here we meet again for part three of our kitchen renovation series! if you are just tuning in, be sure to check out our part one and part two. today we are going to talk all about cabinetry and hardware!
cabinetry style is another area that will depend greatly on the style of your home. first, know the style of your home – traditional, modern, contemporary, rustic, craftsman, tudor, modern industrial, etc. then decide the style of cabinetry that works best. most traditional cabinets have raised panels with multiple levels of molding, and possibly an arched detail. while contemporary cabinets tend to be simpler, usually with a flat panel and single level of molding, also called ‘shaker’ or ‘mission style’. more modern homes can get away with shaker style cabinets or even completely flat and solid cabinet fronts. for craftsman style kitchens, of course shaker/mission style is appropriate, but we love a good beadboard detail or glass uppers with a craftsman style pane design. there are endless options for cabinetry styles, but below are some of our favorites.
kitchen cabinet styles via
once you have decided on the proper style of cabinet, we suggest that you consider the finish. we are loving a great high-gloss, bold paint color for kitchen cabinets, and this is something a buyer can always easily change should you chose to sell your home in the future. don’t be afraid to stray from the expected stained wood or white painted cabinets, but definitely try out some paint samples before committing! the beauty of boldly painted cabinets is that you can keep the hard surfaces, like the counter and backsplash, simpler with neutrals. this allows you the versatility to change it up yourself in the future with a fresh coat of paint, but as mentioned before, is a safer bet for resale considerations. see some of our favorite examples of this below!
private residence kitchen design by kishani perera inc.
private residence kitchen design via
not sure if you will tire of the color you choose for your kitchen cabinetry? we understand, vibrant green cabinets are a big commitment! don’t be afraid to paint different areas of cabinetry different colors. we are loving darker lower cabinetry with white uppers, a contrasting painted island, glass uppers with a painted interior, or even a slightly different style of cabinetry in different areas of a large kitchen, as seen below!
contrasting cabinet colors via
painted interior of glass cabinets via
you don’t even have to use paint at all to mix it up! instead of wood, consider using metal cabinets, either stainless, brass or zinc, to create a unique look in your kitchen. additionally, there are unusual stain options available such as a cerused finish which really brings out the grain of the wood, or various colored tints. white washed cabinets are beautiful in the correct setting, and we are really loving a grey stain in the kitchen these days. or go vintage, and bring in reclaimed wood for cabinet facing for a warm space! see below for examples of these designs.
steel framed cabinetry via
cerused kitchen cabinetry via
grey cerused cabinetry via
grey stained cabinets via
we also love straying away from traditional matching upper and lower cabinetry by using different styles for each. if you need the storage of uppers, consider using glass front cabinets for an interesting contrast. if you are particularly neat and don’t need quite as much storage, you should consider open shelving in place of uppers. consider wood, metal, or even brass shelves for a great pop. or simply go without any upper storage and let your backsplash do all the work! you can also get more creative with your cabinet door fronts and add in beautiful, yet simple details as shown below.
glass uppers with solid lower cabinets via
contrasting cabinets and island via
wood shelves in place of upper cabinetry via
industrial brass shelves in place of upper cabinetry via
cabinet detail via
custom cabinet detail by brad caplow via kishani perera inc
and we just can’t talk cabinetry without sharing this kitchen design we swoon over regularly. if you have the fitting style of home and budget, we urge you to seek options truly outside of the box. the result can be a beautifully unique kitchen!
unique cabinetry and hardware via
last, but certainly not least, is hardware. hardware is the easiest update for any kitchen. there are endless options, from your basic polished chrome knobs and pulls, to the quirkiest of bronze animal heads! don’t be afraid to be bold. we tend to enjoy vintage hardware in new kitchens, as well as large and out of scale pieces that add a bit of drama and quirkiness. also you can mix it up with knobs on cabinets lets say, and do handles on the cabinet doors. also take placement into consideration. there’s the traditional placement, top corners of the lower cabinets, lower corners of the uppers, but here again, you can add some interest by going against the grain. we love doing center pulls, either on the doors themselves, rather than the frame, which we also like, or doing extremely large knobs in centers of the doors. keep in mind the finish of your cabinet hardware doesn’t have to match the finish of your sink faucet or even your interior door knobs, but all of the kitchen cabinetry knobs and all pulls need to be the same finish throughout the kitchen. see below (and above) for various installations of hardware that are great examples of placement and styles.
private residence kitchen design by kishani perera inc.
identical pull on drawers and cabinets via
vintage hardware in private residence by kishani perera inc.
after you have an idea of the style of hardware you like, consider hinges as well. all photos above have concealed hinges, but you certainly don’t have to hide them! we are loving exposed and offset hinges that match the style of your hardware. it is great in any style of kitchen and just adds a little more character that we personally can’t resist right now. our absolute favorite is the icebox latches and hinges shown below. while a more subtle detail of the traditional brass hinges add just the right pop to the cabinetry.
exposed, offset ice box latches and hinges via
more exposed ice box latches and hinges via
brass hardware and exposed hinges via
be sure to subscribe to our blog to follow our complete kitchen renovation series! and please feel free to leave any questions in the comments below! we know we can’t cover every detail, and we love to hear from you!
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