The 4 Things Home Buyers Really Want in Kitchen Cabinetry

smoore One note on the white cabinet idea: i think it totally depends on the price point and location of your home. In a small starter home I expect white cabinetry throughout but in higher end homes I would (and have) passed on homes that have painted kitchen cabinets. Why one would spend thousands on top quality wood cabinetry only to paint it white is beyond me. If you are using lower quality wood then by all means paint it but painting maple or cherry etc is a crime!

writerinfact I cannot understand the fascination with white cabinetry. A newly renovated kitchen with white cabinets is a deal-breaker for me, because I'd just have to redo the work - and the money spent. White is not universally appealing, especially white cabinets with white walls - heaven forbid someone adds a white counter top - I'd probably go blind. Did my grandmother have white cabinets? You bet - both of them. Do I want to live with, and work in, my grandmother's kitchen? Not so you'd notice.

Granite Grannies I agree with everything except the keep it white point. You don't need to attract a bunch of prospective buyers who think your home is nice...you need to attract one prospective buyer who thinks your home is the most beautiful thing they've ever seen. You will get more money and sell your home faster by decorating for yourself. We've see it over and over. If you go "neutral" just because you're supposed to, the finished product may be awkward (because you're decorating against your instincts) and forced. Make your kitchen beautiful. Don't worry about trends or neutrals. Most buyers want a home that is already decorated for tasteful living, not a kitchen with an expensive renovation that is only designed to sell. They can tell the difference.

Rio Brewster THANK YOU granite grannies! If you are renovating your kitchen for you - do it for you. Unless it's not functional I wouldn't completely redo a kitchen to sell the house. Give it a facelift and let the new buyers do their own kitchen.

Nadia Hursky Thanks for all your comments :) Whilst white kitchens are not always my favourite kitchens, in the current residential market you have to maximise your potential buyers. That one person that loves your dream kitchen may be far and few in-between. 90% of new kitchens in Australia are white (or a close variation), solid timber kitchens are rare and I would never suggest painting them white. If you are selling to maximise your profit, I would suggest giving the current market what they are demanding. Designing your dream kitchen....well that's another topic all together!

Rio Brewster Really? 90% of new kitchens in Australia are white? That alone is a reason NOT to do a white kitchen. I'd be interested to see how quickly the other 10% sell.

I can't understand the appeal of white cabinets and white marble counters in a kitchen. It just screams maintenance nightmare to me.

Since a lot of home shopping here in the states is done online, you can't really tell the difference in a photo between melamine and painted white, so to me personally they all look cheap.

But then again stainless appliances are the MUST have here, even though a significant number of folks don't like them.

Granite Grannies Hmm that's an interesting that 90% of kitchens in Australia have white cabinets. I wonder why. I'm sure the number is much much lower in U.S. homes. I know that far less than half of our customers have white. Many do, and it's lovely. Our home flippers and real estate agents (here in MD) will usually do better with a quality wood (maple, cherry, not as much oak, which is out of style) if they are totally replacing the cabinets.

Carrie Lucke To each her own. I love white! It calms me down and feels so fresh and clean. I can think in a white kitchen. I think in a renovation the main thing is to stick to the overall feel of the home. I have a 1920's center entrance colonial. Most people who like traditional homes - like white cabinets. I expect most people interested in purchasing my house to like white as well. I hope the pervious commentator does not go blind.

amyalexander60 My house was built in the 1860's. All the doors are solid hardwood, the trim boards are all stained/sealed hardwood, the floors are all finished hardwood. White cabinets in the kitchen would look ridiculous - as well as be a nightmare to maintain (big old houses are dusty no matter how much you clean!). In addition, I cook, bake and can like a mad woman - white would show every speck and splash and fingerprint between Saturdays (when I do my top to bottom cleaning). I'll take wood over white every day!

astraea I always thought specialized organizers wasted space in kitchen cabinets, but when I moved into a house that had pull-out drawers, I totally changed my mind! No more getting down on the floor to hunt for something, or having to take everything out of the front of the shelf, to get to something in the back! You lose less in “height clearance” between levels, necessary when you have to reach in & pull something out over what’s in front of it. My only concern would be getting drawers & hardware that waste the least amount of space within the cabinet walls! I’m still not sold on more specialized racks & other internals!

