How to Choose Kitchen Cabinets for Your New Home
By Jo-Ann Capelaci on May 04, 2015
For most families, the kitchen is the heart of the home. When it comes time to choose the new finishes for your new home, the kitchen will often, and should be the room that takes the most research. The planning you do ahead of time can make a big difference in the visual appearance, functionality and enjoyment of this most used space.
The kitchen goes into production long before you move into your home. I recommend you start thinking about your kitchen well in advance of completing the colour and upgrade selections for your home.
From a recent tour of Continental Kitchens showing kitchens in production
What should you be thinking about?
- Appliances
Choosing your appliances before you finalize your kitchen decisions is critical to ensure your kitchen is constructed correctly. Go to the appliance store and research which appliances best suit your needs. If you are selecting appliances that are different than the standard, your builder will need to know that before your kitchen goes into production.
A stunning kitchen from Paris Kitchens customized to fit special appliances
- Cabinet Style
What is the design style of the home you’ve purchased? What design style do you like? You can pick up kitchen magazines, go online to Pinterest or Houzz, or visit a few kitchen showrooms to get ideas of what appeals to you. Slab doors will fit in well with a modern scheme, Shaker doors can often work in contemporary or traditional, and a raised panel door usually means a transitional or traditional style. Whatever style you choose, carry the general theme to other rooms of the home for continuity.
Paris Kitchens - An example of slab doors fora modern look
- Cabinet Colour
White kitchens have been popular for a number of years now. Sometimes two colours in a kitchen, depending on which ones, can be a winning combination. Perhaps you want the natural beauty of wood? Wood and white cabinets can suit traditional, transitional or contemporary kitchens depending on the design style of the cabinets.
Manorwood Fine Cabinetry - Traditional style cabinets combining wood and white doors
- The Bells and Whistles
Adding some additional features to the cabinets can go a long way to improve the functionality and overall look of your kitchen. A deep fridge upper cabinet and valance lighting are two items I recommend in every kitchen. Some features such as tray dividers and blind corner optimizers can increase the usable space in your kitchen. Crown molding and extended upper cabinets can create an impact with high ceilings. Soft close doors and full extension drawers can add to the enjoyment of your family area.
Kitchens being installed at Paris Kitchens showing added extras for function and beauty
Designer Tip: Can’t afford to upgrade your cabinets? Sometimes upgraded handles on the doors will make a significant impact.
Looking for some more inspiration for your kitchen? Check out our Pinterest board!
Jo-Ann Capelaci is president and principal design of Colours & Concepts. The company specializes in model homes and colour and upgrade selections for builders. They have been helping new home buyers choose finishes for their homes for over 20 years.
