How to Mix Different Cabinet Styles in Your Kitchen

If the thought of incorporating more than one style of cabinets in your kitchen sounds crazy, you may want to think again! This top trend is making its way into homes all over the world, and when you learn a little more about it, you’ll understand why it’s so incredibly popular — and you’ll know how to do it right!

3 Rules To Follow

Mixing and matching cabinets refers to the design concept of using more than one style or finish to make up your cabinet set. There are many ways to go about this, but the goal should always be consistency, simplicity and balance.

Consistency: Choose styles that complement each other, but also meld with the theme of your kitchen. Whenever you’re incorporating a somewhat out-of-the-box design element, it’s important that it doesn’t interfere with the overall vision. Being consistent with every decision in your remodel will ensure you get the results you want. The Free Kitchen Design Service at Willow Lane Cabinetry can help you along the way.

Simplicity: Try not to mix more than three styles (two if you have a smaller kitchen). Overboard means overdone and turns an interesting feature into a questionable choice. Keep it simple and limit your focal points to a few great pieces or additions.

Balance: We’ll get more into this later, but deciding exactly where each cabinet style will go in your design is very important. It will eliminate the possibility of cabinets competing for attention and creating chaos in your kitchen. Take advantage of the Free Kitchen Design Service at Willow Lane Cabinetry to get a solid visual of what your final layout will look like.

When It Works

Using multiple cabinet styles works for almost every kitchen theme, from vintage to contemporary. The key is to mix with purpose so that your cabinetry still looks cohesive, even with the inclusion of different styles or finishes. Best practice is to keep styles separate rather than side-by-side. This would just look disorderly (and about as crazy as you imagined when we first introduced the idea). Instead, plan your layout in sections. For example, if you were going with three cabinet styles you would put one along one wall, one along the other, and the third would be your kitchen island. This way you achieve the dimension and diversity, without the disorder.

How To Choose

Mixing and matching cabinet styles is not an official art but it should be. You need great taste and patience — or at least good guidance! The easiest and most efficient way to mix and match is to pick one style (for example, traditional raised panel cabinetry) and two colors (for example, white and dark cherry). If you want to get more advanced you can mix styles within the same theme (for example, stick to traditional style cabinets but in two different door designs) and then add in your color choices. As a rule of thumb, try not to match two cabinets that are clearly different styles, such as traditional, raised panel with modern, flat panel cabinets.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen of your dreams with our 100% free kitchen design service. We offer all wood, semi-custom kitchen cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free, with standard features like soft closing doors and drawers, and 6-way adjustable steel hinges. We give you more and save you money! Visit our website to see our beautiful products today!

Written by Korrie. Korrie Martinez is a self proclaimed DIY pro with an eye for design and a craft for finding simple solutions to homeowner’s common concerns. Her articles offer tips and trends to help The RTA Store’s customers achieve the home of their dreams on a balanced budget. Follow Korrie on Instagram and Twitter @kokonez or visit her website www.korriemartinez.com.

The Secret To Incorporating Colorful Appliances Into Your Kitchen

While appliances typically come in traditional colors such as black, white, or stainless steel, many modern appliances can be found in a variety of bright, colorful hues. If you want to add a pop of color to your kitchen, but you’re not sure where to start, here are a few things to consider before you begin:

Add Contrast To A White Kitchen

Have a kitchen that is mostly white? Try adding a few bright colors such as navy blue, lime green, or orange. Small appliances such as toasters and stand mixers in matching shades will give some needed contrast in an all white kitchen. Using just a few bright colors will make your white kitchen pop without being overwhelming.

Compliment Your Color Scheme

If you already have a touch of color in your kitchen, choose a single bright color that compliments your overall scheme. For example, bright red appliances such as a red kettle, coffee pot or blender can look great against cooler colored backgrounds. Consider spreading the color full circle by painting a single wall red or finding patterned Roman shades in red for your windows.

Makeover Larger Appliances

Black, white, and bisque appliances have held their own over the years, but stainless steel is by far the most popular choice for contemporary homeowners. Today’s stainless comes in a variety of color options that go beyond traditional silver. Opt for Slate Gray, Sunset Bronze, or Black Stainless finishes if you want to add rich color to your kitchen. If new appliances are not in your current budget, but you love the look of stainless steel, you can update your kitchen with stainless steel paint. Perfect for large appliance that are bland and out of date but still in great working condition, DIY paint-on stainless finishes can help you achieve the look you desire at a fraction of the cost.

Go Retro

Want to add a punch of color and style at the same time? Consider newly manufactured appliances with a retro look as a way to brighten things up! Older appliances can be difficult to find, difficult to restore, and sometimes even dangerous to use, but thankfully there are several companies that reproduce vintage appliances in hues of green, red, baby blue, and orange.