I disagree that quality has to be at the expense of quantity; there has to be a happy medium! I think people need to think it terms of the cabinet space they need & the best quality they can afford for that, rather than the extremes of fitting as many cabinets in as possible (& having to give up quality to be able to afford that), or deciding on the highest quality/cost cabinets (& winding up with less storage/work space than they really need to function).

Glassware on open shelves (first picture), where you need a ladder to reach/dust .. way impractical IMHO!

waterlynx I have to agree with GraniteGrannies and Carpe Diem. Years ago someone gave me the advice that when buying a new house, renovate the kitchen first so that you can enjoy working in the most-used space in the house. Generally people buy houses to live in, not so that they can sell the house to someone else. These articles on tips for selling are interesting because often they suggest ideas for layout and organization. Trendiness varies over time and between cultures; what you renovate for today may not sell in 5 years. Most designers I've talked to believe people are happier if they focus on their own needs and interests rather than on how to recoup their costs in a sale, particularly with a kitchen remodel.

jeanettchka When we redid our small kitchen, we replaced the lower cabinets with drawers - best thing we ever did, especially now that I am not as agile as I once was. It is so nice not to have to try to find something that is in the back of a lower cabinet - just pull out a drawer and it is within reach! Our cabinets are a shade of white (matched to the main color of the woodwork and painted paneling in the rest of our home (White Rose). It is a softer white than the cold white I see in most of the photos, Do not like that! Our pantry is a wall of 12" deep cabinets that make everything in them easy to find and remove also. Works very well for us.

sclawson Let's not make the mistake of thinking painted or Thermafoil (a newer, pricier take on melamine) cabinets are the cheaper route. They're not. They are MORE expensive than the traditional stained finish. The only way this is a cheaper route is to paint beat-up wood cabinets yourself instead of replacing, which will not give you a durable finish for a kitchen. As for painted wood cabinets, to each his/her own--it's a big world out there with plenty of room for variety. Maple, in particular, paints beautifully. White or cream are also great options for a kitchen that doesn't have a lot of light.

Your New Home LLC We renovate for resale and white cabinets are what most buyers gravitate to in our demographic. We focus on young families in mature, upscale neighborhoods. It's a bit silly to think of white cabinets as difficult to maintain. Fingerprints and grime make cherry cabinets look just as awful as white cabinets. Clean is clean.

Real estate agents tell us that savvy buyers look for ball bearing drawer slides and dovetails on the front of drawers as quality cues. Both of those can be ordered in a semi-custom cabinet.

BTW - stock cabinets are generally sold in 3-6" width increments and are relatively inexpensive. Semi-custom can be ordered in any width, but the geometry of the cabinet is standard. The cost can range from affordable to off-the chart depending on the choices you make. Custom cabinets can be ordered in any height, width or depth, and the geometry can be changed or designed from scratch. Also a huge range of pricing. The gap between semi-custom and custom is closing because of CNC machining in cabinet factories. Custom and site built (cabinets that are actually built as they are being installed) have a look that cannot be duplicated in a factory cabinet because they can be painted with precisely the same color as the trim paint which makes the cabinets look as though they are absolutely integral to the house (instead of boxes hung from the wall).

We site build, spray a primer on the carcasses and doors, then finish with a brushed enamel that matches the trim which is always a slightly grey/brown white (very slightly). The cabinets read "white" although they really aren't, and they always get rave reviews. The look is architectural so the kitchen doesn't look too "re-done." Flush shaker doors, bright nickel knobs and hinges, and sometimes a surprise color on the back panels inside (like pale pink or green) are the finishing details. The surprise inside color is like the lining of a suit.

jeanettchka We did not paint our new cabinets - they are quality maple cabinets with a painted finish applied at the factory which has held up beautifully since our remodel. Not the most expensive but definitely not the cheapest brand. I agree that the hardware, slides, etc. are very important and were a major consideration in our cabinet purchase.

