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!
Kitchen Cabinet Interior
By / July 7, 2021 March 20, 2023Kitchen Cabinet Interior
Ever hear the expression: “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” The same is true for cabinetry. While many are beautiful on the outside, it’s what’s inside that can make or break their functionality. Let’s take a look at all of the different ways you can organize your Kitchen Cabinet Interior
Pull Out Cabinets
Pull out cabinets extend out of the base so that you have easy access to everything you have stored, eliminating the need to dig around in the back to find that elusive item. With all of the items in full view, you’ll know what needs to be restocked and (hopefully) won’t double up on supplies by mistake.
Whatever your organization need, we have a pull out cabinet for it. One of my favorites is the pull out spice rack; its cousin, the pull out pantry, is also a crowd favorite. We also carry specialized pull outs for waste containers, cleaning supplies, and corner cabinets. For more generalized needs, consider our cabinet drawer pull outs.
Drawer Inserts
Drawer inserts are an organization blessing that divide one large space into multiple smaller spaces, preventing items from jumbling around when the drawer is opened/closed. Many people know about the utensil insert, but few think to repurpose it to help organize their junk drawer. For larger items, consider using our peg inserts.
Don’t Forget the Bathroom
These customizations aren’t just for kitchen cabinets! The cleaning supplies pull out is easily applicable to bathrooms, but let’s think more outside the box. Repurpose utensil inserts to organize makeup and grooming items. Instead of a pull out waste container, what about a pull out laundry basket?
What Are YOUR Needs?
While our custom cabinetry has a solution for every organization need, not everyone’s needs are the same. What do you struggle with most? What would make your life easier? Let us know and our experts will happily help you picture all of the different ways you can organize your cabinets. 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!
Top 2021 Cabinet Styles
By / May 12, 2021 June 7, 2021Houzz recently released its 2021 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study, and the results on cabinet styles are particularly interesting. Here are the top 2021 cabinet styles that homeowners renovating their kitchens are loving right now.
Style
Shaker style once again ranked the most popular kitchen cabinet style, taking a whopping 57% of the vote. The second most popular style was flat panel. Securing only 21% of the vote, it didn’t come anywhere close to dethroning shakers.
Customization
Customized cabinets also won big. 41% of participants chose fully custom cabinets and 35% chose semi-custom options. In contrast, only 12% chose stock cabinets and 8% chose a ready-to-assemble option.
Similarly, homeowners favored built-in organizers and specialty storage options. For those including cabinet organizers, 48% selected cookie sheet holders and 39% selected a spice organizer. For those including specialty storage, 60% selected pullout waste or recycling drawers, 38% selected a lazy Susan, and 34% selected pullout/swing-out cabinets.
Color
Although it slipped a little in popularity compared to 2020’s numbers, white is still clearly the most popular kitchen cabinet color with 41% of the vote. Wood tones as a group received 23% of the vote, which can be broken down into medium-tone woods (13%) and light-tone woods (7%). Gray comes in a very distant third place, securing only 10% of the vote.
Food for Thought
With the most popular cabinet trends hovering just north or south of the 50% mark, it would be easy to assume that newly remodeled kitchens will all start to look the same. Don’t let that deter you from taking the remodel plunge. Even if you choose an on-trend cabinet style (hello custom, white shakers), there’s so many ways to personalize the design so that it truly feels like your kitchen.
If you’d like to get in on the remodel action, click here to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you.
Follow us on Instagram @kountrykraftcabinetry for more 2021 cabinet styles and design trends.
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
Exploring Inset and Full Overlay Cabinet Doors
By / February 8, 2021 March 20, 2023Style and function are the two big factors people consider when they think about cabinets. However, you may not realize that the way you choose to install your cabinet doors will have a large impact on both. Let’s explore two installation methods so you can decide what’s right for your home: inset and full overlay cabinet doors.