Traditional Appliances in Bold Colors

Maybe retro is not your thing, but you still love the unique look of colorful appliances. Many modern appliance manufacturers offer color options in rich shades of blue, red, green and even plum. If you are having a difficult time finding colorful appliances online, consider speaking with representatives from your local appliance store to see if the models you are interested in come in other colors than those represented on the floor.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with color to liven up your kitchen, through the use of colorful appliances both large and small! Other ways to incorporate color into your kitchen include wall paint, tile backsplashes, countertops, and colorful kitchen cabinets in hues like Red, Tidewater, Sage, Dove Gray, Steel Gray, and Khaki.

Written by Bridgette. Bridgette Wagner is a freelance writer and English M.A. student with an interest in writing on DIY, travel, and family fun. She loves reading, spending time with her two kiddos and living near the beach in Wilmington, N.C.

Willow Lane Cabinetry’s Top 4 Design Tips For The New Year

Out of all the elements in a kitchen, cabinets are by far the most important. As the main focal point of your space, they anchor the room and should be functional as well as beautiful. With that said, choosing a design for your new kitchen may seem like a daunting task. After all, cabinets are an investment that you will enjoy for many years to come, so you need to choose wisely. To kick off 2016 we’re sharing our top tips and picks for January to help make your decision a little easier.

Have It Your Way

In the past, cabinet manufacturers didn’t leave much room for creativity. Today, companies like Willow Lane Cabinetry are putting more power in homeowners’ hands, and delivering unique ways for them to shop and design their kitchen. From mixing and matching cabinet styles to creating a unique design to accommodate an unusual floor plan, the process is simple. Decide on your dream kitchen, and then find the size and style of cabinets that suits your vision. Our free kitchen design service is available to help you build your kitchen exactly how you want, and take the stress out of shopping for kitchen cabinets and accessories.

Streamlined Style

That modern, European kitchen style that we’ve seen for years overseas has made a home for itself in America as well. Along with the heightened demand for this contemporary kitchen design came an influx in the popularity of flat, minimalistic kitchen cabinets. The streamlined style is complemented by sleek hardware and is serving as a staple in modern kitchens all over the country. While the world might be getting more complicated, kitchen designs seem to be getting simpler!

White Cabinets

White cabinets seems to have a cheery effect, brightening up the room and making the heart of the home a bit more welcoming. And they are here to stay! Our Roosevelt White, which features a raised panel design, is a traditional choice in a modern finish that will accent any home and maintain its relevancy for years to come. You can also shop white kitchen cabinets by visiting our homepage, scrolling down to Shop by Color, and selecting the Light finish option. This will let you easily browse white and other light colored cabinets from all three of our kitchen cabinet series.

Inside Cabinet Accessories

Homeowners are no longer satisfied with cabinets that just look great — they want cabinets that are also functional. From organizational accessories like cutlery trays and peg system drawers to storage savers like pull out pot racks, today’s cabinets offer solutions to almost every kitchen woe. When cabinets can have both a pretty face and brains, it’s no wonder functional cabinets are sought after. Shop our inside cabinet accessories and add functionality to any cabinet!

How To Create Vintage Style In Your Kitchen

Vintage style can complement many kitchen themes, from country charm to modern flair. The key is to find balance by adding just the right amount of retro touches so that the space looks intentional, not tacky. Here are a few of our favorite ways to turn your current kitchen into a vintage masterpiece.

Add color in unexpected ways.

Most kitchens tend to lean toward the traditional side, featuring neutral shades and sleek features. For a vintage style kitchen, color is everything, and there are plenty of fun and unexpected ways to add color to your kitchen. Stay away from typical black appliances, and opt for a bright, colorful stand mixer, toaster or coffee maker to display on your countertop.

Incorporate flea market finds.

Hit up your local flea market or thrift store to score a few antique pieces that can help bring your vintage theme to life. Stools for your breakfast bar or kitchen island, vintage linens, pendant light fixtures, and unique wall art are just a few of the items that should be plentiful no matter where you live.

Choose cheerful cabinets.

If you are in the market for new kitchen cabinets, choose cheerful finishes to complete your look, such as Willow Lane Cabinetry’s Society Shaker Red, Society Shaker Tidewater, or Roosevelt Sage. If you want to give existing cabinets a vintage feel, add a little extra wear and tear by layering paint and using a rag to rough up the surface. Choose a bright color to complement your theme without being too overwhelming.

Utilize open shelving to display theme related décor.

Open shelving not only adds to the rustic, bare ambiance of a vintage kitchen, but it also serves as the perfect solution for displaying décor without creating too much clutter. If you need decoration inspiration, simply use glass jars or enameled canisters to store candy, cookies or baking ingredients to store on shelves.

Find ways to make the room more retro.

