16 Kitchen Cabinet Design Ideas
Update Your Kitchen with a New Cabinet Design
If your kitchen is starting to look a little dated, a new kitchen cabinet design can make all the difference in changing drab to fab. Everybody hangs out in the kitchen, right? Why is that, anyway? Faith Durand, editor-in-chief of the website Kitchn, which as you might guess is about cooking and kitchen design, explains it this way: “In the kitchen, you can relax. You can bump against a counter and not worry about putting that glass of wine down. There might already be some mess.”
With or without mess, your kitchen expresses your style. And you don’t always need to pay top dollar for every component. Whatever your budget, a well-designed kitchen can reflect your personal style or complement the architecture of your home.
And whatever your style and budget, we at Segale Bros. have a few suggestions for great-looking kitchen cabinets. Here is a list of 16 kitchen cabinet design ideas we like, that our clients have been implementing in their kitchen projects:
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Classic
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Duo-Tone
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Color Accent
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Wood Accent
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Glossy
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Freestanding
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New Knobs & Pulls
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No Hardware
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Cabinet Refresh
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Pop of Color
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Fluted Detail
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Refined Rustic
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White & Cream
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Scandinavian
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Dark & Moody
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Matched Grain
Let’s take a look at each of these.
1. Classic
A classic kitchen is something that, with the right details, will never go out of style. These are tried and true details that generally work with more traditional architecture, because the architecture of a home should inform the details. A classic kitchen is usually characterized by framed cabinets with frame and panel doors. Many times, the upper cabinets will be finished with a crown moulding detailing at the top. This is a great example of one of our classic kitchens.
2. Duo-Tone
Duo-tone kitchens are kitchens that have chosen to feature two distinct colors (many times white with an additional color, but not always). Here is a beautiful white and navy blue kitchen that features enough of each color to be interesting.
3. Color Accent
Using one statement color in your kitchen can really bring a unique character to your space. When this color green is mixed with Italian pottery from the client’s travels, it becomes the ultimate personal statement.
4. Wood Accent
Using a little wood to break up a neutral color can be a great design device. In this example, wood floating shelves are bringing some life to pale gray cabinets. This same wood is used throughout the home to make everything more interesting. A wood accent can also be used alternately on upper or lower cabinets for even more depth and interest. Here, all the top drawer fronts are wood to keep the small space dramatic.
5. Glossy
For a modern look, consider cabinets with a glossy finish. These reflect light, making even smaller kitchens appear more spacious. A glossy finish can also add an unexpected formality that can make a kitchen seem more important, and less “casual.” Glossy can also be used in a more traditional context, using a heavily lacquered finish to make a space with architectural details more dynamic, like in this bright green example.
6. Freestanding
Sometimes we need to stand apart from the crowd. The same is true of kitchen cabinets. A standalone cabinet both blends into your kitchen and, well, stands out. This island cabinet has been designed to look as though it is more of a furniture piece than cabinetry. Freestanding can also mean when a literal freestanding piece of furniture is used with standard cabinets to make a statement. Here, a regular table is used in lieu of an island cabinet. Many designers use freestanding storage cabinets to display dishes and glassware in larger kitchen spaces.
7. New Knobs and Pulls
This option is the least invasive and a timely way to change up the look of your kitchen. It can also be the most cost effective option for a kitchen refresh. Replace your existing decorative hardware (knobs, pulls, or handles) with new pieces that will change the “vibe” of your cabinets. If you currently have just knobs, this process is really easy; just buy knobs to replace the existing ones. If you have handles as part of the hardware mix, make sure to pay close attention to the “hole spread” of the screw holes. Don’t assume that these will be standard. You should measure from the center of one hole to another, and keep in mind that some dimensions may be measured in centimeters rather than inches. You’ll have the best luck finding new hardware on websites or in stores that specialize in decorative cabinet hardware.
8. No Hardware
Of course, you could also skip the hardware altogether. Cabinets with a finger pull detail keep it simple with a clean, contemporary look and feel. This usually refers to a door or a drawer face that has a continuous “bevel” routed into the top or bottom like this, to offer a place for the finger to pull the cabinet face open. This might also be something resembling a hole to open the door or drawer. A finger pull can also be integrated into the depth of a door or drawer for an even cleaner look.
