Kitchen cabinets for your san jose residence
kitchen cabinet services
If you’re planning an upcoming home remodel, you might be wondering how to choose the right kitchen cabinets. You want something that will align with your design goals while also making your everyday life more convenient. And, of course, there’s the budget to consider!
Here at Roy’s Builders & Remodeling, we work with homeowners all over San Jose and elsewhere in the Bay Area to find kitchen cabinets that will go above and beyond your expectations. Let’s talk about some of the ways we go about helping clients choose a cabinetry style.
Refurbished versus brand new cabinetry
One of the first questions that pops up in the planning process of a remodel is: do you really need to replace your cabinets? After all, you might like the look of your current cabinets or want to avoid the expense of buying new ones.
Depending on your aesthetic aspirations, this could be a viable option! Our design team will take a look at the integrity of your existing cabinets and make recommendations on how we can upgrade them to align with your overall remodeling goals.
Most popular cabinet design styles
If you decide to go with a new set of cabinets, there are a variety of design choices you’ll want to consider. And as you start looking at kitchen cabinet options, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the vocabulary to describe different styles, such as:
- Traditional or raised panel. Raised panel cabinets have been popular for many decades, and they will give your home a cozy, traditional “Americana” look. Some designers say that they’re out of style, but this classic design can be modernized to look right at home in a newly remodeled kitchen!
- Shaker-style cabinets feature a recessed panel that creates a clean, simple look. Because they are less ornamental than raised panels, shaker-style cabinets are great for a range of different aesthetics, including everything from minimalist to country kitchen and more.
- Flat or slab panel. Speaking of minimalism, a flat or slab panel design will give you even cleaner lines than a shaker-style cabinet. This modern cabinet design features a completely smooth surface with sleek hardware.
- In terms of construction, contemporary cabinets feature flat panel design. But, they take this style in an even more modern direction by removing all hardware for a completely flat, sleek look.
- Open shelf. Many homeowners are opting to ditch the bulky cabinets altogether and opt for an open shelf design! This can brighten up your kitchen and allow you to put your cookware and dinnerware on display.
- Beadboard or louvered cabinets. While less common than the staples like raised or shaker-style cabinets, some homeowners are branching out with alternative design choices such as beadboard or louvered cabinets. Both feature framed wooden slats—vertically laid for the beadboard design and horizontal for louvered—that provide an element of visual depth and intrigue in your kitchen.
- Windowed cabinets. Windowed cabinets can create a sense of openness and use reflected light to brighten up the space. This design style lends itself well to most aesthetic categories, including traditional, cabin, modern, contemporary, Scandinavian, and more!
Types of cabinet material
Next, it’s time to think about what kind of material you’ll want your cabinets to use! Here are a few of the most popular:
- Hardwood. This is a classic and beautiful option, but it’s also one of the more expensive, heavy, and prone to moisture damage.
- Engineered wood. There are a few different types of engineered wood, such as plywood or high density fiberboard, that are good alternatives to solid wood cabinets. They tend to be more durable, stable, and affordable than hardwood.
- Laminate cabinets are another type of engineered hardwood that are covered by a layer of plastic-based thermofoil that gives the cabinets a clean, smooth finish. Laminate cabinets are popular for their cost and convenience.
Color theory and light
Once you’ve settled on a design style and material for your kitchen cabinets, it’s time to select the right paint color or wood stain. This decision is crucial for achieving your desired ambiance, so you’ll want to choose between:
- Light. Light colors and shades like pastels and light natural wood will give your kitchen a bright and airy feel.
- Rich. If you’re after a homey and welcoming or rustic look, rich colors such as earth tones or medium-to-dark woods can create the perfect traditional kitchen atmosphere.
- Dark. Dark colors or wood stains are a great option for modern designs that will add drama and depth to your kitchen.
We’ll also want to make sure to balance the color or wood stain of your kitchen cabinets with the other elements of your remodel. For instance, your color options should integrate well with your backsplash, kitchen counters, flooring, and other decor.
Kitchen cabinets that fit your lifestyle (and your budget)
The look of your cabinets is an important remodeling choice, but you also want function to play a big role! After all, beautiful cabinets are even more enjoyable when they’re designed for maximum convenience. So, your next step will be to decide whether custom, stock, or semi-stock cabinets will give you the right features for storage and accessibility according to your lifestyle.
Custom cabinets are made-to-order, which means that you can include any design features that would make cooking easier. If you’re a family with a slow-cooker, rice-cooker, or air fryer, for instance, you’ll want custom cabinets designed specifically to store for your countertop appliances. Or, you might have a specific idea about how many windowed versus paneled cabinets you would like in your kitchen. Overall, custom or semi-custom cabinetry allows you to have more control over these type design features and look of your cabinets.
Stock cabinets, on the other hand, are standard-built cabinets that are made to fit well in most kitchen layouts. The benefits of going with this option is that stock cabinets are usually delivered faster and for a lower price than custom cabinets.
Hardware
Call Roy’s Builder with your kitchen cabinet questions!
It can be so helpful to have a knowledgeable design team in your corner when you’re planning a kitchen remodel. So, give our friendly building team a call with any questions you have about cabinets or other changes you have in mind for your upcoming home remodel. We can help you transform your San Jose home!