Classic Vs Modern Kitchen Design Styles

Whether you are a culinary aficionado or a weekend warrior in the kitchen, the design and layout of your kitchen plays a significant role in your cooking experience. Incorporating classic kitchen design ideas and selecting the best kitchen cabinet materials can transform your ordinary kitchen into a culinary sanctuary. This article dives into the depth of classic kitchen design and highlights the best kitchen cabinet materials to choose from for a stunning and efficient kitchen.

Classic kitchen design tends to be timeless, meaning most classic design ideasnever go out of style. This traditional kitchen design portfolio shows many examples of classic design ideas. These classic design concepts lean towards neutral colors, clean lines, and functionality details that deliver both style and efficiency. For instance, a classic white kitchen is always a good choice. The use of white cabinets provides a clean, bright atmosphere that can be complemented by any color or material choice for countertops, flooring, and your backsplash. Additionally, this neutral palette allows you to easily change or add pops of color according to the season or your mood.

Hardwood flooring is another classic kitchen design element. It not only brings warmth to your kitchen but also creates a seamless flow with the rest of the house. This is particularly relevant for open-concept floor plans. Another classic idea is the incorporation of open shelving for displaying items. While they serve as a functional addition to your kitchen, open shelves also allow you to display your favorite dishes, cookbooks, or decorative pieces, thereby adding a personal touch to your culinary space.

The kitchen island, a staple in many homes, is another classic design element that adds both functional and aesthetic value. They provide additional workspace, storage, and can also serve as an informal dining area. You can enhance the classic look by opting for panel-ready appliances that blend seamlessly with your cabinetry, creating a cohesive and clean look.

Moving on to the best kitchen cabinet materials, understanding your options and their associated pros and cons is crucial. Kitchen cabinets significantly contribute to your kitchen's overall aesthetic and functionality, so it's vital to choose wisely. The most popular kitchen cabinet materials include solid wood for doors, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and stainless steel.

Solid wood cabinets are highly durable, warm, and come in a range of species and finishes. They're a classic choice, particularly for traditional or country style kitchens. We lean toward solid wood cabinets for the custom kitchen cabinets we design for customers. However, they can be more expensive and may warp in high humidity environments.

Plywood is a more cost-effective alternative to solid wood for the actual cabinet construction. It's strong, durable, and less prone to warping. Plywood for cabinet boxes can be finished with a veneer of hardwood, providing the look of solid wood at a lower cost.

MDF is another budget-friendly option. While not as durable as solid wood or plywood, MDF does not warp easily and offers a smooth surface for paint, making it an excellent choice for the actual cabinet boxes. These boxes definitely need a finishing ingredient as MDF alone looks incomplete.

Finally, stainless steel cabinets are an excellent choice for a modern or industrial-style kitchen. They're durable, easy to clean, and resistant to heat and stains. However, they can show fingerprints and scratches easily.

In conclusion, creating your ideal kitchen involves thoughtful consideration of both design and materials. Kitchen designers in New Jerseythat useclassic kitchen design ideas ensures a timeless look that will continue to please for years to come. The best kitchen design in South Jersey is the one that you feel part of. A well-designed kitchen is not just a space for cooking; it's a place where memories are made and shared. So, take the time to design a kitchen that truly reflects you.

White Kitchen Cabinets with Dark Wood Floors

When designing kitchens, many want to achieve a clean-looking space. After all, it’s where you prepare the meals you serve to your loved ones and guests. Nothing screams clean louder than white kitchen cabinet materials.

Though white cabinets pair well with almost any flooring system, you should consider opting for dark wood floors. A dark floor kitchen has many advantages:

They add contrast to the space

They hide imperfections and debris

They age well

They make your kitchen feel elegant

They are easier to repair and touch up

Various Shades Of White To Choose From

One of the best kitchen cabinet materials out there is solid hardwood. But apart from the material itself, you have to consider the color of your cabinetry.

Note that your cabinets take up a lot of visual space in your kitchen. If you want to go for a white kitchen, here are some of your options:

Off-white. Want to create a cozy, farmhouse-style kitchen? Select a cabinet color that exudes off-white warmth. Off white cabinets have hints of yellow (or brown), giving your space a rustic feel.

High-contrast white. If your vision is to achieve a high-impact, immediately striking design for your kitchen, pair your dark wood floors with high-contrast white cabinetry. They can make your space feel airier and brighter.

Gray-tinged. Not a fan of super white colors, but still want your cabinets to have a bright hue? Cool gray cabinets are for you. They look sleek, modern, and cool. Just be sure to pick a flooring system that has a darker shade that blends well with cool gray.

The Kitchen Is Your Canvas

Is it your dream to have a dark floor kitchen with white cabinets? Once you are decided on flooring and cabinet colors, kitchen décor accents are easier to choose from. There is so much you can do.

As mentioned, you can go for a farmhouse kitchen where wooden beams are exposed, and butcher-block woods serve as your countertop. White cabinets with stainless steel appliances are always an in look. Elevate the aesthetics of the common elements of this kitchen design — such as distressed woods, wrought iron, and soft fabrics.

If you want to incorporate old world metals and modern finishes, white cabinetry works well with a copper farmhouse sink. Brass hardware and decorative metal cookware is also a very appealing look.

You can even be as eclectic as you wish. Try adding splashes of color through your backsplash, and lighting fixtures — and let their colors pop without your cabinet having to compete with them in terms of optics. You can go retro or resort for an industrial vibe.

The versatility of white shaker style kitchen cabinets allows you to have more liberty regarding the theme and styling of your kitchen. 

