Top Four Defining Features of Modern Kitchen Cabinets
They say being modern comes at a cost. Well, this statement might be factual to some extent; however, a modern kitchen may not reflect huge costs in investment. There is a contentious debate on what, in practice, constitutes modern kitchen cabinets. Although there is a thin line between conventional and modern cabinets, here are the four most noticeable features of modern kitchen cabinets.
Stainless Steel Finish
Conventionally, kitchen cabinets were designed mostly of wood. Over time, interior designers might have noticed that some types of wood depreciate fast when exposed to open air or moisture. For this reason, a stainless-steel finish is a characteristic of contemporary cabinet designs. It is intended to ease cleaning, add aesthetic value due to its glaring reflection, improve the lifespan of the wooden components, and avoid rust formation in the moisture-rich kitchen environment.
Floating Shelves
Gone are the days when all kitchenware could be stored in compartments and drawers. The core reasons for this revolution include building costs, limited space, and the concept of microbial activity. As the cost of building and construction continues to skyrocket, a small kitchen area would mean less construction expenditure. Therefore, shelves are an indication of the intent to achieve satisfactory functionality and minimize costs. A limited space prompts designers to create floating shelves to accommodate additional kitchenware in open spaces against the kitchen walls. Lastly, open shelves help in the eradication of microbes in cleaned utensils by exposing them to direct sunlight. These considerations are characteristic of modern kitchen cabinets.
White Finish
There is an archaic perception that white surfaces attracted dirt. It was so widespread that it influenced the choice of colors for interior design. The white color was thus exempted from the kitchen environment due to its susceptibility to dirt. Nonetheless, this ideology has been reversed, and now the white color has become an inherent part of the design of modern kitchen cabinets. A cabinet with a white finish reflects the owner’s responsibility to maintain hygiene inside the kitchen. If the white finish is maintained without patches of grime, soot, and other blemishes, then it is highly likely that sanitation has been prioritized in that kitchen. To some people, this attracts many customers to modern hotels and restaurants.
Veener Wood Components
There is a modern trend in the design of kitchen cabinets in which solid wood is being replaced with panel design. This means that panel designs are made by use of an adhesive substance, such as wood glue, to bind two thin sheets of hardwood together. Modern kitchen cabinet designs are also adopting this emergent trend as a strategy to cut costs and align with the current global sustainability policy. A composite veneer design would mean that less wood is used, hence a low carbon footprint.
Conclusion
This article highlights four topmost features characteristic of modern kitchen cabinets. Stainless steel coating, panel wood, floating shelves, and white finish are vital indicators of contemporary kitchen cabinet designs.