LA Kitchens & Baths: A playlist of cabinet choices & colors

As I sit at my desk listening to my iPod, trying to get some kitchen layouts processed, it occurs to me that there is a correlation between cabinets and music. The more I think about it, I have rarely been to a job site where some sort of music wasn't being played while the cabinets we being installed, if I call down to the plant where the cabinets are made, there is always music on as well. So, maybe the craftsmen working with these cabinets have been privy to this information for years, and I am just now catching on!!! So here is my playlist of cabinet choices and colors...I hope you like the mix!!!

"White Shadows" Coldplay:

White cabinets can be simple & complicated. The most common whites you find are tinted varnishes on maple, but European design go high gloss, which are much more modern. Painted white finishes bring you many design ideas, and finish opportunities. Tinted Varnish whites can be distressed, glazed, low sheen, etc...they can basically be customized to your taste. A classic white kitchen is pictured here:

"Maplewood" Mary Flower:
Maple is a wood that offers the most versatility. Maple works well with almost everything, and is the go to wood choice for most remodels on a sensible budget. Maple can be both classic and contemporary, both light and dark, both structured and casual

"Cherry Oh, Baby" UB40:
Cherry is one of the most popular wood species on the market. Cherry ranges from natural to Bordeaux finishes. Recently the darker versions of this wood have been making a strong pull in the market. In my opinion, natural cherry is a beautiful wood, but it is not what most clients are thinking of when they tell me they are looking for a cherry kitchen. Most trade publications, and decorating magazines show the darker tones cherries , and therefore most clients request what they see. A Fieldstone Cherry Java cabinet door is shown below. This color tends to lend itself to a more modern or transitional look.

"Dreaming in Color" Jump5:
Color can completely personalize a kitchen, which ironically is why many people shy away from it. It can truly make a kitchen all your own, but for re-sale or longevity, it can be scary. Colors work in modern or traditional kitchens and are most often seen as an accent.

"Fade to Black" Metallica...
Black cabinets have started to get more and more popular in the past few years, especially as accent pieces, though you'll sometimes see a whole kitchen in black. If you have wood cabinets that you really dislike, painting them black can be an easy, affordable update. Black even shines over oak. The graining and patten work well with black paint. Adding a glaze to a black painted oak cabinet can really add huge interest to an otherwise tempermental finish.