3 Attractive New Kitchens With Wood Cabinets
Remodeling pros share the wood species and other design details that helped them create warm and welcoming kitchens
There’s a lot to love about using wood cabinets in a kitchen. They bring plenty of warmth, hide dings and scratches better than painted cabinets and often impart a hard-to-describe comforting feel that comes from natural materials. To see for yourself, take a look at the following three kitchens that feature beautiful wood cabinets.
2. Farmhouse Feel
Designer: Angela Barnhart of White Birch Design
Location: Eagan, Minnesota
Size: 403 square feet (37 square meters); 13 by 31 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The goal was to create a larger, more spacious kitchen,” designer Angela Barnhart says. “We were able to accomplish that by knocking out the wall between the kitchen and formal dining room and expanding the kitchen the whole way down. We kept the sink in the same location and moved the cooktop from the island to the exterior wall by the sink. The fridge moved to the far end of the kitchen, but there is a double-drawer fridge in the island that was to be used for food prep items.”
Wood cabinets. “All of the lowers are quartersawn white oak, as well as the wrap on the hood,” Barnhart says. “We decided on this wood because it is lighter in color yet has a lot of character to it. It lends itself to a lot of different styles, which helps keep the kitchen versatile and timeless, not just trendy.”
Other special features. “To complement the quartersawn cabinets, we went with a white marble-looking quartz for the countertops,” Barnhart says. “Since we had no uppers on the sink and cooktop wall, we went with a huge statement of tiling from the countertop to the ceiling. This blue subway tile has different textures to it — some are more matte, some more shiny — and it is textured, so it really creates a nice effect.”
The hood is custom. The shelves are also quartersawn oak with iron brackets. The flooring is wood-look luxury vinyl planks. The cabinet hardware is matte black, “which allows them to pop off the cabinets versus blend in,” Barnhart says. “It helps keep your eye moving, versus getting stuck somewhere.”
Designer tip. “Mix your metals and mix up warm and cool tones,” Barnhart says. “It creates so much more visual interest. Choose a few details that pop, like the hardware. It will keep your eye moving around the room.”
Sconces: Ellerbeck in natural brass, Kichler; cabinet hardware: Echo knobs and Century Edge pulls in matte black, Berenson Hardware; backsplash tile: Mallorca blue subway tile, The Tile Shop; wall paint: Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore
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Designer: Angela Barnhart of White Birch Design
Location: Eagan, Minnesota
Size: 403 square feet (37 square meters); 13 by 31 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The goal was to create a larger, more spacious kitchen,” designer Angela Barnhart says. “We were able to accomplish that by knocking out the wall between the kitchen and formal dining room and expanding the kitchen the whole way down. We kept the sink in the same location and moved the cooktop from the island to the exterior wall by the sink. The fridge moved to the far end of the kitchen, but there is a double-drawer fridge in the island that was to be used for food prep items.”
Wood cabinets. “All of the lowers are quartersawn white oak, as well as the wrap on the hood,” Barnhart says. “We decided on this wood because it is lighter in color yet has a lot of character to it. It lends itself to a lot of different styles, which helps keep the kitchen versatile and timeless, not just trendy.”
Other special features. “To complement the quartersawn cabinets, we went with a white marble-looking quartz for the countertops,” Barnhart says. “Since we had no uppers on the sink and cooktop wall, we went with a huge statement of tiling from the countertop to the ceiling. This blue subway tile has different textures to it — some are more matte, some more shiny — and it is textured, so it really creates a nice effect.”
The hood is custom. The shelves are also quartersawn oak with iron brackets. The flooring is wood-look luxury vinyl planks. The cabinet hardware is matte black, “which allows them to pop off the cabinets versus blend in,” Barnhart says. “It helps keep your eye moving, versus getting stuck somewhere.”
Designer tip. “Mix your metals and mix up warm and cool tones,” Barnhart says. “It creates so much more visual interest. Choose a few details that pop, like the hardware. It will keep your eye moving around the room.”
