One of the most important elements of good kitchen design is a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing cabinet. And with the help of the recent housing boom and plenty of home improvement reality shows, most homeowners are pretty knowledgeable about cabinetry and good design. If you are not one of these savvy cabinet consumers, this article is for you!
Most homeowners are already interested in putting high-quality cabinetry in their kitchen, but now many are looking into the details to make the most of a fair and functional design. For example, cabinets that have pull-out waste bins, pull-out shelves, and even slide-out towel bars are becoming more and more popular these days. With today’s technology, so much customization is available to make working in the kitchen more comfortable and convenient than ever.
Some other popular trends include cabinet drawers that house the dishwasher, as well as warming and cooling drawers to match the professional-grade appliances that many people are installing in their homes today. This allows additional appliances like the dishwasher to blend in with the rest of the cabinetry, without distracting from the continuity of the wood and color.
There are even many homeowners today who choose to cover their refrigerators and range hoods with cabinet liners for a very seamless look as the eye wanders around the room.
A new trend is to add some glass front cabinets around the kitchen, albeit very strategically placed to display some neatly arranged bowls and plates or some kitchen related collectibles. The key is to choose something that can remain clean and tidy even with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
When it comes to the material of most cabinets these days, wood is still very “n.” As of 2002, a study by the National Kitchen and Bath Association found that approximately 80 percent of all cabinet purchases are wood. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone is choosing the exact same look. There are many different styles of wood cabinetry, ranging from formal to casual, dark to light wood, and glazed to distressed finishes.
In terms of wood options, some of the favorites today are maple and cherry. The closest finishers are beech and alder. Those particularly looking to make their kitchen cabinets “green” and environmentally friendly often point to lyptus wood, a species of tree that grows rapidly to replace itself.
There are also various styles of cabinets that have come into fashion recently. Among these are American Colonial with raised panel doors and hammered iron hardware. Another is the Victorian kitchen design that features oak with glass front panels and batten wainscoting. Finally, Asian-influenced cabinetry is a great option that incorporates flush paneling and invisible hardware and works well with modern-style kitchens.
There are many options and styles available for kitchen design. It’s simply a matter of putting together the right combinations of colors and details, as well as planning a perfectly functional space.