Home & Garden

What to Look for in Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets

Regarding modern kitchen design, cabinets are one of the most important features. They help to keep the space organized and clean, and they also add to the overall look of the room. For those in the market for new cabinets, there are many things to consider before deciding. Thankfully, we’ve compiled some of the top features to look for in modern kitchen cabinets.

Cabinet Doors

The doors of your kitchen cabinets can be a major factor in defining your new space’s overall style and aesthetic. They are available and can be crafted from various materials, including wood, laminate, and medium-density fibreboard (MDF). Wood cabinet doors are popular and offer a timeless, classic, highly durable look, but they are not as damage resistant as laminate or MDF. You may have your wood doors stained, varnished, or painted to suit your style.

Laminate cabinet doors are a popular choice for contemporary kitchens because they provide a polished, unadorned, efficient aesthetic that can be matched with various other design elements. They are also easy to wipe clean, plus moisture and stain-resistant.

The least expensive cabinet door option is melamine, made from pressed wood or MD base with a layer of paper colored with a heat-fused melamine resin. It has an excellent selection of colors and patterns but is relatively susceptible to scratches.

Drawers

Whether buying stock cabinets or building custom cabinets Seattle, hardware is the finishing touch distinguishing between ordinary and extraordinary. Cabinet knobs and handles can be made of solid metal, wood veneer, or laminate, depending on your style preferences and budget. A modern kitchen often uses a sleek finish with few ornaments. Flat-panel cabinets, for example, have a minimalist look ideal for kitchens with clean, simple lines. Drawer storage is an excellent way to maximize your space in a kitchen. A drawer with divided compartments is useful for utensils, silverware, and other smaller items. A three-drawer stack in a base cabinet can be especially effective, with one lower drawer for pots and pans, a second for food, and a third for small appliances or plastic ware. The placement of pulls and knobs is up to you, but most homeowners choose to install the handles on the top cabinets or those that sit atop doors. The lower cabinets tend to be more awkward for pulling the handles, which are usually larger than knobs.

Hardware

Hardware is one of the most important features to look for in modern kitchen cabinets. The right hardware will complement your kitchen’s design and provide easy access to your cabinets’ contents. Cabinet hardware, such as knobs and pulls, is available in various styles. While knobs are more traditional and classic, pulls are more contemporary and will give your kitchen a sleeker look. You may also select from a variety of finishes to complement your cabinetry. Brushed nickel and silver satin are popular because they work well with all cabinet colors. If you want a more durable finish, oil-rubbed bronze can be a good choice.

Interiors

The interiors of contemporary kitchen cabinets are clean and basic. They typically feature flat slab doors and minimal decorative carvings, emphasizing straight lines instead. The modern style also prefers natural wood finishes, especially richly colored ones that accentuate grain patterns and add depth to the kitchen space. It’s also popular to use brushed stainless steel cabinet hardware in this design aesthetic, and chrome and brass are other options that may be used with this style. Hinges are another important part of a modern kitchen design. They are available in mortise and non-mortise versions, as well as in a variety of colors. They are also made to fit either framed or frameless cabinet doors. Some hinges come with Smart Stop features that reduce cabinet slamming.