Your New Home LLC Carrie Lucke's kitchen above will sell any house in virtually any market. That is a timeless look that you will see in Architectural Digest in every decade since they started printing the magazine.

It evokes a beautiful but functional Victorian scullery, a Manhattan brownstone kitchen, a Cape Cod kitchen, a modern gourmet kitchen and a shaker farmhouse kitchen all the same time. White painted cabinets done really well are classics because they work! Carrie's is really well done.

maggiesetler At my last house we painted our ugly kitchen cabinets white (also fake wood paneling in family room) and lived with them (with 2 teen-age boys) for 6 years and never had a chip. The secret was in the prep. Cleaned and sanded before using a super primer (I don't remember the brand but you could use it on glass!) and a very good quality paint.

If you have old or ugly cabinets paint them white. It will be a big improvement! But I think the all white kitchen is a fad. I would hate to spend all that money and then have everyone know EXACTLY when you did your kitchen.

And for everyone that talks about how subway tile or white cabinets are classic. They were -- but I think that when something that is a "classic" becomes the "hot" thing to do then it isn't a classic any more. It you look at any design/shelter magazines --75% of the kitchen are all white.

Just my thoughts on white kitchens
Maggie

jilzdecor As someone who has experienced white, blond maple and cherry cabinets...I have to say that my personal preference was white. It wasn't hard to maintain at all, although it can show dirt and might need occasional cleaning (can you say "less germs"??). The maple was lovely, low maintenance and then we moved. We now have dark cherry and I will probably not get another cabinet color choice. You don't have to clean quite as often (but should). I love color in my home, but find the white/white or white+your counter color choice to be so energizing and fresh. And it makes the kitchen look much larger. You can also pick another color for island color. I have a traditional/french style home. I've added quite a few modern touches. What fun!! If I should ever get the opportunity to experience Australian living and style...I'd just enjoy it. I think I can make most anything work without spending lots of money.

joycepar I am currently building a new home... I have a budget and not a whole lot of design back ground... with this said, my last kitchen was all white... I am opting for cherry cabinets and a dark counter (black granite). The walls are light and lots of white molding and trim.... in my head and in my plan folder it looks warm cozy and elegant. I am worried though, since I have discovered "Houzz" (and love it) I have made the wrong choice not going with white again, all the new kitchens are white now!! I hope I will love my new kitchen as much as I love all the new designs I am seeing.... any comments ??

Mae White kitchen all the way! I just redid my kitchen and think that it turns out phenomenal! The kitchen to me is the main jaw-dropping element when friends come over.

Rio Brewster joycepea - your kitchen sounds lovely. Don't worry about "all the new kitchens" on houzz. There are plenty of lively discussions about the pros and cons of white kitchens. People either love them or hate them. Personally I think your kitchen sounds lovely. Natural cherry isn't trendy but never goes out of style either. Plain black countertops are hard to keep clean, though.

Britastina I recently painted my cabinets white (from "medium oak"). They were custom built and custom finished and I hated them. This was the best decision I ever made but it was done for or me and me alone. We are in our "forever" house so the cost made sense. No one has the perfect kitchen. No matter the decision you make, there will be buyers who will not like the choices you made. If you know you will move eventually, you will have to "play the market" and probably have to do things you would rather not do. The point is, do you live in the house you want or are you forced to be a slave to the market? That is the difficult position most people are in. If you are going to have to sell in the future, contact the best realtor you can find and determine your market. Go from there. If you are lucky like me, do what you want (within reason) knowing that you are living in your "home", not looking at the next fad and how much it will cost to keep up with it. It has never been easy and probably never will be.

