Picking out kitchen cabinet hardware as your renovation wraps up is like getting the dessert menu at the end of a meal. It’s a sweet way to end things. Still, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices before you. Latches, handles, knobs, or pulls? Matte black, antique brass, or polished nickel? Tiny and seamless or oversize? Understanding the ins and outs of each is the key to making a confident decision.

“Sizing and function are the two most important factors when considering what cabinet hardware is best,” says Kimberlee Gorsline, founder and principal designer of Kimberlee Marie Interiors. So let’s begin with the most common hardware on kitchen cupboards: knobs and pulls. Their end goal is really the same—to give you access to the stuff that’s on the other side—but the two options serve a space differently. So here’s everything to know about knobs versus pulls, upper cabinets versus lower cabinets, and getting the scale right in your space. Plus we share 16 options to shop for your own.

When should I use knobs on kitchen cabinets?

The general rule of thumb is that knobs are best for cabinet doors, though you can certainly break said rule. “We might do a single knob on a smaller drawer,” says Gorsline. It doesn’t matter what shape you go with (they come in round, square, oblong, octagonal—you name it), what’s important is location; place them 2 1/2 or 3 inches from the corner of the door. 

When should I use pulls on kitchen cabinets?

Pulls offer a bit more flexibility because you can put them on both drawers and doors. “Overall I think that pulls are easier to grasp than knobs,” adds Michelle Lisac, founder and principal designer of Michelle Lisac Interior Design. That’s especially nice if your cabinet fronts are on the larger end and you need a bit more leverage to open them. 

What size should my knobs and pulls be?

Start by accounting for the length of your cabinets. For smaller nooks, like spice pull-outs or slim doors that hide cutting boards, go with knobs that are 1 inch in diameter or smaller. Otherwise, knobs that are between 1 ¼ and 1 ⅜ inches will suffice. That said, there are benefits to supersizing your knobs. Not only does it make them easier to grab, but the visual effect (especially if they’re painted the same color as your cabinet doors) is showstopping. 

Pulls are a bit trickier to get right. “If you have a long drawer, you will need a long pull to support the weight of pulling out the drawer,” explains Gorsline. To simplify your shop, consider picking one size and using them throughout your cabinetry. A 3¾-inch distance between the screw holes looks nice on most cabinets and is large enough to grip comfortably. 

What finish should I choose?

Let your cupboard color and style guide your hardware material. Check out a few of our favorite pairings, including iron on beadboard fronts, glass against a high-gloss finish, and wood painted to match vibrant doors. But don’t forget about satin and polished nickel, chrome, matte black, and copper. “In some scenarios, hardware is best applied like jewelry, and in others, you want it to be understated,” says Caitlin Murray, founder and creative director of Black Lacquer Design, who is obsessed with the former lately (she’s into organic shapes that look sculptural, like in this Bel Air kitchen). 

“I’m currently loving an unlacquered brass, but I also like pulls with a combination of either textures or finishes, like Emtek’s knurled bars,” says Lisac. Style aside, her most important rule is to invest in quality. After all, “these are items that you are literally going to be touching every day,” she points out.

Can I mix knobs and pulls in the same kitchen?  

There are two ways to go about incorporating knobs and pulls seamlessly in one kitchen. The first route is to put knobs on all the upper cabinets and pulls on all the lower cabinets for visual balance. The second option is to put knobs on all the doors and pulls on all the drawers, prioritizing function. But who said you can’t throw out the rule book entirely? Shea McGee mixed knobs, latches, thin pulls, and cup pulls in her kitchen, above—and thanks to the fact that they’re all the same brass finish, it totally works. Open sesame.

Cabinet Knobs We Love

Newberg Knob, Schoolhouse ($12 was $14)

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Emtek Jasper 2-Inch Bar Cabinet Knob, Amazon ($10)

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Amerock 1-3/8 inch Cabinet Knob, Champagne Bronze, Amazon ($5 was $6)

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Sumner Street Home Hardware Aspen 1-1/16 inch Egg Cabinet Knob, The Home Depot ($7)

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Bill Knob, 40 mm, Pretty Pegs ($8)

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Round Knob, H&M Home ($10)

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Linear Furniture Knob, Set of 2, Buster & Punch ($40)

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Octagon Glass Cabinet Knob, Rejuvenation ($18)

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Cabinet Pulls We Love

Amerock Cabinet Cup Pull, Amazon ($8 was $12)

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Ansel 12-inch Drawer Pull, Rejuvenation ($72)

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4-Inch Matte Black Mid-Century Pull, West Elm ($14)

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4-Inch Acrylic Cabinet Pull, Ballard Designs ($23)

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Belfast Solid Brass 3-Inch Cabinet Pull, Signature Hardware ($17)

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Combined Semicircle Handle, Medium, Etsy ($3 was $4)

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Wrought Iron 3-Inch Cabinet Pull, Etsy ($11 was $12)

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Barrington 4-Inch Edge Pull, Rejuvenation ($28)

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The post When to Use Kitchen Cabinet Knobs vs. Pulls, and More Hardware Questions Answered appeared first on domino.

Robby and Lauren Simon have a saying: “When you’re home, you’re with your family. And when you’re with your family, you’re home.” The phrase was one the couple told themselves on repeat during their two-year-long kitchen renovation. “It’s one of those made-up, Olive Garden sayings, but it’s essentially like, things don’t have to be perfect. It just has to be home,” says Robby. 

