Thankfully, the current trend for modern is a far warmer affair. Cabinetry was pared down and invariably white gloss, but it’s a look that can be too clinical for many. In fact, much of what we consider to be modern design dates back to the 1930s.Įven the sleek, handleless cabinets so typical of modern kitchen design right now have been around since the 1960s when SieMatic launched the first finger-pull kitchen cabinet.įor a while, modern kitchens seemed to take stark to a whole new level. The mainstay of modern kitchen design is simple, flat-fronted cabinetry – it’s a sleek look and one that is ageing incredibly well. Choose a simple design with square doors with an inset panel and, if you have it painted, go for a matte finish. Wood is the dominant material in Shaker kitchens but be careful not to tip the scale to ‘vintage’ or ‘country’ style. It is a look that works equally well in traditional and contemporary homes. Today, Shaker-style kitchens adorn the homes of many, and for good reason. The lack of electricity in the home meant that kitchens were often sombre places, so the furniture was made from light woods, such as cherry and maple, and often painted in bright colors dictated by their sect. Known as ‘Friends of the Light’, the Quakers believed in bringing light where there was darkness, and their kitchens reflected this. Furniture with any decoration or embellishment was shunned in favour of humble and functional pieces that echoed their modest lifestyle. This timeless yet simple kitchen design originated from the 18th-Century Quakers, known as the ‘Shakers’ because of their animated style of worship. 'It’s a matter of unscrewing the old door and putting on the new one.' 4. 'It really is something you can do in a day,' says Robert Clark, MD of made to measure company, Kitchen Door Workshop. And of course, new doors can be the greener, less wasteful option – there’s no need to rip out a perfectly good kitchen, just because the doors are dated or you want a new colour or finish. In a plain modern kitchen, you could replace just a handful, picking several colors to create your own palette. You might choose just to replace a selection of the doors rather than all of them – perhaps just wall units, or just one part of the kitchen as a focal point. In the past, replacing just the doors would have been considered the budget approach but, with a definite move towards adding individuality to a room, this is a great way to refresh a kitchen.

If you are happy with your existing kitchen layout and your carcasses are in good order, replacement doors not only make an easy and affordable option, they can also be a creative one, too.

I've seen 20-year-old classic Shaker kitchens be repainted and look amazing,' says Tiffany Duggan. 'A hand-painted kitchen works particularly well for its timeless appeal and because it is so useful to be able to repaint it every now and then to create a different look and feel. This is where painted kitchen cabinet ideas come in: pick a painted kitchen and you can refresh it as it needs – or when your tastes change. 'If you're worried that colorful cabinetry might date or dominate the scheme, opt for neutral tones and then introduce color with tiles, paint and accessories,' advises Rob Whitaker, creative director, Fired Earth. Also consider scale: a big kitchen can take a much bigger burst of color. To prevent strong color from overpowering, use it in small portions – perhaps to highlight a key focal point – or keep it below your direct sight line as you enter the kitchen. 'We are seeing a definite trend towards bolder, braver color choices for statement kitchens with more personality,' says Jamee Kong, designer, DesignSpaceLondon. After door/drawer front design, kitchen cabinet colors are next on the list of design decisions.

Houzz kitchen cabinets ideas