Kitchen cabinet design has come a very long way. No longer are our choices confined to having matching cabinetry in the kitchen. Yes, the style of cabinetry has varied over the decades but we were always left with a huge wall of matching cabinets in the end. We tried to personalize our kitchens with unique hardware and decorative backsplashes but it is has always been difficult to minimize the visual scale of a wall of cabinets. To me, the past choices have been like having only a few choices of matching furniture sets to choose from. You might be able to get different finishes on the pieces but you are still left with a bland, boring set.
Thanks goodness for inventive designers who have broken the "must match" rule in kitchen design. I call this new style the Fusion Kitchen. The new designs really push the envelope and open up possibilities we never really had before. Our feature kitchen courtesy of Moen products shows how you can mix up finishes and styles to create a truly unique space. While not for all, this particular kitchen shows us the possibilities for renovations in our own space. This kitchen shows a style of kitchen that would work well in a cottage but with a few changes would also be awesome in a modern apartment or loft.
The details
First off, there is nothing "matchy" in this room yet everything works well together. The lower cabinets boast white, shaker-style drawer and door faces set on a backdrop of dark, rustic wood. It's a mix of modern and rustic that works well. Now you have the option of using pre-owned cabinets faces to use in your new fusion kitchen. Until now, it was very hard to find used cabinets that would fit a specific space so we were left paying retail for new cabinets. Now, you can really go to town with your design and save tons of money as well.
The hardware in this room is a matte nickel finish which is current and mixes beautifully with the sleek design of the Moen faucet and deep stainless steel sink. As an aside, we are more and more leaning toward basins of the past by opting for large single sinks (like our grandma use to have) in either stainless or porcelain, which again, leaves room for unique touches in the design process. The granite countertop is understated but durable and lets the cabinet design take centre stage.
There is no backsplash in this kitchen. What is it about backsplashes anyway? Do we really make that much of a mess with water that we must spend a fortune on tiles and grout just to protect the small area behind the sink? This is another kitchen element that is not always necessary. As long as the area behind the sink is water-resistant you'll be fine. Unless you're washing your pet in the sink with a spray nozzle there is no need to spend a big part of the budget on a backsplash just because it's what we've always done. I think the backsplash came about to break up the monotony of the matching cabinetry. Consider unique finishes like the treated wood (I'm guessing treated laminate) in our photo. Because there is no upper cabinetry, there is no real 'backsplash' area so the possibilities for a wall treatment are endless. (As long as they are somewhat water resistant.)
I love the new kitchens that boast these floating upper shelves. I don't think there would be enough storage for me personally but I love the look. At the cottage, this design would work very well because of its casual elements and less need for everyday dishware etc. The floating shelves could also work for singles in a small apartment, condo or student suite. Luckily, you have the option to configure whatever shelves you may need depending on your requirements. More shelves, less shelves, square shelves, no shelves or what have you. You could hang pots, cups and utensils from cup hooks on the underside of these shelves for extra open storage. That's the beauty of the new fusion kitchen, there really are no limitations when it comes to design. We are no longer tied to a slim choice of available cabinet configurations. We can mix up old and new, with doors or without, painted or natural wood until the cows come home.
In our feature kitchen alone I can think of 10 ways to change up the look without a lot of cost or fuss. Flexibility is another positive element of the fusion kitchen. Add some colour by painting the white cabinet faces in a vivid colour like cobalt blue and mix in co-ordinating accessories to bring the colour to the upper shelves. Leave the cabinets but paint the wall in a popular solid colour like spa green. Along with a new wall colour, paint the floating shelves white to make them pop like the lower cabinetry does. Change the hardware to hammered black iron for a rustic look against the crisp white cabinet faces. Replace the pendent lighting with something more in keeping with the new look. You get the picture.
You are now free to create the kitchen you want with found objects and leftover bits of paint. Now your dream kitchen might be closer at hand than you think. Keep me posted.
