Historically, for a lot of people, cabinets were cabinets. From their beginning, kitchen cabinet styles were boxes with or without doors on them that hung on kitchen walls. As the years went by base cabinets were added as homemakers acquired additional kitchenware and required a place to put it. The cabinets weren’t intended to be aesthetically pleasing, because they were supposed to be functional. Exceptions to this rule were in the manor houses of the wealthy who had elaborately-carved wood and custom-designed storage areas.

During the Victorian times, cabinetry, just like the taste in furniture, wallpaper, and rugs, was particularly ornate, designed using fine hardwoods. You may have had the chance to visit a number of these old homes and marvel at the elaborate cabinetry they enjoyed. Kitchen cabinet styles were pretty much limited to what people could afford.

Modern cabinets have evolved into several different styles in many different price ranges to meet the needs of all homeowners. Instead of just being basic boxes containing shelves any longer, there are numerous specialty cabinets you can purchase, such as a pantry, a cabinet with a pull-up shelf for your stand mixer, or open plate racks. Cabinets are available in solid woods like oak, cherry, maple, and birch as well as various styles with melamine or wood veneers. Tastes can vary from modern contemporary styles to fancy, hand-carved units. It all depends on what you want.

The initial thing to think about when choosing a kitchen cabinet style is the basic style of your home. Most people would rather have kitchen cabinets that go with the flow of the home décor which will allow their kitchen appear that it is an integral part of the rest of the house. The most popular styles that that are available for kitchen cabinets include:
* Traditional – formal kitchen cabinet style with hardwoods, dark stains, and
polished brass hardware. Conforms
with the styles of the 18th and 19th century.
* Contemporary – sleek, streamlined cabinetry with simple, basic lines and flush
doors. Can be constructed of many different materials, such as wood, glass, laminates,
chrome, or stainless steel.
* Shaker – exceptionally simple, plain wood cabinets
finished with dyes and oils.
* Country – simple lines for a very casual look.
Finished with paints or stains and either with or without doors
* Rustic – knotty pine, strap hinges, and simple kitchen cabinet
style.
* French Country – old world styling with decorative, carved moldings and possibly feet,
more like furniture than kitchen cabinets.
* Arts and Crafts – Square, classic lines
created in Mission style. Often of oak.
* Cottage – casual and cozy with mismatchedlookscabinetry,finishes, and hardware.

With all of these different kitchen cabinet styles to pick from, there’s bound to be one that will look perfect in your home and blend your kitchen into your total décor. You can also add private accents to the styles of a few of the cabinets. For example, you might want to think about adding stained glass panels to the doors or finish them with colored glazes and exotic hardware. As you can see, kitchen cabinets aren’t merely boxes any more. They’re a reflection of your excellent taste.

Tags: Home Improvement