When renovating a kitchen, there a many decisions to be made. Layout, style, colour scheme, cabinet profile, benchtop, splashback, storage options right through to appliances, handles, sink and tapware etc. The decisions and choices are mind boggling for the first time renovator. However, difficult the task may seem, it is important that each and every selection blends in and work well to create a beautiful and functional kitchen.
Beautiful white, flat panel polyurethane cabinets with engineered stone benchtop, glass splashback and stainless steel appliances – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
With so many decisions to be made it can be quite confusing where to start. There is however, an easy way to cut decisions by half. Unless renovating the entire house and starting with a blank canvas, the style and colour scheme for the kitchen will be influenced by the design of the rest of the dwelling, so as to create a continuous and harmonious home. By doing this, it will be known as to what particular style, that is, traditional, contemporary, industrial etc. the kitchen should be.
Once the overall style has been decided upon, the next step is to choose the cabinet door profile for the kitchen cabinets that suits that style.
Stunning white flat panel polyurethane finger pull cabinets with engineered stone benchtops and stainless steel appliances – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Starting with the cabinets makes sense because the largest component of a kitchen is the cabinets, and more specifically the cabinet door style. The cabinet door style and colour largely determine the design and feel of the entire kitchen, simply as it is the most visible.
In general, the cabinet style sets the stage for whether the kitchen will have a contemporary or traditional design and from this point, further decisions can be more readily made for colour scheme, benchtops, splashback, appliances, tapware and handles.
In general terms, there are three major cabinet door styles (or profiles) from which to choose. Each will create a different type of style in the kitchen however, there are no hard and fast rules with design. All three cabinet door styles, if careful when making other selections, such as for instance handles, benchtop and splashback, can be transformed to suit any style kitchen.
Contemporary white flat panel cabinet doors with Caesarstone benchtops and glass splashback – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Flat or Slab panel:
Flat or slab panel profile cabinet doors are exactly as they sound, they are completely flat, usually without grooves, frames or any such detail. Flat profile doors are a minimalist design and perfectly suit contemporary styled kitchens. Due to their lack of detail, this type of cabinet door is quite attractive to those on a tight budget. Although this type of door is perfect for the more modern style of kitchen, as mentioned previously, there are no hard and fast rules with design. Add a detailed handle to these doors with an appropriate benchtop and splashback, these doors can be transformed to suit a traditional or industrial styled kitchen.
Stunning white raised panel cabinet doors with Caesarstone benchtops & subway tile – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens
Raised profile panel:
This style of cabinet door is synonymous with traditional styled kitchens. The centre part of the door is raised to the same level of the outside frame of the panel, creating a grooved design that adds character to each door and drawer. Cottage, rustic, colonial and the like are commonly seen with raised profile cabinet doors. This raised panel is often combined with a more intricate detailing, arches and grooves which immediately create the feel of yesteryear and a more traditional style. There are many variations to be found within the raised profile door range, all however, lend the flavor of yesteryear and a more traditional style.
Timeless shaker cabinets or recessed panel cabinet doors – kitchen renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.
Recessed panel doors:
This type of cabinet door is as it sounds. It is the opposite of the raised panel door, in that the centre part of the door is recessed to the framed panel. A most popular recessed cabinet door profile design is the shaker cabinet. Recessed panel doors have a simplistic design that suits all kitchen designs, modern and traditional alike, and it is this very simplicity that makes them a timeless classic style. Recessed panel cabinet doors when painted white or a cool neutral colour can create a more contemporary feel and when painted a cream, warm neutral or timber timber finish, lend a more traditional style.
Related Articles:
Choosing your Kitchen Splashback
Why people are turning to Quartz for their Kitchens
Master Bathrooms & Kitchens is a bathroom & kitchen renovation company that is family owned and operated. We have been renovating the Hills District & Hornsby areas since 1995 and can offer advice and expertise that only comes from years of experience. Be sure to peruse our website for more renovation advice and inspiration or call us on (02)9899-9330 to discuss your renovation and organise an in home quotation.
See our video below of just some of our beautiful kitchens:
