One of the major components of a kitchen is the cabinetry, which takes up the majority of the space. You'll have various decisions to make when renovating regarding the cupboard style and placement. Here are some pointers.
Door Style
One of the first steps is to work out what kitchen style you're planning, which will help you choose whether to install flat or contoured cabinet fronts. In a traditional room, you could install shaker doors. These feature a recessed panel with a raised border around the outer door edge. You can also install this joinery style in a coastal or rustic kitchen. The contouring can be deep and pronounced or subtle and minimal.
Alternatively, you might be planning a modern kitchen that better suits flat doors without embellishment. You could leave out the handles altogether and fit doors that open with a push or models with a groove along the door top. Handleless doors will create a sleek wall of cabinetry, highlighting their colour and finish. You could install vinyl-wrapped doors in glossy white. Otherwise, install laminate with a faux timber surface.
Kitchen Island
Establishing a kitchen island provides extra ways to customise the space. You can design storage around how you plan to use the island. For example, if you fit a stovetop on it, you might add drawers for frypans and pots. Otherwise, if you want to optimise the benchtop for socialising, you may prefer to include storage for glasses and crockery and a wine rack.
An island sits in the centre of the room, so it naturally attracts attention. You could design it to stand out even more with design contrasts. For instance, fit a dark, glossy piece of granite over the counter that differs from the white laminate counters elsewhere in the room. You can also differentiate the island cupboards by fitting them with a distinct colour. For example, install bold blue cabinets on the island that contrast with pale grey cabinetry elsewhere.
Glass Door Fronts
If you're renovating a small kitchen, one way to make it appear more spacious is to install several glass doors on the upper cabinetry. This helps, as it lets you see past the door. As your eyes are not blocked by opaque doors and you can see farther, the kitchen subtly appears more spacious. Glass doors also add visual interest by breaking up the sameness of the cupboards. You can install styles with several small panels, like a mullioned window. Or else, create a sleek look with doors that consist of a large glass sheet. To break with tradition, you might install cabinetry with sliding frosted glass doors.
Talk to a company that offers custom joinery to learn more.