How to take a modern cab and make the kitchen more transitional?

Terri_PacNW

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Now that my kitchen budget is established.(modest budget) I am looking at a few options for cabinets.

I am/was pretty sold on IKEA Bodbyn in gray. Or even a two tone with White Bodbyn uppers.

I love the farmhouse style. Marble and/or butcher block.

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BUT my house is a 1978 "modernish" layout. Lots of odd walls. We love color but the kitchen is in the front door way (middle of the main living spaces). So I wanted to keep the kitchen very "calm" in colors. Very neutral. My sitting room that also opens to the front door is sunny yellow. Like below. I have purple curtains and accessories with chartreuse green velvet chairs and couch.

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However I also could get down with a modern sleek kitchen.

So I guess that makes me a country girl with polish? lol

If I go in the direction of modern. I like the cabinets like Brokhult.

Fait Avenue · More Info

See my dilemma? How could I bring the modern down a bit?

Throw some suggestions at me to put it together.

Featured Answer

cpartist

8 years ago

european boxes with shaker doors in white or gray (or both like you suggested) I like the idea of gray with purples and lavenders. It helps make the lavender pop. Pick a simple handle and maybe a white quartz with some lavender or green in it flecks in it. How about a green glass tile background and maybe some small 2" x 2" accents in lavender scattered around? If you love color, I would definitely still incorporate it into your kitchen.

Greens tend to read neutral in a kitchen backsplash. then you can paint the walls a softer, toned down, almost white/yellow to pick up the yellows.

and maybe lavender glass knobs? lavender knobs

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Comments (8)

Terri_PacNW
Original Author
8 years ago
Those are purty...Good thing I'm only doing a few uppers at $17 a piece. :)

My husband is in love with the Eos glass counters. I'm not so sure. I don't like "slick shiny" I don't mine crystal and stainless shiny but not glossy.
I really am loving the Neolith tiles because I think I would like to carry the back splash up the wall on the range wall (middle of the u) and the only wall that will have uppers.
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@Fori I'm considering having the doors open together because it is less $$ than having a separate cabinet box for the upper-uppers. So it's primarily about saving money. But yeah the stuff I store way up there will be what I don't use/need often--though I also have a decent size pantry closet for things like that. @dan1888 If I can make the sink base smaller, I will. Already did that with the clean-up sink base (not reflected in the images I posted--plus that sink should be an apron-front). Regarding the main prep area, the way I use the kitchen, my main prep will be on the island to right of prep sink, and on main L to left of rangetop. The area between clean-up sink and fridge is for toaster and coffee pot, sandwich-making, etc. (so is the opposite side of the island, where the m/w is). That way we don't get in each other's way. I don't object to the sink being off-center, since it's the window that will be most noticeable from the living room, not the sink. But, if I move the main sink to the right, I have to move the d/w to the left of the sink and probably put the trash on the right side of the sink. Not bad in itself, b/c that makes trash convenient to both workspaces. But it means people will constantly be heading for that corner to reach the trash which seems bad, I think trash is better near the outside of the L. (And, I'd need to make sure cabs are still the same width on either side of the window.) [Edited to reply re the lighting] We have a detailed plan from the architect that includes all the layers of lighting. @User I hear you. I've heard tell about this unicorn--the KD who is not a cabinet salesperson--since my first kitchen reno a long time ago, which I mainly planned myself with excellent input from folks here (and was happy with the outcome, given the constraints I had). I have not yet met that unicorn. The KD working on the current project is supposed to be one of the best, was recommended by my architect, clients love them, etc etc. And still I have no illusions--this person is primarily selling cabinets, and I'm going to be the one to make sure my idiosyncratic needs are met. (The goal of the current location of appliances and sinks is to meet those needs.) I welcome advice, especially when it points out mistakes I might miss. @Mark Bischak Yup. Even so, I think when I posted an earlier version of this kitchen design, I had either not yet met with the KD, or I didn't have a real layout from them yet. Now I do, and still the cabinet arrangement is not set in stone, I'm sure I'll be changing some things. The overall house design is pretty much set, though, which means the windows are set. At least, until we get the builder estimates I expect any day now...
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nosoccermom
8 years ago
Ringhult uppers and oak/wood lowers (from semihandmade) or wait until IKEA brings the oak cabinets over here.
Terri_PacNW thanked nosoccermom
Terri_PacNW
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks nosoccermom,
I do like both of those looks. I prefer horizontal grain if a grain must be prominent. My husband and my style really couldn't be more different. He's very traditional. I like homey and simple clean lines. He likes molding and trim. :) He says its my "domain" but will "tut" my choices or likes sometimes.
So while he's saying it, he doesn't mean it. lol
Terri_PacNW
Original Author
8 years ago
And one other tid bit of my design choices..my sitting room has simple Queen Ann wood furniture. Just the rounded simple feet. I'm a design mess. lol
lannegreenelag
8 years ago
Terri_PacNW - Are there cabinets in rooms adjoining the kitchen or trim work or a fireplace? Just my opinion but, I would have the kitchen cabinets "go" with the other woodwork in the house. If the house doesn't give you any ideas then, I would suggest slab doors in a neutral color, maybe green? (I can't imagine someone with a yellow, purple and green family room being happy with gray cabinets.) You can dress up slab doors with hardware to style it modern or country.
Terri_PacNW
Original Author
8 years ago
no. no cabinets in other rooms. Fireplace isn't in play either. I have slowly been refinishing my wood furniture to a black cherry stain . So I have toyed with Espresso stained cabs too...I am so all
over the place. lol
funkycamper
8 years ago
I know what you mean. One suggestion people always give is to create an folder of kitchens you like a lot (from magazines, online, wherever). Well, I did that. I had everything from cottage to modern to steampunk to industrial to eclectic to what is it/I have no idea. I had colors, I had no colors. OK, let's narrow it down. Well, that helped a bit but not much. I'm all over the place, too.

Awhile back, we had a discussion where someone posted their most favorite kitchens and asked people to help them assess them. It was quite interesting as people picked up elements I wouldn't have considered. I don't recall them but it would have been things like, for example, all the kitchens have an island without a sink and all have light wood floors and all have mixed metals. It was those little things that tied them together, not the style itself. You might see if you can find it. I don't recall what was called. Sorry.

You might also post photos in another discussion here to see if you get helpful analysis.

I'm skeptical that someone who loves color so much would really be happy having a room with little color. I also think it would seem incongruent in your home, making it feel off-balanced. Of course, you could have wood-tone floors/cabinets or some other neutral but I'm guessing you'd be happier in a kitchen where at least the backsplash and other decor were able to be colorful.

I wish I was more actual help.

BTW, I love the fact that you have bright yellow/purple/chartreuse rooms. It's so fun!

How to take a modern cab and make the kitchen more transitional?

cpartist

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