If you’re sick of your dated kitchen, a few simple changes can bring new life to the heart of your home. Whether you’re looking to add modern surfaces or a classic style, the right choice can calm this busy room.
Replace wall cabinets with white floating shelves to open up the space and accentuate ceiling height. Use a mix of materials—such as unlacquered brass, varying shades of walnut and detailed quartzite—to pull the look together.
Wood Cabinets
Wood cabinets are a timeless and versatile choice that can complement almost any kitchen design. They’re durable and provide a warm, welcoming feel that is difficult to duplicate with any other material. Kemper offers a variety of different wood materials, each with distinct color and style features. One of the most common characteristics that distinguishes wood is its grain, which is a defining pattern that is unique to each individual piece of wood. Many wood types also offer defining characteristics such as mineral deposits and knots that enhance their beauty. Another important characteristic to consider is how the wood is constructed, as this will affect its durability over time. For example, drawers built using dovetails will hold up better than those made using rabbets.
Light wood cabinet colors help brighten up a kitchen, allowing the white countertops, walls, and tile to shine. Here, custom alder cabinets painted a subtle gray highlight the riftsawn oak island and matching perimeter cabinets for a transitional style that complements natural granite counters.
If you’re not ready to commit to all-wood cabinetry, you can add a touch of wood in your kitchen by framing your windows and doors with it. Or, try lining your drawers with it to add some texture to your space. It’s a stylish detail that will offer a surprise every time you open up a drawer.
Two-Tone Cabinets
A kitchen design featuring two-tone cabinets is a great way to add visual interest and create a focal point in the room. This style is characterized by using contrasting colors to create separation between cabinetry and can be implemented in a variety of ways.
Two-tone cabinets can be created by simply painting existing cabinets or replacing upper or lower cabinetry with a different color option. The key is to choose complementary hues that work together to create a cohesive, eye-catching look. For example, a light shade of blue can help brighten a kitchen while a darker shade can help ground the space and add dimension.
Another option is to use a two-tone cabinet style to highlight an element of the kitchen, such as a backsplash, island or windows. This helps draw attention to a specific area and can also serve as an alternative to traditional wood trim.
Finally, many homeowners are opting to mix and match cabinet styles when implementing a two-tone cabinet style in their kitchen. This can create a unique and personalized look that is sure to impress guests. For example, pairing shaker-style doors with flat-panel cabinets can give the kitchen a custom feel while adding a pop of color.
Metal Diamond Door Inserts
With a classic white kitchen, you can go bold with your cabinetry by incorporating craft wire-mesh door inserts overlaid with metal diamond patterns as shown here. The result is a textured accent that adds visual interest without overpowering the rest of the room.
Glass cabinet doors can introduce visual clutter if items are not neatly stacked inside the cabinets. To avoid that, consider semi-transparent options such as frosted or reeded glass or opaque options like painted glass-front cabinets.
Cabinet door styles are one of the most visible elements in any kitchen, and often one of the most expensive. Choose a door style that complements your decor and suits your budget. Shaker styles, which feature square recessed panels, are one of the most versatile and work with any decor style. They also pair well with a wide range of woods, stains, paint colors and hardware. Other popular cabinet door styles include louvered, distressed, inset and glass or mullion.
Black Cabinets
Black cabinets are a bold and classic option that can bring an opulent feel to a kitchen. While some might see them as too dark and macabre, black actually can work well in a wide range of kitchen styles.
When paired with bright colors and metals, black cabinets can look striking and sophisticated. However, because they tend to show dirt more easily than white or wood tones, the color may require more frequent touch-ups. Black also absorbs light rather than reflecting it, so adequate lighting is important in a room with black cabinets.
If you’re not sure about a full set of black cabinets, try a two-tone approach. You can keep your upper cabinets in a bright white shade and add a dark charcoal finish on the lower cabinetry for contrast. You can also choose to paint just the frames of your cabinets in black while leaving the faces a lighter color.
If you decide to go all-in with black cabinets, consider opting for a glossy paint. This type of finish will reflect more light than a flat or matte version, combatting the color’s tendency to absorb it and making it pop even more in your kitchen. If you do choose to paint your cabinets with a glossier shade, be sure to pair them with a few bright touches elsewhere in the room – such as a red accent wall or pink chairs – to offset the dramatic look of the color.