2012 Trends Post: Cabinetry (Guest Post by Sarah Reep of Masco Cabinetry)

I met Sarah Reep, Masco Cabinetry's Director of Designer Relations and Education, at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and found her to be one of the best-informed folks I’ve met about what’s happening in our industry these days.

Chances are, you don’t know the Masco name. But I'll bet you've seen their very popular KraftMaid brand, if not budget-minded Quality or builder line Merillat. When I designed kitchens and baths at The Home Depot, KraftMaid was my most-frequently used brand. I still specify it through local dealers.

I will share that Masco Cabinetry isn’t a cutting edge trend-setter, the way many of the high-end European brands are. (Those trends currently include luxury laminates, integrated handles and frameless construction.) What Masco brands do offer, though, is a reliable indicator of the trends you’re going to see in your neighborhood this year, not just in magazines or design centers. That's why I asked Sarah to pen this post for us.

In Sarah’s words then…

***

This year, cabinetry will be anything but bland. From finishes to layouts, more and more homeowners are experimenting with cabinetry design. The trends right now are all about style, functionality and customization. If you’re designing or updating your kitchen in 2012, look to these trends for inspiration:


Dark Finish, Contrasted with a Splash of Color

Dark, rich finishes have been increasing in popularity. This trend will continue into 2012 as homeowners choose darker, warmer colors over more traditional natural and mid-tone finishes. Look, too, for painted finishes in vivid tones and colorful door inserts that show off a homeowner’s sense of fun.

Dark finishes like KraftMaid's Onyx with pops of color will continue to trend in 2012

Multi-generational Planning

It’s not uncommon to find relatives at both ends of the age spectrum living together under one roof these days. As the number of multi-generational homes continues to rise, home design will need to take each generation’s needs into consideration. Staggering countertop heights with shorter cabinets is one way to cater to all generations. This variation can create areas for small children, wheelchair users and those who prefer to sit while preparing meals.

A multi-generational kitchen includes counter-height cabinetry, lowered microwave and universal design-friendly Passport cabinets from KraftMaid

More Storage Accessories

According to a recent research study conducted by Merillat Cabinets, 84 percent of consumers consider storage features to be the most important in their cabinetry decision process — in fact, this consideration is second only to price. In 2012, look for an even wider availability of storage accessories to be available for your cabinetry needs.

Pull-outs, roll outs and other great accessories are now available for builder cabinets, as seen in this Merillat kitchen

Soft-Close Doors Now Standard

This year, Masco Cabinetry has made soft-close doors standard on its Kraftmaid and Merillat Masterpiece lines. This was once a feature available only to custom cabinetry clients. We’re proud to make this anti-slam technology available to more builders and homeowners than ever before this year. Plus, new hardware technology incorporates the soft close feature right into the hinge for a cleaner, simpler look, too.

Soft-close doors, once a custom-only feature, are now standard on Merillat Masterpiece cabinets (shown here) and KraftMaid via Whisper Touch new, integrated hinge

***

Enjoy more cabinet trends in these Kitchen, Bath and Living Spaces Ideabooks on Houzz.com.