Should I Choose an All-Black Kitchen?

All-black kitchens have become increasingly popular in recent years as homeowners and designers look to create dramatic and stylish spaces.

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While some may think an all-black kitchen could be dreary, it can actually create a stunning and sophisticated ambiance. Read on as we explore the benefits of all-black kitchens and how to create one that perfectly suits your home.

An all-black kitchen can make a bold statement, especially if the rest of the house has a lighter color scheme. The all-black look can convey a sense of luxury and glamour, giving the space a high-end feel. A monochromatic palette can also give the kitchen a cohesive and polished look, creating a sense of continuity throughout the room. It is important to note, however, that an all-black kitchen may not be for everyone, especially those who prefer a brighter and more cheerful atmosphere.

Lighting is also crucial in an all-black kitchen. As black surfaces can absorb light, it is essential to incorporate adequate lighting to prevent the room from feeling too dark or gloomy. Task lighting under cabinets and pendant lights above the island or table can add both functionality and style to the space. Natural light is also a must, so if possible, it’s a good idea to incorporate windows or skylights. Our black high gloss acrylic surface will reflect light, however.

Also, keep in mind that all-black cabinets show more dirt, dents, and scratches. So, more frequent cleaning and touch-ups may be required.

Finally, it is important to consider the size of your kitchen when choosing an all-black color scheme. In a smaller kitchen, an all-black design can make the space feel cramped. However, in a larger kitchen, black can make the space feel more expansive and grand.

5 Kitchen Layout Ideas to Elevate Your Space

A kitchen is not just a place to cook and store food, but it is also a space where you can gather with family and friends.

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It’s important to choose a kitchen layout that not only functions well but also reflects your personal style and enhances the overall look of your home. If you’re looking for a modern kitchen layout, here are five ideas to inspire you.

Open Concept Kitchen

Open Concept

An open concept kitchen is a popular choice for modern homes, as it provides a spacious and airy feel to the room. The open concept kitchen allows for an easy flow between the kitchen and the living or dining area, making it ideal for entertaining guests or cooking with family. You can also incorporate a large island with seating for a casual dining option.

U-Shaped White Kitchen

U-Shaped Kitchen

A U-shaped kitchen is a great option if you want to maximize storage and counter space. The U-shaped design provides plenty of cabinetry and countertop space, making it ideal for busy kitchens. The U-shaped design also creates a closed-off area, making it ideal for privacy while cooking.

L-Shaped Kitchen

L-Shaped Kitchen

An L-shaped kitchen is another popular modern kitchen layout, as it provides a functional work area with plenty of counter space. The L-shaped design is ideal for small kitchens as it provides an efficient work triangle. You can also incorporate an island or a breakfast bar into the design for added counter space and seating.

Galley Kitchen

Galley Kitchen

A galley kitchen is a narrow and long kitchen design that provides plenty of counter space and storage. This design is ideal for small kitchens, and it allows for an efficient work triangle. You can also add an island to the design for extra counter space and storage.

One other layout option is the peninsula kitchen. A peninsula kitchen is similar to an L-shaped kitchen, but with a peninsula that extends out from the wall. The peninsula provides additional counter space and seating, making it ideal for casual dining. This layout is also a great option for small kitchens as it maximizes counter space while still providing an open feel.

Choosing the right kitchen layout is crucial to creating a functional and stylish kitchen. Whether you choose an open concept kitchen, a U-shaped kitchen, an L-shaped kitchen, a galley kitchen, or a peninsula kitchen, these modern kitchen layout ideas can help you create a space that meets your needs and enhances the overall look of your home. So, pick the layout that best fits your lifestyle, and start creating the kitchen of your dreams.

How to Choose the Right Colors for a Two-Toned Kitchen

A two-toned kitchen is a popular and stylish choice, allowing you to add visual interest to your space while also making a bold statement. However, choosing the right colors for your two-toned kitchen can be a challenge.

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With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some tips to help you choose the right colors for your two-toned kitchen.

Kitchen with window by sink

Consider your existing décor

Before choosing your kitchen colors, take a look at the rest of your home’s décor. The colors you choose for your kitchen should complement the rest of your home, so think about the color scheme and overall style of your living spaces when making your decision.

kitchen with two colors

Consider the Mood for Your Space

The colors you choose for your kitchen can have a big impact on the overall mood of the space. If you want a warm and inviting kitchen, choose warm colors like browns, yellows, and oranges. If you want a more modern and sleek look, consider cool colors like blues and greens.

Floor Plan

Consider the Layout of Your Space

The layout of your kitchen can also play a role in the colors you choose. For example, if you have a large open kitchen, you may want to choose bold, contrasting colors to create a statement. However, if your kitchen is small or has limited natural light, consider lighter and more neutral colors to help the space feel more open and airy.

Also, color psychology can be a useful tool when choosing your kitchen colors. For example, blue is often associated with calmness and tranquility, while red can create a more energetic and dynamic feel. Consider the mood you want to create in your kitchen and choose colors that reflect that mood.

Of course, one of the most important things to do is get color samples from your local dealer’s showroom and paint store. When you’ve narrowed down your color choices, it’s important to see how they look in the room itself. Our dealers offer color chips to help you narrow down your cabinet colors; but before making your final decision, it’s important to order a sample door in your top color choices.

Place color samples in the kitchen and observe how they look at different times of day and under different lighting conditions. See our blog about how light affects cabinet color.