HomeDecorHelp Comments have been made about not being able to keep a white kitchen or a dark countertop "clean" ... personally I would rather see the dirt to know it has to be cleaned than to not see the dirt and live in a dirty kitchen. If the finishes are smooth and sleek it is very easy to give everything a quick wipe periodically. I also believe the kitchen should compliment (not match) the rest of the house and not be a stark departure from the general feel. A white kitchen might not work in a home with rich woodwork and darker colors throughout. I also agree that you need to have enough cabinets!! This is imperative, I say this as I struggle to find the space to put all my things in my current home :).

Kate Lowry Designs, LLC I enjoyed this article and photos of these wonderful kitchens. As a home stager, I want to comment on the kitchen make-over dilemma, one that I face constantly. Whether or not to invest in kitchen remodeling for a home sale depends on so many factors, such as the house value, the housing market in that geographical location, the comps in that area and the overall condition of the house. For a lower priced home that isn't spectacular, and has outdated but immaculate features that are in good condition, the answer is usually no to remodeling. A modest home will not get that money back in the sale. However if that same home has kitchen counters that are cracked, worn, unsightly and just plain unappealing, it is imperative that they are replaced. In that case, I recommend inexpensive materials for the sole purpose of showing a kitchen that appeals to our sense of cleanliness and safety. For this home, the concentration is on clean, fresh and cheerful. And there are many inexpensive ways to accomplish all that. For the million dollar home that has 70's oak cabinets and wood paneling, it is usually expected that the kitchen better reflect the value of the property. Again, there are many factors to consider. When a kitchen is going to be remodeled, in any home sale situation, you are trying to balance a large expense with the personal taste of the owner who will be leaving, and the anticipated owner who will be buying. This is when you must appeal to the broader audience. At a higher price point, a new owner will likely renovate to their own taste, and what a shame it would be to rip out a brand new kitchen. It's a balancing act and each situation must be considered carefully. Get advice from a professional home stager whose main concern is getting your property sold, not playing the interior design game. There is a huge difference between staging and interior design. Do your homework.

Your New Home LLC Joycepar -- Cherry is also a classic choice. Cherry cabinets with shaker style doors in a natural finish are warm and will NEVER go out of style. I opt for matching cherry wood knobs and gunmetal hardware so they look just the way the Shakers made them in the 18th and 19th century. That's not on trend, but its beautiful none the less and sets a kitchen apart.

I suggest you look at granite that has a sueded finish. I just put that into a house and everyone loves the look and there are no fingerprints. Also, maple or alder stained to look like cherry is NOT a classic look. Cherry has a distinct grain and black pitch pockets that make it unmistakable. If you opt for a stain, don't go too dark, but no stain is best in my view..

DONE WELL, white or cherry shaker style are timeless classics. Both have been used in kitchens continuously for over a hundred years. That's the definition of classic.

jennifercronin Such an interesting article! Am currently in the process of scouting ideas for kitchen remodel -,thought I was sold on cream cabinetry, now not so sure.... Like classic style that won't scream "done in 2012 or 2013" have a galley style kitchen with an adjoining area at my entry that I use for my mic and mud area.. Did like the suggestion re: replacing lower cabinets with drawers. Currently have maroon walls and love red accents in kitchen. Any overall thoughts???????

jsonderg @jennifercronon
Absolutely go with drawers instead of bottom cabinets. Once you have pulled your dining plates, pots and pans out for a week, you will wonder why you didn't do that earlier. The best thing we ever did in one of our homes.

mrsben Personally, I prefer a kitchen that is functional and easy to maintain over and above one that accommodates and focuses on 'trend'. As for the case of resale, I feel its style should definitely reflect the character of the house as that is what potential buyers were attracted to in the first place.
@Jennifercronon: Where ever possible, opt for drawers rather than shelf equipped lower cabinets. You shan't regret it.

jennifercronin Thanks for the info and input!!!! Something to definitely discuss w the contractor!

Rio Brewster @HomeDecorHelp
The maintenance issue isn't whether you can see dirt or not.

White marble countertops will stain and etch very easily. Spill red wine, tomato sauce or soy sauce and your counter could look dirty forever. Lemon juice will etch the shiny surface. This is not an issue with silestone - but most trendy white on white kithens use marble or travertine somewhere.

