During the start of the year, everybody is geared towards one thing: change. A new year signifies a new beginning which calls for reinvention and hopefully, better things to come.
This change is evident everywhere, and kitchen cabinets are no exception. This year, the type of kitchen cabinet designs have evolved from traditional to bold, modern, and unconventional, where manufacturers prioritize function over style. If you’re in the market for a new set of kitchen cabinets, check out these trends for inspiration.
Light, Simple, and Clean
There’s always something to be said about a classic and that is “legendary”. In fashion, it’s like the crisp white shirt and clean look of Coco Chanel, an icon then until now whether on runways, print, and other media forms. While more colorful cabinets and bold statements are the hot picks these days to suit contemporary home designs, a light and simple clean look still never goes out of style and is still preferred by many. This look is easy to pair with just about any furniture or decor. The good thing about simple styles in neutral hues and tones is that it is timeless. Fads may come and go, but this style will still remain infallible as one of the top guns in cabinet design, which blends ubiquitously with any kitchen element.
Creative Storage Partitioning and Dedicated Spaces
Ever heard of office tables with secret drawers? Well, the same has dawned on kitchen cabinets too, all for the objective of keeping the kitchen clutter-free and organized. Instead of cramping everything on a single rectangular space where a lot of spaces are wasted, cabinetry manufacturers have come out with new ways to maximize spaces within cabinets. Pullout trays, bread boxes, and narrow drawers have been incorporated to partition spaces for storing cutlery, utensils, condiments, and other loose kitchenware. Today’s cabinet releases incorporate swinging doors to reveal storage inserts, pullout doors with hooks for pots and pans, and small drawer inserts set up to hold individual dishes in order.
Customized Cabinets
Customized cabinets are still a hit among many households especially those with very limited spaces such as condos and apartments. What’s so great about customized cabinets is that they can be made to fit any nook or cranny to be functional. You can build cabinets that double-purpose as stools or tables. You can also make use of unused spaces high up your conventional kitchen cabinets to install another set of cabinets where the frequently-used appliances, dishes, and pots and pans can be stored. You can also salvage vintage cabinets, accentuate them with mosaic and tile designs and stencils to make it pop, which you can use as a storage for your cookbooks. There is no limit to what you can do if you customize.
Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinetry
When you want maximum storage, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet is a great option. There is never too many storage in the kitchen especially if you have a large family, or a budding master chef. You can use all sorts of materials for cabinet doors. Translucent and stained glass doors with soft back lighting add value and accentuate any well-made wood or laminate cabinets. Having this much storage allows you to have enough room for any type of kitchen ware and appliance plus a dedicated space for decor.
Geometric Shapes
Although square and rectangle are the safest and most-used shapes for cabinets, there’s nothing wrong with having cabinets that are of a different shape. Be more adventurous and prefer a break in tradition by using shapes such as triangle, rhombus, or octagon.
Mismatched Cabinets
The eye deserves a break from the monochromatic scheme that everyone is used to. It’s time to come out of your comfort zone and experiment with different textures, material, or color. If you’re feeling artistic and bold, mix wood with metal, white with natural wood color, or mosaic tiles with stone accents. There are no rigid rules in design, so you’re free to experiment to your heart’s content. It’s all about creating a disruption from the norm, be it in color or material. Just make sure that you have a concrete plan figured out before you implement this. Otherwise, everything will look topsy-turvy and cheap. On the other hand, if implemented correctly, you can make your cabinets look like a million-dollar work of art.
Colorful Accents
If you have been playing it safe for the last 30 years with whites, don’t you think it’s high time you let loose once and for all and experiment with colors? Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of vibrancy in newly-renovated kitchen cabinets. You would think that incorporating pinks, pastels, blues, and lime colors seem murder, but these photos prove otherwise. If painting your cabinets red still sounds crazy to you, why don’t you start with accents that, though not a total refinish, make your kitchen storage pop? Try hanging plants on your cabinets, or adorn them with a series of colorful food paintings. Instead of white cabinet mouldings, you can use subtle yellow or a contrast of black to add depth and a little texture. These simple additions contribute mostly to making your kitchen cabinets more attractive, plus, you can certainly remove them when you feel like it.
The Look of Furniture
Who would have thought you can bring in living room elements inside the kitchen? Blame it on the European 1900s’ influence. Some kitchen cabinets that came out this year emulate china hutches, columns, buffets attached to kitchen cabinet doors or simply an adornment. Add old school carvings to your kitchen cabinet doors or look for knobs with intricate designs instead of the usual metal or crystal knobs. From arches on kitchen doors and plant-like designs representing Art Nouveau, to symmetrical and elaborate ornamentation representing Beaux Arts, the impact of 1900s European is prevalent even in kitchen cabinets.
Embellishments
Flat is out! Along with color, we’re also seeing an increasing trend in textured cabinets. This would sit well with those who don’t want to change color but add depth to a functional cabinet. Embellishments come in many forms; they can be embossed paint, wood carvings, stencil cutouts or even moldings to create subtle, at the same time, significant decorative features — a break from the uniformity without going overboard.
Senso Matic
The cabinetry industry didn’t want to be left behind. Manufacturers are bringing in technological innovations to new cabinet lines. In keeping with the global trends, we’re seeing hydraulics in doors for better efficiency. This kitchen cabinetry innovation is called Senso Matic wherein, with a touch of a button, your kitchen cabinet door opens or closes. Neat, huh?
A Bold 2013
This year is all about breaking free from the traditional. While we still see a lot of classic designs, more and more incorporate personalities in their choice of kitchen cabinets. Many people still choose based on style, but function and practicality are undoubtedly the main driver for these changes. A few years ago, who would have thought to include hydraulics, usually used in cars, in kitchen cabinets? It’s efficiency to a different level! We can take a break from the perpetual white and have splashes of color with artistic accents instead to kill the monotony. No doubt, this year is about making a personalized statement which is refreshing, to say the least.
By Marie Christine Sing who is a blogger and home improvement enthusiast.