When the Simons bought their split-level home in Atlanta in February 2020, it was clear the kitchen hadn’t been touched since the 1980s. The couple focused on the things that could easily be changed with a little bit of elbow grease (the dark wood cabinets and fluorescent light box) and learned to live with the things that couldn’t, like the galley layout and travertine tiled floors. “In a dream world I would have put in Fireclay tile, but this isn’t our forever home,” notes Lauren. While she acted as project manager during the remodel, Robby took on the role of woodworker and even turned his cabinet- and furniture-making hobby into a full-fledged side hustle (by day, he works at Mailchimp; by night he runs Play.room). 

In the end, the pair estimates they spent less than $10,000 on the transformation. Ahead, they share the updates that, at the very least, made it feel like home. 

Leave Your IKEA Cabinets As Is 

The Simons measured the existing lower cabinetry to a T and then ventured to their local IKEA to put an order in for the black Kungsbacka cupboards, with no intentions to swap out the hardware or hack the door fronts. With the help of their handy friend, Mike, they cut the butcher block countertops (also IKEA) down to size. “Lauren built every one of those cabinets—she could be a TaskRabbit,” Robby says with a laugh. Even though they were a major cost saver, they’ve held up nicely considering they are constantly being opened and touched by their 6-year-old son and 6-month-old daughter. 

Make the Most Out of a Bad Vent Situation

While Robby now sells cool credenzas and consoles on his brand’s site, the first cabinet he ever made sits above the vent hood. He created the unit solely out of necessity after learning that they had to replace the old microwave–slash–range hood, which was apparently venting inside the house. Their new ductless hood needed something to attach to. “I thought, if I’m going to do it, I might as well make it look cool,” he says. The piece is made out of a combination of walnut-veneer plywood and solid walnut. 

Paint It Twice If It Doesn’t Look Nice

Lauren also shares Robby’s let’s-just-go-for-it attitude. One day, when he was out of the house, she decided to remove the doorframe and then posed the idea of turning it into an arch once he got home. “He said, you just made so much more work for me. And I was like, we have to do it now—we don’t have a door,” she says slyly. When it came to painting the walls in the space, their first instinct was green, so they went for it. “But we could tell it wasn’t right,” she says. Lauren, the designated painter at that point, shifted gears to a soft peachy pink, and later on they swapped the light box for a PH5 pendant lamp that perfectly matched the color. 

Ask the Hardware Store for Help

The dining nook bench was another first for Robby—and he didn’t even own the proper saw for it at the time. Instead he went to Home Depot and had them cut down pieces of plywood and 2-by-4s to his specifications and then screwed it together at home. “Our long-term plan is to make a cushion for it,” he says.

Type Your Wildest Dreams Into the Search Bar

When it comes to finding cool thrifted pieces, Robby says Lauren has all the luck. “She will go into a Goodwill and literally find a Mario Bellini couch,” he says with a laugh. But his turn came when he decided to type “vintage snake handles” into Google on a whim and found exactly what he was looking for on Etsy. The cobra pulls, which now adorn the pantry, are Justina Blakeney–approved. Lauren posted a photo of the cabinet on Instagram and tagged the designer in it, crediting her for the inspiration—and Blakeney shared it. “I was like, I’ve made it,” says Lauren.

Get the Appliances That Make Life Easier

Toward the end of the reno, the Simons splurged big: all new appliances. “The fridge that was there before stuck out into the hallway. It was so deep,” recalls Robby. The challenge wasn’t landing on what brand to buy (they loved LG’s streamlined look and reasonable price point) but rather getting the appliances into the house. The oven and refrigerator were at least 300 pounds and required the help of five other people. 

Once they were in the kitchen, Robby handled all the hookups (his friend told him about Plumber’s Putty, a waterproof seal that turned out to be necessary for installing the oven). “The stove is crazy…you knock on it and a light turns on,” says Robby, “and the fridge makes regular ice, crushed ice, and whiskey balls.” After a two-year reno, a chilled cocktail is a welcome reward. 

The post Pink Walls and Black IKEA Cabinets Helped This Couple Love Their Galley Kitchen appeared first on domino.

We like to think whoever came up with the expression green with envy was talking about kitchen cabinets. Whether it’s a rich shade of emerald, a warm sage, or a restful moss, the color instantly brings zen vibes to a bustling room. 

Even if you already have some go-to shades in mind, it can get a little overwhelming when the time comes to head out to the hardware store. To help, we rounded up our all-time favorite green kitchen cabinets, because a healthy dose of inspiration (and a little jealousy) might be just the kick you need to get started.

The Green Kitchen With Curve Appeal

There was a bit of charm missing from vintage seller Melissa Cattaneo Fontaine’s Colonial in the Atlanta suburbs, but with some reimagining of the cabinets and island, the transformation began. It started with custom door fronts and a lick of paint, then, to match her classic sensibilities, she added a scalloped hood over the range—but in brass to give it a bold finish. 

The Color-Theory Green Kitchen

This London-based couple always knew they wanted to go with green kitchen cabinets, though they were originally leaning into a paler, yellowish laminate. When Pluck founder George Glaiser came on board, he nudged them toward a shade with gray undertones. He paired it with peachy pink skirting for a tried-and-true contrast. “They sit on opposite ends of the color wheel,” says Glaiser. “That’s why the combination works.”

The Green Kitchen That Plays Hide-and-Seek

From a certain angle, you wouldn’t even know this home in the U.K. had pea-colored cabinetry. The shade, from John Lewis of Hungerford‘s Shaker-style line, peeks out from the waterfall edges of these marble counters.

The Green Kitchen Where Old Meets New

It’s a no-brainer why this shade made it into Benjamin Moore’s historic color collection. The grayish hue is timeless and traditional, something you’d find in the English countryside. For an updated twist, Studio McGee paired the color with matte black hardware. 

