Kitchen Cabinetry 101

October 23, 2018 (Reston, Virginia)

A revised Kitchen with open plan to a naturally lit Sun/Morning Room.
In recent years, it has been popular to build a “two-tone” kitchen; one color on the island, with a second on the “surround”, the outside upper and/or lower cabinets. Currently we’re seeing a resurgence of single-color kitchens, sometimes with different countertops on the island or surround for design ”pop”. Using a single color (most often a lighter hue such as white, gray, or beige) provides a cohesive effect, helps a kitchen feel light and clean, and can help visually expand the space.

As clean lines and simpler interior details gain traction in the marketplace, inset or frameless cabinet doors are also gaining popularity. An inset door is flush with the front of the cabinet box, which makes the available storage space a little smaller, but it also cleans up the line of the cabinet and has big visual impact. For more traditional or transitional decors, Shaker cabinets are both clean and classic.

Open shelving, rather than upper cabinets, is an element that goes well with contemporary farmhouse or modern kitchens, and they frequently appear on HGTV and other design shows. Choosing an accent color or distinctive shelving material can distinguish a display area. The downside is that maintaining the look requires discipline; any items stored on open shelves need to be organized and dusted to maintain the curated effect, leading some homeowners to limit open shelving to more functional and informal areas like craft rooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and children’s spaces. We like using open shelving at wet bars, particularly when accented with dramatic lighting that can highlight the shapes and colors of wine or liquor bottles.

While light hued cabinets in kitchens are great and eminently re-salable, one sign of a truly custom kitchen is a distinctive color, laminate, or unique finish, rather than a neutral or wood tone. Gulick|One clients often choose brighter accent colors in their kitchens or apply color to cabinet interiors for an elevated look and exceptional detail.

About Gulick Group, Inc.: Established in 1987, Reston-based Gulick Group has developed communities throughout Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, including One Cameron Place and Newport Shores in Reston, The Reserve in McLean, Autumn Wood, Grovemont, and the three Riverbend Communities in Great Falls, Red Cedar West in Leesburg, and Wild Meadow in Ashburn.