9. Cabinet Refresh
You can keep your existing cabinet boxes and “reface” those boxes with new doors and drawer faces. This allows you a little more flexibility on changing the style of your cabinets, as you can pick a new cabinet face style, material, and color. Segale Bros. has been refacing cabinets for decades, and is one of the local experts in the art of cabinet refacing. Most cabinets can be refaced, but not all. Check with your local expert to make sure your cabinets are a candidate. Here is a perfect example of a dramatic transformation, with a small outdated kitchen turned into a bright, modern showplace.
Another method of “refreshing” your kitchen cabinets is to simply paint the existing cabinets another color. This is a favorite among real estate agents, helping potential buyers see the potential in what might be dark, out-of-date cabinets.
10. Pop Of Color
A pop of color can make your kitchen distinctly yours. This can range from bright colored counter tops to an island cabinet that’s a distinctly different color than the rest of the cabinets. This is a great way to make your custom kitchen uniquely yours, and create a focal point in the process.
11. Fluted Detail
Flutes are traditionally a detail associated with classical architectural columns. But fluting has taken on a different application and become more of a modern “texture” used on cabinet faces. as well as feature areas like walls and finished ends of cabinets, as outlined here. Fluting can take on different proportions and scale to add interest to a contemporary design that needs a boost. Here is an example of a bathroom vanity Segale Bros. installed in rift white oak, where the top drawer faces were made from a fluted material.
12. Refined Rustic
Rustic styles have been defined by knotty, wild-grained wood reminiscent of a log cabin. This look is most definitely warm and cozy, but has taken on a more refined interpretation. This look is characterized by wood as the dominant material, but has graduated from wild grain to a more clean, refined detailing appropriate to a gracious and traditional setting. In this new interpretation, wood is the dominant material used to warm a space up, but is paired with classic or modern details in countertops and hardware materials.
13. White & Cream
White cabinets could be considered classic like our first category, but white, and many times, cream-colored cabinets are a perfect choice for those that are looking for a neutral palette to express themselves. Pure white can lend itself to a more contemporary aesthetic, whereas cream (sometimes referred to as “off-white”) can work better for more traditional cabinets, as in this kitchen. Working with light neutrals like white and cream will always give you a fail-safe canvas to complement with other colors and textures.
14. Scandinavian
The Scandinavian aesthetic is the blueprint for most modern design, especially when it comes to kitchens and cabinetry. This style is defined by simple, clean lines that reject decoration of any kind and rely on volume, proportion and materials to define the space. Most Scandinavian also utilizes wood tones, especially those on the light and neutral side, like this example from a San Francisco condo kitchen we installed. Scandinavian design is also associated with the minimalism of midcentury design, and is perfect for those that prefer simplicity in their space.
15. Dark & Moody
Making everything lighter and brighter is not always the answer to great design. Sometimes, the darker the better. Using dark colors for cabinets as well as walls and furniture can create an edgy atmosphere where sizes and proportions become blurred. Using dark, bold colors can also make your space distinctly yours. This is a style for those who want to be bold and make a statement.
16. Matched Grain
When a love of wood grain and contemporary design meet, the go-to style is a matched grain cabinet. This style utilizes “slab” or flat doors and drawer faces, and as suggested, the grain of the wood matches along all the faces. This style can be executed either vertically (most common) or horizontally, and is limited by the size of the material available (most sheets of plywood come in 48” x 96”) and can utilize a variety of materials. Ask your cabinet expert what is available for your particular project.
Segale Bros. specializes in custom designs. Because we fabricate your cabinets locally, you can rest assured that your kitchen cabinets will arrive on time, as promised, and with all the details you’ve specified.
Custom cabinetry provides you with the ultimate freedom to create what best suits your personal style preferences. Why settle for less? Whether it’s the unique mouldings, drawer inserts, or a unique special finish, the details of custom kitchen cabinetry are what make the difference between the humdrum and the extraordinary.
Looking for top-quality craftsmanship? Contact us today.