Any shiny black surface will show fingerprints and/or streaks - especially if you have hard water.

Your New Home LLC Cleaning stainless and granite is not the problem. They are both extremely hard and very easy to clean. (Not true for marble as someone pointed out.) The problem is the white mineral specks and streaks left behind when you clean with a dish cloth. Those can be wiped off with a spritz of distilled water and a microfiber cloth or paper towel. Distilled water is the best-kept secret in household cleaning. It's super cheap, it works on any hard surface, and it has no odor.

Obviously, it doesn't clean or sanitize, but it will absolutely remove the minerals left behind by tap water in a single light swipe and leave a perfect shine. I learned that trick from a crewman on a cruise ship. Try it! You won't believe it!

Dana Veach For what it's worth, to those who "can't imagine" the appeal of a white kitchen...when I walk into a kitchen with dark stained wood and dark counter tops, I feel the walls closing in on me, I can't breathe, and I can't wait to escape into some light again! It is utterly depressing!

I personally prefer cabinetry that appears to be "furniture" in and of itself with pale color staining, stainless steel appliances, and pale granite or stained concrete counters over limestone floors...I don't expect everyone else to like it, but it makes my personal work space inviting, comfortable, light filled, and efficient. People are different...let's celebrate the uniqueness on occasion rather than all having to have homes that look just like everyone else's!

hbailey3705 I did white cabinets 25 years ago because I liked the clean look and read that it was good for resale. Twenty five years later, resale has not been an issue as I love my home and decided I never plan to move. I am remodeling my kitchen and plan to use a maple cabinet with a crimson stain and a chocolate glaze - looks similar to cherry but with more depth. I like it and it fits my style. The cabinets are high quality and have the soft close and dove tail construction but the most important factor is that the layout of the kitchen flows well and I like it. Ultimately the decision should be something you like if you plan to live with it for a while.

writerinfact Joycepar, unless you are building to flip - which I don't for one minute believe - then build to suit yourself (and, just possibly, those who live with you; but not unless they also cook and clean in the kitchen!). You're the one who will empty the dishwasher, wipe the counters, and suffer with those choices you made based on future resale value. Don't do it! ; )

Sharon McLeod I've only been designing kitchens for a year, but I have found in the area that I live in - most people are either going for white, off-white or cream. I especially love those folks who put white along the walls, and change up the island with espresso or a walnut colour cabinet.

The most popular finish here is an antique white overall. But I do still have a large contingent of folks who like stained wood. Unfortunately, a few still like honey oak.

astraea @Sharon - What's wrong with honey oak? (I had it in my former home). I grew up in an early 1900s house where the cabinets were repainted white every few years; I began to feel that it was to camouflage poor quality wood .. and hated it! When I bought my own house & redid the kitchen, I loved having quality wood cabinets where you could appreciate the grain & color! My current home has pickled oak cabinets; I would have been happy with anything but the dark cherry everyone seems to love .. I hate dark colors.

Sharon McLeod I personally see oak, especially honey oak, as very 'dated' looking. Very 80s. I find people in their 60s - 80s are the customers who like it most.
I absolutely can't stand it, and if I moved into a house with oak cabinets, the first thing I would do would be to run to the hardware store and buy some paint!

astraea @Sharon - Well gee, using that logic, I guess all of the gorgeous & expensive antiques people buy are "dated" too! Who decides if/when something is dated .. decorators, builders, other people who have a vested interest in convincing homeowners to spend money remodeling?!

Sharon McLeod I would never buy an antique in oak!
The comments I've made about honey oak have been my *personal* opinion/taste. I've designed a couple kitchens in oak. If it's what the customer wants, it's what the customer gets. Of course, the fact that I design for other people, and include their tastes, doesn't take away my right to have my own preferences and opinions.

Rio Brewster Never say never. Especially in this business.

Oak is a beautiful and versatile wood, so to say you would never buy oak is pretty limiting, probably more than you even realize.