The Green Kitchen With a Dramatic Duo

The only thing sleeker than these superdark cabinets is a soapstone countertop. Jaclyn Peters pulled off the winning combo on a budget in this Winnipeg, Canada, home by opting for a 6-inch backsplash. 

The Green Kitchen With Tight Corners

Your small space can handle a rich hue—the key is practicing restraint. First-time homeowner Brynn Harlock maintained a bright and airy vibe by painting her uppers white and the lower ones mossy.

The Shaker-Style Green Kitchen

Stepping away from her go-to blues, Emily Henderson went with a sophisticated option with lots of gray undertones from Sherwin-Williams in this Portland, Oregon, house. To amp up the character, the designer splurged on inset Shaker-style cabinets that cost around $25,000 to build and install. 

The Art Deco–Inspired Green Kitchen

Jessica Brigham was on a mission to restore her kitchen’s 1930s spunk as part of the One Room Challenge. Jewel-tone cabinets and glitzy globe light fixtures accomplish just that.

The Teeny-Tiny Green Kitchen

Dabito’s guesthouse kitchenette features just four 24-inch Shaker cabinets from Overstock (the same place he scored the Moroccan cement tile). He painted them with Behr’s Fig Tree in a satin finish, then added pink walls and a graphic backsplash to turn what would otherwise be considered a serious color into a fun statement.

The Green Kitchen That’s Minty Fresh

There’s nothing childish about this candy-colored space. Designer Lauren Bug chose the playful hue when she realized green kitchen cabinets suited the walnut-wood floors better than the pale blue she had originally been considering.

The Farmhouse Green Kitchen 

The addition of glass doors can elevate standard millwork to star status. Jaclyn Peters mastered the new-school rustic look with the addition of a vintage rug and industrial drawer pulls. 

The British Green Kitchen

Designer Laura Stephens went old school in this London galley kitchen by swathing the cupboards in a rich mustardy shade and covering the walls in tongue-and-groove paneling that can withstand dampness and changes in temperature.

The ’70s Green Kitchen

Tara Marshall and Meghan Bannon of Fort Architecture leaned into this maple leaf–shaped Canada home’s retro feel. They sourced teak for the integrated paneled refrigerator and upper shelving to blend with the existing wood throughout the house, and painted the new lowers an olive hue that “feels contemporary but nostalgic at the same time.”

The Green Kitchen That’s a Bit Beige

After replacing this space’s stylized cabinet fronts with slab doors, designer Natalie Myers painted everything Berkshire Beige by Benjamin Moore, a pale green-gray that skews sage depending on the time of day.

The Green Kitchen That’s Almost Yellow 

Lourdes Hernández’s pastel cabinets read retro— not nursery—next to her Smeg refrigerator and multitone ceramic pendant lamps. So what are you waiting for? You’ve got the green light.

The post 15 Green Kitchen Cabinets That Aren’t All Sage appeared first on domino.

Forget what you thought you knew about  renovating for resale value. Buyers are bidding farewell to blank-slate interiors and willing to shell out more money for a house with a touch of drama, particularly in the kitchen. According to Zillow’s just-released paint color analysis report, a white kitchen may actually hurt a home’s sale price by more than $600. Instead, a striking preference for dark gray walls is rising, as buyers are willing to pay a premium for this moody aesthetic. The study surveyed more than 4,700 recent and prospective home buyers and found that properties with deep graphite kitchens could sell for $2,512 over asking price. Pewter is also apparently a major draw: Zillow estimates midtone gray kitchens can bump a listing’s value $2,553. Of course, the ultimate sale price depends on a variety of factors, but this data proves a little strategic sprucing can make a significant difference. Take a look at three kitchens that nail this edgier hue. 

Don’t Forget the Shelving

Interior designer Joanne Palmisano worked wonders with a small budget to retain the old-world charm of her client’s new home in Stowe, Vermont. While most cabinets couldn’t be salvaged, Palmisano cleverly installed open shelves and painted everything, including the plank that lines the backsplash, a captivating peppercorn gray. 

Go Totally Monochrome

In Alberta, Canada, Rebecca Mclean and her husband, Brad, crafted their 8,000-square-foot dream home from scratch. While the central cooking zone boasts a bold matte black kitchen, the additional bar-slash-kitchen in the basement steals the spotlight with its silvery soapstone counters and fish scale–tile backsplash. 

Simplify a One-Wall Layout

After deciding to flip the placement of her guest bedroom and her kitchen, Silvana Vergara saved hundreds of dollars by situating the appliances and sink along the same wall. Then she opted for Scavolini cabinets and shelving in a chic slate hue. The result? An effortlessly cool aesthetic that perfectly complements the new layout.

The post This Popular Kitchen Color Can Actually Hurt a Home’s Sale Price appeared first on domino.

Is it our Instagram algorithms, or does it seem like everyone is either sailing around Lake Como, strolling the winding streets of Sicily, or taking refuge from the Mediterranean sun under cabana umbrellas? It was the latter that inspired antiques dealer Dorian Caffot de Fawes and his husband, Thomas Daviet, an interior designer, to wrap all their cabinets in bright yellow stripes. 

The idea came from the towels and umbrellas at Hotel Il Pellicano on the Tuscan seaside, where the couple vacation every year. In Sophie Donelson’s new book, Uncommon Kitchens, the duo shares the secret behind their cheerful space in London: painter’s tape. The surprisingly affordable upgrade (you can find a roll on Amazon for just under $4) started with equally budget-friendly IKEA base units. Caffot de Fawes and Daviet both stand by the concept’s durability—and reversibility. In the book, they give their advice for making the DIY project work for you. 

