What Will Cabinets be Wearing in 2021?

In our last post we showed you some of the new and exciting door styles in our Greenfield line. You might be asking, “but what about the finishes? Is a white kitchen still the standard by which all others are judged?” The answer to that is no. Clients all over the country are showing their individuality and desire to connect with nature. While white is still prominent and classic, here are some other woods and finishes that you’ll be spotting in homes and magazines.

What’s old is new again: Remember last week I talked about Oak making a comeback? Does the thought of white-washed Oak from the 80’s make you cringe? Well, good news – you don’t have to cringe with these new Oak stains. There’s everything from a rustic finish grey Oak for those looking for that farmhouse aesthetic to the Scandinavian influence of natural finish White Oak to classic darker brown finishes that accentuate the natural grain patterns. 

Choices in grain pattern: Without going into too much detail about how wood is cut, know that there are three types of cuts that give you different looks:

  • Flat cut: You see the familiar pattern of Oak (think of Oak floors with the definite arch patterns)
  • Rift cut: A way of cutting the tree to create a more uniform, straight grain
  • Quarter Sawn: Think of Arts and Crafts pieces of furniture done in Oak. You don’t see the arch patterns (cathedrals) but you do see a straighter grain with some flecks in it. 

Our new offerings consist of White Oak in Flat Cut, Random Plank (sizes of the plank varies, just like in flooring) and Rift Cut

New colors: While grey is still on-trend, we’re seeing some fresher natural finishes as well. Take a look at these greys; they’re softer and more transparent.

Ready for rustic? While it isn’t for everyone, this rough-cut, limed finish could be a gorgeous partner to a high-gloss acrylic or even white painted cabinets. 

Stay tuned throughout the year for new introductions!

All Mixed Up

So, what’s hot in kitchens?  According to Lisa Bertagnoli of Crain’s Chicago Business, kitchens cabinets that aren’t all the same color are hot.  I say, this is not a new trend as I’ve been seeing it for several years.  I like mixing colors, species of woods and countertops.  You have to do it well or you could end up with something like this:

This is NOT the look you want

 Ok, I’m lending you my critical eye.  Why is the above kitchen a very poor interpretation of the mixed finishes concept?  It’s because they’ve stuck one cabinet with not only a different finish, but a different style in between a row of homogenous cabinets.  That just looks like you needed something to fill the space and ran out and grabbed the first thing in the right size.  No, no, no.

Here are some kitchens that display the concept well.

Attractive mixed finishes

Ok, this kitchen is done well because there is balance and harmony in the mixing.  You have the white cabinetry balanced with the light walls and all the cabinetry on one side is the same color.  The darker island relates to the darker table, chairs, buffet and hutch and flooring.  Nothing looks incongrous. 

 Let’s look at another:

Pretty Country Kitchen

There’s a lot of mixing going on here!  You have different floors, different finishes, different door styles,  and different crown treatments.  Why does this succeed where the first example failed?  Again, there’s some harmony and unifying elements that make it all come together to look good.  Look, for instance at the two-toned wall.  See how the gold area unites the two sets of cabinetry?  And even though the door styles are very different, they’re both very “country”.  The differences in floor materials adds to the rustic, authentic feel.  You get the impression that the cupboard might have been a piece  that was passed down from a previous generation. 

Now that you’ve seen some of what works and what doesn’t in mixing finishes, what do you think?  Would you be brave enough to try it?