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What Style of Kitchen Cabinets is Best for my Layout?

Kitchen cabinets have a big impact on your budget as well as how your kitchen looks. Here’s our guide on how to plan for and choose the right units for you

If you’ve been promising yourself a new kitchen for years, now is a great time to take the plunge. Whether you prefer sleek modern kitchen cabinets, warm wood grains or classic Shaker, there’s a design to suit your budget. The even better news is that the latest units are fantastically future-proof – dress them up with colour or add accessories and you can refresh your scheme as often as you like.

While choosing the layout of your kitchen is a lot about practicality, picking the cabinetry is where you really get to make your mark. Do you go for sleek contemporary or classic shaker style doors? Are looking for low-cost solutions or high-end bespoke? How much do carcasses matter?

Read on, and discover all the questions you need to ask yourself before you buy, as well as the answers to all your cabinetry concerns.

What are the best quality kitchen cabinets – do carcases matter?

Carcases are the units onto which doors and drawer fronts are attached – the internal framework of your kitchen. They have a structural role in terms of supporting the worktops, and of course provide storage and appliance housing. Only visible when doors are opened, they’re easy to overlook, but poor-quality carcases will have a massive impact on your kitchen’s longevity and performance.

The density of the material will determine the lifetime of your kitchen cupboards. Low-density chipboard is the most basic material for carcases. It’s more prone to permanent warping in damp conditions, but is the most affordable option. Here’s a full list of options.

Melamine-faced chipboard The staple diet of entry-level kitchens, MFC is a manufactured board popular for being inexpensive but strong. Its chipboard core is made from scrap wood, sawdust and paper, and faced in a melamine laminate. The carcase’s surface is moisture resistant, anti-fungal and easy to clean. The chipboard core will expand and ‘blow’ if moisture gets in but most modern carcases are well-sealed to prevent this.

MDF (Medium density fibreboard) Another popular mass-produced board. It’s considered superior to chipboard, and is thus marginally more expensive, because it is stronger, denser and has a much smoother, more moisture-resistant, edge when cut. Made from felted wood fibres bonded under high pressure, MDF is totally homogenous, sap and knot free, and has a smooth surface that is suitable for a variety of finishes.

Timber-faced MDF or chipboard To achieve the beauty of real wood without fear of warping, a thin veneer of timber – often to match doors – is applied on one or both sides of MDF or chipboard to give the impression of a single piece of wood.

Plywood Plywood is a premium sheet material made from layers of hardwood that’s most frequently used by bespoke makers. It’s incredibly stable and solid, virtually bulletproof, but weight can be an issue on wall-hung units. Marine-grade or MR (moisture resistant) ply is a good option if your house is built on a floodplain. It is usually faced in oak or birch but can also be painted or laminated.

Real wood Solid timber in single planks is actually a very impractical choice for carcases. It isn’t as rigid as manmade boards and could well warp in time. The only valid answer is solid wood carcases made from multi-stave boards, which are narrow staves of wood jointed together to prevent flexing. The benefit is that the carcase edges can be sanded flat so edging strips are not required to achieve a neat look.

Should I choose standard units or bespoke kitchen cabinets?

Most high-street kitchen companies will offer a kitchen with standard units in various sizes. Carcases are generally made in standard European sizes – labelled by width, for example 30cm, 60cm, 90cm, etc. These also conform to European appliance sizes, making it easy to fit appliances and cabinets together.

You can use online tools or a kitchen company representative to work out the best design to fit your room measurements and accept what they have as the definitive choice.

Alternatively, you can use a manufacturer who will design and make bespoke units, using with specialised carpenters and joiners who will fit your room perfectly. Obviously you pay a premium for this option but you then have freedom of choice and flexibility in your design.

Kitchen units – flat pack versus rigid

Flat pack carcasses are cheaper to transport and store, so cost less than rigid carcasses. Modern flat pack carcasses (think Ikea or B&Q) tend to be made on a CNC machine, which improves the chances that all holes and screws will line up.

Rigid carcasses are assembled in the factory and are considered structurally superior. Essentially, they are also much quicker to fit, resulting in less downtime between old and new kitchen. It also dramatically reduces the risk of missing parts and components, which can significantly delay progress.

Although flat pack carcases are cheaper initially, it’s important to add in the cost of assembling the units if you are not prepared or able to do it yourself. Labour costs can soon add up, particularly if parts are missing and your fitter has to take a trip to the local DIY store or come up with a creative solution. If you are building the carcases yourself, good quality flat pack units can represent a decent saving.

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7 New Kitchen Trends for 2018

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What’s Hot & What’s Not in the Kitchen Going into the New Year

With many modern kitchen designs now embracing the new open plan era of living, where the dining room, living room and kitchen all share the same space, it’s important to understand that the entire room is essentially dictated by the kitchen design style you choose.

