Inspiring Cabinet Styles

Clean lines and a classic look are just two of the reasons these cabinets are so well liked.  The most basic shaker style cabinet door is a five-piece door with a recessed center panel and no additional edge detailing.

For those searching for a minimalist look with a touch of elegance, some shaker style cabinets include headboard or decorative edging within the stiles and rails of the door.  These small details and accents lead to a more transitional style, complementing a wide range of kitchen designs.

Shaker style doors appear in traditional, contemporary, farmhouse, mid-century, and many more style kitchens.  Available in a wide variety of wood types, they can be stained or painted to match any decorating scheme.  Because of this versatility, they are the most popular style for two-toned kitchen cabinets.  They can also be outfitted with almost any type of drawer pulls and door handles. 

Raised panel cabinets are the most traditional cabinet style and can provide a distinctive and traditional aesthetic to your kitchen, as the center of the cabinet is raised to change the profile and overall appearance of the door.  You'll find the raised panel design more often on ornate cabinets that are hallmarks of traditional style.

These cabinet doors can be simple, with a single rectangular panel raised above a simple groove, or can get increasingly busy, with multiple levels of beveling and fancier shapes for the center panel edges.  The raised center panel adds more depth and shading to the cabinets. They are considered timeless in their design, although much more formal.

Flat panel cabinets, also referred to as slab cabinet doors, have no ornamentation or beveling.  This style was popularized post World War 2 when mid-century modern designers prioritized sleek and straightforward design solutions.  

Similar to the shaker and raised panel styles, the cabinet doors are available in a wide variety of wood types depending on whether your plan is to paint or stain the doors.  The material is the star here, and these doors often show off high-quality natural wood, or boast bold, dramatic colors, like black or red.  Flat panel doors also work well as two-toned cabinets.

Glass panel, or mullion cabinets, feature glass center panels set in a frame.  Choices vary, with modern styles using single large panes, to a more traditional style, using multiple smaller panes separated by mullions for that old-fashioned window look.

Glass panel cabinets add a nice touch to any kitchen design.  They are almost exclusively used as upper (wall) cabinets, and often paired with their own interior lighting to display their contents.  These cabinets are great for keeping out dust and debris that affect open shelving while helping to open your kitchen up visually.