Different Types of Cabinet Styles
KEPLER adds a contemporary touch to these traditional kitchen cabinets ✨
Perhaps you have a vague idea of the type of cabinets you’d like, but aren’t quite certain how they’ll fit in with the rest of your culinary space? Or have you seen a style you know you just can’t live without and want to learn more? From your tools-down moments when you’re collating ideas through to the times when you need practical pointers, we’ll pick up the slack when you need us to. Keep reading to discover all the different types of cabinets and how you can use these to create a kitchen you’ll love for years to come 🙌Framed vs. Frameless Cabinets
When it comes to your kitchen cabinets, you have two main options – framed and frameless. Here are the main differences to look out for…Framed cabinets
These have an added face frame at the front of the cabinet box where the hinges and doors attach. Closely resembling a flat picture frame, this feature gives added dimension to the door front, while supporting the cabinet box. The design possibilities of framed cabinets are endless and you’re able to create a truly customised look. Most homeowners go for framed cabinets when they want to design a more traditional looking kitchen.
Nikki’s kitchen looking dapper with flat-panel framed cabinets and KEPLER 😎
Frameless cabinets
These eliminate the face frame and feature overlay doors that attach directly to the cabinet box via hinges on the interior of the cabinet. Sometimes known as ‘full access cabinets’, frameless cabinets give you more storage space and are ideal for getting the most out of your smaller kitchen. In terms of aesthetics, the streamlined appearance of these cabinets makes for a more contemporary and modern feel 👌
Vikki Savage modernises her flat-panel, frameless cabinets with BECKER & BEZEL.
Now you’re in-the-know about the two main cabinet construction categories, here are the common door styles you can choose from.Cabinet door styles
Shaker-style cabinets
Shaker kitchen cabinets are made up of five pieces of flat-panel. Four pieces are used to create a frame, while the fifth piece is the single flat centre panel. As one of the most popular styles of cabinets, the shaker-style draws on two timeless interior design concepts – classic lines and a minimalist aesthetic. The beauty of Shaker cabinets is in their versatility. They work just as well in contemporary designs and they do in classically-styled, traditional homes. If you’re going for a gritty, industrial look, we suggest combining these cabinets with a concrete worktop. Or are you more about a cosy farmhouse look? In this case, a wooden worktop will create a sense of warmth and draw on the natural world. Last but not least, if the name of the game throughout your home is luxury, look no further than an elegant marble worktop. Add beautiful handles for a beautiful and timeless finish.Flat-panel or slab cabinets
Continuing with all things modern and minimalist, say hello to flat panelled or ‘slab’ cabinet doors 👋 Simple and stylish, these solid kitchen cupboard doors don’t have any panelling or additional framing. Instead, you can think of them as slabs with hard lines and a minimal form.One of the key benefits of flat-panel cabinets is that they’re a breeze to clean compared to other cabinet styles. This is because they don’t have any grooves or detailed features to attract cooking grease or grime. While lacking any details that could be more expensive for you, this style of cabinet is great for achieving a premium, high-end look on a budget.Concerned that a paired-back look might look samey? Don’t stress. You can add a touch of intrigue and enhance your flat-panel cabinets with our knurled hardware collection. Sharp, sturdy and designed for optimum grip, this contrasting finish will give your kitchen the additional texture it needs. Mix and match our contemporary knurled knobs and handles to create coherence in your kitchen’s interior. Want to see how it's done? Read how Nadine (@rona_renovations) jazzed up her flat-panel cabinets here.