Sconces: Ellerbeck in natural brass, Kichler; cabinet hardware: Echo knobs and Century Edge pulls in matte black, Berenson Hardware; backsplash tile: Mallorca blue subway tile, The Tile Shop; wall paint: Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore
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3. Midcentury Mood
Designers: Kaila Niles and Emily Wilder of Wool Design Studio
Location: Sacramento, California
Homeowners’ request. “When we came onto the project, our clients had already hired many of the tradespeople and had committed to certain elements of the remodel but did not have a real defined vision for what they wanted and were very overwhelmed by the process,” designer Kaila Niles says. “They weren’t necessarily happy with where things were headed, and when we came on, our design was an entirely different direction that ended up really speaking to them, feeling more authentic to them as a family and honored the house’s unique bones.”
Niles uses Houzz Pro business software for invoicing and overall project management.
Wood cabinets. The custom cabinets are natural walnut. “They are used in the kitchen, the wine storage in the kitchen nook and also in the primary bathroom,” Niles says.
Other special features. “Originally the clients were thinking of white quartz counters and stainless steel on the hood,” Niles says. “We wanted to really add warmth and a comfortable sophistication to the home, paying homage to the client’s family’s Berkeley roots. We instead added an unoiled soapstone counter that patinas beautifully, custom unlacquered brass lighting and hardware that will do the same, and a plaster hood to add lightness and a breath to the kitchen.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid of natural stone,” Niles says. “The idea that quartz counters are indestructible is a myth, and the patina of a natural stone is much more beautiful. Take a look at the ancient floors and walls of Europe if you’re still unsure.”
Wall paint: High Reflective White, Sherwin-Williams
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Designers: Kaila Niles and Emily Wilder of Wool Design Studio
Location: Sacramento, California
Homeowners’ request. “When we came onto the project, our clients had already hired many of the tradespeople and had committed to certain elements of the remodel but did not have a real defined vision for what they wanted and were very overwhelmed by the process,” designer Kaila Niles says. “They weren’t necessarily happy with where things were headed, and when we came on, our design was an entirely different direction that ended up really speaking to them, feeling more authentic to them as a family and honored the house’s unique bones.”
Niles uses Houzz Pro business software for invoicing and overall project management.
Wood cabinets. The custom cabinets are natural walnut. “They are used in the kitchen, the wine storage in the kitchen nook and also in the primary bathroom,” Niles says.
Other special features. “Originally the clients were thinking of white quartz counters and stainless steel on the hood,” Niles says. “We wanted to really add warmth and a comfortable sophistication to the home, paying homage to the client’s family’s Berkeley roots. We instead added an unoiled soapstone counter that patinas beautifully, custom unlacquered brass lighting and hardware that will do the same, and a plaster hood to add lightness and a breath to the kitchen.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid of natural stone,” Niles says. “The idea that quartz counters are indestructible is a myth, and the patina of a natural stone is much more beautiful. Take a look at the ancient floors and walls of Europe if you’re still unsure.”
Wall paint: High Reflective White, Sherwin-Williams
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Kitchens So Far in 2022
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Remodeling team: Jamie Daugaard (architect) and Mariya Provost (project manager) of Centre Sky Architecture and Amy Winterrowd (cabinet design) of Homestead Woods
Location: Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, Big Sky, Montana
Size: 396 square feet (37 square meters), including dining area; 18 by 22 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The owners have four children and often host guests at their ski home,” says architect Jamie Daugaard, whose client shared Houzz photos with her to help communicate the design vision. “The existing kitchen and dining area was too small for this many people. They wanted to expand the kitchen and dining area to accommodate for their large family and for hosting guests. The vision was to keep the kitchen and dining spaces open and flow into the living area. Larger windows were installed in the kitchen to let more natural light in. A large kitchen island was put in to accommodate seating for the kids and allow for more countertop space.”
Wood cabinets. “The cabin is located in the mountains of Montana and has a rustic feel to it already,” Daugaard says. “We wanted to use and celebrate natural materials for this remodel. So wire-brushed, rustic white oak was used for the kitchen cabinetry with a natural matte finish. The cabinetry designer, Homestead Woods, used some glass door fronts and steel accents to modernize the design. This also helped the space feel clean and open. The walls and ceiling were painted a soft white (White Dove by Benjamin Moore) to brighten up the space.”
Other special features. Taj Mahal quartzite countertops.
Designer tip. “Since the dining table was in the same space as the kitchen, we dropped the ceiling soffit over the dining table to delineate the dining domain a bit without adding any walls and keeping the space open still,” Daugaard says.
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