The kitchen is the heart of the home – this is where your family gathers around when you’re cooking a meal, a place for the kids to do their homework under your supervision, a hangout spot for your friends as you prepare snacks, and they enjoy a glass of wine. Kitchens are one of the most utilized rooms in the house, and if you’re thinking of changing up the style, there are several things to consider before you go ahead with the renovation project.

When it comes to planning a complete kitchen makeover, the choice of cabinet design is arguably the most important since it is probably the single biggest investment you will make. The design of your kitchen cabinetry and its functionality in terms of organization is critical for the overall experience in the kitchen. There are numerous cabinet designs you can choose from that come with varying specifications and organization features. At Modern Kitchen Center, we offer a range of services that includes design assistance, layout for cabinetry, type of material that will be used, and the selection of style. Here is a complete guide to the different kitchen cabinetry designs and the best kitchen cabinet ideas you can install in your lovely home.

Kitchen Cabinetry Styles

When thinking of remodeling your kitchen, the first step should be to consider what type of style and functionality you are looking for. The purpose of remodeling your kitchen isn’t just to elevate the look of your home, but it should also enhance your standard of living by staying true to your personal style. The cabinetry layout and design is the most important thing to consider when renovating your kitchen. There are several styles you can choose from that will perfectly complement the architecture and interior of your home.

Framed vs. Frameless Cabinets

When it comes to kitchen cabinet construction and installation, there are two main options to choose from: framed cabinets and frameless cabinets.

Framed cabinets come with an added face frame on the front of the cabinet box where you attach the doors to the hinges. There are three main categories of framed cabinetry: full overlay, partial overlay, and inset doors. Overlay designs consist of the doors resting on top of the cabinet’s frame. On the other hand, the doors are placed into the cabinet frame with inset cabinets, giving your kitchen a classic look.

Frameless cabinets are gaining popularity in the US as it gives a more contemporary look to the kitchen. The frameless cabinets come with full overlay doors that connect directly to the cabinet box. With these two main cabinet door options, there are numerous styles that you can choose from. Let’s take a look at all the different styles of kitchen cabinets.

1. Shaker Style Cabinets

Shaker cabinets are the most popular kitchen cabinetry style as it comes with clean and class lines. These cabinets blend perfectly with any type of interior details, whether it’s traditional, transitional, or modern. The Shaker cabinet doors are flat panels with a frame that includes horizontal rails and vertical stiles. This cabinet design is simple, yet it can complement any sort of kitchen, depending on how you style the cabinets and the way you pair it up with different design elements in your kitchen. You can make the cabinets look more traditional or more modern by changing the type of detailing around the edge of the frame. You can change the look of the shaker cabinets by increasing or decreasing the width of the frame. If you wish to go for a more traditional-looking kitchen, you can increase the width of the frame and add ornate details. Shaker-style cabinets are known for their versatility and timeless aesthetic; however, they can be burdensome to maintain and clean since a lot of dust can get accumulated inside the frame.

2. Traditional Cabinet Doors

This traditional style of cabinetry is known for the warmth and timeless designs that give an elegant look to your kitchen. If you prefer a more formal vibe of the kitchen and wish to include details that are inspired by furniture pieces such as decorative legs and corbels, traditional cabinet doors will be the perfect style. Usually, traditional cabinet doors come with raised panels and often follow a warm earthy color palette. The details of traditional cabinets include arches, curves, and other forms of embellishments.

3. Slab Cabinet Doors

If you wish to go for a modern-looking, sleek kitchen then slab cabinets will become the perfect choice for your remodeling project. These cabinets come with flat panels, and it includes a single piece of smooth wood, plywood, or MDF. You can get these cabinet doors in a variety of veneers and finishes ranging from glossy white to colored lacquer and neutral wood tones. These flat-slab cabinet doors have no layered detailing, which makes any type of hardware pop on the surface. If you you’re looking to go for a clean kitchen look, you can opt for a design that does not include visible hardware fixtures. Going for white slab cabinets will give an instant minimalist look to your overall kitchen, but you have the option of jazzing it up by installing warm-colored cabinets or the ones with a wooden finish. Since slab cabinets have a flat surface with no cervices, it is extremely easy to clean and maintain the upkeep of your kitchen.

4. Glass-Front Cabinet Doors

Glass-front cabinet doors have become a popular design layout for people who wish to have a modern kitchen but are looking for a way to incorporate traditional-looking elements. Installing glass-front cabinetry in one section of the kitchen is an effective way of adding a traditional element to your otherwise solid-door layout. You can keep decorative pieces, expensive china dishes, and pretty glasses.