I agree that honey oak with less than full overlay doors looks dated. But oak with that dark espresso finish is really nice because it adds some texture. In fact it is how the cabinet makers usually display that finish.

I'm seeing a lot of quarter-sawn and rift-sawn oak in custom and high-end cabinets these days. Some of the most beautiful kitchens I've seen were craftsman style with quarter sawn oak.


(I might add the espresso finish is probably going to be considered dated before too long)

Sharon McLeod I CAN quite honestly say I would never buy oak. Not furniture (new OR old), and not kitchen cabinets.
I love how I'm not allowed to have an opinion! I really, honestly, truly, sincerely, genuinely dislike oak. Don't know how else to say it. I've disliked it for about a couple of decades now...so I'm fairly certain I can say "never".
And AGAIN, this is my *personal* opinion and taste. I don't force my opinion on my clients (hence, your inference that it has to do with 'business' is moot). And wow, really, don't know what else to say. I shouldn't have to defend my personal preference (or dislike) of WOOD.

And PS: I even hate it in espresso.

astraea @Sharon - You're entitled to your opinion, and I wouldn't have commented at all, had you not started by saying that it was "unfortunate" that OTHER PEOPLE liked it. You then went on to say that it was "dated" (as opposed to "classic" or "timeless"), and that it was people in their 60s to 80s who liked it best .. AKA "old fogies", unlike yourself.

Sharon McLeod The “unfortunate” comment was tongue-in-cheek, meant to be funny. Obviously you and a couple others don’t get that.
And I DO find it “dated” looking. That is MY opinion. And “dated” is the opposite of “timeless” and “classic”, which is why I didn’t USE timeless or classic. Again, MY opinion. Sheesh!
As for the 60s-80s comment, that is what I find, in my business, is the average age of the folks who WANT honey oak cabinets. That is a statement of fact, simply put, and not an opinion.
Only 1.5% of people requested oak in my business this year. Fact.

astraea @Sharon - I guess it takes that "Greatest Generation" of older people, to have their own taste, and like what THEY like. Younger people seem to need the media & designers, to tell them what's trendy, and what they "should like" in renovating & decorating. Who's entitled to say what's "dated," "classic" or "timeless"?! Why should cherry cabinetry be considered "classic", but "oak" dated; you're right .. it's totally personal taste, but the decorating industry can act together to make pronouncements like that, encouraging people to remodel regularly.

Sharon McLeod Hmm. I'm confused. Most of the people from the "Greatest Generation" are not out buying kitchens. They've mostly passed away or are in an old folks home considering they'd be around 100 years old give or take. The "Greatest Generation" folks were born between 1901 - 1909.

That aside, I think I am able to discern the overall jaded essence of your comment, and I am sorry you feel that way.

I, again, must stress that I was absolutely talking about my personal taste.

astraea @Sharon - I'm "jaded", because people like you speak without thinking (or looking things up) first. "The Greatest Generation grew up during the Depression (started 1929), and fought in WWII, so the core were born between 1914 and 1924. I know too many active people in their 80s, to think that they're all dead already! I think you're a bit "ageist".

Sharon McLeod http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Generation

The Greatest Generation is generally agreed to have begun in 1901, as those people would have turned 18 after World War I ended. However, people born from 1901 to 1909 came of age during the 1920s and identified more with the culture of that decade than the 1930s and 1940s. The core of the Greatest Generation consists of those born in 1914–1924, with 1925–1927 forming a bridge to the Silent Generation.

Maybe read the WHOLE entry. Sorry I took the LITERAL meaning, instead of the extended group meaning.

Rio Brewster Classic. If it's in wikipedia it must be true.

Sharon you are entitled to your opinion AND your personal taste.

That's not the issue. The issue is your snarky disrespect for those - how shall I say - with more life experience than you.

