We Get It... Those Old Cabinets Need to go!

With most Homeowners who roll their sleeves and prep their home for a remodel project tends to have kitchens that are outdated (10 Years+).

Selecting cabinets for a kitchen renovation might appear straightforward, as they primarily serve as containers for dishes, glasses, and kitchen tools. One might assume it's an easy task.

However, the decision-making process can actually become quite intricate due to the numerous design intricacies and available features – not to mention the substantial investment required. Hence, it's crucial to ensure that the chosen cabinets will bring satisfaction for a prolonged period.

But how can you determine the ideal choice for your residence?

It obviously hinges on your initial setup. Distinguishing between an apartment and a house yields a stark contrast. The same applies to traditional versus modern homes. Moreover, your culinary and hosting aspirations should significantly impact your kitchen's design.

To help navigate the array of options, see our input on the topic on how our experience can guide our clients towards the most suitable selection.

Emphasizing Drawer Utilization

Begin by directing your attention towards the lower cabinets. While some come equipped with doors and shelves, a growing number of designers now lean towards options with drawers.

If you have a preference for the appearance of a door, there's a clever solution: Incorporate pullout drawers resembling trays within the cabinet.

This typically offers the same storage capacity. On occasion, I'll even include a bottom drawer that extends along with the door, accompanied by an additional inner drawer on top. It consistently offers greater functionality.

Choosing Between Upper Cabinets and Shelves

The trend of replacing upper cabinets with open shelving above countertops has persisted for years, but it isn't suitable for everyone.

Some of our clients are really drawn to the idea of exposed shelves. However, we feel the need to emphasize that it requires curation. You can't simply place all your kids' mugs and miscellaneous items there. Some individuals fail to realize that those well-arranged shelf pictures on Pinterest or Instagram are the result of hours of curation.

As a middle ground, we've provided homeowners with a combination: some upper cabinets for fundamental storage and some open shelves to showcase cherished dishes. It's a delicate balance of addressing their storage needs and their ability to maintain the curated aesthetic. The goal is to have a kitchen that exudes cleanliness and organization, rather than appearing chaotic.

Choosing Between Full Overlay and Inset Doors

A distinctive characteristic that sets kitchen cabinets apart is the choice between full-overlay doors and drawer fronts, as opposed to inset ones.

Full-overlay doors commonly employ concealed European hinges, completely concealing the cabinet edges when shut. This design allows doors and drawer fronts to align seamlessly, leaving minimal gaps in between. Many Ikea and European cabinets follow this style, often resulting in a modern and streamlined appearance.

On the other hand, inset doors and drawer fronts are set within a broader face frame that encompasses the cabinet edges from behind. This arrangement creates spacing for a more traditional aesthetic, often accentuated by visible hinges.

Certain kitchens also feature half-overlay doors, where cabinets possess a face frame that is partially concealed by overlapping doors. However, this style has largely waned in popularity.

It's not a matter of one type being superior to the others; the key is determining which appearance resonates with you.

In traditional settings, we're inclined to employ inset panels. Conversely, a full-overlay slab front works wonders in a contemporary interior, offering a sleek and uncluttered aesthetic.

Consider Incorporating Panels for Your Appliances

A prevailing trend involves using cabinetry panels to cloak refrigerators and dishwashers, essentially causing them to blend seamlessly into the kitchen's design.

We tend to lean towards concealing appliances as much as possible, creating a kitchen space that evokes the feel of another communal room rather than a distinct kitchen area.

This is achieved by opting for panel-ready appliances, which lack exterior doors but are tailored to accommodate custom cabinet doors.

Of course, paneled appliances might not suit everyone. For individuals who are passionate about cooking and desire that chef's kitchen ambiance, we might opt for high-quality stainless steel appliances.

Give Thought to the Hardware

A plethora of handles await your selection, encompassing knobs and bar pulls crafted in an array of shapes, from flawlessly engineered stainless-steel cylinders to cast-brass wabi-sabi grips.

Numerous individuals opt to blend knobs and bar pulls from the same collection, employing knobs for doors and smaller drawers, while reserving bar pulls for larger drawers and appliance panels.

You have the freedom to either highlight the hardware with a statement-making choice, downplay it with a sleek selection, or eliminate exterior hardware entirely through the use of touch latches or finger pulls.