You might think that kitchen cabinet styles don’t really change too much from year to year, but along with the trend toward open floor plans, we’re seeing some fresh new looks that change up the typical setup and style of kitchen cabinetry. If you’re looking to spice up your kitchen, here are a few new ways to do it.
Old kitchen: single-color cabinets.
New kitchen: tuxedo cabinets.
Dressing up your kitchen these days involves tuxedos! That’s what we call the mixing and matching of cabinet colors. In addition to light, medium or dark wood finishes, there are dozens of color choices in stained, glazed and painted cabinetry. So, you not only can choose from a variety of colors, the “tuxedo” style features upper wall cabinets in one color and base cabinets in another. Try soft gray on top and navy blue for the lower cabinets. If you’re fond of white kitchens, try white wall cabinets with elegant black or a pop of bright green for base cabinets. A ”neutral” color can be anything that you want to use as the basis for your kitchen’s personal style. Pick something you love!
Photo courtesy Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.
Old kitchen: solid cabinet doors.
New kitchen: glass-front cabinets.
We know that glass-front cabinets aren’t exactly new, but they look fresh in today’s kitchens that often pack cabinetry from floor to ceiling to get the most storage space possible. If you don’t want to put EVERYTHING that you store on display, a row of cabinets with glass doors across the top lightens up the heavier look of solid doors. Or outfit one cabinet with glass doors top to bottom for the look of a china cabinet or farmhouse kitchen.
Photo courtesy Woodmode Cabinets
Old kitchen: closed cabinets.
New kitchen: open shelves.
Many home chefs love the look and functionality of a professional or commercial-style kitchen. And that means lots of open shelving on the walls. It’s the ultimate in food prep efficiency, with all your dishes, pots, pans, and other tools in sight and in reach.
Photo courtesy Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.
Old kitchen: wall cabinets.
New kitchen: no cabinets!
Gone are the days of having one tiny window over the sink in a dark kitchen. Today’s open-plan kitchen and great room combos are more likely to have a row of large windows where there once were wall cabinets. Nothing to see here but wide open spaces and the great outdoors! It’s a fresh look that we love, but it requires some extra space planning in the kitchen layout so you’ll keep all the storage room you need. Consider adding a walk-in pantry, butler’s pantry, or an extra-large island to give you the storage you need to keep the counters free of clutter. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t have any “black hole” corner cabinets where things go in but don’t ever come out. New options for fitted corner cabinets make sure every inch is useful storage space.
Photo courtesy Frigidaire
