Eatdrink #42 July/August 2013

48 www.eatdrink.ca
№ 42 | July/August 2013
English Country style, with porcelain tile floors & concrete countertops
In a traditional kitchen, styles such as
Country French, English Country and
Classic incorporate wood cabinets. Maple,
cherry, oak, walnut, pine or mahogany
are popular choices. Poplar or maple
woods, combined with a medium density
fibreboard, are typically used when the
cabinetry is to be painted. Often different
woods are used within the same space to
create more of an “unfitted” kitchen or the
look of accent furniture pieces.
Finishes can be anything from clear
lacquer coats to a variety of finishes with
glazes to create furniture that looks well
worn, with sheens that range from a 10 degree
(or flat) to a 90 degree high gloss. The same
options are available for painted finishes.
Select solid colours for a more urban look, or
antiqued, glazed and distressed
finishes for a traditional space.
For distressing, cabinetmakers
create wear marks, worn edges
and other indentations to give
the appearance of a well loved
antique piece of furniture which
has been well refurbished.
Finishes can influence the overall
atmosphere of a kitchen, from
classic, refined and upscale to
comfortable, relaxed and casual.
There are many different door
styles to consider as well. For a
traditional setting, the most common
styles are a solid wood raised
panel door, or an inset panel door,
which combines a flat panel with
a solid wood frame. For a more
ornate design, applied mouldings can also
augment a door style.
In a transitional kitchen, the door style
and finishes tend to be simpler.
A “shaker style” is very flexible, and can
take on many different looks depending on
materials and hardware. Inlays of different
woods or metal can be added to doors
or other elements of a kitchen to create
different styles or looks.
In a more contemporary setting, it is
more common to use veneers, as the doors
are typically flat and more conducive
to veneers. Veneers are available in all
previously listed woods, as well as bamboo,
sycamore, anigre (an African hardwood)
and others. Many exotic woods are offered
in veneers. Figured woods give the wood
a “flamed” look. There is also
a wide selection of laminates
available for contemporary
kitchens. Newer laminates
include textured finishes that
give the appearance of wood
grain.
For hardware (handles, knobs,
pulls), chrome, brushed nickel,
brass, antique brass or pewter, oil
rubbed bronze or black finishes
are available. I often refer to
the hardware as the jewelry of
the cabinets. It is usually the
last accessory to be selected.
Bamboo veneer cabinets, hardwood floors
and a granite countertop