Choose Your Color Wisely (or Don’t)

As Londoners, the couple was craving a daily dose of cheer. “We needed a bit of sun here,” Caffot de Fawes says. “The moment you enter the house you’re welcomed with a splash of sunshine.” The real genius behind the tape is that it’s so easy to remove that you can change the color or nix the design completely whenever you want. 

Go Vertical to Slow Down the Eye

The two recommend keeping the pattern going from top to bottom. “Horizontal stripes are called racer stripes for a reason,” Caffot de Fawes says. Though the happy hue catches your attention immediately, the orientation is actually calming. 

Match the Tile and Stripe Width

The two doubled down on the tip, above, and chose to run the ceramic tile of the backsplash vertically as well. When mixing materials, they say it’s helpful to have a pleasing consistency that makes it look like a harmonious single line. 

Overall the maintenance is as easy as the installation because the washi tape almost never needs replacing, but areas that are prone to more wear can be simply peeled away and reapplied. Just keep a few spare rolls on hand.

The post Tape—Not Paint—Transformed This London Kitchen Into an Italy-Inspired Paradise appeared first on domino.

A cherry red or charcoal black kitchen isn’t for the faint of heart, which explains why shades of white and gray tend to be the most popular. At least indoors. It turns out, most people would be willing to go outside their comfort zone (literally) in their backyards, according to Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens’s 2023 Outdoor Living report. The new survey, which was commissioned in partnership with the Harris Poll and tapped more than 2,000 U.S. adults, reveals that over two-thirds of Americans (69 percent) feel outdoor kitchen cabinets present an opportunity for “fun and different” color selections compared to interior ones. Younger consumers feel even stronger about embracing the rainbow: 77 percent of those ages 18 to 44 would opt to depart from traditional hues in their alfresco cooking zones.  

We’re well familiar with the logic—it’s the same reason people love to use a loud wallpaper print in their powder room. For most, an outdoor kitchen is strictly a summertime amenity, so you don’t have to look at it constantly. When it comes to Brown Jordan’s colorful offerings, a few of its top-selling cabinet hues are chili red, autumn orange, mint green, and cotton candy pink. Luckily it doesn’t cost a fortune to get in on the look: The company’s Elements line features freestanding powder-coated steel systems starting at $5,000. 

Or if you already have an existing outdoor kitchen setup but want to liven things up, shop some similar paint swatches, below. Who knows, they might even inspire you to bring a bit of color indoors once barbecue season is over.

Get the Look on Your Own

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Rectory Red, Farrow & Ball

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Pink Matt 03, Lick ($70 per gallon)

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Mint Condition, Sherwin-Williams

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Color of the Year, Backdrop (from $49)

The post More People Are Willing to Try This in an Outdoor Kitchen Than Their Indoor One appeared first on domino.

IKEA gets all the glory when it comes to sources for affordable kitchen cupboards, but there’s another route, one less traveled but just as budget-friendly: opting for used kitchen cabinets. How much of a bargain are we talking? Justin Green, executive director of the nonprofit salvage center Big Reuse, told Sweeten founder Jean Brownhill that salvaged cupboards are usually more than 50 percent off retail prices. 

If that’s not a big enough draw, there’s also the added bonus of reducing construction and demo waste, which The New York Times reported makes up a whopping 20 percent of the garbage New York City’s Department of Sanitation processed in 2014. The saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has never rang truer. 

Read on for everything you need to know about used cabinetry—plus a few ideas for how to make the pieces your own.

Where to Buy Used Kitchen Cabinets

Purveyors of old cupboards generally fall into two buckets: individual sellers and bigger operations like salvage yards, nonprofits, and antiques stores. Chicagoan India Shannon of Apartment 528 turns to the former to find the ’80s hardware-less cabinets she loves to reimagine, specifically Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. It doesn’t hurt to scroll OfferUp and eBay, too.

Brownhill, on the other hand, got in touch with Renovation Angel’s Green Demolitions outfit, which does whole-house recycling. Anyone across the country doing a gut remodel can call up the organization to donate cabinets, appliances, lighting, and even architectural elements that would otherwise go in a landfill. The perfectly good pieces then go up for sale (at a discount!) on Renovation Angel. Brownhill ended up scoring an entire kitchen this way, including cabinets, drawers, a Sub-Zero fridge, and a granite countertop. Habit for Humanity’s ReStore and vintage shops offer similar finds on a local level.

How Much Used Kitchen Cabinets Cost

Deals abound—in fact you might come across listings where the cabinetry is free or close to it. Shannon bought a set of 10 wall and base units for just $60, while British creative Caroline Briggs snagged a Victorian glass storage cabinet, some drawers, and five cupboards for $1,970 at an antiques shop in her neighborhood. Brownhill’s massive haul totaled only $1,000, for what she notes probably originally cost closer to $100,000. Prices can go much higher, though, depending on quality. On Renovation Angel right now, full kitchens start at $2,399 and go all the way up to $35,999 for one from a luxury NYC apartment.

What to Ask When Shopping for Used Kitchen Cabinets

There’s no such thing as too many questions, especially when you’re shopping online for a big-ticket item. Shannon always inquires about condition (any nicks, scratches, or water damage?), as well as any specific measurements missing (don’t forget depth!) so she can triple-check everything will fit just right.

How to Spiff Up Your Used Kitchen Cabinets

Although buying used kitchen cabinets is very much a DIY effort, when you bring your purchase home, don’t hesitate to call in a professional to install them. “I got my joiner to meet me [at the store] the next morning,” Briggs told Domino, and he helped her put the puzzle together.

Paint the Old and New Built-In Cabinets the Same Color

To meld her new (old) cabinetry with the bones of her historic brownstone, Brownhill had her contractor recut the granite and trim down one unit, then they repainted all the Shaker fronts a classic creamy white. The two cupboards they couldn’t squeeze in now live in her dining room. 

