10 Amazing Modern Kitchen Cabinet Styles

The kitchen is truly the heart of the home — we know, it’s a cliche, but only because it’s true.

Think of the last big party you threw—you had the entire home spotless; you arranged comfy seating in every nook of the living room; you had tables set for buffet and hor d’oeuvres — but where did everybody end up gathering? The kitchen, of course!

The use of slab, wood veneer cabinet doors is a trend ( for more trends check out 13 Fresh Kitchen Trends in 2014 You Must See ) that adds warmth and depth to a modern kitchen. According to Taylor Craft Cabinet Door Company. slab veneer doors have been popular in Europe for decades and are now finally increasing in popularity in the United States.

Certainly there are numerous reasons for this growing popularity. One may suspect this is propelled by the growing trend towards natural products and bringing nature back into the home. Veneer slabs showcase wood grains in a magnificent manner; the grain patterns seem to tell a tale from the tree it originated, so of course nature lovers would enjoy this aesthetic.

Buyers must beware of the ranging qualities of slab veneer cabinets. It is best to find a highly-skilled, reputable dealer. Not all veneers are created equal and if done poorly, the edging or banding that holds the veneer in place will peel and/or the laminate can begin to peel or chip. If done properly, you can enjoy decades of warmth from these modern cabinet masterpieces.

Veneer slab wood doors can give a modern kitchen depth and warmth. Image Source: Risher Martin

Nothing says sleek and modern more than stainless steel. Most homeowners are opting for stainless steel appliances, even in their country-style kitchens. In order to make this trend completely contemporary, try adding steel kitchen cabinets.

Your kitchen will be a stylish modern mecca when outfitted with stainless steel cabinet doors. Aside from the high-end look, stainless steel cabinetry comes with some ups and downs. The down part is obvious, the fingerprints and potential for scratches. However, there are some stainless steel fabrications that claim to be highly resistant to these annoyances.

The upside to these steely cabinets is vast. Some of the main perks being: environmental (use of steel over wood), easy to clean, extremely sanitary (which is why they began in commercial grade kitchens), and durable (aside from potential scratches). If solid stainless steel cabinets are out of your price range, then there are options of MDF cabinets that are layered with steel over top. Either way, stainless steel can be an amazing addition to your modern kitchen.

Stainless steel cabinets are durable but watch out for annoying fingerprints! Image Source: 38 Spatial

Lacquered kitchen cabinets are like a newly painted car parked in your kitchen— bright, shiny and rich in color. Lacquer cabinets are manufactured by a process of applying numerous coats of lacquer, followed by polishing and waxing.

If done properly, lacquer finishes can be durable and scratch-resistant. However, most people would say that this type of finish is not the perfect choice for busy families with children because lacquer has been known to chip.

If you are willing to risk this, then the high-gloss shine of lacquer cabinets may be the choice for your modern kitchen cabinetry, as its sleek aesthetic is unmatched. You can get lacquer cabinets in virtually any color of your choosing, but be aware that in order to maintain that glossy sheen, you must clean them properly.

There are numerous products out there that claim to clean lacquer, but just be sure to use the right thing as some chemicals can actually eat away at the finish.

If this is your cabinet choice, it’s probably best to ask the manufacturer for cleaning instructions.

White lacquer kitchen cabinets offer a clean, shiny look to your modern kitchen. Image Source: Blenture

The epitome of modern design is clean lines. What better way to achieve a clean, open floor plan than by doing away with kitchen cabinets and installing floating shelves, instead?

Floating shelves add straight lines that pair well with any modern or contemporary decor. Most homeowners opt for this style for the upper cabinets and then have closed cabinetry doors for the bottom half of their kitchen. This allows for storage of all those unsightly appliances and utensils.

A few wooden floating shelves in combination with a glass backsplash or shiny subway tile backsplash will take your kitchen from blah to breathtaking! The only downside of floating shelves is the lack of hidden storage. It takes a very organized person to keep these open units from becoming cluttered and unsightly.

If you are clean and organized than this may be the look for your kitchen + if you need some ideas you should check this post : 30 Scandinavian Kitchen Ideas That Will Make Dining a Delight

A kitchen with floating shelves is very airy and open, but just be sure you have enough storage. Image Source: Schwartz Architecture

When most think of a modern kitchen, their minds immediately envision a sleek white or black kitchen void of bright colors, but color can be modern, too.

