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.

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.

5 Tips To Get More Countertop Space

Does your countertop seem to easily clutter up with papers, appliances and kitchen utensils? Does it seem like you are always searching to find the one thing that you need? Even if your countertop space is lacking, there are still a number of ways you can make the most of the space you have. Here are 5 ways to help you get started.

Create A Message Center

Clear out that scattered mess of papers by creating a message center to help you stay organized and on track. Store important papers in a tidy basket or wall organizer, and consider hanging a cork board, chalk board or magnetic board in your kitchen to keep all important notes visible. Don’t forget a place for pens and notepads so that your family can easily leave messages that are sure to be read!

Roll The Clutter Away

If you want extra space, consider a portable kitchen cart with a butcher-block top. You can use the top for prep as needed, and store kitchen supplies and cookbooks in the cabinets and shelves underneath. Roll it out when you need it, and roll it away when you don’t!

Think Vertically

When drawer space is limited, cooking utensils will often end up in a crock on the counter. But there is a better alternative! Most spatulas, ladles, whisks and spoons have a notch on the handle, perfect for hanging up on wall hooks and out of the way. While you’re at it, ditch the knife block and install a wall-mounted magnetic knife rack to keep your cooking tools in reach.

Maximize Your Storage

Install a tilt out tray for kitchen tools that you use near the sink, like sponges and vegetable brushes. And consider finding a new home for your toaster, blender, mixer and coffee maker when they are not in use. When bulky appliances are off of the countertop and out of the way, you’ll have more space for meal preparation.

Utilize The Kitchen Sink

Create a quick prep area by utilizing your sink space. Find a cutting board that is slightly wider than your kitchen sink so that it will easily sit on top while you get to work, and then store it away in a cabinet until you need it again.

There are a number of ways you can minimize clutter while making the most of your kitchen countertop space. Get into the habit of keeping your countertop space clean and your kitchen organized. When everything has a home, cooking and cleanup become simple and stress-free!

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.