By Craig A. Shutt
If your client is having trouble deciding what style of kitchen cabinets to choose, you can safely reassure her that just about anything goes these days. In fact, she doesn't even have to settle for one style. Today’s homeowners can have their cake and eat it, too, by combining styles. The range of species and colors has grown, as well, creating more variety than ever.
"In today’s kitchens, it’s not uncommon for us to combine several styles in one large kitchen," says Mary Fisher Knott, president of Mary Fisher Designs in Scottsdale, Ariz. That means doing the refrigerator in an armoire-style cabinetry with contemporary or Asian-style finish and giving the rest of the cabinetry a softer look to create more impact on larger pieces.
Although trends will vary across regions, home designs and homeowner preferences, designers across the country generally say there are some key patterns in what customers seek. Colors are growing everywhere, thanks to the use of painted cabinets. "Overall, I’ve seen a trend away from whites and heavy distressing to more painted finishes," says Dave Cerami, president of Home Tech Renovations in Philadelphia. Sage green, chiffon yellow and French crème have replaced whites.
Mary agrees, seeing softer earth tones dominating in her market, especially earthy greens and deep blues, as well as browns, reds and even black. "It runs the gamut and tends to fit with the rest of the home’s décor."
Exotic woods also are becoming popular, all agree. Dave notes that oak, cherry and maple are strong, but the high-end market in particular wants designs out of the ordinary. Recent examples include quarter-sawn white oak, Canadian red birch, Old French white oak and knotty chestnut in particular.
Designer Ann M. Morris of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., points to burlwood as gaining popularity. She also sees more interest in cabinetry with horizontal grains versus vertical styles. "It’s not light-light wood, but something in a mid-range that is popular."
Mary sees continuing popularity for alder and maple, as well as mahogany. The key change she notes in this regard is that cabinetry is gaining a true furniture look. Many of these designs are custom pieces, as it can be difficult to manipulate the standard modular pieces to create the large furniture pieces that are desired, she notes. But in some cases, the standard cabinets are surrounded with furniture pieces, creating the same feel.
"Furniture pieces are very, very strong right now and that will continue," she says. The designs are functional she adds. Elevated dishwasher cabinets feature storage space for dishes. Cabinet storage is becoming more egalitarian overall, with pieces storing both foodstuffs and dishes together.
Storage in general has been expanded, with organizational systems of all types available for cabinetry. Some even allow the pieces to be retrofit into existing cabinets to add functionality to renovations. "There are always new gimmicks coming out related to storage," says Ann. Rollout pantries are a popular item in her market, she notes. "Everything today must be at your fingertips. Consumers are very aware of the possibilities and want everything to be user-friendly."
Regardless of the market or home design, there is a wide range of options available to be considered. And if no one style suits, the mix-and-match approach offers new creativity and visual interest no matter the home’s design.
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