Create a Bold Coffee Nook

Shannon went the opposite direction in her home’s coffee nook, coating salvaged retro melamine storage in a bright cherry red that ties in with the pot rack above it. If you’re also the proud owner of the ubiquitous ’80s style, she recommends skipping the prep work altogether in favor of slapping the paint right on—it absorbs well from the get-go.

Fill in Any Gaps

Even after the most careful measuring, you might end up with some gaps like Briggs did. Her savvy solution: Fill in the awkward spaces with custom drawers made out of reclaimed wood. When every element has a history, it all works together.

Shop the Bedroom Aisle

The pink lower cabinets in DeVol creative director Helen Parker’s Leicestershire, England, kitchen are actually a bedroom wardrobe piece she found at an antiques fair and spruced up by painting it, raising it up on bun feet, and topping it with a curvy marble work surface.

Mix Them With Hardware Store Cupboards

While the lower cabinets in Breeze Braunschweig and Kartik Ramachandran’s space are from Home Depot (the savvy DIYers replaced the doors with lumber from what remained of the original baseboards in the house), the upper cabinets are an antiques store score. As for the lengthy cast-iron sink in the corner? That’s a Craigslist find.

Get More Bang for Your Buck With a Freestanding Piece

When Christine Flynn decided to make her 100-year-old house on an island off Ontario her family’s full-time home, she updated her kitchen storage—and it turns out an antique pie cabinet was the perfect addition. The roomy cupboard is so spacious that she was able to scrap the upper cabinets and just rely on it for all their dishes. 

This story was originally published in April 2021. It has since been updated.

The post The Most Underrated Kitchen-Reno Budget Saver: Used Cabinets appeared first on domino.

In mid-2019, Sight Unseen cofounder and editor in chief Jill Singer noticed one of the strangest micro trends she’s ever seen: furniture with tiny balls. Upon further digging, she discovered “it’s very steeped in design history—it goes back to the Wiener Werkstätte workshops and the 1920s and ’30s,” she explains. Around this same time, it just so happened she was embarking on a two-phase renovation of her family’s Hamptons home, which she had tasked Keren and Thomas Richter, the designers behind White Arrow, with executing. So when Keren proposed a new kitchen banquette with delicate iron-ball feet, Singer couldn’t resist. “I was so tickled,” she says. 

The Scandinavian touch—Keren was inspired by Swedish furniture maker Greta Magnusson-Grossman’s mid-century pieces—is a far cry from the country cottage vibes the white cabinets and tiled countertops were previously giving. For the Richters, a dining area for Singer and her family to gather in was crucial, but so was increasing the room’s overall functionality. Enter: a spacious walk-in pantry and larger appliances, all in the home’s joyfully retro style. “You understand that it’s a beach house, but it doesn’t hit you over the head with the cliché things,” shares Keren.  

Blue Clues

Before embarking on the remodel, Singer took a pulse check. “I was seeing the design world go through a dark green kitchen phase, and I thought sky blue might be on the horizon,” she says. The idea was sealed when she spotted the Ganni founders’ Copenhagen home on the Internet—it’s practically dripping in shades of baby blue. What if the hue veers into trendy territory one day? The creative admits it doesn’t really bother her, “but I don’t necessarily think it has at this point,” she adds.

White Arrow pulled a paint color called Hazy from Kelly Wearstler’s California-inspired collaboration with Farrow & Ball that evokes breezy, beachy living alongside the Japanese field tile from Inax and unlacquered brass faucet. “When a friend of mine first saw my materials palette for the kitchen, they referred to it as ‘elevated ’50s Hamptons,’ which I really like, because it does feel sort of mid-century,” says Singer. 

Sliding Doors 

Another nostalgic element? The sliding upper cabinet to the right of the vent hood. The setup was really a solve for the fact that Keren wanted to put a Naama Hofman sconce on the adjacent wall, but it also lent the 1930s, Bauhaus feel she was after. “There were some cool kitchen cabinets I’d seen in museums and interiors while visiting Europe that made everything in a small kitchen feel well appointed,” she says. “Often there’d be a sliding door that made everything easily accessible.”

Not So Lazy

By investing in larger appliances without changing the general footprint of the kitchen, Singer technically lost storage space during the process. It didn’t help that the contractor forgot to build in the lazy Susan she had initially requested. “But the space is so much nicer in terms of entertaining,” she says. Slotting in small but deep cabinets and cubbies like the one above the refrigerator went a long way. 

Completing Singer’s dream banquette across the way: a cabana-striped indoor-outdoor cushion and a tubular white leather backrest. The team carried the emerald green hue onto the custom dining table, made by Singer’s friend Steven Bukowski, in collaboration with Hannah Bigeleisen, with a simple band of color underneath the bleached maple top. “I really wanted big pieces that I have a personal connection to,” says Singer. The Beata Heuman pendant light overhead is fixed on a pulley system so it can be raised or lowered if needed. “Everyone tries to squeeze into the banquette because it’s so cozy,” says Singer. “I’ll work there sometimes during the summer; we’ll all eat breakfast there; my daughter really likes to bead at the table.” Its little balled feet might be tiny, but through dinner parties, WFH, and craft projects, they’ve proved their might.

The post The Micro Trend That Found Its Way Into This Design Creative’s Baby Blue Kitchen appeared first on domino.

Cabinets can make—and perhaps more often break—your kitchen’s style. That’s why upgrading your cupboards can feel like a momentous and overwhelming decision, especially after realizing there are a smorgasbord of companies to choose from. To help you figure out which are the best kitchen cabinet brands, whether you’re going semi-custom (like IKEA cabinet boxes with Semihandmade fronts) or stock (available for pickup or delivery from hardware stores and chains), we organized our favorites based on recommendations from designers, architects, DIYers, and other pros. Not to mention, as discerning editors, we can tell quality when we see it; writing about kitchens is kind of our thing. Here’s the shoppable lineup, in alphabetical order. 

