What do you first notice when you enter a kitchen? Did you answer cabinets? If so, then you are in the majority since cabinets set the stage in the kitchen. They determine the “mood” for your kitchen more than the countertop, appliances or even the floor can achieve. This is because kitchen cabinets are on a vertical plane, so it takes up a lot in your field of vision. So, since we have established the importance of kitchen cabinets, let us discuss the items to consider when selecting them for your new home. Here are some tips:

• Color is the feature of the cabinets that will create the most impact upon entering the kitchen. This sets the tone of your kitchen design. You can opt to have your cabinets stained or painted. Stain colors range from a clear coat to the darkest cherry stain. The lighter the stain, the more you will see the graining of the wood. Painted cabinets tend to be in the white range. Some are stark white, while others are a softer “antique white”. White cabinets can evoke a cottage or contemporary feel. This all depends on the style combined with the color. Other painted cabinets that are popular are in the taupe and grey color range. Most cabinet manufacturers will offer a glaze that can be hand applied to each cabinet. The glaze can change the color slightly of either a stain or painted cabinet and give it more depth. Essentially, the glaze is brushed onto the entire cabinet, then wiped off, leaving residual glazing in the edges and crevices of the cabinet. If you know the color of your flooring or countertop, this will help you tremendously in selecting the right color. Tip: if your kitchen has little natural light, try to select lighter cabinets. It will open up the space, keeping it light and bright.
• Styles of cabinets vary from traditional to contemporary to shaker. Second to color, the style that you select is a very important decision. The more basic and streamlined the lines and detail is, the more contemporary. If you choose a cabinet door that has a lot of detail, then you will be leaning to the more traditional style. Cabinet doors can have either a flat center panel of a raised center panel. The raised tends to be the desired since it usually is a solid center when it is raised, whereas a flat panel could be particle board.
• The type of wood selected is a personal preference. Oak cabinets will have a lot of graining, whereas a maple or cherry cabinet graining will be smoother. Pecan, hickory, birch and walnut are other types of woods used for cabinetry. Each type of wood has its own undertone and will display the same stain in different ways.
• In designing your kitchen cabinets, you will have many choices of customizing the cabinetry for either aesthetic or functional uses. For aesthetic purposes, you can add a glass insert in wall cabinets and decorative inserts at the top such as dentil molding or a rope design. For practical purposes, you might choose to add a roll out trash bin, roll out trays and lazy Susan cabinets. When it comes to options, there are many offered by cabinet manufacturers.
• Hardware is like the jewelry of your cabinetry. There are many styles and finishes for cabinet hardware. Choose from handles or knobs in a traditional, contemporary, or whimsical design. This helps to personalize your cabinets even more by adding this finishing touch.

As you can see, selecting your kitchen cabinets takes some thought and planning. In designing your new home, the kitchen is a very important area. Be sure to set aside plenty of time to make these decisions. If you have any questions about the home building process and when kitchen decisions need to be made, please contact Harden Custom Homes at (239) 205-5075 or stop by our model home at 2818 Tropicana Pkwy W., Cape Coral, FL 33993.