Trend Report: Cabinet Cool

FROM DRAMATIC PALETTES AND OPEN SHELVING TO BARELY THERE HARDWARE, WE REVEAL THE LATEST LOOKS IN KITCHEN CABINETRY

- Vanessa Keys

With the boundary lines in our homes ever-shifting, what we expect from the kitchen has evolved, too. We no longer look to cabinetry as being purely functional, but as a design element in its own right. “Expect to see more exquisite finishes, curated decor to match the living room, and materials and colors that embrace nature and wellbeing,” says Susan Hasler, Freedom Kitchens’ sales and retail director. Here’s our guide to making cabinets the crown jewel of the kitchen.

MATERIAL MATTERS

As kitchen and living spaces merge, the demand grows for materials that blend seamlessly into their surroundings (as in this sleek look by Darren James Interiors, below). Hardy options such as laminate are now as decorative as they are durable, in tones inspired by nature that “enhance any space… [while they] stand up to the rigors of everyday life,” says Sacha Leagh-Murray, general manager of marketing at Laminex.

THE NEW NEUTRALS

The all-white kitchen is taking a back seat to dramatic shades of black (below) and sophisticated colors such as slate green (right). “A matt-black kitchen is seen as a base color that can work in many homes,” says Susan Hasler from Freedom Kitchens. Not ready to go to the dark side? “Navy is a warm, rich hue but still dramatic, making it the perfect alternative to black,” says Laminex’s Sacha Leagh-Murray.

THE ANTI-KITCHEN