A Case for Green Kitchen Cabinets
By / September 8, 2021 July 30, 2021A Case for Green Kitchen Cabinets
With more and more people looking to bring the relaxing feel of nature indoors, green kitchen cabinets
are skyrocketing in popularity. It makes us feel like we’re surrounded by lush greenery, even if we don’t
have the green thumb to keep houseplants alive. Bonus: it’s super easy to design with because it goes
with other natural elements like wood, stone, and metal.
Green in the Kitchen
A lot of people will jump on board to paint their kitchen walls green, but many will balk at the idea of green
kitchen cabinets. Why? If you love the color, why not paint the most prominent feature of the kitchen
green? If we’re using green, I say use it to its full potential. I say, go with green cabinets.
Green or Green?
Deciding on green kitchen cabinets is only step one. Step two: picking a shade.
With Kountry Kraft’s completely custom cabinets, every shade of green under the sun is available for you
to choose from. If you’re going for a softer, subtler look, consider something like a washed-out sage or
light mint color. That’s what we did for this AMS Kitchen, using Farrow & Ball’s “Cooking Apple Green.”
Or, make a statement and go bold with a deep forest green or warm olive. If you’re drawn to light and
dark shades, have the best of both worlds by going with dark green bottom cabinets and light green upper
cabinets.
I Can’t Decide!
A great tip for choosing a paint shade is to display large paint swatches against your existing cabinets so
you can get a feel for what the color will look like in that space with that lighting.
And, as always, our Kountry Kraft experts would be happy to help you find the perfect shade, whether it
be green or otherwise. Our custom cabinets offer every shade, but also every shape and size to give you
exactly what you’re looking for. Click here to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you!
Why I’d Choose Floor to Ceiling Kitchen Cabinets
By / June 9, 2021 May 25, 2021
Why I’d Choose Floor to Ceiling Kitchen Cabinets
I’ve decided it’s time to weigh in on the debate surrounding whether kitchen cabinets should fully extend to the ceiling or not. In truth, neither option is “wrong,” but I will always recommend considering floor to ceiling cabinetry to my customers. Here are my reasons why:
Increase Storage
Extending your cabinets to the ceiling turns otherwise wasted space into additional storage. I know some people will argue that it’s difficult to reach, but so what? Put your seasonal items, like the Thanksgiving gravy bowl and Christmas cookie platter, up there so you only have to take them down once a year. I, personally, will take all the extra storage I can get. Install a library ladder or a pull out stool by Hafele to access the uppermost items.
And, if you like to display things like vases on top of your cabinets, you don’t have to sacrifice that decoration. Instead of making the upper cabinets extra storage space, use glass paneled doors to create a dust-free display.
Aesthetically Pleasing
They look gorgeous, period. Floor to ceiling cabinets draw the eye all the way to the ceiling, making the space look larger, whereas shorter cabinets create a visual break and make the room appear smaller. They also help create a luxurious, clean, high-end look. Don’t feel all the cabinetry must be floor to ceiling. Your kitchen may lend itself to having one wall floor to ceiling, and additional walls with shelving, standard height cabinetry or none at all.
Eliminate Dust
Be honest — how often do you dust the top of your kitchen cabinets? With floor to ceiling cabinets, there’s nothing to clean. Eliminating that dust will do wonders for people with allergies and will create a healthier environment for everyone else.
Do You Agree?
If my argument has persuaded you (or at least peaked your interest), contact us for more information or use our dealer locator to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you!
2021’s Love Affair with Kitchen Cabinet Upgrades
By / April 14, 2021 March 31, 2021With the pandemic causing so many people to spend increased time at home, kitchen renovations have soared. And, unsurprisingly, cabinetry is a central focus. An astonishing 94% of homeowners renovating their kitchen performed some form of kitchen cabinet upgrades, with 63% of them opting to replace the cabinets entirely. Let’s see what kind of inspiration we can glean from these emerging cabinetry trends.
Partial Upgrades
For the 31% homeowners who chose partial cabinetry upgrades, space was a huge factor. 28% of this group added some form of new cabinetry, which represents an increase of nearly 400% from 2020. Others decided to focus on aesthetic, choosing to either refinish the cabinet exteriors or replace only the cabinet doors. This approach is a great way to update the look of your kitchen without cutting too deep into your budget.
Full Replacement
As I mentioned before, a whopping 63% of kitchen remodelers chose to fully replace their cabinets to create the right look and storage for their families. And, they increasingly chose to consult with professionals for help making their kitchen more functional, usually maintaining the same layout and square footage.
