Most homeowners select the same color or finish for cabinetry in their Chicago kitchen design, but having the same style and color is by no means a design rule. In fact, as kitchens get bigger and bigger - and part of an open floor plan - we notice an increase in homeowners that choose to vary their cabinet door styles, or who select a different color or finish for upper and lower cabinets or between the cabinets and the kitchen island.

There's No Design Rule Saying Your Chicago Kitchen Cabinet Design Has to Match

There are plenty of reasons why not matching cabinetry is an excellent choice.

• Avoid monotony. In today's larger kitchens, entire walls are given up to expanses of cabinetry. If your cabinets are all the same style and color, this can lead to visual monotony. Instead, mixing styles, colors and finishes yields a more interesting look.
  
  
• Easier decision making. Can't decide between this cabinet doorstyle or that one? Having a trouble deciding whether you want to paint your cabinets a color or let their gorgeous wood grains shine through? There's no need to pick; instead choose both, and then mix-and-match them well.
  
  
• Play up (or down) particular design elements. For example, using lighter cabinets for the perimeter and a darker finish for the island can help to camouflage expansive wall cabinets, making the island and countertops stand out.

Here are some examples from the K&BU portfolio.

Make the kitchen island a focus. When we designed this Highland Park transitional kitchen, the owners opted to use a grey matte-finish for perimeter cabinetry and set the kitchen island apart by using a dark stain. Not only does the stain highlight the beautiful maple wood, it also deepens the brown accents in the Cafe Latte granite countertop.

Add a little color. If you've never had painted cabinets before, or you've had them but didn't like the work required when you were ready to change colors, a two-toned approach might be for you. The owner of this traditional Northbrook kitchen prefers the formal look of finished wood but also wanted a fun color accent. So, we painted the island with a weathered-green stain, which continues the natural look and is a much easier project to tackle should she or a future buyer decide it's time for a change.

You can also make your upper-cabinets a separate color from the lower ones. In this case, we recommend using a backsplash that serves as a transition of sorts. This North Shore kitchen renovation is a beautiful example of how it can be done.

Mixing elements. Another way to create interest is to mix up your elements. Often, this is done using wood cabinetry for the lower cabinets and then stainless steel-framed cabinets, or glass paneled doors, for the cabinets above. This project description shows an example of a modern version, while this image shows a more traditional version.

Contact Kitchens & Baths Unlimited when you're ready to implement creative cabinet options in your Chicago kitchen design.