The Best Kitchen Cabinet Brands

• Boxi by Semihandmade
• Cabinets.Deals
• Cliq Studios
• Diamond Now
• Form Kitchens
• Hampton Bay
• IKEA
• Kemper Cabinets
• Vipp Kitchen

Boxi by Semihandmade

Materials: MDF, laminate | Warranty: 25 years | Price range: $$–$$$$

Why we chose it: From countertops to drawer pulls, consider this your one-stop shop for a complete kitchen overhaul.  

Bespoke without breaking the bank is the name of the game with Semihandmade. For years, Domino editors have seen basic IKEA frames upgraded with the sleek door fronts—you can spot them in spaces as large as Sarah Sherman Samuel’s managing director Sarah Matthews’s Michigan home and as small as DIYer Mallory Fletcher’s former apartment in Brooklyn (where the entire reno took a mere three weeks to finish). But did you know you can buy the entire system in one fell swoop with Boxi? Choose between Shaker, slab, and slim Shaker styles for your lowers, uppers, and more, then easily add on countertops and appliances with partners Caesarstone and Café by GE, as well as luxe drawer pulls and handles by Rejuvenation, plus floating shelves from Shelfology. Psst: Everything is 30% off through May 31.

Cabinets.Deals

Drawer Standard Base Cabinet, Cabinets.Deals ($490)

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Materials: Plywood | Warranty: 1 year | Price range: $–$$$

Why we chose it: You’d never know these can be shipped from Wayfair.  

HIgh-quality cabinetry, without the markup. Cabinets.Deals, based in Houston, cuts out the middleman by procuring and selling cabinets to a wholesaler. Take a page out of designer Athena Calderone’s book (or should we say basement?) and shop the company’s offerings through e-tailer giant Wayfair. While Calderone painted hers for a more bespoke look, plenty of shoppers share they were impressed by how these base cabinets arrived as is. “Great quality” and “super-well-made” more than a few reviewers write.  

Cliq Studios

Belhaven Luster Kitchen Cabinets Set, Cliq Studios ($4,337)

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Materials: Solid wood, plywood | Warranty: 5 years | Price range: $$–$$$

Why we chose it: For RTA, Cliq Studios offers a variety and free design perks.  

“Cliq Studios is not only affordable, it has multiple inserts and sizes available,” shares Evelyn Pierce of Evelyn Pierce Design Studio. “It’s an online source that provides stock and semi-custom cabinets, and the company has its own designers to help you plan.” Whereas basic blueprints require a little imagination, a Cliq Studios designer will walk you through a 3D rendering of your kitchen for a much more real sense of the finished product. Plus the company offers a free quiz to help determine what type of kitchen cabinets may be best suited for your cooking space and personal style, which you can then use to choose from its decent variety of finishes, styles, and colors. 

Diamond Now

Diamond Now Arcadia Stock Cabinet Shaker Door Style, Lowe’s ($209)

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Materials: Laminate | Warranty: Limited | Price range: $–$$

Why we chose it: Well reviewed (4,000-plus happy shoppers), these might very well be the biggest bang for your buck.  

An in-house brand from Lowe’s, Diamond Now stands out among the sea of options for its glowing reviews on both its upper and base cabinets. It’s trusted by flippers for being readily available for quick project turnarounds—one reviewer notes their order was ready for pickup in less than 10 minutes—and affordably priced. “We had a small budget, so we tried to find the best cabinets for a low price. We are so happy we found these. Work great and look more expensive than they are!” another writes. Bonus: Lowe’s is running a 10% off promotion on its kitchen cabinets right now. 

Form Kitchens

Materials: MDF, laminate | Warranty: 25 years | Price range: $$–$$$$

Why we chose it: Form and function—there are more than 3,000 customizable organization options.  

Form utilizes a direct-to-seller approach to slash prices on its customizable cabinet sets. The online service originated in Germany in 2018 and arrived Stateside shortly after and has been gaining traction for simplifying the process from conception (hello, photorealistic renderings) to reality down to four steps. It caught our eye for its prioritization of organization. Aside from the stylish exterior, it’s the inside that counts with Form. Pulling open drawers and doors is where the magic happens—you can customize your cutlery trays, pull-out baskets, and more. Going with Form also means your order will be backed by a guarantee that it will arrive by the promised date and fit without a hiccup. It’s why Amanda Jane Jones chose the brand for her home and guesthouse—she could renovate both spaces at once for a seamless result.

Hampton Bay

Assembled Drawer Base Kitchen Cabinet Unfinished, Home Depot ($189)

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Materials: Solid wood doors, particleboard interior | Warranty: Limited lifetime | Price range: $–$$

Why we chose it: DIYers’ dream—treat these unfinished cabinets like a blank canvas. 

You may recognize this brand, exclusive to Home Depot, as a maker of ceiling fans, but it’s also well known for its extensive kitchen cabinet offering. If we had to choose, we’d go with the unfinished options—paint, stain, seal—since they are pretty much limitless. They’re also prime for any choice of hardware. One reviewer summarizes this pick perfectly: “Inexpensive and sturdy.”  

IKEA

Sektion Wall Cabinets, IKEA ($223)

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Materials: Solid wood, particleboard, MDF | Warranty: 5 to 10 years, depending on system | Price range: $–$$$

Why we chose it: After install day, you’d never guess these cabinets arrived flat-packed.