Cabinetry heavily contributes to the functionality of your kitchen and can be the difference between easy and nightmare storage. For example, have you ever wanted waffles, but refused to unpack half of your cabinet to get the seldom-used waffle maker out? You didn’t have waffles that morning, did you? Now imagine if you could simply open a door and get that waffle maker out. That’s the difference the right cabinets can make.
If You Need Advice…
We at Kountry Kraft would love to be the professionals that you reach out to for help picking the right kitchen cabinet upgrades for your home. Let’s get started! Find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you.
#KountryKraft #KitchenCabinetUpgrades
Designing a Kitchen that Instagram Loves
By / January 18, 2021 February 24, 2023Furniture, Lighting and Décor recently wrote an article that explores the trends of a kitchen that garner the most likes on Instagram. Here are the most important trends to feature in your kitchen if you want Instagram users to hit that like button:
- Shaker kitchen cupboards
- Wooden floors
- White cupboards & flowers/plants
- Kitchen island
- Brass door handles & marble countertops
Now, don’t think you have to cram every trend into your kitchen design in order to get a lot of likes. It’s never worth it to force something that doesn’t fit. But, the most popular kitchens on Instagram did all contain various combinations of these trends, with the number one kitchen featuring all but two of these elements. The more of these trends that you can cohesively blend, the more likes you’ll probably get.
A Starting Point
Shaker kitchen cupboards are a great base to build your design around because out of all the top kitchen posts, they were featured a whopping *92.6% of the time. While they’re a highly traditional style, shaker cupboards are only growing in popularity. It’s clear that people love this look.
Supporting Trends
Wooden floors are the second biggest trend, in 74% of the top posts analyzed. White cupboards and flowers/plants are both in third place, with each of them being in 70.4% of the top posts. White walls were also a big hit, suggesting that people love white kitchens in general. Kitchen islands were featured in 51.9% of the top posts, while brass door handles and marble countertops were both featured in 44.4% of the top posts.
No matter how you combine these trends, they’re sure to help your kitchen design become “Insta-worthy!”
*All percentages rounded to the nearest tenth.
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinets #CustomCabinetry
2021 Kitchen Cabinet Trends
By / December 28, 2020 December 28, 2020Nothing defines the look and feel of your cooking space quite like your cabinets, which is why many of trends for the new year focus on kitchen cabinets. From pops of color to floor-to-ceiling storage to the triumphant return of warm-tone woods, here are 2021 kitchen cabinet trends.
Colorful Cabinets
2021 is bound to be bright with the colorful cabinet trend. Balance the boldness of the bright color of your choice with a neutral backsplash, countertop, or wall color. Also, a major color trend this year are warmer color palettes, like creamy yellows and sage greens.
Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinets
In 2020, many of us embraced our inner chef while spending more time at home. During this time, you may have noticed keeping tools and gadgets organized is key to a functional kitchen. Thus, the trend for floor-to-ceiling cabinets, where storage feels endless, and organization is celebrated.
Glass Front Cabinet Doors
Glass front cabinet doors create an airy feel in a kitchen and a stage to show off your favorite items. From coffee mugs to your grandmother’s heirloom china, glass front doors can be incorporated into nearly any kitchen design.
Warm Wood Cabinets
Warm wood finished cabinets return this year, but with a twist. Keep the look up to date by incorporating contemporary finishes within a sleek, clean design. Another popular way to incorporate warm woods is by adding wood accents, like a range hood or floating shelves.
Integrated Appliances
Integrated appliances with fronts that match the surrounding cabinets create an all-in-one look that we are loving this year. The appliances most often integrated are the refrigerator and dishwasher.
For more 2021 kitchen cabinet trends, follow @kountrykraftcabinetry on Instagram.
Interested in updating your kitchen cabinets? Click here to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you!
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinetry #CustomCabinets #2021KitchenCabinetTrends #2021CabinetTrends
Kitchen Office Spaces
By / September 2, 2020 March 17, 2023Kitchen office spaces are rising in popularity, as the number of those working from home has increased this year. Some homes do not have space to support a full separate office, however there may be room within your kitchen for a dedicated workspace. Some parents may want to be able to get work done, while staying centrally located near their children. Another great use is for children who are attending school virtually. A built-in, customized kitchen desk is the perfect solution.
