Choose the Perfect Cabinet Style for

Your Memphis Kitchen Remodel

Memphis, Tennessee, is known for its rich architectural heritage and diverse mix of design influences. From historic Southern charm to contemporary and modern sophistication, Memphis homes exude a distinctive flair reflecting this heritage and its kitchens even more so.

With this guide, you will learn about the unique architectural and interior design of Memphis homes. You will also discover the different design choices for your kitchen cabinets and learn about some tips to ensure you have a cabinet design that blends well with the overall style of your kitchen.

Understanding Memphis Kitchen Aesthetics

Tennessee has one of the most diverse and fascinating residential architecture styles in the U.S. The houses in Memphis are no exception. Some of the popular architectural styles for houses include Queen Anne, Art-Deco-International, Federal, Plantation, Farmhouse, Tudor, and Craftsman. You will see some homes styled in modern and contemporary architecture, but the most popular styles are traditional American styles popular in the 19th and 20th century and European revival styles brought by immigrants at the time.

This prevalence of traditional and contemporary architecture in Memphis, Tennessee, extends to the interior design styles in the area. But, you can still observe some diversity in their designs with some interiors having a focus on timelessness, neutral themes, vibrant colors, modern convenience, or technology integration.

Now, even if your interior is leaning towards a traditional or contemporary design, you can blend both design elements to give your kitchen an updated look or more character. Your cabinet styles play a significant role in bridging these two styles. For example, if you have a traditional kitchen design, you can make use of styles with clean lines (like shaker style and recessed panel doors) or flat panel doors with hardware matching the room. In the same way, if you have a contemporary or modern kitchen design style, you can add glass cabinets for display, use wood types or stains matching your table and countertops, or use shaker style or recessed cabinet doors.

Popular Cabinet Styles for Memphis Kitchens

Here are some popular cabinet styles in Memphis you can use for designing your culinary space:

Shaker Style

Shaker-style cabinets feature simple rectangular frames and inset flat panels. This style is a versatile choice and can suit a variety of design styles, including modern, contemporary, and transitional kitchen designs. For a more traditional look, building it with good solid wood and staining it with a hue that matches the rest of the kitchen is the way to go.

Raised Panel

Raised panels have a contoured center panel with four edge pieces framing it. The center panel is leveled with the frame and stylized on the edges with bevels or grooves. Raised panel cabinet doors are popular in traditional, classic, cottage, farmhouse, and transitional style interiors. It is often made or finished with dark wood or classic maple tones, or painted to match the neutral tones of the space.

Arch Style

Arch-style cabinet doors give your kitchen a touch of traditional or contemporary elegance and sophistication. These cabinet doors have a graceful appearance thanks to their curved or arched inner edges. Arch-style cabinet doors can have their characteristic arch on the top or both the top and bottom of the cabinet doors.

Flat Panel (Slab)

Flat panel or slab cabinet doors are completely flat, do not have any bevels or ornamentation, and have 90-degree corners for their edges. Cabinet pulls are minimal or hidden to create a clean appearance. Flat panel cabinet doors go well in contemporary, minimalist, or modern kitchen designs. It can be made with plywood, MDF, solid wood, or particleboard, and finished with natural stain, paint, lacquer, veneer, wax, or laminate.

Glass-Front

Glass-front cabinet doors allow you to add visual interest to your kitchen by displaying dishware, glassware, and decorative items. It also gives your kitchen an open and airy appearance, making it appear larger and more inviting. And, they break up the monotony of your hanging cabinets by adding something in between identical cabinet doors.

It does not matter if your kitchen has a traditional or modern interior design style. Glass-front cabinets can enhance the appearance of your space.

Discover the latest trends for your kitchen remodel in Memphis with Southern Stone’s cabinet styles.

Wood Type Considerations for Your Kitchen Cabinets

The wood you choose for your cabinet makes all the difference in its appeal and durability. Here are some of the best wood types you can use for different cabinet styles for your kitchen in Memphis:

Alder

Alder is a common tree in the Pacific Northwest. Its wood is a popular choice for cabinet doors thanks to how easy it is to customize and manipulate. Plus, it is one of the more affordable wood types that you can use for your cabinets and expect to last for many years.

Alder wood has a subtle and relatively straight grain pattern and light to dark reddish hue. This wood type is recommended to be stained or varnished, especially pieces with knots. It is best to stain it with gel stain to prevent blotching.

