“A kitchen should feel as sophisticated as the rest of the home, not like an afterthought.”
“They show every fingerprint, smudge, and scratchnothing kills the aesthetic faster than constant upkeep.”
Instead, the designer states, opt for surfaces that are lower maintenance yet still chic.
Credit:Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Glazed Cabinets
Just say no to glazed cabinets.
“Inlay cabinets significantly reduce usable storagetypically by 15 to 20 percent,” she says.
“Unless your kitchen is purely decorative, we suggest steering clear.”
A better solution, the designer notes, is to pick full flush overlay cabinetry.
“It requires too much upkeep,” she says.
“Closed cabinetry has a cleaner and more contemporary look.”
Of course, you don’t want your kitchen to look like a total hodge-podge.
“You still want a cohesive color palette without veering into chaos,” the designer adds.
“The goal is to achieve harmony while still making a statement.”
Ornate Details
Skip any bang out of cabinetry with tons of ornate detailing.
“Intricate carvings and heavy embellishments in cabinetry have become too heavy feeling,” Kadwell says.
“Todays style is more streamlined and fresher, with clean lines and simplicity.”