The colours, layout, materials and functions of the kitchen will have an impact on the rest of the room so making the right choices will only help to ensure the entire space works for every scenario. If you’re considering a kitchen makeover or an entirely brand new kitchen installation in 2018, here’s a selection of the seven most hottest trends that are set to influence your decision making this coming year.

Kitchens Colours Are Set To Go Bold in 2018. Image credit: Wall Design Studio

Richer Colours

Contrast has started to become a big thing in kitchens and next year is set to further enhance that trend with many kitchen designs now going for bolder, more daring colours that contrast with the countertops and wall colours.

Clean whites and pale greys are still popular for those insisting on maintaining the minimalist look but overall, shoppers are now daring to add richer hues to their colour palette which is making for some exciting looking kitchen designs.

Step in to any kitchen showroom and you’ll now start to see the introduction of rich, dark plum tones and dramatic purples, to more organic sages and petrol greens. There’s even some pretty exotic colours out there with vibrant oranges like copper, saffron yellow, henna and ginger or richer cooler colours including deep blues and dark metal greys.

Thanks to the improvements in kitchen manufacturing techniques, colour choices have gotten a lot wilder in recent years. So if you have an unusual colour in mind, chances are you can have your wishes fulfilled.

Two-Tone Kitchens Are Still Incredibly Popular Colour Choices. Image credit: homedit

Two Tones

Why have one coloured cabinet when you can have two? The past few years has seen many interior designers introduce different colour cabinets on walls and floors which creates a really interesting juxtaposition. In most case, it really works as the difference in tone creates a visual zoning of the kitchen but also breaks up the lack of colour and creates some interesting textures and contrasts.

Some designers have tried differing wood tones whilst others have opted for darker rich greys or blue base cabinets and lighter wall cabinets. It’s also become very popular to make a feature colour for the kitchen island which really makes it pop.

So the big news is, stay away from the plain whiles unless you want a kitchen that is out of fashion.

Keep All Your Appliances Out of Sight in a Garage. Image credit: Hafele

Appliance Garages

It seem the more appliances and gadgets we have, the less space we have to store them and no one wants them all on display, cluttering up their beautiful quartz countertop with cables and utensils. Nowadays, smart designs are incorporating dedicated storage units just for appliances with raising doors for easy access.

Whether it’s a humble toaster, a high end espresso maker or food processor, these new flip up storage cabinets make for easy access and far less clutter.

Glass Partitions Make Open Plan Kitchens Practical & Zonal. Image credit: TC&D Construction

Partitions

For many, the open plan kitchen design is a little too open with noise and cooking smells easily spreading into other parts of the room. Often, there’s little privacy or individual space to prepare and cook food if you’re one for a little peace and quiet.

The compromise is to install glass partitions which keep the open plan feel but section off areas of the kitchen to make for natural zones. This means light is still free to bounce around the room yet the partitions give just enough separation to avoid noise pollution and cooking smoke and steam from entering parts of the room where it’s not wanted.

There’s dozens of design options available on the market and chosen well, they can make any kitchen look amazing.

Induction Hobs Are Set To Be Hugely Popular. Image credit: Thermador

Induction Cooking

One of the latest technologies that has revolutionised cooking is the emergence of induction cooking. These electric hobs have transformed the way we cook and have made the kitchen a much safer place to be, especially for kids.

Induction elements heat up the cookware faster, making cooking time quicker and more energy efficient, yet they’re extremely safe as the surface stays cool, with the burners automatically switching off when the cookware is removed.

Best of all, they are extremely easy to clean with just a simple wipe of a cloth and with their sleek, ceramic design, they look great in any kitchen.

Bold Backsplash Tiles Are Set to Be Big Next Year. Image credit: HGTV

Bold Patterned Tiles

Thankfully metro tiles have had their day and in their place waiting in the wings are a whole world of colourful, rustic patterned tiles.

Search online and you’ll find a whole range of tiles offering colour patterns, textures, shapes and sizes that will make a feature of your backsplash the talk of the street. No more boring plain subway tiles, now it’s bang on trend to go all out with colourful patchworks, handmade patterned tiles and elegantly beautiful ornate cement tiles.

Metal Surface Worktops Are Set to Challenge Solid Surface. Image credit: Image credit: Houzz

Metal Hardware & Worktops

Whether you like traditional brass and copper or a more sleek aluminium or stainless steel, metals are making their mark with many kitchen designers bringing industrial chic into many homes. Contrasted with organic materials such as rich woods and marble countertops, there’s a wide range of taps, worktops, handles and sinks to be found, all made from materials once considered passé.

This interesting contrast meets the traditional with the contemporary yet makes for a really stunning look that is not everybody’s cup of tea but will certainly appeal to those looking to make a statement in perhaps a penthouse apartment, inner city dwelling or home remodel.