“We love IKEA because of the endless customization,” stresses Dean Turner of Evolution Design + Build. “It’s also a lower-cost option, so you can value-engineer your project by using its cabinet boxes while leveraging your spend to incorporate custom door fronts.” In fact, Domino home tours frequently feature IKEA setups elevated with either Semihandmade, Nieu, Superfront, or Plykea door fronts, handles, pulls, and more to convince guests they went fully custom. And the Swedish retailer’s in-cabinet storage solutions only seem to get better—everything from utensils and pot lids to knives and spices has a designated space. Plus the Kitchen Planner lets you play with the layout of the cabinets and appliances until every last inch of your space is maximized.

Kemper Cabinets

Amstead Maple Cabinet, Kemper

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Materials: Wood (maple, hickory, oak, cherry), laminate, MDF | Warranty: Limited lifetime | Price range: $$$–$$$$ 

Why we chose it: A heritage cabinet maker brand. 

“Kemper makes beautiful, durable cabinetry that is easily customizable—it has many options for inserts, sizing, and colors,” offers Laura Hildebrandt of Interiors by LH. “We love to use Kemper cabinets for our projects because they are strong and long-lasting and fit in the client’s budget while still giving a bespoke, luxury look.” Under the MasterBrand Cabinets umbrella—an industry leader since the 1920s—Kemper is known for its specialty finishes, glazes, and paints for hardwood.  

Vipp 

Chimney Cabinet, Vipp ($3,800)

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Materials: Metal, wood, glass | Warranty: 2 years | Price range: $$$$

Why we chose it: A modular kitchen that provides a stress-free demo day.

When New York–based writer and editor Spencer Bailey was finally ready to replace his builder-grade kitchen, he was drawn to the “building block” likeness of Vipp; cabinetry that could be inserted like furniture.”= There are two predesigned options to choose from—V1 and V2. Depending on what material and door front style you prefer (a minimalist, lockerlike appearance or fluted wood and glass), you can further customize based on four modules within. The defining difference from other cabinets on the market is the fact that these all arrive on raised legs for an even simpler install. In fact, once everything made it to Bailey’s door, the whole kitchen was complete in a matter of two days. 

More Semi-Custom Cabinets  

Looking for something a little more bespoke than what’s listed above? Your next best bet might be these quasi-custom options. 

• Cabico Cabinetry describes itself as North America’s leading custom cabinetry maker that works through dealers. According to Seth Ballard of Ballard + Mensua Architecture, it “offers a wide selection of kitchen cabinet styles and wood finishes, quality construction that lasts, and the best hardware available. It also isn’t afraid to take on unique details. Plus its lead time is shorter than most cabinet companies: eight to 10 weeks.”
• DeVol’s bespoke kitchens offer a variety of classic to modern English-inflected designs that range in price from $20,000 to $100,000.
• Henrybuilt designs integrated kitchen systems in Seattle, though you can order separate objects including islands, pantries, and shelving. 
• Reform is another modular kitchen provider based out of Copenhagen that curates collections of cabinets by designers and studios, including its own lines like Basis featuring a round, cutout handle.  
• Skipp provides you with access to a library of more than 100 designs and brands, including hard-to-find bespoke vendors to carefully plan and procure everything needed for your kitchen renovation. Note: It doesn’t offer its own cabinets but does partner with Boxi. 
• Very Simple Kitchen is an Italian modular kitchen maker known for its metal systems. You can order either wall or island configurations and customize to your heart’s content with colors, countertops, appliances, backsplashes, and more.

Our Shopping Checklist

Price

Fixr reports that the cost for custom kitchen cabinets ranges from $15,000 to $25,000—and that’s just the average. Depending on the size of your kitchen, as well as the cabinets’ material and finish, custom cabinetry can inch toward $40,000 and in some cases more. We’ll give you a minute to let that sticker shock wear off. 

The good news: Choosing stock or semi-custom kitchen cabinets leaves you with a more digestible price tag and more flexibility in sizing, color, and finishes than you might think. Plus you’ll benefit from a significantly shorter lead time, so you won’t be eating takeout for months on end while your kitchen is a construction zone.

Materials 

We’d wager, if given the choice and budget was not an issue, we’d all go for solid wood kitchen cabinets. And while durable, it’s definitely one of the pricier options on the market. Happy runners-up are engineered, plywood, and MDF (essentially pressurized wood chips)—all feature a blend of wood. The latter, in fact, is what IKEA’s cabinets are mainly made with. And the most popular material you’ll encounter in a rental is likely laminate or particleboard (similar to MDF, but not as dense or strong) cabinets for its seriously low price tag.  

Cabinet Types and Styles 

Doors and drawer fronts come in all sorts of sizes and styles. Do you prefer the traditional look with raised, detailed paneling, or a Shaker style with a simple 2-inch rail frame? Or maybe a super-minimalist all-flat panel (and hold the hardware) is what you’re looking for. If you’re unsure what exactly suits your taste, check out our in-depth guide that’ll walk you through the most common types of kitchen cabinets, including a few newcomers like fluted glass.  

Ask Domino

Q: Instead of replacing my kitchen cabinets, can I just paint them instead? 

Of course! It’s a popular tactic employed by homeowners and renters alike. But before reaching for that bucket of paint, it’s important to first check what kind of cabinets you’re working with. This will impact what sort of prep you’ll need to do—wiping the surface with a grease-cutting cleaner and sanding things down with 100-grit paper or picking out the right primer (more on that right this way). 

Q: What’s the most popular kitchen cabinet style or paint color these days? 

That’s a tough question. In recent years, we’ve seen homes sporting everything from ribbed MDF to unfinished raw plywood. As for paint, neutrals have given way to color, particularly in varying shades of blue and pink, as well as richer reds.   