Kitchen Office Spaces
With any kitchen desk area, it is best to use cabinets that match or complement what’s in the kitchen so the space blends in seamlessly. Kitchens & Baths by A Matter of Style designed a built-in desk for a kitchen located in Cheshire, Connecticut. This desk is built with the same style cabinets as the rest of the kitchen. The design of this desk cleverly utilizes open shelving and closed storage space for form and function.
Alpine White cabinets connect this workstation with the rest of the kitchen designed by Stonington Cabinetry & Designs. The space next to the block of cabinets was thought to be unusable, but a desk served as a perfect, practical addition. It’s a handy spot for handling messages, mail, and bills.
Using the same materials as the rest of the kitchen, this office blends seamlessly into a previously unused space. Generous floor to ceiling cabinet storage makes it easy to stash mail, homework, cookbooks, and important documents. Design by Dovetailed Kitchens, Inc. in collaboration with Lisa Teague of Upcoast Design.
Interested in seeing more kitchen designs with built-in desks? Visit our Inspiration Gallery.
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinets #CustomCabinetry #KitchenDesks #KitchenOfficeSpace
Designs with Black Cabinets
By / June 8, 2020 February 25, 2023If there was one design trend that defined the past decade, it was the all-white kitchen. The look is timeless, cohesive, and clean, and has a miraculous way of making even the tiniest kitchen look airy and spacious. But the new decade brings with new trends, and designers say there’s a new color in the kitchen that you should try: black.
Whether you want to dip your toes into the black cabinets trend with just a few features or want to go all in, you are bound to gain some inspiration from our round up of a few of our favorite designs.
Kitchens with Black Cabinets
Jessica McAllister of Kountry Kraft designed this modern kitchen to feature black cabinetry along the perimeter. The cabinetry features a sleek, simple door design. The wood grain shines through the black finish, giving it a unique textural appeal.
Black can be used in transitional kitchens, too. One of the easiest ways to incorporate black cabinets is to pair them with white. Stonington Cabinetry & Designs featured a black kitchen island among the white perimeter cabinetry in this transitional style design.
Other Rooms
Black cabinetry designs are trending for rooms in the home beyond the kitchen.
Architectural Kitchens of Annapolis designed black cabinetry for this laundry room design. Paired with the gold hardware, laundry is no longer a chore but a luxurious escape.
Stonington Cabinetry & Designs added a black wet bar into this living room design, with storage for glasses, wine bottles and more.
Visit our website, kountrykraft.com, to see more rooms and designs that use custom black cabinetry. Do you want black cabinets for a room in your own home? Click here to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you!
#KountryKraft #BlackCabinets #BlackCabinetry #DesignTrends
A Current Kitchen Trend: Neutral Countertops
By / April 1, 2020 March 11, 2020A current trend hitting kitchens everywhere is the use of neutral countertops. Available in various materials, a neutral countertop will compliment any cabinet color and tie together your ideal kitchen. When saying “neutral countertops”, we are specifically speaking of whites, blacks, and wood colors.
White Countertops
When talking about countertops, the go-to for many are stone finishes, such as granite or quartz. When you go with these choices, specifically granite, you will tend to get flecks of grey creating more of an off-white shade. This is ideal for a more traditional kitchens and compliment well with a traditional or shaker style cabinetry. On the flipside, a pure white countertop provides a modern style and can be achieved with using quartz or an engineered stone. The pure white allows for a bright pop in a kitchen that might have more modern, flat-faced or dark wood grained cabinets.
Dark Countertops
Many people are hesitant towards black or darker countertops as they might dull down the space. However, if you have darker cabinets, floors, or other darker finishes the addition of a dark countertop will create a sleek space that will be drool-worthy. If going for a black countertop is too much, going with charcoal will not drown out the color, but is also a bit softer. This look can be achieved through using either granite (with dark flecks), quartz, or even tarnished bronze or brass.
Wood Countertops
To create a warm space that accents the natural tones in your kitchen, wood countertops are the way to go. When choosing wood countertops the choice becomes darker or lighter wood. When you choose darker wood, it warms a completely white kitchen and creates a more transitional kitchen vibe. Choosing a light wood creates more of a rustic and causal feel inside your kitchen.
Ultimately, the choice in color of your countertops is dependent on the style kitchen you are going for. It is also important to take into consideration the durability, upkeep, and type of material available to get the look you want. Visit the Kitchen Gallery on our website for more kitchen design inspiration.
