Superior Cabinets Presents to you: Cabinet Styles 101. Determining your cabinet style can be daunting when planning a new kitchen.  Modern, Contemporary, Rustic Modern… What does it all mean?  The truth is that it is actually quite easy to determine your kitchen style.  The trick is to not overthink it!

There are many groups of kitchen cabinet styles, but we like to keep it down to five categories for ease of use.  These kitchen cabinet style categories include Traditional, Contemporary, Modern, Eclectic and Old World.  Popularity of each category changes with market preferences and interior design trends.  Let’s take a look at the various cabinet style categories in a bit more detail.

TRADITIONAL

Not to be confused with “old”, Traditional style cabinets are quite easy to spot.  They will often feature some or all of the following details including a raised or flat panel with a detail in the door profile, decorative range hood fan that is designed to complement your cabinetry, hand carved corbels or turned posts.  Arches and curves can also be found in a Traditional styled kitchen.  A great way to make a kitchen more traditional is by incorporating a few glass mullion doors and a dramatic two-piece crown moulding.

CONTEMPORARY

This is the most confusing style because the word contemporary can be used in so many different ways depending on who you ask.  Some use the word to describe a style that is current and what is in style right now, while others use it to describe styles that incorporate clean lines and natural elements.  In relation to cabinets, we would explain it as that transitional place in between simple, organized Modern and warm, liveable Traditional. Two-toned kitchens often fit into this style category, as well as cabinets with a Shaker door style.  An on trend example would be a white kitchen with a dark island.

MODERN 

In cabinetry, the Modern style adapts to ones trendy minimalistic side while reflecting a sleek fashion forward look.  A Modern kitchen can cover a wide range of colours including bold colours, high gloss, or in exotic wood grain textures (horizontal or vertical grain).  A Modern kitchen will almost always feature Frameless or European Cabinetry construction, Flat Panel or slab door pattern and sleek or no cabinet hardware.  This kitchen style is typically designed with clean lines, drawer banks, horizontal lift upper cabinets and hidden storage.  You won’t find a lot of clutter on the countertops of a modern kitchen, which helps maintain that sleek minimalist look.

ECLECTIC

Colour contrast is an easy way to spot an Eclectic kitchen.  This can be achieved with texture mixing and the use of bold colours on walls, accent cabinetry or tile choices.  You will often see a use of clean white cabinetry with injections of Black Walnut or a rich wood grain to add some texture as well as touches of colour to infuse additional interest.  Other elements such as brick, tile and iron shelf brackets are also clear indicators of the Eclectic kitchen style.  It is not uncommon to have open shelves to display dishes, canisters decorative items and glassware in an Eclectic kitchen.

OLD WORLD

Old World is one of the hardest kitchen styles to describe, but if we had to take a run at it, we would explain it as follows…  Imagine a kitchen that would be in either a castle, old European country home, Tuscan Villa or Manor.  Relating to cabinets, Old World Kitchens often have a very “woody” look that has ornate handcrafted cabinetry finishes or heavy wood grain cabinets.  It’s not uncommon to pair this look with oil rubbed bronze, copper or hand forged metal details on a hood fan, cabinetry hardware or as a lighting finish.   You may also find natural stone elements, tile and beam work in an Old World Kitchen.  This style can be one of the most challenging styles to achieve, as other architectural elements such as existing windows, trim and baseboards in the home may not lend the same style profile.  When it is well executed, it is by far one of the most visually interesting kitchen styles.

SUMMARY

Remember this is a style guide and not a colour guide and it’s always best to look at the design elements that make up the style.  Many of the kitchen styles as mentioned above can be achieved and look fantastic in a wide variety of colours and wood stains.  It is sometimes easier to know what you don’t like, rather than what you do like.  So if you see something that is off-putting or undesirable, let your kitchen designer know, as they can use this feedback to help you determine your kitchen style.  Happy Style Hunting!