Britastina I may be taking my life in my hands here. I am not of the "greatest generation", I am a Boomer, aka ageing spoiled child of the greatest generation. I, personally, must live in a light-filled, airy, uncluttered house. I, too, do not like honey oak. But, I have seen kitchens with honey oak cabinets that were absolutely stunning. I think they probably work well in rooms that have lots of light. My kitchen gets light but not enough for my taste. I had my honey oak cabinets painted white and boy, did that make a difference. The white bounces light around beautifully. I am no longer cooking in a cave. So, I guess my point is that the orientation of the room has something to do with the species of wood or color of paint to be used (along with the style of the house and personal preference).

Sharon McLeod I'm 42, but thanks for assuming. I've also spent a couple decades in marketing, so may just have a wee bit of knowledge in a few areas. And again, I'm allowed my taste - bottom line. You guys need to lighten UP.

Britastina Sharon,

I don't think lightening up is the problem. From the first comment by "smoore" the whole conversation has gone down hill and not from anything but strongly held beliefs. Because we can't emote in this situation, statements are taken all wrong. Every professional here recognizes that personal preference and the client's taste may be miles apart and that a good designer can please the client. Unfortunately we seem to have formed a circular firing squad. You happened to have yelled "FIRE". I know, I've done it myself. Have a great evening. I wish the same for everyone else.

Sharon McLeod Thanks Britastina. Well said.

olldroo Hi Astraea, been thinking of you and watching for your comments. How did you get through Sandy? (Groovygranny).

astraea @Olldroo - Hi .. you have a new screen name?! It was quite a couple of weeks for us, on the NJ Shore .. you probably saw pictures of the disaster on TV! I'm on high ground, so Hurricane Sandy didn't cause any flooding problems, but we lost a lot of trees .. many of them very large! Nothing fell on my house, thankfully! We didn't have power for a whole week, so my investment in a whole-house generator worked out very well! We didn't have cable for a full 2 weeks .. so no telephone, internet, e-mail or TV! Even cell phone services was spotty for a while. It took days before you could get around, because of all the trees, utility poles & wires all over the streets, and no traffic lights! But we're getting back to normal now!!

olldroo Astraea - thank you for taking the time to reply. I am so relieved to hear you came through ok. If all the dire predictions come true it sounds like your generator will be a great investment. We got quite a bit of coverage until the elections took over - as they do. I really feel for the people who lost everything and marvel at their ability to totally rebuild their lives.
Come join us on http://www.houzz.com/discussions/246218

mrsben @Astraea: Didn't realize you live in the Jersey area. Glad to hear you are okay, but like 'bobbi' saddened by those who were victims of Sandy's wrath.

olldroo mrsben - this may interest you http://www.houzz.com/discussions/247045

astraea The northeast is used to hurricanes, and they rarely do much damage, but as they said Sandy was a "superstorm"!

Jody Hedden As a designer white is appealing but as a home owner I don't want the maintenance of white cabinetry also here in the us 90% of white cabinetry is laminated over particle board and while it is a clean look it is not what most people want I design mostly in cherry and walnut and maple in warm natural tones

Your New Home LLC The comments about loving or hating oak resonate with me -- I have a love/hate relationship with oak.

Unstained oak is always my first choice for floors. For almost any other application, oak would not be in my top 5 wood species. Oak has been stigmatized I think because it is universally the wood used to build the super cheap cabinets that are used in apartment buildings and tract homes. That makes me hate oak -- especially in the honey tone -- because it evokes cheapness.

Having said that... I love Arts and Crafts style oak trim when it is done well. I also love the old cabinetry built from oak that was used in laboratories and in institutional buildings in the forties and fifties.The shaker style door, recessed into a frame, with the rabbit hutch latches are iconic and beautiful and were generally of very high quality. Ice boxes used to be built this way. I also like oak in wine rooms because they evoke wine barrels. So laboratory style cabinets in a wine room is the limit of my interest in Oak.

I doubt oak will make a come back in upscale homes anytime soon. It has all but dissappeared from upscale furniture lines. The mission movement 15 years ago was its last hurrah for a good while I suspect. The espresso finish on oak that was mentioned is hot but it is more likely really espresso finish on Ash (not Oak) if the piece is high quality. Espresso on Oak is (again) the cheap variation on the real thing -- Ash.

simps214 I feel left out not having strong opinions on wood colors! In our 100+ year old historic home we have honey oak floors and love them. We also have dark walnut trim and doors-I love those too! Finally our original sunroom is all white painted fir.

