March '23: Cabinet Styles 101

CABINET STYLES 101

The type of cabinetry you use in your home can have a big impact on your home’s overall aesthetic. Choosing the right style of cabinetry can feel daunting since there are so many options to consider - from how they’re constructed to door styles, stains and colors.

Ultimately, selecting the best cabinetry for your home will come down to these main factors: style and budget.

Today we’re helping you break down one of the most essential decisions when it comes to selecting cabinetry for your home. Many consumers don’t even realize they have a choice when it comes to how their cabinets are constructed. Or maybe you’ve heard the terms we’re about to go over but never quite understood what each meant or how these styles actually look in real life.

Read on to learn all about the 3 main styles of cabinetry, plus the benefits and down side to each!

FULL OVERLAY

Cabinet doors and drawers rest on the outside of the cabinet box, completely covering the cabinet face.

PARTIAL OVERLAY

Cabinet doors and drawers rest on the outside of the cabinet box, covering just the opening with a little (partial) overhang and leaving some of the cabinet face exposed.

FLUSH INSET

Cabinet doors and drawers fit inside the cabinet frame. Cabinet frame is exposed, and doors sit flush with the frame.

FULL OVERLAY

PROS

  • Construction method allows you to maximize space. Because doors and drawers sit on the outside of the frame, more room is left inside to store items.

  • Can be custom built or purchased in standard sizes

  • This style of cabinetry requires less skill to build and is therefore less expensive

  • These doors and drawers work on both framed and frameless cabinets

CONS

  • With the corners of the doors and drawers exposed, they can be more easily chipped and show wear over time

  • Hardware is required, as there’s no place to slide your fingers in between the doors

PARTIAL OVERLAY

PROS

  • Of the three options, this is the most affordable

  • No hardware is needed because there is enough space between each door and drawer

CONS

  • Typically purchased in standard sizes from big box stores which offer little to no customization options

  • Despite being a very popular choice in most American homes (mainly due to affordability) this style is more dated and the most generic looking

Flush INSET

PROS

  • Offers a more clean, refined look that feels unique to your space since the fittings are so precise

  • Inset construction prevents doors from being nicked or damaged

  • Timeless and historic charm

  • Because they require more skill to install, inset cabinets are usually overall more well made

CONS

  • Humidity and house shifting can cause doors and drawers to become misaligned. Some level of adjustment will be needed to keep them opening seamlessly.

  • On average, inset cabinets can cost between 15-30% more than overlay cabinets

What Would N+B Choose?

When it comes to cabinetry, we have a soft spot in our hearts for the timeless charm and quality offered from flush inset construction. Cabinetry is one of the largest investments you will make in your home and we firmly believe that spending the extra dollar in this department will not only elevate your space, but hopefully save you from a costly renovation down the road.

You’ll see from our portfolio of work that we’ve used a combination of all 3 styles in our projects. The cabinets we design depend largely on each client’s unique needs, style preferences and of course the project budget.

We hope this article better arms you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions on your cabinetry project!

February '23: Mixing Metal Finishes

MIXING METAL FINISHES

Often times, when we look at a space or piece of art, we might recognize that it looks beautiful but can’t quite put our finger on what makes it that way. Is it the colors? Or maybe the layout? What’s ultimately pleasing to our eye is a whole serious of elements that come together and create harmony. When we design a space, the end result is the culmination of many decisions made along the way which result in a cohesive design. One of these elements being metal finishes.

Without realizing it, you’ve probably walked into many spaces or seen photos of spaces that just feel more “custom” or designed than others. One (not so) sneaky trick that designers use to achieve that custom look is mixing metal finishes. You may have heard us talk about our distaste for furniture sets, which tend to make a room feel stale and too matchy-matchy. We feel the same way about using the same hardware finish throughout an entire home. Instead of sticking to one metal, we suggest picking 2-3 coordinating finishes that you can alternate between in any given room. By doing this, you create variety and interest in your home.

Keep in mind that you should consider the undertones of the finishes when curating your assortment. For example: Brass, nickel and copper all have warm undertones. Chrome on the other hand is cool. Black finishes are neutral and go with most any other finish. It may be helpful to select one finish that will be your dominate finish throughout, and then use the remaining 1-2 finishes as accents that you sprinkle in for statement pieces like a light fixture.

Not sure where to start?

Take this coffee bar for example. Here we paired beautiful antique brass sconces with polished nickel accents. The polished nickel faucet, knobs and pulls help to balance the strong statement created by the dominant finish of the sconces.

Here’s another example of this classic combination of brass and nickel. For this room we took into consideration the finish of this client’s appliances. Had we selected matte black knobs instead of polished nickel, this room would have taken on a completely different feel. The subtleness of the finishes selected instead help to create a much softer look with less overall contrast.

Make it stand out

Sometimes bold is better! If you’re trying to make a statement with your hardware, pick one place to do it. In this powder room, we chose a matte black faucet to be the focal point and let the mirror recede into the background with the softer finishes present in the rest of the room.

 

a match made in heaven

Here are some of our favorite combinations to play with in your own home:

Matte Black + Chrome

Black has a neutral undertone that works with nearly any other finish. We particularly love the crisp + clean vibe when paired with the cool undertones of chrome.

Polished Nickel + Aged Brass

Both of these finishes have warm undertones that make for a heritage feel. You can’t go wrong with this classic duo!

Brass + Plaster White

A little bit old, with a little bit new. This unexpected pair provides the perfect amount of juxtaposition by combining the cleanness of a bright white with “aged to perfection” brass.

Share your favorite metal combinations in the comments below!