Don’t know how to glam-up your flat-panel cabinets? Enter HUXLEY ➡
Glass-Front Cabinets
Are you on the hunt for something more special? Introducing glass-front cabinets, the perfect opportunity to showcase your favourite glasses and ceramics 🍸 Like a window, glass-front cabinet doors can be made up of one or several panes of glass. Their lovely reflection helps to brighten up a darker kitchen and of course, draw attention to the contents of your shelves. To further illuminate inside your cabinets and get your glassware glowing, we recommend incorporating accent lighting 💡As you’re able to see exactly what’s inside your glass-front cabinets, you’ll find it easier to protect the items on display. Of course, the downside of this open view is that you need to always keep the shelves neat and tidy. Our way around this is to only have glass on some of your cabinets, rather than all of them. Another hack is to choose frosted glass, for some but not total opacity. Feeling trendy? Why not opt for reeded glass as an intriguing design choice that also disguises any cabinet clutter? Keep the grooved, light-reflecting theme going with our BEZEL Knobs in Stainless Steel 🌟
Beadboard Cabinets
Onto beadboard cabinet styles, a name that comes from the likeness to the panelling style of bed boards. Beadboard cabinets are typically characterised by narrow vertical slats of wood that are pierced together on their long side, resulting in a bead-like connection. Rooted in a warm and homely feel, this style is perfect for your cosy and informal interiors. If your vibe is somewhere between traditional cottage and modern farmhouse, with a touch of Scandi styling thrown in, beadboard cabinets will be ideal for you.In contrast to the simple flat-panel cabinets we mentioned earlier, beadboard cabinets have a curve on the central panel that can make cleaning a little more complicated. With extra grooves than other styles, you may have to apply a tad more elbow grease. To avoid anything sticking to these grooves, all you have to do is whip round the duster when you get a moment.For a seamless look, finish with some dainty cabinet knobs or complement the vintage feel of your furniture with hardware in an Antique Brass finish.
Traditional Cabinets
If you love nothing more than warm and homely interiors, why not consider installing traditional kitchen cabinets? They tend to feature raised rather than flat centre palettes, also sticking to warmer colour palettes and wood tones. This may make the room feel slightly darker, so we suggest moving away from traditional cabinets and toward more modern designs if you’d prefer a light and airy feel.This may sound similar to the shaker-style cabinetry we mentioned earlier. However, unlike their simple and square details, traditional cabinetry is recognised for its arches, curves and other embellishments. For some more formal touches, you could incorporate furniture-inspired details like decorative legs and corbels into your space. Top it all off with our Antique Brass hardware as a timeless finishing touch 🌟Louvred Cabinets
Are you searching for kitchen cabinet ideas that are both easy on the eye and practical? You’ll get exactly this with louvred cabinets, which are made up of horizontal wooden slats. With gaps between the slats, you’ll have superior air circulation and more ventilation for drying dishes. They’re great for getting the fresh air flowing around your kitchen pantry too, leaving no unwanted smells! Louvred cabinets are brilliant for smaller kitchens, as their horizontal lines will make the room feel wider and more spacious 🙌 As louvred doors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they can be applied to your different sized kitchen cupboards and units, helping create a consistent look throughout your kitchen.
Weaved or louvred, GERMAIN compliments any wooden cabinets 👌
Contemporary Cabinets
This kitchen cabinet designs blog wouldn’t be complete without a note on contemporary cabinets. These boast a beautifully simple look, usually featuring flat surfaces and minimal extra features. A clean look for your clean and unfussy kitchen ✨Contemporary cabinets don’t have extra moulding, which means that they can be taller and give you hardworking storage in any areas lacking in horizontal storage space. You can expect contemporary kitchen cabinets to be made of man-made materials such as metal, concrete, plastic, glass or manufactured wood. 
These handmade kitchen cabinets are curved and fitted to perfection, featuring PORTER.
For a desirable modern kitchen design, pair your contemporary cabinets with our Stainless Steel hardware. With its silvery-toned, glacial finish, this hardware always delivers a crisp accent that perpetuates a theme of quality living. Even better still, our Stainless Steel hardware is made in a way that’s better for the planet, avoiding the carbon-intensive electroplating process used for our Satin Nickel products. By using this responsibly-manufactured, yet equally trendy hardware on your kitchen cabinets, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment 🌍See our post on how to upcycle a cocktail cabinetIt’s time to bring your kitchen cabinet ideas to life! If you need any more help, cast your eyes to our Inspiration Gallery, where our talented and generous community of homeowners have tagged us in their impressive #PlankProjects. Once you’re cabinet-ready, don’t forget to take some before and after snaps and share it with us using @plankhardware 📸
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