Inset
Inset doors are designed to sit flush with the cabinet frame. In other words, the cabinet and the doors (excluding hardware) will be one smooth surface when the doors are closed. The frame will be fully visible.
Pros: This style of door offers a clean, high-end look that is generally accompanied by superior quality since it requires greater skill to install. It also helps guard against damaged doors since they’re encased in the frame when closed, making the corners harder to nick.
Cons: However, inset doors are more expensive because of that necessary installation know-how. They also provide the least storage room since the doors are flush with the frame. Highly humid climates can cause wood to expand, leaving inset doors susceptible to sticking and the finish wearing off in tight spots.
Full Overlay
Full overlay doors sit on top of the cabinet frame as opposed to within it. They’re designed extra-large to cover the entire frame, offering a similar smooth look to inset doors but with none of the frame visible.
Pros: This style of door also offers a clean, high-end look but is easier to install, making it more affordable. It also offers a bit more storage space since the doors are situated on top of the frame.
Cons: The downside to full overlay doors is that they may show signs of wear more quickly since the door corners aren’t protected.
Reflections
As with any choice, both options have their pros and cons. Consider them carefully to decide which style is right for you. Although, in the end, it’s hard to see how you could go wrong with either!
If you need help exploring inset and full overlay cabinet doors, you may contact us or use our dealer locater to find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you!
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinets #CustomCabinetry
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
Custom Pantry Ideas
By / October 8, 2020 March 17, 2023While the kitchen is the heart of the home, the pantry is the storehouse of the kitchen. Pantries are the backbone to the preparation of any meal and gives ingredients a place to live. Like all hardworking spaces, it can be challenging to keep your pantry organized, especially while spending more time at home. However, we have found that when the pantry is built for your family’s needs and to fit the design of your space, it is easier to keep it organized. Gather inspiration from our custom pantry ideas.
Decorative Pantry
Decorative pantries are a dream. Not only are they beautiful and appealing to the kitchen design surrounding them, they are completely functional. Thomas R. Kelly of TRK Design Company designed a pantry in this kitchen to feature a grand barn door. Whenever the pantry is not in use, ingredients and other items in the pantry can be covered with the beautiful door that enhances the aesthetic of the kitchen it lives in.
PKsurroundings designed this pantry featuring by-pass doors with metal mesh inserts. When closed, the metal detailing on the doors adds texture to the kitchen design. The by-passing doors make it easy to quickly grab the ingredients you need and put them right back after using them, keeping the space completely organized and therefore, making meals a lot easier.
Built-In Pantry
Built-in pantries are fantastic because they rarely take up room in the kitchen. They are typically designed to cleverly make use of a wall that would otherwise be bare. Kountry Kraft designed this pantry to be built into the hallway next to the kitchen in this home. The pantry doors were crafted to match the rest of the cabinetry in the kitchen to create a holistic feel.
Walk-In Pantry
Some may be more excited about a walk-in pantry versus a walk-in closet, and we don’t blame them! If you desire to minimize your cabinetry footprint, walk-in pantries are the biggest storage space you can incorporate. The opportunity for organization is endless. Kountry Kraft designed this walk-in pantry to feature two large doors that match the kitchen cabinets.
Corner Pantry
You may be thinking, “My kitchen doesn’t have room for a pantry,” but think again! The beauty of custom cabinetry is that it can be designed and crafted specifically for your home’s corners, nooks, and crannies. Stonington Cabinetry & Designs took the corner of this kitchen and made it a snack pantry, as well as a beverage center. The cabinetry matches the rest of the kitchen, so when closed, you don’t even know the pantry is there. Deep, wood pull out drawers make it easy to organize snacks, spices and more.
Are you interested in incorporating any of these custom pantry ideas into your home? Find a Kountry Kraft dealer near you and get started designing today! Follow @kountrykraftcabinetry on Instagram for daily inspiration.
#KountryKraft #CustomCabinetry #CustomCabinets #CustomPantryIdeas #PantryIdeas
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