Cherry

Cherry wood has been a staple in building traditional kitchen cabinets. It has a popular warm hue and a distinctive appearance when aged. It has great quality and strength, moderate hardness, and good shock resistance, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas like your kitchen. Although leaning on the more expensive side, its durability and years of useful life make up for it.

Cherry wood suits a variety of finishes, so customizing according to your kitchen’s design will not be a problem. Stains and finishes adhere to it quite well and set to the surface smoothly. Cherry wood cabinets are often stained with a light color or with the classic deep cherry glaze.

Hickory

Thanks to its strength and durability, hickory wood makes for a great material for cabinets in high-traffic areas like the kitchen. Its outer rim has a white to cream color while its inner trunk is tan or reddish brown. This can give hickory planks contrasting colors even if it’s only a single piece of wood.

Hickory has great style versatility and looks great whether it’s finished to give it a natural look to make its straight and coarse grains prominent or stained to add a pop of color to your kitchen.

Maple

Maple is a durable and versatile wood suitable for the wear and tear that you can expect in the kitchen. It has smooth grains and varying bird’s eye spots, mineral streaking, and curling grain. However, you need to protect it from heat and UV rays if you prefer to retain its lighter color.

Maple wood can suit a variety of interior design styles, including traditional and modern styles. This is thanks to its non-porous surface, allowing it to handle stains, varnish, glazing, and paints. Maple looks great when finished with its natural honey color, ivory, gray, brown, or deep cherry red. You can also give your cabinets a unique look by painting them with non-traditional colors.

Oak

Oak is known for its durable and wear-resistant material. It has high levels of water resistance, so it’s unlikely to shrink or warp in the course of its useful life. And, given its more affordable cost compared to cherry and maple, it is one of the more accessible hardwoods you can use for your kitchen cabinets.

The grain of oak is visible through stains and paints. Because of this, it is best to go for a natural, glazed, or varnished finish for your oak kitchen cabinets. Although it takes paint well, you might be better off choosing a different wood species for a smoother painted surface.

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Finish Considerations for Your Kitchen Cabinets

The finish of your kitchen cabinets not only affects their appearance. It also influences the durability, functionality, and usability of culinary space cabinets. Here are the different finishes to consider to apply on your kitchen cabinets for your Memphis home:

Natural Wood

A natural wood finish allows the beauty of your chosen cabinet material to shine through. This involves the use of shellac, waxes, or oils to provide a layer of protection without altering the color of your kitchen cabinets.

Shellac is the popular choice for a natural wood finish. It is suitable for most wood types and has better water-repelling properties than oil and wax.

Paint

Paint is a popular finish for all types of cabinets. It covers the natural color of the wood and allows you to create a uniform look for your kitchen. And, it covers any imperfections on your cabinet that you want to hide.

There are four main types of finishes you can choose for your paint – high gloss, satin, semi-gloss, and matte. Out of all of these, the best that you can use is either a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. High gloss is the best in making colors pop and easy to clean, but can easily show fingerprints and scratches. On the other hand, semi-gloss paints are the easiest to clean and maintain, making it the perfect choice if you have kids or expect the mess of cooking.

Stained

Stain slightly darkens or alters the natural color of your wood while still enhancing the natural grain of the wood. It does not fade easily nor crack or peel over time. Stain is also an affordable option and easy to touch up in case of damage.

When choosing a stain, you need to consider the specific wood species of your kitchen cabinets. Oil-based wood stains can be applied on most wood species while gel-based ones are the best for wood types prone to blotching.

Other Customization and Personalization Options

Customization can significantly enhance the functionality and style of your kitchen cabinets. Here are other elements you can tailor to your preferences and needs to create one-of-a-kind kitchen cabinets:

1. Cabinet Depth

Customize your depth to accommodate specific items in your kitchen cabinets or create visual interest in your culinary space. Deeper cabinets add more storage space, while shallower ones create a more streamlined look and help in maximizing limited floor space in your kitchen.

2. Cabinet Height

Tailor the height of your kitchen cabinets according to the proportions of your kitchen or your storage requirements. Taller cabinets maximize your vertical space for storing infrequently used items. On the other hand, shorter cabinets give your kitchen a more open and airy feel.

