When it comes to building a kitchen, whether you’re starting from scratch or renovating, your cabinets are a huge component of the final design. Kitchen cabinets decide the layout of your kitchen, and they’re what makes your kitchen functional. There’s no doubt about it, choosing the right cabinets, and the right cabinet features will pull your new kitchen design together. Here are a few kitchen cabinet features to consider when you’re designing your new kitchen:
Frameless vs. Framed Cabinets
We’ve talked about frameless cabinets before because they’re a big trend in kitchen design right now. Frameless cabinets are constructed so that the cabinet door covers the reveal, or the space in between each cabinet, completely. Since there is no space between drawers, doors, and each set of cabinets, frameless cabinets give you a sleek, modern look, and removing the stile between cabinets offers you a little extra storage space.
Framed cabinets offer the more traditional look seen in classic style and farmhouse kitchens. Framed cabinets are available in a variety of styles, ranging from inset doors, where the door of the cabinet fits inside the reveal or stile, to a semi-overlay, where the cabinet door sits on the stile between cabinets, revealing just a bit of wood between one drawer or cabinet and then next.
Both frameless and framed cabinets are beautiful, sturdy choices, they just offer slightly different styles. If you’re looking for a modern, industrial look, frameless cabinets are likely the best bet for you. Framed cabinets are great for a more traditional home looking to achieve a farmhouse or vintage feel.
Painted vs. Stained Cabinets
One key cabinet feature you can’t overlook when designing a new kitchen is whether you’ll go with a painted cabinet or a stained cabinet. Both looks are common in today’s kitchen design, so you don’t really have to worry too much about accidentally choosing a style that’s outdated. This cabinet feature really comes down to preference.
Painted Cabinets
Painted cabinets can give your kitchen a sleek, finished look. If you love a bright white kitchen, then painted cabinets might be for you. Paint is also a great way to cover up older cabinets if you’re remodeling an existing kitchen. Save money replacing those older cabinets by just painting them a fun, modern color. They’ll look as good as new!
Stained Cabinets
Stained cabinets are also a popular option — classic wood grain never goes out of style. From modern industrial to farmhouse, there’s always a stain you can use to blend your cabinets in with your style. Right now, lighter stains and weathered, grey stains are the most popular looks for cabinets, but it’s good to know that a stained cabinet looks best on higher-grade cabinet styles. If you have a manufactured wood or fiberboard cabinet, the end product may not look as authentic as something like an oak or hickory cabinet.
Prefab vs. Custom Cabinets
This is a kitchen cabinet feature choice that really comes down to your budget. If you’re putting large portions of your budget into high-end appliances and flooring, you might want to save some money on your cabinets by investing in prefabricated options. It’s good to remember that prefabricated cabinets are still great quality, they’re just manufactured in standard sizes so they can ship a little faster, and so the manufacturer can offer a lower price.
If you’re looking for somewhere to save a little, and your kitchen is fairly standard-sized, prefabricated cabinets are a great choice. You’ll still be able to choose between a number of standard options for the face and finish of the cabinets, so you get the end look you’ve always wanted.
If cabinets are important to you, and you’ve got the budget for it, custom cabinets are the best way to get exactly what you want from the cabinet style and details to the finish. Custom cabinets give your kitchen a handcrafted focal piece to design the rest of the room around. They’re also a great way to get some of those custom storage options you might be looking for, like hidden appliances and custom pantry options.
Cabinet Doors: Glass vs. Solid
Many homeowners opt for just a few glass-door cabinets to house things like dishes and glassware and then put solid doors on the rest of the cabinets. The glass-door options add a bit of additional light and character to any home, making your kitchen feel bigger and more open.
If you’re worried about glass doors showing off clutter, solid cabinet doors throughout your kitchen are also an option. This is a modern trend that really helps provide a clean, minimalist look throughout the kitchen. If you’re thinking about an industrial or modern style for your kitchen, solid cabinet doors might be the best option for you.
A Few More Cabinet Accessories to Consider
And of course, we can’t talk about kitchen cabinet features without talking about some of the cool, innovative storage features available today. It’s worth it to consider these kitchen cabinet features before you even start talking to a contractor because each of these can change the way your kitchen is styled. If you want custom cabinet accessories, make sure you know which options you want before you start shopping.
- Lazy Susans are a great way to make “dead” space in corners work for you.
- Spice Drawers are perfect for the home chef. Pull out spice racks or spice drawers ensure all of your spices are organized and at the ready for whatever dish you’re cooking up next.
- Slide Out Baskets and Bins are great ways to hide cluttery items like the trash can or recycling center. Easily stow those items away in slide-out bins to keep your kitchen clutter-free.
- Roll Out Pantry. Pantry storage is the next big trend in kitchens. There are a number of ways to make your pantry work for you, but roll-out pantries are especially cool.
No matter what type of cabinets you’re into, Zeeland Lumber & Supply can help you get the best product to complete your kitchen. We offer a variety of options at a variety of investment levels from some of the best cabinet brands on the market. Stop into one of our locations to look at some of our available selections, or give us a call at 888-772-2119 for more information.
