When selecting kitchen cabinets, begin by defining your style. Do you want a traditional kitchen with raised panel doors and lots of ornate molding? Or, a more rustic look with knotty pine and more simplistic detailing?

 

As you look for the cabinet style, remember that it should reflect the overall kitchen design and style of your home. Traditional style cabinets might look out of place if all other elements in the kitchen have a sleek contemporary flair.

 

The same traditional cabinets could blend well, however, with a center island with the same raised panel door and a few less traditional elements mixed into the kitchen design.

 

The type of appliances and the size of the kitchen also should guide the decision.

 

Types of Styles

There are several common cabinet design styles and then variations within each:

 

·          traditional

·          country

·          shaker

·          contemporary

 

There also are several styles of doors and each door style often is associated with one or two overall design styles.

 

Door Styles

Raised door panels -- have a large front section that is raised above the surface of the cabinet. This section typically has a rectangular shape or an arch along the top. The raised section is surrounded by a thin border that is not raised, then both of these areas are framed by a raised border that outlines the door. The design creates dimension and focuses attention on the front of the door and any integrate detailing, in instances when an arch is used.

 

Recessed panels -- have a flat panel on the front of the door that is surrounded by a raised  strip, typically in a rectangular shape, covering the edge of the door.

 

Flat doors -- are just that -- doors with a flat front panel with no indentations or grooves.

 

Defining Styles

Traditional – is the most popular cabinet style, as it offers a timeless look that is more likely to appeal to a wide range of people regardless of current design trends. This style uses wood doors, typically in oak or maple, with raised panels on the front.

 

Traditional style kitchens rarely include leaded glass doors in the cabinets, as glass doors are considered more contemporary.

 

Country – is similar to traditional, but it has a more casual look. It uses recessed or raised door panels, typically in oak. It differs from the traditional style in that it has little or no ornate elements, such as crown molding.

 

Usually a country look is more plain, so you won't find as many bells and whistles. You'll see more knick knack's, you see more personality of the home owner because they're usually collectors of stuff that is then displayed around the kitchen.

 

Shaker -- has a recessed panel and strips, often three-inches wide, running down the center of the doors and along the edges. This adds dimension and style in the center of the door panel. It also takes the design to a more traditional, conservative look.

 

Contemporary -- typically has a flat door panel with a laminated style finish. Often the door is white. This type of style uses colors to make a statement, such as pairing white cabinets with black countertops or a floor with a black and white pattern.

 

"There's more snap to the color," Wilson said. "It isn't meant to be blending like you'll see in other styles."

 

Contemporary style kitchens often include doors that are created with a "full overlay." The door is considered "frameless" because it covers the entire front of the cabinet so that very little of the cabinet base shows. This differs from the traditional style, which often shows one-inch or more of the underlying cabinet base around the doors.

 

Style and Resale

The key to deciding which style fits your kitchen is to think about your personal style and how long you plan to stay in the house. Cabinets with traditional elements are viewed as better for resale value because they appeal to a wide range of consumers. The contemporary style is not as popular and is best used when resale value is not an immediate consideration.