for many different applications, cabinetry being one of them. Typically, maple cabinets are lightly colored. They’re usually off-white to a cream color. They’re great for any room that needs to be bright and airy. Also, they’re great if you plan to stain the cabinets. Since they’re so light in color, they take a stain very well.

Oak

Oak is something of an all-purpose hardwood. It can be used for everything from a barbecue smoker to a cabinet. Oak ranges in color from off-white all the way to deep reddish colors. Mineral deposits as the oak was growing can lead to inclusions of green, black, and even blue. It’s one of the most diverse woods in terms of color.

Cedar

Cedar is a little more difficult to come by, but it is very popular. Cedar is popular because oils in the wood lend themselves to a very peppery and welcoming fragrance that is very distinct. Also, the wood itself is resistant to rot, moisture, and pests. Oftentimes, cedar cabinets aren’t even sealed with polyurethane or oil. They’re left in their natural state.

Alder

Alder is a very lightly colored wood with a light grain that’s not very dramatic. Alder is the preferred wood for people who want subtle cabinets or who want to paint them. Since the grain does not stand out in a significant way, you might even be able to paint your alder cabinets without priming them first. Also, the light color will not show through even on a light paint.

Pecan

Pecan has very dramatic wood grain that tends to assert itself against all but the darkest stain. If you want to stain a wooden cabinet a certain color while still keeping the look of the natural grain, pecan is a good choice. Hickory is also a good choice as well. The terms “pecan” and “hickory” are often used interchangeably to refer to the same tree.

These are some of the most common dn most popular hardwoods used for kitchen cabinets. A kitchen cabinet needs to be able to stand up to heat and humidity; a well-maintained hardwood will do that.

Investing in Kitchen Cabinets Before Other Remodeling Needs

If you want to update your kitchen but don’t have the budget for an entire remodel its best to start with the cabinets. Adding new appliances and updating finishes may help give the kitchen a bit of a face lift but can’t help much with functional issues and can be costly. Appliances are generally designed to fit a specific space and may not be reusable later, the same goes for countertops.

Updating the cabinets first is vital because they are the footprint and foundation of the room. When a designer works on a kitchen they start with the cabinets. They determine so many factors in the space like the size of the cabinets, what type of appliances will be needed as well as how they will be placed. If you update the counters and later want to change the footprint of your kitchen you will have to start back at square one with the countertops.

Next, cabinets are a big undertaking while replacing countertops, cabinets, backsplash and other finishes is easier. Cabinets are installed and become a permanent fixture in your home while these other items can be replaced with much less work. If you add the cabinets and budget friendly countertops you can later replace the countertops with very little mess and construction.

One of the biggest reasons you should focus first on cabinets is because they are the biggest part of your budget. Installing quality boxes and cabinets will allow you to update and upgrade them as time goes on without the cost of a big remodel. Using high quality materials and well constructed products can allow your cabinets to last for decades. Cabinet doors may need refinishing, hardware updates and other cosmetic changes but the cabinets will last for decades with little sign of wear.

If you are looking to update your kitchen in a full remodel the cabinets will likely be about 35-50% of your budget. If you don’t currently have the budget to remodel your entire kitchen you may want to consider adding the new cabinets and choosing a lower end set of appliances (or reusing the existing appliances) and adding low cost countertops. Once the footprint of your kitchen is established you can add the more polished finishes as your budget allows.

If you have a tight budget and still want to update your kitchen the countertop is a great place to cut costs. The high end laminate counters have come a long way in both looks and durability and can be a great cost saving option.

The post Investing in Kitchen Cabinets Before Other Remodeling Needs appeared first on hardwood marketing.

Three Ways to Revitalize Your Old Cabinets

Most kitchen and bathroom cabinets are made of hardwoods. They can be solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. An engineered cabinet is one that is made of a thin veneer of hardwood and several layers of pressboard or plywood underneath it. A solid hardwood cabinet is made from single pieces of solid hardwood. Either type of cabinet should last for a very long time if you take care of it. However, However, the bathroom and the kitchen are two of the harshest rooms in your home. The temperature and the humidity in the bathroom or kitchen can change dramatically. That can cause wood to swell or contract and damage the wood ultimately. That’s one of the reasons wooden cabinets are painted. However, you might need to revitalize them after a while. You can paint it, refinish it, or strip it. Either one is a great choice.

Refinishing Your Cabinets

To refinish your cabinets, you’ll first need to remove the existing surface of the cabinets. If your cabinets are painted, they likely don’t have another top coat. You will use a paint stripper to remove the paint from the cabinets. Many people prefer a paint stripper gel because it does not splash the way a liquid might; it’s a very caustic chemical, and you should be very careful when you use it.

Once you’ve stripped off the old paint, you have the option to either stain it, paint it, or just put a finish on it. If you like the way the bare wood looks, you should consider just applying a polyurethane coating to the wood. You’ll need to use a few coats to get the right thickness to the clear coat.