Why not have cherry red lacquer or laminate cabinets? Or bright cobalt blue? Or even try teal on for size? All of these colors can be used in conjunction with contemporary decor. Especially when it comes to mid-century modern decor — well-placed color and pattern is king for this epic era of style.

If you want to add a flourish of color to your kitchen, then consider colored cabinets. You may choose to use just a touch of color via one or two upper cabinets, or go for a big bang with an entire fiery red kitchen — either way, it will make a huge style statement.

Just be sure to love the color before committing. You will be seeing it everyday (before you have coffee in the morning), so it must be a color you can live with.

Colored kitchen cabinets can be modern, too. Image Source: To Do Something

Maybe the idea of brightly colored cabinets sends frightening chills up your spine, if so, then a simple white kitchen may be the best choice for you.

What could be better than glistening white cabinets that reflect the sunshine into your home? White kitchens are popular for a very good reason, no matter the style of the home—they keep the kitchen looking clean (even when the dirty dishes are piled sky-high).

This look can be achieved via numerous finishes such as paint, glossy lacquer, melamine, or veneer. No matter what your budget, a clean, modern white kitchen can be yours. White kitchen cabinets also pair very well with numerous styles of drawer pulls.

If this clean, easy option sounds appealing, then maybe a white kitchen is in your future. Just keep a cleaning rag on hand to wipe away all those dirty finger prints.

A modern white kitchen always appears clean. Image Source: Zero Energy

Pickled white cabinets are not exactly all the rage right now, but you can still stain wooden cabinets with a tint of color to achieve a unique contemporary design.

Look at these green tint-stained cabinets in the picture below. They are sleek, clean, and unique. With just a touch of color, the historical grain of the wood seems to be brought to the forefront, allowing the cabinets texture to take center stage.

This stained style almost seems to be a mixture of back-to-nature combined with extreme modernism. Solid wood slab doors can be tinted to match any color scheme of your choosing — just be careful to discuss your style with the cabinet maker.

Some wood grains can be knotty and if wood knots are unappealing to you, then discuss this beforehand. Stain will only make these knots stand out more.

Consider staining wood cabinetry to add some color to your kitchen. Image Source: Jetton Construction

Skipping the upper kitchen cabinets entirely may seem a bit risky to some, but by doing so you can really achieve quite the open, modern space.

Take a look at the kitchen in the image below — its sleek black and white styling, sans upper cabinets, is very appealing. In place of upper cabinetry, you can add an amazing back splash that travels up to the ceiling, or you have room for an ultra-modern stainless steel hood over the stove.

Of course, this style may not be right for those who require a lot of kitchen storage. As you can imagine, without upper cabinets, your storage space is halved.

If storage is not an issue for you, then this open, clean aesthetic may be the best choice for your modern kitchen.

A kitchen without upper cabinets is open and airy. Image Source: Design By What Matters

Here is a look your neighbors will not have (but they will surely envy when they see it).

In the image below, the kitchen cabinets are galvanized, hot-rolled steel with a clear coat finish — the steel is layered over an MDF base. The finished look is nothing short of spectacular!

This clean, minimalist style gives the illusion that this is not even a kitchen — the cupboards become a piece of stylish furniture or art, instead.

If a hidden kitchen appeals to you, then this unique look may be yours. You would have to consult a metal fabricator and cabinet door maker to have these custom cabinets made to your specifications. One thing to remember: hot-rolled galvanized steel will result in a different look each time — no two will ever be the same.

Gun metal steel cabinets almost make this kitchen disappear! Image Source: Hufft

After admiring all of these unique cabinet styles, you are surely having trouble deciding what appeals to you most.

Why not try a mixture of all of them? Even in a minimalist interior you can mix up the palette a bit. Why not try lower wood cabinets in combination with upper white lacquered ones? Or veneered walnut cabinet side panels with shiny lacquered faces? Or stainless steel floating upper shelves with painted lower wood cabinets.

The combinations are endless and you are certain to achieve a style that is uniquely you. If mixing it up is something you are interested in trying, then it may be best to consult an interior designer and a professional cabinet maker. There are just too many combos to choose from, and you want to make sure you still end up with a minimalist kitchen, not a messy mixture. Also to be sure you don t make to many mistakes you should check out : 10 Design Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make in Your Kitchen

Mixing wood with lacquer cabinetry can achieve and uniquely modern aesthetic. Image Source: Todays Kitchens