Designer Guide: Kitchen Cabinets

Updating a kitchen is not for the faint of heart.

The number of decisions required can be overwhelming - so, we wanted to share a cheat sheet from a designer POV on what decisions you can make that won't break the bank but make your kitchen remodel have a designer touch.

• Paint Grade vs White Oak: This is a tough one but we are leaning towards paint grade as our most common recommendation for clients right now. Solid white oak cabinets are GORGEOUS but expensive. Opting for paint grade cabinets gives you a little more budget back for adding designer elements to your kitchen. Paint grade cabinets allow you to play with the color you want to choose + gives you flexibility in the future if you wanted to change the color/look of your kitchen.
  • designer insight: below are 5 painted kitchens we are LOVING right now to help get you inspired on paint color + the potential for your new kitchen.

• 2024 Cabinet Styles: Simple cabinets are better when going for a timeless look that will not look outdated in 5 years from now. The most common/safe cabinet styles to choose from are a version of shaker cabinets or slab cabinets (see below).
  • designer insight: you can also mix these two styles of cabinets - for example, we often use shaker on the doors in the kitchen and slab for drawers. This gives your kitchen some interest with different styles of cabinets that together still look very cohesive.

• Hardware: In 2024, we are seeing a TON of mixed metals/finishes but typically we recommend keeping all your hardware on your cabinets the same finish (our favorites right now are brass + aged brass). As for shape, mixing a few different shapes (pulls, knobs, etc) will elevate the look of your kitchen. Below is our go-to combinations that you can copy to get the designer look.
  • designer insight: To achieve the trending mix metal look - use different finishes on light fixtures, faucets, etc.

• Upper Cabinet Trend: I think its safe to say upper cabinets with counter space underneath are a thing of the past. Instead 2024 will bring us more of the "Countertop tower" and "appliance garage". This is something I highly recommend when remodeling as it immediately upgrades your kitchen and its extremely functional.
  • Designer insight: below are some inspo we love

Hope this guide is helpful as you narrow down your decisions for your upcoming kitchen remodel!

xx