While oak cabinets have been a mainstay of cabinetry design, many renovators are opting instead for the look of other types of wood, or using a variety of finishes.  Before buying cabinets, take a look at all the options:

 

·           oak

·           maple

·           pine

·           cherry

·           hickory

·           stains, glazes and blended finishes

·           laminates and wood veneer

·           the “distressed” look.

 

Oak

Oak has visible grains running through it. Red oak -- has red tones, while white oak actually has a gray color. The grain often is less appealing to those following the current design trend of adding built-in hutches, decorative molding, and other furniture-like elements in the kitchen.  It appears that many renovators are using woods -- like cherry and maple -- with a cleaner, less grainy look than oak.

 

Maple

Maple is a white wood with a tighter grain than oak. It comes in a natural or blond finish, though the blond isn’t used as often as the natural.  It also comes in a pinkish tone that can be difficult to match with floors and countertops.

 

The “natural” finish often is used to create a cottage look, designed to replicate older pieces of furniture. This involves adding several base coats of stain to the wood, often in brown or red, then a top coat, for example, in white, blue or burgundy. The wood then is wiped with a brown glaze, which rubs off part of the underlying layers.

 

Pine

Pine has a yellow tone and has many knots. This makes it more suitable for a country style kitchen than a more formal or contemporary style kitchen.

 

Pine also is used to make a cottage finish. Pine and maple were used to make furniture many years ago, making them more authentic types of wood to use to create an "old" cottage finish.

 

Cherry

Cherry is a red wood that is used with a light or a dark stain and typically is the most expensive wood. While cherry cabinets with dark finishes were popular a few years ago, they are not as common today.  Renovators choosing cherry often use the lighter cherry that looks like maple.

 

Hickory

Hickory is similar in color to oak, but has a finer grain and more gold tones in it. Its coloring is in between that of oak and cherry.

 

Ash  -- is similar to oak, but has a whiter color and a grain that is not as open.

 

Stains, Glazes and Blended Finishes

Wood cabinets are sold with a natural finish or with a stain or glaze or a combination of both applied to the wood. The stains and glazes range from:

 

·           a light color that makes the wood slightly darker than its natural tone to

·           a burgundy or dark brown.

 

Many stains are sold in a matte finish, which has little shine, and a semi-gloss finish that has more shine than the matte finish.

 

A Few Trends

 

·           Mixing and matching cabinet finishes throughout the kitchen to add dimension

·           Combining two colors to help bring blend cabinetry with furniture in surrounding rooms.

 

Laminates and Wood Veneer

Laminated cabinets are made by adding laminate to manufactured wood. These cabinets usually are made in white and ivory color ranges. The laminates are on the lower end of the price range, but there are some wood veneers that run in the same price point as laminates.

 

The Distressed Look

Some cabinet manufacturers create a "distressed" look on cabinets by adding nicks and scratches to the finish to mimic cabinetry that has lived through years of use. It’s often used in cottage, farmhouse and “rustic” designs.