At its core, a vintage theme should be an ode to an earlier time. Make sure your room has a few blasts from the past so that it is authentic and eye catching. Retro touches can be as simple as kitsch curtains or a colorful printed tablecloth, or as extreme as a refurbished vintage oven or refrigerator.

Hook in nostalgic items for décor and sweet memories.

Your vintage theme can hold memories of time spent at grandma’s house or the kitchen you grew up in as a kid. Favorite cookbooks on display, a checkered apron hanging from a hook on the wall, framed photographs of family coming together to share a meal — whatever warms your heart from the past is a true complement to your vintage style kitchen.

Create a cozy and casual ambiance.

A vintage kitchen should be the opposite of highbrow. It should welcome guests to come inside, take a seat and make themselves right at home. Warm up your kitchen by installing a window bench accented with plush pillows or circling your kitchen island with comfortable stools.

Color And Comfort: 2 Things to Consider When Decorating

Regardless of age or square footage, your home should be your sanctuary and your own personal dream come true. How you decorate says a lot about who you are. Here are two important factors that will help make your house a home, and your absolute favorite place to be.

Step 1: Consider How Color Affects Your Mood

Color is deeply personal, and we all have a favorite. However, Psychologists (and Interior Decorators) have long believed color can affect our mood, and this is something to keep in mind when choosing paint for your walls.

Red: Reds stimulate the mind and body, and increase circulation. You often find red in the kitchen or dining room, because of its power to stimulate the appetite. Red also works well in a living room, encouraging lively conversation. It creates a strong impression when used as an accent wall, especially in an entryway, but because it has been shown to speed up respiration and raise blood pressure, it may be too bold a choice for a bedroom.

Orange: Orange is energizing. It stimulates productivity and evokes excitement, and is therefore perfect for a home office, playroom, or workout space.

Yellow: Yellow triggers the nervous system. Because of this, yellow can make some people anxious and quick to lose their temper, although in general, it is considered a happy color and ideal for a four-season sunroom. Yellow also makes a sunny addition to kitchens, and can make an entryway feel more welcoming.

Blue: Shades of blue are considered soothing, serene and timeless. Blue is perfect for a bedroom, living room, or any place people go to relax and unwind. While bright blues works well in an elegant dining room, pale blues can turn a basic bathroom into a spa-like retreat.

Green: Green hues are cool and refreshing, and suited for almost any room in the house. Because they are fairly neutral, use them in place of beige when you want a bit of color without going too bold. Dark greens convey masculinity, while pale greens bring the calming effects of nature indoors.

Purple: Purple is rich and dynamic. Dark purples can be a luxurious choice for a bedroom or living room, while pale purples can add a touch of whimsy and creativity to a kitchen or bathroom.

As a general rule, light colors are airy and expansive, and make a room feel larger, while darker colors can be sophisticated, and make a room feel warm and cozy. If you prefer tones of white, beige, or paler colors on your walls, consider using a pop of bold color in throw pillows, rugs and/or accessories here and there throughout the home.

Step 2: Keep In Mind That Comfort Is Key

Your dream home should be comfortable, seeing that you will be spending a majority of your time there. Of course you also want your home to reflect who you are, and with that said, it should also accommodate your lifestyle. If you love to cook, a beautiful kitchen with quality appliances might be the priority. If you have young children, a designated play area may be in order. Or if you entertain often, an open concept floor plan would fit the bill. Make a list of must-haves if you are in the market for a new home, before you begin a renovation project, or even if you are just updating your décor.

Decorating in one day, with items purchased all at one store, can make a room look too matchy-matchy and impersonal. Trends come and go, so surround yourself with things you love, collected over time, that reflect your own personal decorating style and have special meaning to you. Creating a dream home takes time and should not be rushed. Again, you want to be comfortable and feel at home in your surroundings.

When it comes to furniture, chose pieces that are both functional and stylish. Consider the scale of the furniture in relationship to the space, and whether or not it accommodates your lifestyle. For example, it would be wise to choose leather or washable slipcovers if you have children or pets, or a kitchen island with a bar top if you host a lot of get-togethers. Again, don’t rush things. Hang on to what you have until you find something you love that fits within your budget.

Most people would rather live in an empty space than one that is filled with clutter. Pay attention to organizational solutions, and get rid of anything you don’t like, use or need. A tidy home can make all the difference.

There’s no place like home!

Written by Tiffany. Tiffany honed her skills as a writer and editor working in the fast-paced newspaper, magazine, and television industries. Tiffany is also an award winning graphic designer, with extensive experience in the worlds of mass media, publishing, and advertising. As a designer, she also has a strong eye for interior decorating and color. Tiffany has a BA in Communications and a minor in Fine Art. She is a natural cook just like her mother, and rarely uses a recipe. She also enjoys reading, photography, painting—and most of all, spending time with her husband (a skilled DIY’er) and two sons.