Here are the highlights with some comments:
Clean lines and classic styles dominate today's kitchen cabinet choices, with value, sustainability and organization key priorities among consumers.
I have long urged my clients to choose cabinetry styles and finishes that fit with their homes, and of a quality that will endure for a lifetime of use.
Maple and alder are popular wood choices, while bamboo and lyptus appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. For the more budget-minded shopper, laminates in wood grain patterns offer an appealing option.
I only recommend true hardwoods, like maple, birch, cherry, hickory, and oak for my clients' kitchens. In my mind alder, while a beautiful wood, is too soft to stand up to the rigors of kitchen use. Reserve it for the family room or library if you want to save the cost of cherry. Lyptus is a newer wood species that deserves attention. It is very hard and has the same characteristic of reddening or mellowing with exposure to sunlight as cherry. Because it grows very quickly, it is considered more "green" than most other woods. Bamboo also makes a good green cabinet surface IF you choose a maker that uses high quality material (like Plyboo or Timbergrass). Laminates have long been used in cabinetry, but users tire of the look long before they wear out in many cases.
Interior storage accessories are more relevant than ever as they maximize cabinet space and accessibility - particularly critical as consumers increasingly decide to remodel within their kitchen's existing footprint rather than expanding the space.
Custom components are becoming more affordable, allowing consumers at all price points to create a more personalized look for their cabinetry. However, excessive ornamentation has fallen out of vogue, with cleaner styles that minimize clutter reflecting the new consumer mindset.
In my mind, fussy corbels and monstrous moldings are simply a waste of space and money and add to the task of keeping the kitchen clean.
Painted finishes are gaining in popularity, while contrasting paint and stained finishes in one kitchen is a great way to add visual interest and character.
The San Francisco Bay Area, with our many Victorian homes, is a nexus for painted cabinetry. We use it here, in fashion or out.
Consumers are showing greater awareness of green issues as the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association's Environmental Stewardship Program grows in scope, yet the added cost to “going green” presents an obstacle that is difficult to overcome in a challenging economy.
There are so many ways to enhance the greenness of our homes that also save us money down the road, that I can't imagine why we wouldn't pursue at least some elements of green in every remodel. As long as we remember to question the payback of every green idea that comes our way and only do those that have a defined and measurable payback, we should be just fine.
Peggy