The glass-front cabinets allow the light to reflect from the surface, giving the illusion of a wider space. However, glass-front cabinets aren’t suitable for everyone. If you are not too keen to show off an organized display of plates and glasses, we recommend sticking to solid-door cabinets. If you still wish to include glass elements in your kitchen you can opt for mirrored cabinets instead. Mirrored cabinets bring brightness and lightness to your kitchen while also concealing the mess that is inside the cabinets.

5. Distressed Cabinet Doors

Antique-style kitchens bring about a feeling of nostalgia the moment you walk into the room. If you wish to create a cozy kitchen space that gives the effect of a lived-in vibe, then going for distressed cabinets and drawers will do the trick. Distressed cabinet doors are available in every cabinet style, and you can achieve this look through a rugged paint job and rubbing off the corners of the cabinets. Other distressing techniques are also included in getting the old feel of your kitchen.

6. Cabinet Panels for Electric Appliances

Suppose you’re looking to go for a seamless finish for your kitchen and don’t want bulky appliances to distract the design layout. In that case, you can ask your contractor to install cabinet panels with a similar rift-cut as the other storage spaces. You can attach a panel over your refrigerator and freezer and fix it in a cavity, so it gives a seamless finish. This is a great design hack to implement especially if you have a small kitchen.

Design Inspiration for Remodeling your Kitchen

Now that we have gone over the different cabinetry designs to suit your style, let us take a look at various design elements that will give a unique touch to your fabulous new kitchen.

1. Add a Splash of Color to Your Kitchen

Once you decide what sort of cabinet style you will be going for, the next step is to consider the color scheme of your kitchen. There is a growing trend among homeowners to add bold and vibrant colors to their kitchen. Using bright colors brings character to the busiest room in the house, and it’s a window for getting a glimpse of the personality of the homeowners. Mixing and matching contrasting hues will help in highlighting the focal point of the kitchen. If you feel like the bright colors will overpower the color scheme, you can paint your cabinet doors a neutral tone and add a splash of color by adding tiles or decoration pieces to enhance the feel of the kitchen. Regardless of the type of style your kitchen cabinets are, repainting over the cabinet doors will give a brand new look to the entire room.

2. Add an Island for More Storage Space and a Breakfast Station

Introducing an island to your kitchen has numerous perks. You can have more storage space, and it can act as a coffee station where you can store cups, snacks, and a coffee machine. It also provides more counter space, and you can utilize it while prepping food for the family. It can also act as a greeting spot in the morning – you can add high-rise stools so the kids can gather around and enjoy their breakfast. If your kitchen has an open floor plan that is connected to the lounge, you can use the island counter to serve refreshments and food for your guests. You can also choose to include a refrigerator drawer in the space below the island, combining convenience with style.

3. Install Open Shelves for Easy Access

Instead of opting for traditional wall-mounted kitchen cupboards, you can opt for open shelves to display your collection of crockery and other decoration pieces. Open shelves are a great option for people who love to prepare food with fresh ingredients and want easy access to the produce. However, there are a couple of downsides to installing open shelves. They are hard to maintain if you are not keen on regularly organizing the items placed on the shelves. This takes a lot of dedication and effort as dust gets gathered frequently, and you have to make sure the shelves are getting cleaned on regular basis.

4. Incorporating Free Standing Elements and Cabinetry

If you don’t want to conform to the traditional fully-fitted kitchen cabinet layout, you can always choose to go for a more flexible and laid-back layout by installing free-standing cupboards and cabinets. Going for free-standing elements will allow the architectural features of the house to speak for themselves. Adding free-standing pieces brings more flexibility as you can move them around whenever you feel like changing up the space.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Kitchen Cabinetry and Remodeling

Now that you have a complete understanding of how to renovate your kitchen with different styled cabinetry, here are some frequently asked questions by homeowners before they begin the remodeling process:

What are the trendiest kitchen cabinets today?

Contemporary sleek designs are all the rage in the world of kitchen cabinetry. The handle-less and smooth look of the cabinets offers functionality for multitasking and gives a streamlined finish to the overall look of your kitchen.

How much does it cost to renovate kitchen cabinets?

Any renovation project can amount to a huge bill depending on the scale and material required for remodeling the space. Upgrading your kitchen cabinets can cost you up to $50,000, depending on the style you want to go for. However, there are inexpensive ways to upgrade the look of your kitchen – you can simply repaint the cabinetry yourself using primer, paint color of your choice, and a satin-matte finisher. If you wish to hire a professional contractor, then deciding on a budget beforehand will allow them to decide which material and design layout will work best for you.

Now that you know everything about kitchen cabinetry, you are ready to start designing your dream kitchen. For assistance and professional consultation, contact Modern Kitchen Center today and get the kitchen you have been waiting for!