Q: How can I tell if the cabinets I’m interested in are high quality? 

Like furniture, the biggest indicators of quality cabinetry lie in the craftsmanship. Dovetail drawer joinery, soft-closing hardware, high-shelf weight capacity, durable finish choices, and a long warranty are all great indicators that these aren’t your run-of-the-mill cabinets. 

The Final Word 

At the end of the day, the best kitchen cabinet brand is the one that works for you—whether that’s based on budget, a project timeline, durability and materials, or access to a local dealer. 

The post The Best Kitchen Cabinet Brands, According to Designers and DIYers appeared first on domino.

There’s no way around it: Kitchen renovations can be costly, and as much as we’d love a custom-designed set of cupboards, it’s simply not in the (credit) cards for some of us. The good news: There are some clever work-arounds you can do to come in under budget, like saving on inexpensive kitchen cabinets. And the better news? Affordable doesn’t mean having to sacrifice style or functionality.  

We tapped nine designers to spill their inexpensive kitchen cabinet secrets that offer the best value, like their go-to materials and how to get a professional paint finish every time. A kitchen full of gorgeous, custom-ish cupboards has never felt so obtainable.

What’s the Average Cost of Kitchen Cabinets? 

To be sure you’re getting the best possible deal, it helps to know what the going rate is for custom cabinetry. According to HomeAdvisor, most projects fall in the range of $4,000 to $13,000 for an average 10-by-10 kitchen. On the high end, you could be looking at a cool $24,000. 

Aside from the type of material you choose, another budget-influencing point to consider is the kitchen layout. If you’re making any changes to your floor plan that require moving your oven, you’ll want to bring in a pro to relocate electrical, gas, and ventilation systems. The final touches such as paint or hardware also add to your bottom line. A single stain, for example, will cost less than a multistep finish or paint. 

9 Inexpensive Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

Choose a Less Expensive Wood

“Kitchen cabinets can be a huge financial piece of the puzzle,” says Minneapolis-based designer Anne McDonald, who passed along some key advice when crunching numbers on your budget. “Wood type matters!” she stresses. “Natural-grade birch is one of the cheapest species and it’s domestic, so there’s no guilt that it’s being pulled out of the rain forest or shipped from Europe. It’s also very hard and durable, so it will stand the test of time.” Win-win.

Don’t Underestimate IKEA

Even high-end designers who generally work with custom cabinetry can’t deny the appeal of IKEA’s. Michelle Lisac, owner and principal designer of Michelle Lisac Interior Design, says, “Since they come in a wide range of colors, finishes, and affordable prices, it’s easy to configure a design that works well for your space.”

Upgrade IKEA Cabinets With Semi-Custom Fronts

Meagan Camp of New York City–based Meagan Camp Interiors suggests jazzing up your simple (sometimes too simple) IKEA kitchen cabinets with new fronts and pulls. “The brand is everyone’s go-to for budget kitchens,” says Camp. But there are some innovative companies making semi-custom door fronts that are stylish upgrades to what’s available at the famed Swedish retailer. “Superfront and Plykea are two we’ve used, and they’re surprisingly affordable,” she notes.

Choose a Full Overlay Design

Victoria Sass of Prospect Refuge Studio breaks down the three types of primary cabinet styles: partial overlay, full overlay, and inset. Partial overlay, meaning you can see part of the cabinet frame between the door fronts, looks dated and inexpensive, while inset requires the most skill and is, therefore, the most expensive. The Goldilocks of inexpensive kitchen cabinets is a full overlay design. The door fronts fully cover the cabinet framing. “It looks supertailored but requires less precision than inset, and so is less expensive,” says Sass.

Design Affordable Kitchen Cabinets Online

Marie Trohman and Ashley Drost, the designers behind Los Angeles–based Proem Studio, vouch for Barker Modern as a great option, even if you have to buy cabinets sight unseen. “It gives advice on what size to make a refrigerator opening, how to design the toe-kick, and where to use finished end panels,” Trohman says.

Go DIY

DIYer Erin François of François et Moi suggests that you give your existing kitchen cabinets a makeover. “Fresh paint and new hardware are cost-effective ways to breathe new life into your kitchen without tearing everything out,” she says. You’ll need patience and one particular tool for a professional look. “If you’re going this route, I highly recommend renting or investing in a paint sprayer for that professional cabinet-shop finish,” she adds.

Search for Secondhand 

Designers often swear by vintage stores and flea markets for unearthing the best lighting and furniture finds, but what about cabinetry? British creative Caroline Briggs stumbled upon a nearly complete Victorian kitchen set for just under $2,000 at a charity shop—a fraction of what big-box and custom will cost you. 

“I got my joiner to meet me there the next morning, and he was beside himself,” she remembers. “It sat in my friend’s outbuilding for two months while the construction was going on.” Her builders pieced it together in the renovated space, filling in the gaps with reclaimed timber.

Open It Up

Open shelving in place of upper cabinetry has been trending for a while thanks to its streamlined look and ample display space for all your vintage glassware. But it offers the best value by cutting costs in half. Wendy Lau’s wood shelves were only $200, with knotty pine beams from Home Depot and brackets from Etsy. On the other hand, a single standard cabinet will set you back about $150 on average.

Play With Plywood

Making brand-new cabinetry from scratch is a splurge—unless you’re using über-affordable (and on-trend) plywood. “We chose plywood because it was inexpensive, around $2,000, and it’s a pinky blond that I think is pretty,” says designer Megan Pflug of her upstate New York kitchen. The finished project looks anything but builder grade.

The post Kitchen Renovations Can Be Expensive, But Your Cabinets Don’t Have to Be appeared first on domino.