I think different wood colors/species can co-exist in a home. As far as cabinets, as long as their quality and not a trendy design I think they endure.

cgilfry Good grief! Life is too short! Love what you love and live with what you love!
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melharley In terms of oak vs white cabinets it all boils down to trends. While being in the kitchen cabinet business for over a decade I agree that oak cabinets are not the trend per se, however if you are updating or putting in a kitchen in a mountain home or retreat you most likely will not design with cherry and granite. I have seen homes with Hickory and pine as well as oak in cabins, but a higher end modern home generally speaking does not gravitate towards oak. If a customer has a country home you can see oak and white painted cabinets as well. In general and in terms of the masses, oak is not the trend right now but white will always be a poplular kitchen cabinet selection.

beachhouser I have always liked white cabinets (in good condition) because they look clean and fresh. But you can't please everyone when you're trying to sell a house. I don't think someone would decide not to buy the house based only on kitchen cabinets they didn't like. Location and other factors weigh more heavily. Probably the space and layout of the kitchen is more important. Cabinets can always be refaced or painted.

angiebierle i skimmed through most of these comments and have to say that I have an oak kitchen, oak trim throughout my living room and kitchen/informal dining room, and a big built in entertainment center in oak. It is very nice oak and done very nice but I am with many of you who hate it. We just bought the house and are trying to fix some things but do not have the money to replace all that. I had a painter tell me that it would not look good to paint the wood white but the way the trim is done on the entertainment center, I feel would be beautiful in white. The painter mentioned antiquing the oak by using some dark walnut paint/stain(?) in the grooves making it look like antique wood. Any other suggestions on what to do?

olldroo Agnie - I certainly wouldn't go darker, it would only make it all heavier. Normally I am aghast that people would even consider painting timber but I can understand how yours may be a little overdone. There are processes and stains now to give the timber a bleached look, I've seen it done with flooring and it looks beautiful - very beach looking - but I don't know how much would be involved in sanding the old stain or finish back. It doesn't give the pristine white look paint does, but it still gives you the natural timber look only not as heavy. Better for maintenance than paint too.

Sharon McLeod Oh god!! I wouldn't use a darker stain anywhere... it'll only highlight the grain LOL.
What about painting the "body" of the unit, and leaving the trim in the oak?
Hard to make a suggestion without seeing it though.

Britastina angiebierle,
I was told the same thing by several painters. I ignored them and had the kitchen cabinets painted white and am thrilled with the results. Naturally, there will be small nicks now and then but they are easily repaired. My painter thoroughly cleaned the cabinets, primed them then applied 3 coats of paint. They are beautiful and easy to keep clean. In my experience, trying the "antique" wood looks like you tried to "antique" it. The only wood that looks antique is 100 year old wood.

mrsrp AMEN to lower drawers! We did that in our recent kitchen remodel and I don't have to reach up for anything. I even put in pull out pantries and a microwave drawer.
Now all I need to do is learn to cook :)

olldroo mrsrp - how do you find the microwave drawer? I am really interested in this for my new kitchen, when it happens, hopefully next year. I haven't seen them here yet, but I'm hoping they will be by the time I do my kitchen.

olldroo Sharon, wouldn't painting the body of the doors be a bit old fashioned now? You did give me an idea though, what about replacing it with glass?

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Marilyn Maya Mendoza I love glass cabinets. It is new but classic. I am not a fan of dark wood in my kitchen in Hawaii. Even though we live in a land of light, it has a depressing feel to me. I pick a dark cream and glass and not too many cabinets. I have a small kitchen and am thinking of one or two uppers at the most. Aloha

jacksonbeth I am a new home builder in Charlotte NC and we ONLY use Carolina Heartwood (http://www.carolinaheartwoodcabinetry.com) in our homes. This cabinet line looks sharp and sells really well.