Kitchen Cabinet Styles Add Distinction
(HIT) - Distinctive design elements and creative touches have grown increasingly important for homeowners planning a new kitchen. As families continue to spend more and more time in the home’s defacto command center and social gathering spot, it’s more common to see personal style reflected in kitchen designs.
"A well-planned kitchen should accommodate a family’s lifestyle while reflecting the owners' personal taste," says Connie Edwards, Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) for Timberlake Cabinet Company, Winchester, Va. Fortunately, appliance and cabinet manufacturers, such as Timberlake Cabinet Company, offer a multitude of design options that make it easier for homeowners to plan a kitchen that combines both form and function.
By focusing on cabinet choices—including wood species, door styles, hardware, colors and accessories—homeowners can fashion a kitchen that's distinctly their own. With homes that have an overall design theme, the kitchen is the perfect area to extend that same look, according to Edwards. "By starting with a basic cabinet as a backdrop and adding decorative molding, tile, paint, etc., homeowners can easily plan a kitchen around a central design motif."
Edwards offers the following design ideas and finishing touches to create a contemporary, southwestern or country kitchen:
Contemporary Kitchen Styles
To achieve the sleek, polished style and streamlined look of a contemporary kitchen, homeowners may consider cabinets of either white textured laminate or wood in a light finish. Curved end panels and full overlay door styles add to this sleek look, as does high-tech lighting. For example, Halogen lights behind a decorative glass door will have a dramatic effect that enhances the contemporary mood. High-gloss hardware and bold accent colors (black, white, red) work well, too. White on white or black appliances are popular in contemporary kitchens, as are natural stone materials for floors and countertops.
Southwestern Kitchen Styles
For the southwest kitchen, consider oak or maple cabinets in a natural finish, combined with mullion doors. Concealed hinges allow a free range of hardware choices. Forged nickel cabinet hardware and verdigris-finish accessories further expands on the southwest style. Rope molding on the cabinets or along the countertop facing provide texture and architectural interest, and terra-cotta tiles for backsplashes, countertops and floors add warmth. Woven baskets and desert hues of adobe, sienna and burnt orange complete the look.
Country Kitchen Styles
Since country kitchens are cozy and inviting, consider oak cabinets in any stain, from light to dark. Decorative glass doors with gingham curtains in blue or yellow add to this country feeling. To create a distinctive, customized finish, install a plate rail molding along the top of the cabinets and use the area behind it to display dried flower arrangements, antique cookware or collectibles. To complement the cabinet molding, install matching chair rail in the adjacent eating areas. White porcelain hardware is a popular choice for the country kitchen.
In addition to selecting cabinet options and accessories on the basis of style, homeowners may now choose from a myriad of functional cabinet accessories, adding convenience and efficiency to kitchen activities. For gourmet cooks, an undercabinet cookbook rack provides eye-level reading and slides out of sight when not in use. Corner carousels, bread boxes, recycling centers and appliance garages may also be selected for added convenience. Window seats and kitchen desks are also becoming increasingly popular as the kitchen evolves into an all-purpose room in the home.
Through cabinet choices and attention to detail, the kitchen can make a definitive statement about the homeowner's individuality and personal taste. With over 50 styles to choose from, Timberlake has one of the most complete cabinetry lines in the industry and offers homeowners countless customizing possibilities. Timberlake has added many premium features as standard options, including its fully-concealed Hidden Hinge, making Timberlake a value-packed cabinet choice.
Timberlake cabinets are available through exclusive dealers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For more information on Timberlake cabinets or the location of the nearest Timberlake dealer, visit the Timberlake website at www.TimberLake.com.
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center
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