What’s the first thing that catches your eye in a kitchen? Is it the beautiful countertop, the many fancy appliances, or the impeccable color scheme?
If you’re like most homeowners, your eye probably catches the cabinets before anything else.
There’s a good reason for that. Cabinets determine a kitchen’s overall appeal. With the right cabinet arrangement, you can create a kitchen that’s traditional, contemporary, colorful, or classic.
Since cabinet doors are an important visual element in your kitchen, you need to carefully weigh your options to decide what kinds of cabinet doors compliment your space best. Of course, budget is a big consideration too!
To make your job simpler, Holland’s Custom Cabinets has compiled the following handy guide on popular custom cabinet door designs, as well as what you should consider before choosing one.
Types of Kitchen Cabinet Doors
Picking a cabinet door that suits your kitchen’s aesthetic is easier said than done. Here are a few of the better-known styles you can choose from.
1. Shaker Cabinet Doors
This style of cabinetry is simple and clean, with a clear emphasis on functionality. One of the biggest perks of the Shaker style is that it matches just about any kitchen décor, be it traditional or modern.
Most shaker cabinet doors have a four-piece frame and a flat single panel in the center. You can add your own touch to the style by playing around with wood species, stains, hardware, and paints.
Here’s a fun fact: did you know that Shaker Cabinet Doors were named after the “United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing,” who are also known as the Shakers? It’s true (and you can read more about it here.)
2. Raised Panel Cabinet Doors
As the name implies, custom raised panel cabinet doors have the middle panel raised, which adds more dimension to the cabinetry. Very often, the raised panels have multiple steps or tiers, allowing for an intricate layering structure.
This cabinet door style works wonders for classic, 1900s-inspired homes. Or you can use this custom cabinet door design to counter trendy pieces in your kitchen for a balanced effect.
3. Recessed Panel Cabinet Doors
In case you like the raised panel cabinet style but want a sleeker appearance, you can opt for recessed panel cabinet doors. These are a less-flashy version of the raised panel counterpart, perfect for minimalist kitchens.
Here, the center panel is slightly lower than the surrounding frame and it’s built out of a different material (usually veneer), as it is thinner than the rest of the door.
4. Beadboard Cabinet Doors
Beadboard cabinet doors are hard to miss, owing to their unique design: vertical pieces of wood lined together to form a bead-like connection. These cabinet doors are commonly found in French- style homes, cabins, cottages, and farmhouse-inspired kitchens. Being extremely detailed, beadboard cabinet doors emit an antique, rustic charm.
5. Cathedral Cabinet Doors
Known for their stately and contemporary appeal, cathedral arch cabinet doors are a popular choice for sophisticated, ornate, and Gothic kitchens, especially ones with high ceilings.
If you take a shine to the regal and grand, these doors can be the perfect fit for you. With an indented, steep arch design and beautiful curved lines, cathedral cabinet doors add an elegant flair to your kitchen.
6. Slab Cabinet Doors
For homeowners chasing a more modern/European look, the flat-panel slab cabinet doors are ideal. These consist of a flat slab of wood, devoid of any contours. Depending on your requirements, you can choose between textured and non-textured options.
Textured doors usually have effects that can spice up your kitchen space. But in case you want to take a simpler route, you should opt for non-textured custom slab cabinet doors and paint/stain them as you wish.
7. Applied Molding Cabinet Doors
Applied molding cabinet door designs take custom cabinetry to the next level. They often feature intricate details and profiles, making them one of the most decorative (and potentially most expensive) custom cabinet door styles on the market. Applied molding doors are usually created by attaching a molding or trim along the frame.
This door design benefits those who want their kitchens to stand out. Indeed, with the right design, an applied molding cabinet arrangement can easily become the focal point of any room.
What to Consider When Choosing Custom, Kitchen Cabinet Doors
When it comes to evaluating custom cabinet doors, there are no wrong answers. However, you’ll still want to know the standard criteria for choosing the right ones. Here’s a list of things you should consider:
1. Style and Layout of Your Kitchen
Your entire home décor is based on a theme/feeling. Each element in every room contributes to carrying this style throughout. Sure, there are differences between individual spaces, but the theme is consistent. The same applies to your kitchen.
Think of your cabinet doors in terms of your overall décor. Are you trying to pull off a classy, minimalist vibe? Or are you more inclined towards a traditional, antique appearance? Once you have your answer, your job’s half done.
Also, don’t forget to take your kitchen’s layout into account. Custom cabinet door designs that work for L-shaped kitchens may not always suit U-shaped kitchens. Of course, your Holland’s Custom Cabinets designer can help explore various options so you can make choices that are right for you and your home.
2. Construction and Material
Aesthetic options aside, kitchen cabinets are available in two basic structures: full-access and framed.
Full-access or Euro-style cabinets have no overlay around the edges and no style in the center. Because they are more open, they’re well-suited to contemporary-style doors, like slab or Shaker, that complement their clean appearance. On the other hand, framed cabinets offer one of three door options:
- Full-overlay
- Semi-overlay
- Inset door
Also, it’s important to choose an appropriate material for your cabinet doors. For example, veneer offers a wood-like finish, but is fragile. In contrast, melamine is resistant, durable, and cost-effective.
3. Color and Finish
The type of wood you use for your kitchen cabinets will dictate whether you should paint or stain them. Stains allow the wood’s natural grain to show, while paint conceals it. So, cabinets built out of maple and pine work well with stains, thanks to their natural lines and coloration. Alternatively, fiberboard is often painted over to ensure consistency across the entire surface.
4. Price
Like everything else, custom, kitchen cabinet doors come in all sorts of price ranges. As a rule of thumb, detailed custom cabinet door designs carry a higher price tag.
For starters, look through the options available to understand the typical costs. Then, analyze your budget to determine how much you’re willing to spend.
Hollands Can Help
Selecting kitchen cabinet doors is no easy task. There are plenty of styles to choose from, and even more criteria to consider. Hopefully, this article has given you further insight into the different custom cabinet door styles and how you can pick the best one for your kitchen.
At Holland Custom Cabinets, we specialize in designing and crafting eye-catching custom, kitchen cabinet doors that’ll leave your guests in awe. For more information and to explore your options, contact us today!