3. Hardware Choices

Choose hardware complementing your cabinet style to create a more cohesive appearance for your kitchen. There are a variety of styles, finishes, and materials you can choose from for the knobs, pulls, and handles of your cabinets to add personality and character to your kitchen.

4. Tailored Storage Solutions

Maximize the space of your cabinets by incorporating customized and smart storage solutions. Some examples of these are pull-out drawers, tray dividers, built-in spice racks, specialized compartments, corner drawers, Lazy Susan, rotating shelves, and pull-down shelves.

5. Molding

Crown and base moldings and decorative trims on your kitchen cabinets enhance the visual and traditional appeal of your culinary space.

6. Corbels and Supports

Corbels and supports not only enhance the structural integrity of your cabinets, countertops, or shelving. They also add visual interest and make your cabinets more cohesive with the overall design style you are emulating.

7. Aprons

Hide under-cabinet components while adding a decorative touch to the bottom edge of your kitchen cabinets with aprons. It can have a simple and understated design or a more ornate and elaborate one, making it a good addition to traditional, contemporary, and modern kitchens.

8. Open Shelving

Incorporating open shelving into your cabinet design breaks the monotony of cabinet doors and adds a sense of openness to your kitchen. And, you can use the open shelves for storing decorative items, everyday essentials, cookbooks, or any other items showcasing your personality or style.

By customizing these elements, you create a kitchen that is not only functional but also reflects your style and personality, making your culinary space truly one-of-a-kind.

How to Integrate Cabinets for a Cohesive Kitchen Design

1. Base Your Design Around Your Kitchen Countertops

It’s easier to match the floors and cabinets of your kitchen with its countertops than the other way around. So, choose the design of your countertops before deciding on the design and style of your kitchen cabinets and floors.

2. Choose a Timeless Design for Your Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops, and Flooring

It’s tempting to go with the trendiest design for your kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring. But, design trends quickly become outdated with the emergence of the next one. So, if you want a look that stands the test of time, opt for a classic and enduring style for your kitchen.

3. Limit Your Colors to Three

Choose a primary color for your kitchen and incorporate one or two colors for contrast. You can use different shades of your primary color but adding another one will overwhelm the space and create disharmony.

4. Coordinate Your Flooring and Cabinet Colors and Style

Create a cohesive look for your kitchen by choosing a flooring design that complements each other. However, make sure to choose flooring material with good durability and practical maintenance requirements.

5. Match the Finish of Your Cabinets and Countertops

Choose a similar finish for your cabinets and countertops. This creates a cohesive look for your kitchen and ensures the most prominent parts of your kitchen complement one another.

6. Be Mindful of the Lighting When Designing Your Kitchen

Design your kitchen while considering how the finish and color of your cabinets, countertop, backsplash, and flooring look under natural and artificial light. Also, make sure your workspaces and dining areas have adequate lighting and focal points are enhanced and highlighted with accent lights.

7. Choose a Backsplash with a Similar Color to Your Countertop

If you plan to install a backsplash under your kitchen cabinets, it should tie together with the style and color of your cabinets and countertops. You can achieve this by choosing a color from the countertop and using it as the backsplash color.

8. Balance Functionality and Aesthetics

The aesthetics of your kitchen is important. But, it should not come at the cost of its functionality. And, when it comes to designing your kitchen cabinets, it should maximize the available space for storage to keep your kitchen organized and uncluttered.

Keep in mind that it’s best to consult a professional designer, like Southern Stone. We can help create a design for the kitchen remodel for your Memphis home that respects its aesthetic character and satisfies your storage and organizational requirements. You can contact us for a free consultation and we can provide an initial design for your kitchen.

Ready to Revitalize Your Memphis Kitchen with the Perfect Cabinets?

Partner with Southern Stone in transforming your kitchen into a space that reflects your unique style and meets your functional needs. With our wide range of cabinet styles, materials, and finishes, we can create a kitchen that aligns with the dream kitchen that you have always dreamed about.

Contact us today to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION and start your kitchen remodel for your Memphis home. With Southern Stone, you can bring your vision to life and create a kitchen you will love for years to come.

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Looking for expertly-crafted countertops, splashbacks, and cabinets – fabricated and installed by reliable experts who deliver quality work on time? Or are you interested in our easy white-glove kitchen and bathroom remodeling service? Contact us now to discuss your upcoming project and learn how we can help bring your Memphis countertops and cabinets to life.

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