Stripping Your Cabinets

One current trend in cabinetry is a rustic or distressed look. These are cabinets that are designed to look like antique cabinets that have been through rough treatment. The aging leaves a patina that many find very attractive. One way to mimic that is with paint stripper. The same paint stripping formula that you could use to remove all of the paint can be used to remove only some of the paint. Apply the stripper in a random manner and remove parts of the stripper at different intervals. This will create inconsistent paint removal and mimic the patina of aged wood.

Painting Your Cabinets

Finally, you can choose to simply repaint your cabinets. In most cases, you’ll be able to sand the original surface and then paint over the existing paint. You should use a medium-grit sandpaper to rough up the paint and give the new paint something to which it can adhere.

Any of these three options can turn old cabinets into exciting new additions to your home.

The post Three Ways to Revitalize Your Old Cabinets appeared first on hardwood marketing.

How to Make Old Cabinets Look New by Making Them Look Old

If you’ve paid attention to interior design at all in the last few years, you will have noticed the increased focus on distressed wood. Distressed wood is wood that looks as if it has been aged and weathered. Often, it will develop a patina of age that comes from years of moisture and handling that leads to uneven paint. Furthermore, paint will often chip and flake. The wood might bear scars and dings from years of use. When this occurs naturally, the wood is aged or antique. When it is done artificially, it is typically known as distressed. If you want to make your old cabinets look new and trendy, you should consider distressing them. One of the benefits of distressing your cabinets is that you can’t mess it up; the idea is to mess up your cabinets.

1 – Remove the Cabinets

You should remove the cabinet doors and take them outside. Prepare them to be distressed by cleaning them with a mild detergent and a cloth. If they’re exceptionally dirty, you might need to brush them.

2 – Paint Stripper

Paint stripper will remove paint from almost any surface. To remove all of the paint from the wood, you can apply an even coat of stripper according to the directions. Follow the instructions on the packaging to do it safely. Be careful with stripper; it is generally very caustic. If you want to distress the paint but leave some in place, apply the stripper deliberately unevenly. You might also want to remove it sooner than the packaging suggests. That will remove lots of paint but likely leave traces of it in spots.

3 – Wire Brush

A wire brush is a great way to distress your cabinets. Running the wire brush over the cabinets will scratch and scar the wood. It will also remove some of the paint but leave it in the places between the bristles.

4 – Sander

A sander is another great way to remove paint and distress wood. A very coarse grit sandpaper will remove a lot of paint and wood. Make sure not to remove too much from the edges of the cabinet door or else it will no longer fit properly.

Once you’ve done all of these things, you can seal your cabinets with a polyurethane or a coat of varnish if you want to preserve the finish. You could also leave them unsealed and watch as they continue to weather.

What Cabinet Trends Are on the Horizon?

Kitchen design goes through trends and phases as with any other type of design. One of the most trendy elements is the cabinetry. Your kitchen cabinets are obviously very useful for storing and organizing your items; they’re also usually right at eye level or just above it. That means that they catch the eye of anyone who walks into your kitchen and help to create the design look. For these reasons, the right cabinets can make all of the difference. Here are a few trends in kitchen cabinetry to keep an eye on in the coming months.

1 – Simplicity

Simple cabinets have been growing in popularity for years. Oftentimes, these are cabinets built in the shaker style. The shakers are a religious sect founded in the 18th century. They emphasized simplicity in their designs. Therefore, their designs are not very ornate or embellished. That simplicity can be very striking and appealing.

2 – Light Colors

Light colors are neutrals and pastels that help a room seem brighter and more open. If you have windows in your kitchen, light coming into the room will bounce off your cabinets and help brighten the entire room. Furthermore, it will make a room seem larger.

3 – Customized Drawers

In the past, a cabinet or drawer was typically just an empty box. If you wanted to store your silverware or something specific, you needed a special insert. Now, kitchen cabinets and drawers are often built with the specialization in mind. Cabinets are being built with cubbies for silverware, racks for plates, and narrow pockets for cookie sheets. There are other elements that have become popular as well. These elements are popular because they reduce the amount of things you need to buy.

4 – Appliance Cabinets

Another popular trend is to hide your appliances. As they become more modern and useful, appliances tend to look more attractive as well. However, if you don’t want your refrigerator and your dishwasher to stand out against your design scheme, you could hide them being cabinet doors. That will create a more unified look to your kitchen.

5 – Floor to Ceiling Cabinetry

Floor to ceiling cabinets are popular as well. As stated earlier, cabinets are typically at or above eye level. However, if you install floor to ceiling cabinets, you’ll be able to utilize wall space that is normally wasted. You’ll be able to store more items, get more things off the floor, and hide more of your kitchen items behind doors.