#KountryKraft #Granite #QuartzCountertops #WoodCountertops #NeutralCountertops
2020 Kitchen Island Trends
By / February 5, 2020 February 2, 2020Islands in kitchens are still on trend for 2020. Besides the obvious reason to add an island in a kitchen renovation, such as extra counter space and storage, a kitchen island can become a unique centerpiece while still being highly functional. This kitchen design by Dovetailed Kitchens Inc. in collaboration with Lisa Teague of Upcoast Design incorporates an island with a plethora of clever design details that create a functional and beautiful space.
One of the rising kitchen island trends is to create contrast with the island being a different color than the rest of the cabinetry in the kitchen. Here, the kitchen cabinets themselves are #239 Wimborne White by Farrow and Ball while the island is painted with #1536 Northern Cliffs by Benjamin Moore to create a contrast that still accents the entire theme of the kitchen. Wimborne White is one shade off from traditional white, with a small amount of yellow to create warm undertones. Northern Cliffs is a gray color that will make the island a focal point for all who enter.
Another rising trend is adding functional pieces to the island to not only make it an extra area for seating, but can be a workspace as well. The inclusion of a butcher block is perfect for those who like to cook. The butcher block allows for additional workspace that can easily be cleaned. Incorporated into the butcher block is storage for knives, a lip to catch any liquid run off, and a scrap bin that allows for easy clean up. Underneath this area in the island can be the storage for trash and recycling so when the scrap bin is used it goes right into the trash instead of needing to be emptied. Also the addition of a small wet bar sink gives a place for cleaning fruits and vegetables or even filling pots for cooking.
Finally, the overall design of the island is a one of the biggest trends. For many, a kitchen island serves as additional seating, however, that can be a problem when other appliances might be in the way. Here, the addition of the smaller wet bar sink allowed for the space of the island in front of the fridge to be functional. The remainder of the space on that side is used for seating and has a small overhang to accommodate the seating. Each end of the island is different, one having an overhang for additional seating, while the other is flush with the island base because of the oven and stove being on that end. Read more about this kitchen design by clicking here.
Want to learn more about the 2020 kitchen island trends? Follow us on Instagram @kountrykraftcabinetry. Interested in cabinetry for your home? Find a dealer near you by clicking here.
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinetry #2020KitchenIslandTrends #KitchenIsland #KitchenTrends
2020 Kitchen Cabinet Trends
By / January 8, 2020 December 19, 2019Kitchen designs are leaning towards a pared-back, minimalist look with a strong feature of elements that remind us of nature. Some of the most popular 2020 kitchen cabinet trends include pops of natural elements, pops of color, minimalist hardware, glass cabinet doors and two kitchen islands.
Pops of Color
Although a big trend for the new year is natural elements, designers will be adding pops of color in their spaces. Colors that remind of us nature will be the most popular, as shades of blue and green continue to grow in popularity.
Speaking of color, or lack thereof, black cabinets are making a huge comeback this year. Black is now a livable, luxe and inviting color. Black cabinets with a matte finish are trending higher than those with a gloss finish, coinciding with the natural elements theme of the year.
Two-Tone Cabinets
Tying into the pops of color trend, the two-tone cabinet trend is growing stronger as we move into 2020. Unified cabinetry is a thing of the past. Homeowners want diversity, even if it’s the slightest bit of change, like a dark gray and a lighter shade gray.
Minimalist Hardware
One of the biggest trends in the new year when it comes to hardware on your cabinets, less is more. With advancing technology, like push-open doors and soft-close doors, means that handles are not a necessity. Designs are all about multi-tasking, free-flowing design with a pared-back, streamlined natural look.
Glass Cabinet Doors
Making a comeback from the 90s in the new year are glass cabinet doors. Again, as part of the trend toward simplicity and organization, glass cabinet doors make it easy to know what you’re grabbing for and where to get it. This trend will be especially popular for upper cabinets.
Two Kitchen Islands
Larger kitchens in an open concept design has led the island to become an essential kitchen feature. A design trend that we’ll be seeing this new year is taking an island and doubling it, to feature double islands in one kitchen. It is an expansive, luxe addition when space is no object.
Want to learn more about the kitchen cabinet trends in 2020? Follow us on Instagram @kountrykraftcabinetry. Interested in cabinetry for your home? Find a dealer near you by clicking here.
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinetry #2020KitchenCabinetTrends #KitchenCabinetTrends #KitchenTrends