by Robin Roenker
If you’re ready to give your kitchen a major makeover with new cabinets, you have tons of attractive and functional choices. Today’s kitchen cabinet trends range from streamlined and sleek eco-friendly designs to elaborate cabinetry with fine furniture detailing. Here’s a look at the 10 top trends sure to bring your kitchen into the 21st century. Have fun finding the look that inspires you most.
Eco-Friendly Design
Going green in your kitchen is easy with so many Earth-friendly and stylish options. Look for cabinets made from bamboo or other certified sustainable wood. Or choose sleek stainless steel cabinets — most brands are made from about 80 percent recycled materials.
To top off the cabinets, choose among an array of new, environmentally conscious countertop materials, like crushed walnut shells, recycled glass, manufactured blends of bamboo, recycled paper and wood fiber.
Sleek and Modern
For some, simpler is better. That’s why sleek, flat-panel cabinetry that’s free of decoration is back in a big way. To get this streamlined look, select plain wood cabinetry painted either white or very dark. Or opt for basic cabinetry panels made from stainless steel, aluminum, manufactured material or even high-end translucent glass.
Fine Furniture Detailing
If embellishment is more your style, consider the trend toward fine wood detailing in traditional wood cabinetry. Manufacturers are turning out wood cabinetry pieces that have the rich look and feel of well-crafted furniture, with elaborate moldings, ornate under-cabinet wood valences and corbels, turned legs and architectural arches.
Integrated Appliances
For a clean, uncluttered look, hide your kitchen appliances behind integrated panels that match your cabinetry. Today’s cabinet manufacturers offer integrated panels for the refrigerator, range, microwave and dishwasher. It’s a great way to keep the “chore” areas of your kitchen out of sight when not in use.
Integrated Seating and Work Space
The kitchen is the hub of most modern homes, where families gather to eat, do homework, pay bills and entertain. That’s why integrating dedicated seating and work stations into kitchen layout and cabinet design has become so popular. While kitchen islands with bar seating and integrated desk spaces have become almost standard in newer kitchens, consider other options as well, including a built-in banquette or breakfast nook
Mixed Colors, Styles and Finishes
With so much interesting cabinetry available, it can be hard to settle on one look. Fortunately, no one says you have to match. This trend gives you the green light to mix traditional cherry cabinetry with a more modern black, painted wood island. Mix styles and colors of cabinetry across areas of your kitchen: put dark cabinet doors next to a lighter doors in your built-in office area.
The same freedom goes for your countertops: for instance, you can use granite for your main countertops and Earth-friendly recycled glass on the island.
Glass Doors
Integrating glass doors into cabinetry is always popular. Not only does it make it easier to find what you’re looking for, it showcases your fine china, colorful everyday dishes or favorite decorative pieces. And it gives your kitchen a warm, lived-in, personalized feel. Whether you want just a touch of plain or textured glass as an accent on your highest cabinet doors, or you opt for the modern look of full, smoky translucent glass panel doors, there’s a style to match almost any décor. For maximum impact, install interior cabinet lighting to showcase your glass doors and what’s behind them.
Specialized Storage
To ease access to all your kitchenware and pantry items, don’t settle for simple shelves. Take advantage of the full array of specialized built-in cabinetry storage options available today, including lazy Susans, deep pullout drawers for pots and pans, and dedicated racks for canned goods and other pantry items. Install handy, dedicated pull-out storage trays and bins in your kitchen cabinets and drawers to help organize everything from cookware to trash containers.
Innovative Layouts
Rethink the work flow of your kitchen to maximize its efficiency. That might mean flying in the face of traditional positions for your sink, fridge, oven and food prep areas — which often require a lot of walking back and forth from one side of your kitchen to the other. For more efficient food prep, consider placing your counter cooktop directly next to your sink, under a shared range hood. Or form a single, dedicated “wall” of appliances, with one or more ovens, warming oven, microwave, fridge/freezer and dishwasher all placed together on one side of your kitchen. This centralized layout works well with integrated panels that seamlessly blend your appliances and cabinetry.
Display Space
Include space within your cabinetry plan — whether it’s an open bookshelf on one side of your center island or an open shelf above the stove — to display a few of your prized cookbooks, vintage dishes, photos or other favorite décor. Making a few of your cherished pieces focal points in your kitchen personalizes the space and makes it all your own.
Freelance writer Robin Roenker loves the look of an all-white kitchen.
