7 Paths To Selecting Your Kitchen Cabinet Finish

"Hi Susan: A quick question if I may- with an open log cabin kitchen, wood floors, and a wood ceiling with beams, what color cabinets would you suggest? The wood is a light color on the walls and ceiling. Thank you, Patty"

Hi Patty (hand waving!)

First, I never see ONE answer to a question like this. Instead, I prefer to drive my clients crazy with six (or more) additional questions of my own to help them get focused! The method to my madness is as follows and represents off the top of my head questions as a response to this "quick" question.

• The wood may be light, but how much light is there in the kitchen, either via windows or lighting? Could the room use help with reflected light from a large block of (light) cabinetry?

• What are the colors/theme in the surrounding rooms? Is there any trend of wood finishes or colors that you will be seeing that you may want to blend or coordinate with, in the kitchen?

• Do you like contrast or do you prefer colors to be soft and flow within the space?

• If you are interested in, say, an opaque white, are you aware that, especially if children are in the picture, your cabinetry will look worn far more quickly than if you had other colors/finishes?

• Are you going after a certain theme? Tailored, rustic, formal, modern, transitional, zen, other? That could give you a clue. Do you want to contrast the rustic framework of your log cabin with another theme to create an eclectic look? Perfectly acceptable. Note your other furnishings as a guide.

• Could you be open to alternative colors that you normally do not see such as a soft khaki, an oyster grey, grey/blue, a light mushroom color, sort of a cool/warm soft contrast? Speaking of cool/warm, be aware of this color differentiation in the context of the overall color scheme as well as what's happening beyond the kitchen. 

• You also may want to consider what finishes you want your countertops and appliances to be. These choices will also send a message about the total look of the kitchen. Likewise, the backsplash to a lesser extent.

• What size is the room? Color/finish of cabinetry plays a role in space perception along with my first item to consider, above, lighting. I feel if the room is small but very well lit (very) perhaps with a light countertop and walls, then dark tones in the cabinetry are fine to use. Of course, a mix of light shades in a small room will allow the space to flow and not appear choppy/busy, something to seriously consider in a small space (choppy/busy).

So, unfortunately, I have no answer for you, only additional questions which should definitely put you on the path to focus and insight! Only you know these answers and it should take a little time to consider the various issues involved in selecting just ONE finish. No pressure or anything! I just can't make the decision for you.

Is a Kitchen Design Trend Always A Trend?

I received an email from Jenney and this is what she is asking:

"I am buying a new house. I am planning to have the kitchen counter in white and cabinets in dark brown, but I am afraid the trend will go out of style. what do you think? what is the most classic color for the kitchen?"

What strikes me is that you are calling it a trend. I don't see white countertops and dark brown cabinetry as a trend, at least not a strong trend, possibly a mini trend. But, more importantly, I feel this combination of colors can be considered classic.

The finishes you are talking about are neutrals, even the dark brown. It is a natural finish for cabinetry, and if the rest of the kitchen is designed and decorated in a classic way, as opposed to integrating all the latest design ideas from magazines, catalogs and web home design sites, then you're safe. You needn't worry about your kitchen being pigeon-holed as a trend.

As far as what is the most classic color, of course, white is classic. Most brown wood stains in the medium to dark tones are classic, and some medium to light tones in wood stains. Remember the pickled maple light stains in the 80s and 90s? They were a strong trend, very strong. But, I see that having been a trend partially because those pickled maple/oak colors were an unnatural color for the wood. If these are the colors you like, take note of the above advice, and I'd say, go for it!

Comments?

TRENDY:

MODERN CLASSIC:

5 Ways To Plan For Adequate Kitchen Dining Space

I've been thinking about space that is designed for dining in, or just beyond the kitchen. Having recently moved from a 3500 square foot house to a house that is less than 2000 square feet, dining space is very much on my mind.

It has been my experience that when plans are brought to me by potential clients, there is often not enough space planned for the dining area. It is the most overlooked area in space planning that I've seen. So, here are what I consider to be very important issues. Some of these may seem simplistic, but in the course of whole house plans, for example, it is an area that can be easily overlooked, and perspective on paper can be misleading for those unfamiliar with floorplans.

Take a look at the plans below. This is a client's home  and is a fairly large home for 2 people, no kids. The kitchen is a large kitchen. Notice the first plan with handwritten comments (mine) which is how it came to me.

Some time later, the second plan is what we came up with. I have some objections to that plan as well, as I had to defer to the clients' wishes, of course, but I was able to substantially enlarge the dining area and if you look at the lower wall of each plan, you'll see where some changes were made based on my suggestions. Not perfect, but much better. (The island and the table are too large for the plan, but that was the clients' wishes, and 42" is too narrow between the island and the cooking wall.) NOTE: the three big columns in the original plan in the south area of the image are outdoors.

It's a shocking example of how, if overlooked and accepted, this large kitchen would have had seating for 2, which, at the time, the clients had no issue with until I brought up additional lifestyle scenarios for their consideration.

Follow these tips for a more satisfying dining experience. That says a lot, and it should...dining with loved ones is one of the most beautiful things in life. To me, dining comfort is as important as anything that is planned in the kitchen.

1. What is the maximum number of people that you want to seat? Visualize several lifestyle scenarios. Planning for maybe 2-3 more people than you will typically seat, if space permits, is a common request and makes sense in most cases.

2. Analyze the space surrounding the dining area. Is there space to move around the table comfortably? Will people at the table feel confined? Is there enough room between fixed kitchen cabinetry and the table? Between doorways and the table? Account for chairs being pulled out as well. I will promise you that you will probably need more space than you think you need. Visualize people seated and others moving around the table. Those images will reveal the problems and/or solutions to you.

3. Is there another dining room? Under what situations will that dining room be used? Must it only be used for formal situations and furnished in a very formal style which may not be conducive to casual dinners with a large group? Think through how the dining room is best used...its frequency of use as well. This will help determine the size table to use in the kitchen or breakfast room.

4. Think flexibly! Can your table be expanded to accommodate more people? If so, are you ok with that? Can you create a hinged plywood top to put on top of your table top, covered with a table cloth if your table does not have a leaf? A great solution for rare occasions and if there is no other dining room or if you simply prefer to be in the kitchen.

In my case, I am finding in my new home, that, having expanded the table to accommodate 9 people in the breakfast room, I do not like the smaller space that is left over, even though I would not consider it cramped. As a result, I will be changing the living room into a dining room. Radical, but necessary, as, to me, ample space surrounding a table is conducive to comfort and relaxation and lingering meals.

The answer is this: There is no right or wrong.

5. Built in seating saves lots of space! Consider banquette seating to accommodate more people, save space, and sit with comfort (if planned properly.)

So much to think about, and all VERY important!

Here is the later version of the plan I referred to:

And here is the first one that was brought to me with this plan: