What are the current mainstream but still classic kitchen design choices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

Painted cabinets are just as common in higher-end homes as wood cabinets.

Regarding real wood vs veneer, most panels in cabinets are going to be some form of veneered engineered product - all except doors with raised panels, which are less common these days. This is for stability - real wood or even plywood will cup and bow over time unlike engineered products that are designed to maintain a flat surface. But all veneer allows for tighter control of wood grain (if stained) or uniformly smooth finish surface if painted. The only solid wood in cabinets can be found in either face frames or the perimeter frame of a door (its stiles and rails that surround the panel). Cabinet cases will be plywood or some variation of highly-compressed panels - which can range from junk to high-quality (even Poggenpohl uses a compressed panel product for its cases).

For clarification, there are real-wood veneers and there are the artificial veneers you find in many mass-produced apartments and condos, but that's a different story entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, it’s not a “transitional.” That’s not a thing. Transitioning from what to what? That’s just a word Home Depot made up to describe a broad category of limited ornamentation. Which is fine I mean all of these terms are made up in some sense. But it won’t be enough for you to be able to make consistent design choices.

This is not my home but a recently sold home in my neighborhood and a similar model to my home. It's colonial-ish but it's not strictly colonial by a classic definition. This is also a pretty typical example of the type of kitchen remodels my area is seeing. This is basically the wood flooring I have too. Should I just go with something like this? Like I said, I'm not trying to win any design awards. When people enter my home, I just want it to look properly and reasonably maintained for the price point. That is all.

I'm honestly not that concerned about resale. By the time we sell, even the updates we do will be 10+ years old. That said, I just don't want it to look quickly dated in 2 years.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/47567-Major-Beckham-Way-Sterling-VA-20165/12370711_zpid/?mmlb=g,24

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

We bought in the $2.5M range and all the new builds have white, gray, or navy cabinets.

[Anonymous]

Yes, OP, white shaker cabinets are classic, they won't look outdated, you can easily change them up by changing the hardware. Similarly, a quartz or quartzite or even granite counter without too much veining or flecking will look nice for years.

[Anonymous]

The kitchen we did for an heir of a liquor fortune used industrial science lab equipment. It all had to be customized to fit though and thus very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kitchen we did for an heir of a liquor fortune used industrial science lab equipment. It all had to be customized to fit though and thus very expensive.

Are you on the right thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, it’s not a “transitional.” That’s not a thing. Transitioning from what to what? That’s just a word Home Depot made up to describe a broad category of limited ornamentation. Which is fine I mean all of these terms are made up in some sense. But it won’t be enough for you to be able to make consistent design choices.

This is not my home but a recently sold home in my neighborhood and a similar model to my home. It's colonial-ish but it's not strictly colonial by a classic definition. This is also a pretty typical example of the type of kitchen remodels my area is seeing. This is basically the wood flooring I have too. Should I just go with something like this? Like I said, I'm not trying to win any design awards. When people enter my home, I just want it to look properly and reasonably maintained for the price point. That is all.

I'm honestly not that concerned about resale. By the time we sell, even the updates we do will be 10+ years old. That said, I just don't want it to look quickly dated in 2 years.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/47567-Major-Beckham-Way-Sterling-VA-20165/12370711_zpid/?mmlb=g,24

This is definitely a colonial. It’s a 90’s McMansion colonial. Is that “bad?” I mean, it’s a tough age for housing. We’ll feel the same way about black window “craftsman” BS soon enough. It’s also probably a really practical and pleasant house to live in with a family.

The mismatched cabinet profiles really don’t work for me and yes, I do think the shaker perimeter cabinets are out of place and will look more dated later than something with a profile more like the island. No, it’s not a big deal. And right now since people are running from the 90’s McMansion vibe, it might be more popular for resale even if a snob like me thinks it’s mismatched.

For resale probably the much bigger problem for that kitchen is the island range. People really hate that.

Anyway don’t stress about this too much. Use the design people at the cabinet and counter places. They’ll help you. It’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Go with what you like. In this area they slap "colonial" on any house with a brick front. The inside will be fairly contemporary to when it was built, depending on the builder or homeowner but nothing in the interior remotely resembles the layout of a house in colonial times. Get what you like regardless and don't worry about being timeless because someone else is going to hate it or eventually think it is dated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

This is such a strange statement. I follow plenty of high end designers on IG and truly wealthy people. Not Kardashain wealthy, but true old money wealth. Many of them have stained cabinets.

For example - Annie Meyer’s house “this oak house” on IG. She has impeccable taste and the money to go along with it. Painted cabinets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

This.

In Bethesda, Potomac, McLean or Great Falls, all hardwood cabinets are in the kitchens of the majority of homes even below $2M. Yes, as always exceptions do exist. The color of the stain will vary. The wood might be oak, maple, or something else. Most often, the cabinet style aligns with the architecture of the house overall.

[Anonymous]

Stained is completely different from painted. I have no idea what some if the posts above are trying to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

This is such a strange statement. I follow plenty of high end designers on IG and truly wealthy people. Not Kardashain wealthy, but true old money wealth. Many of them have stained cabinets.

For example - Annie Meyer’s house “this oak house” on IG. She has impeccable taste and the money to go along with it. Painted cabinets.

I do not know any old money with painted cabinets, except in a summer beach cottage. Stained hardwood cabinets are all I see in their main homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

This is such a strange statement. I follow plenty of high end designers on IG and truly wealthy people. Not Kardashain wealthy, but true old money wealth. Many of them have stained cabinets.

For example - Annie Meyer’s house “this oak house” on IG. She has impeccable taste and the money to go along with it. Painted cabinets.

I do not know any old money with painted cabinets, except in a summer beach cottage. Stained hardwood cabinets are all I see in their main homes.

I’m confused what you’re talking about. What’s the different between a painted cabinet and stained hardwood cabinet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

This.

In Bethesda, Potomac, McLean or Great Falls, all hardwood cabinets are in the kitchens of the majority of homes even below $2M. Yes, as always exceptions do exist. The color of the stain will vary. The wood might be oak, maple, or something else. Most often, the cabinet style aligns with the architecture of the house overall.

Are these not painted cabinets?

https://redf.in/uSh7nj

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Painted cabinets have always been considered less desirable. Perhaps a beach house in the Hamptons could get away with white painted ones, but not many other places.

Just a note to think about.

In the $1-2M price range it’s rare to see a home with wood stained cabinets.

Yeah, but in higher end homes it's rare to find painted cabinets.

The reason is painted cabinets are "popular" in lower end builds now because that allows builders and cabinet sellers to get away with selling cheap pre-fab compressed wood pulp/etc. cabinets. Engineered boards with a cheap veneer.

Higher end cabinets use real wood and stained coated finishes or even higher end using hand rubbed oil finishes.

This.

In Bethesda, Potomac, McLean or Great Falls, all hardwood cabinets are in the kitchens of the majority of homes even below $2M. Yes, as always exceptions do exist. The color of the stain will vary. The wood might be oak, maple, or something else. Most often, the cabinet style aligns with the architecture of the house overall.

Are these not painted cabinets?

https://redf.in/uSh7nj

Ooo OP I didn’t post this, but this is a good kitchen for you to look at. See how the cabinet profile is simple and doesn’t feel fussy, but it has that molding so it’s not a flat plain shaker door? Love it. Would be a good choice for your house too.




And if I’m seeing this correctly, they have the same type of profile elsewhere even though I don’t think it is the same inset.