Kitchen cabinetry today, especially the perimeter of a kitchen, serve as a backdrop to everything else in the room. The look of a kitchen is rarely carried by the cabinetry. Other parts of the design typically carry the burden of the way a kitchen presents itself to the world. The appliances, flooring, countertops, backsplash, decorative hardware, sink, faucet all take on this responsibility. One exception to this rule is the island. The material used on an island can greatly influence the room.
I don’t see a reason to use custom cabinetry for most of the cabinets in a kitchen. Most stock-level or semi-custom brands offer multiple neutral-type colors that serve as a background to everything else going on in the space. An island can have an impact on the vibe of the kitchen so a custom option can be considered.
The photos in this blog post show a beautiful kitchen installed in a new build on Long Island. The homeowner had a specific vision driven by a handful of inspiration photos. The images all shared the same theme of having neutral cabinetry on the perimeter with some sort of white oak island. All the non-cabinet elements were tastefully done in all the photos.
The plan for the cabinetry became one of common sense. Let’s keep the perimeter cost down so more money can be spent on the custom island. Choosing a standard white color by Fabuwood for the outer edges was a great decision as it kept cost down while not sacrificing the vision. The island had to be custom as no brands offer rift-cut white oak in the type of stain the customer wanted to achieve. The overall feel of the space is elevated by the island and the many other products that are not cabinets.
Keeping all or most of the cabinetry out of the spotlight is a good approach to designing a beautiful kitchen. It can also save you money!
