Capitol Design | Award Winning Kitchen & Bathroom Design In Austin, TX

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Kitchen Cabinet Options

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Kitchen Cabinet Options

The first thing you’ll need to decide on when selecting your kitchen cabinets for your kitchen redesign will be whether or not you want custom designed cabinets. Custom designed kitchen cabinets are expensive, but will offer you complete flexibility. A carpenter will be able to custom design these cabinets just to your specifications. If you’re on a budget, you may want to consider pre-made kitchen cabinet options. These kitchen cabinet options won’t offer you nearly as much flexibility, but they will save you a trip to the bank. In-stock cabinets come in a variety of colors and styles, so you will be able to customize the look a bit.

If you don’t want the expense of custom cabinet options and the idea of pre-made cabinets doesn’t thrill you either, there is an option in between. Semi-stock cabinets will allow you more customization options. You’ll be able to mix and match various options, but these semi-stock kitchen cabinet options will take longer to order than either the in-stock or custom made kitchen cabinet options. Discuss with your kitchen designer and carpenter what options will fit your budget and be sure to think about your kitchen layout when deciding on kitchen cabinet options.

Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

Shaker Style Kitchen Cabinets

Shaker style kitchen cabinet options are named after their distinctively simple style. Shaker kitchen cabinets are made from four pieces of wood that form a frame and a piece of wood in the middle, which is known as the center door panel. If you’re remodeling your kitchen, you can save quite a bit by merely replacing this center door panel. Additionally, using a natural wood finish for your Shaker style kitchen cabinets can also save you quite a bit over painted options.

Flat Panel Style Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re going for a more modern kitchen, you may want to consider flat panel style kitchen cabinets. These minimalist kitchen cabinets will give your kitchen just the flair of modernity that it needs, while also serving as a great means of storage. Flat panel kitchen cabinets come in a variety of materials including laminate and wood options. You can find a material that fits your budget by discussing flat panel styles with your kitchen designer.

Inset Style Kitchen Cabinets

Inset kitchen cabinets are rather pricey, but they’re incredibly well-made and will last for decades. The inset door is set inside of the cabinet frame, which differs from other types of cabinets like the Shaker style. Oftentimes, inset kitchen cabinets use very accurate measurements to account for the expansion and contraction of the wood over the years. With this kitchen cabinet style, you’re guaranteed a look that will last the test of time.

Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers

In addition to the style of your kitchen cabinets, you can also customize the types of drawers you’ll use in your kitchen redesign. Corner kitchen cabinet drawers allow you to maximize space in a functional way.

Sliding track doors are another type of special drawer design that you can utilize to free up space. If you’re tired of swinging open your cabinet doors and drawers, putting them on a rolling rack may help you to access your pantry items with more ease.

Glass front doors will allow you to display your fine china, or food items for easy access. Some people choose glass front doors in conjunction with Shaker doors so that the center panel is made of glass, rather than wood.

Pocket doors are a great way to use a space not only as a shelf, but also as storage. When the doors are closed, they look like a normal cabinet door. However, when you close them, they slide into a small pocket that is built into the side of each of the doors. Now, you no longer have a cabinet, but a space you can easily use for dinner parties to display china, or more.

Kitchen Layout Options

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Kitchen Layout Options

Determining the best kitchen layout for your kitchen redesign or remodeling project, is often the most difficult and most important part of the planning process. There are a number of different kitchen layout options including with peninsulas, without peninsulas, with an island, and without an island. Additionally, different kitchen layout options will work better for large or small spaces and with families with a lot of traffic or less kitchen traffic. Find out what’s best for your kitchen layout below.

Gallery Kitchen Layout

The gallery kitchen layout is a really efficient way to use your space to maximize the space for your kitchen redesign. A gallery kitchen also encloses the cooking area so that smells and messes are contained, rather than open to the dining room. This is a great option not only for smaller spaces, but also for homeowners who don’t want to use a kitchen layout that opens out into the dining room.

With a gallery kitchen layout, you’ll also have two parallel surfaces from which to work. This gives you a lot of flexibility in your kitchen design, as you can place stoves, ovens, microwaves, and storage in a variety of places on either side.

Tip: If you have a large family, or often entertain large groups, the gallery may not be for you. Why? Because both ends of the gallery are open, this kitchen layout means that you have to deal with heavy traffic in and out of the kitchen while you’re cooking.

L-Shaped Kitchen Layout

The L-shaped kitchen layout is a very popular style that allows a nice open area for cooking and helps you to maximize your corner space. Oftentimes the L-shaped kitchen design is paired with an island, which makes a great place for kids to hang out and do their homework after school while Mom or Dad cooks dinner.

In order to incorporate an L-shaped kitchen layout design into your kitchen remodeling project, you’ll need a bit more space than with the gallery or a U-shaped kitchen layout. And with the L-shaped kitchen layout you will have plenty of countertop space. This is perfect for group cooking, or cooking a large feast.

You can fit a ton of cabinet space into the L-shaped kitchen layout and with an L-shaped kitchen layout, you’ll eliminate kitchen traffic. Since the L-shaped kitchen layout is enclosed, you won’t constantly have to deal with family members walking through while you’re coming.

Tip: Hang a rack above your island for hanging pots and pans. This will help to maximize your space and it will add a classy touch to your overall kitchen layout look.

U-Shaped Kitchen Layout

A U-shaped kitchen layout will give you a lot of room and flexibility for cooking efficiently. For example, you can easily pivot and turn from the stove to another surface. This comes in handy when you’re preparing meals for a large number of guests, or if you prefer to spread out when you’re cooking.

Many people prefer the U-shaped kitchen layout when they’re short on seating space, as the peninsula can easily double as a bar for visitors. This also offers a cozy view so that your guests can sit at the peninsula bar while you’re cooking.

Tip: Placing the fridge inside the U can actually consume a lot of your precious space. Therefore, try placing the fridge

G-Shaped Kitchen Layout

A G-shaped kitchen layout is very similar to the U-shaped, but it includes a peninsula. This is great for spaces that may not be big enough for a U-shaped kitchen layout with an island. If you don’t have room for the island, consider this layout instead.

Tip: Make sure that your peninsula isn’t too long, or you won’t have much room to get in and out of the kitchen. Keep the peninsula short to be flexible with traffic.