Kitchen Cabinets are Important

Kitchen cabinets have an important dual role - they make or break the look of a new kitchen and they provide that all so important storage space that we all need.

A kitchen is central to a home so you want it to look and feel absolutely right - and not just for today but many years to come…

Think carefully about the material that your cupboard doors will be made of - the body of the units are mostly made from chipboard nowadays so it is the doors that are the important feature when it comes to appearance, longevity and maintenance.

Lets take a look at some of the options:

Wood cabinet doors

Here the choice is veneer or solid wood.

Solid wood can be affected by changes in temperature and humidity in a kitchen, so take advice from the kitchen company you are buying from. A veneer finish is less likely to be affected by temperature or humidity.

Also ask for advice on how to care for either solid wood or veneer doors - as wood is a natural material it does relish proper care.

Choosing wood of any type gives a large choice of finishes. It can be stained to bring out the natural grain, given a colour wash, painted with a gloss or matt finish or waxed - with that amount of choice what finish would you prefer?

Laminate cabinet doors

Laminate doors offer a wide choice of finishes in colour, texture and even a matt or shiny finish - take a good look around.  It could be that your kitchen would benefit from gentle colours in soft finishes - or perhaps you prefer bold colours, and surfaces that shine.

Remember that no matter what style or colour, handles can give a distinctive finish to any cabinet. It can be the little touches that make all the difference.

A laminate finish should be long lasting and hardwearing, and have the advantage of being easy to keep clean - a wipe over with a damp cloth can restore its good looks.

Stainless steel doors

Stainless steel can be an expensive addition to the kitchen and are mostly kept as a statement piece - such as on appliances or worktops.

For the adventurous it can be used, when mixed with the right colours, to make a bold statement if chosen for cabinet fronts.

But before taking the plunge, consider that there is always the danger of making your home look a bit like a commercial kitchen, or even cold and clinical.

On the other hand… combined with wood, bold laminates or even cleverly chosen wall and floor finishes it can give a kitchen a real wow factor.

Glass cabinet doors

While the bulk of your kitchen will have either wood or laminate doors - glass helps make a real contrasting statement. What better way to show off special pieces of glassware or china than sitting in a stately manner in their own glass-fronted cabinet? It’s the best way to display the family treasures or that new piece that you just couldn’t resist because it was going to look stunning in your beautiful kitchen.

Clear glass is the choice of most people to act as the perfect foil for the display behind it, but some contemporary kitchens use frosted glass as a clever way of ringing the changes in the appearance of the cabinets.