However, keep in mind that you should  source your cabinets and kitchen floors with the help of a kitchen designer near you and a local kitchen cabinet maker. It is important to support your local suppliers of products and services. We are not big fans of large, big box stores and the quality of service you will find there.

Kitchen Cabinets and Appliances for the Gourmet

Some like their kitchens super simple. Others dream of having a cooking space fit for a gourmet. If you belong to the latter, this post is for you! We’re running down gourmet kitchen appliances and cabinet must-haves to help you achieve your dream kitchen.

What’s In A Gourmet Kitchen?

Generally, gourmet kitchens are more equipped than regular ones. The goal of this space is to help you prepare dishes more efficiently and provide storage for your cooking arsenal and ingredients. Whether it’s your childhood dream to have a professional-looking kitchen complete with custom kitchen cabinets or you simply wish to improve how you cook food at home, this list can serve as your guide for your gourmet kitchen design.

Professional-Grade Range

Before you go on to choose elegant yet functional kitchen cabinet materials, you have to first tick off a big essential to any kitchen — the cooking range. If you want to go gourmet, opt for a professional-grade range that offers durability and versatility. And if you’re really serious about cooking (and baking), you should also consider getting a double oven and a convection microwave.

Sinks

Properly washing dishes and pots is an important responsibility of any cook. It keeps your kitchen tidy and hygienic. For gourmet kitchens, having a deep sink is standard because it accommodates large pots. Undermount sinks are also staples. These types of sinks, which have no protruding lips and are seamlessly mounted under the countertop material, allow easy sweeping of food scraps.

Custom cabinetry

If you look at gourmet kitchens, you may notice the use of cabinets made rift sawn white oak cabinets. The grain direction matters and adds significant aesthetic value to a rather serious-looking gourmet kitchen space. Apart from choosing sturdy material, you should also go for a custom cabinetry design to cater to your unique needs. For instance, you may need separate storage for your collection of herbs and spices.

Gourmet island

Kitchen islands are space-maximizers. A double island kitchen layout screams gourmet. When cleverly and aesthetically designed, it can even act as the focal point of your gourmet kitchen. If your space can accommodate it, incorporating a kitchen island with stools or chairs help family and friends connect while the gourmet chef prepares your meal.

Refrigerator/s

While many smart, stand-alone units are available in the market today, some gourmet kitchen owners also opt for a second fridge (typically placed nearby their pantry areas). Others invest in another refrigerator drawer integrated into the island for easy access to drinks and other kitchen ingredients.

Easy-to-clean countertops and backsplashes

Apart from having long-lasting cabinetry like quarter sawn wood cabinets, you also have to pay attention to the materials you’ll choose for your countertop and backsplash. From quartz to ceramic tiles, you have several options to choose from to help elevate the look and functionality of your kitchen space. You also have to consider their resistance to stain, water, and chemicals, and their ease of maintenance.

Task lighting

You won’t be able to maximize your gourmet kitchen appliances without an appropriate lighting system. Besides having a main light source, you must equip your kitchen with under-cabinet lighting and pendants to help you perform tasks in different zones within your space.

Custom Kitchen Cabinet Ideas for The Younger Homeowner

At 25 years old, my daughter and her husband bought their first home knowing there was going to be a little remodeling required in the years to come. The kitchen was one of those areas that needed to be redesigned to their liking. It is not uncommon for younger homeowners to invest in their starter home knowing they were destined to more up within ten years or so.

After taking some measurements of the wall space and appliances currently in their kitchen, they visited Lowes and Home Depot to check out some kitchen cabinetry. What they discovered was that standard sizes of kitchen cabinetry sold in those big box stores was not going to work for their current kitchen arrangement. But they did get a feel for the current trends and got some ideas of what they liked and didn’t like. 

Here are a few of the latest trends in kitchen cabinetry:

1. Open shelving 

They liked the idea of some open shelving. A combination of closed under the counter kitchen cabinets plus 4-6 open shelves strategically placed is not an uncommon arrangement. There are plenty of advantages to having open kitchen shelving. Open shelving allows this couple to display wine glasses, pitchers and plates. They got some nice wedding shower gifts and thought they might as well show these off. The convenience of open kitchen shelves was also very appealing.

Most of the younger homeowners we have met tend to be minimalists and seek out kitchen cabinet styles that are sleek, clean, and without the finer woodwork found in more traditional kitchens.

2. Playful colors 

Customizing the color and surface pattern of your cabinets is an effective way to brighten up a kitchen design for younger couples. You can work with a local kitchen cabinet maker to create the sleek kitchen cabinets that appeal to younger homeowners. Older homeowners often choose neutral colors such as grey, yellow, and various forms of green. The younger homeowners tend to be more courageous with splashes of yellows and read. If you want a light atmosphere in your kitchen, then we recommend a combination of colors that include a few bursts of color. 

3. Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets

Oak wood has been the staple for kitchen cabinetry for all generations. We has seen a departure to use hickory and pine during the 1990’s but most local kitchen cabinet makers have returned to using oak in recent years. Not all oak cabinets are the same. You can choose a modern simplistic look or a more traditional rustic kitchen look by using lighter color stains and clear urethanes. The great advantage of oak wood for kitchen cabinet design is its durability and availability. The material lasts a long time and is slower to show signs of wear and tear. It is also quite beautiful. If well designed, your oak wood kitchen cabinets can make your kitchen radiate with elegance. 

Redesigning your kitchen is a serious undertaking. If you are a younger homeowner planning for a family, you may want your kitchen to be child friendly and easy to clean. But most younger couples like to entertain in their homes as well. The modern kitchen design photo gallery shows off some sleek cabinetry designs and open shelving is what many younger homeowners appreciate.