By following these tips, you can choose colors that will make your kitchen look beautiful, feel warm and inviting, and reflect your personal style.

The Beauty of Hickory: The Most Variably Grained and Colored Wood

If you’re looking for a wood species that offers a wide range of graining and color consistency, hickory should be at the top of your list.

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This versatile and beautiful wood has become a popular choice for any room in your home, and for good reason. With its unique graining, natural variation, and warm, inviting color, hickory is a wood species that truly stands out.

One of the defining features of hickory is its variability. Below are two areas in which hickory’s characteristics can vary, providing an unexpected beauty with each cabinet.

Hickory is a strong and durable wood, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas like flooring or furniture. It’s also a popular choice for cabinetry and millwork, as its natural variation and character make it a great addition to any kitchen or bathroom.

Also, whether you prefer a natural finish that highlights the wood’s natural graining and character, or a stained finish that adds a pop of color to your space, hickory is a versatile wood that can be customized to fit your style.

If you’re looking for a beautiful and character-rich addition to your cabinetry or millwork, hickory is a great choice.

Rustic Woods: Add Warmth and Charm to Your Home

Rustic woods have become a popular trend in home design for their natural beauty and ability to add warmth and charm to any space. Whether you’re looking to create a cozy cabin feel in your living room or bring a touch of nature into your modern kitchen, rustic woods are the perfect solution.

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Rustic wood cabinets add warmth and texture to a space, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. This style is particularly well-suited for kitchens that are open and spacious and is becoming increasingly popular in both contemporary and traditional kitchens.

From rich alder to light-toned hickory, there is a type of rustic wood to fit every design aesthetic. Rustic woods also have a unique character that comes from their natural imperfections, knots, and graining, making each cabinet or flooring truly one-of-a-kind.

Another great thing about rustic woods is their versatility. They work well in both modern and traditional settings, and can be paired with a variety of other design elements, from sleek stainless steel to cozy textiles. No matter the look you prefer, rustic woods can fit right in.

Bathroom vanity in rustic hickory

Characteristics

Rustic wood is known for its natural imperfections, knots, and graining. These unique features add depth and character to the wood, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind. Rustic wood also tends to have a more muted color palette, with a mix of light and dark tones that add depth to the space.

Keep in mind that we are unable to control knot amount or placement or grain or color consistency, and any occurrence of these natural imperfections are not considered warrantable.

Bathroom vanity in rustic alder

Versatility

Rustic wood can be paired with a variety of other materials, making it a versatile choice for kitchen or bath cabinetry. For example, you can pair rustic wood cabinets with a sleek, modern countertop for a chic, contemporary look. Or you can pair them with a natural stone backsplash for a more traditional, warm feel.

Durability

Rustic wood is also known for its durability and strength. Whether you choose alder or hickory, rustic wood cabinets can stand up to the wear and tear of a busy home.

Rustic Wood

Rustic Alder cabinet

Color Variations

This cabinet is finished in our Autumn stain on rustic alder. Notice the light and dark areas? The inconsistencies are acceptable and would not be replaced as per the terms of our warranty.

Rustic Alder cabinet

Knots and Color

This cabinet is finished in our Driftwood stain on rustic alder. Some would prefer to have more knots or to have knots in other locations than near a door profile or a possible hardware location. Remember that we are unable to control knot placement or amount.

Rustic hickory cabinet

Color and Knots

This beautiful cabinet is finished in Tawny stain on rustic hickory. You may notice inconsistency in the color and number of knots per door. Random knots and color variations add character and are acceptable.

Rustic hickory cabinet

Variety

This cabinet showcases the beauty of rustic hickory with our Natural finish. The variety of wood tones and the random placement provide a gorgeous, rustic look.

Rustic wood cabinets are a popular choice for kitchens due to their warmth, versatility, durability, and unique character. Whether you’re looking for a traditional or contemporary look, rustic wood cabinets can add natural beauty to your kitchen, making it feel cozy and inviting.

Smart Ways to Save Money on a Kitchen Remodel

Are you planning on remodeling your kitchen in the near future? If budget is on your mind, we have some ways to save money.

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There are many things you can do to save money on your next remodel project. Your designer may have other ideas, but here are just a few ways to get more for your money when you begin your kitchen refresh.

Before we get to the “Do’s” in budget-friendly remodeling, here is an important “Don’t.”

You’ve heard the saying, “You get what you pay for.” That is certainly true when it comes to cabinetry. No matter what brand you choose, make sure that your cabinets are constructed with high quality materials and methods. In other words, don’t base your decision solely on price. You may regret your decision after just a couple years.

Showplace Cabinetry offers several cabinet lines to meet your style and budget needs. All of our framed lines are KCMA-certified and meet all construction quality requirements. So, you know you’re getting a great product with a limited lifetime warranty to give you additional ease of mind.

Now, the “Do’s” for a successful, budget-friendly remodel project…

White kitchen cabinetse

Keep it Simple

Simple layout and design ideas can help you save money.

  • Use larger cabinets rather than smaller cabinets to reduce the work for the installer, saving time and money.
  • Leave space between the wall cabinets and the ceiling to avoid the need for trim molding (This is a modern look, too!).
  • Use flat panel doors in your design to save money and provide a simple, clean look.
  • Avoid costly cabinet modifications.
  • Use floating shelves rather than book cases or cabinets to save money and gives you a more spacious look.
  • Avoid moving utilities if possible.
"DIY" on dice

Get Creative

You can do things to save money and stretch your dollar even further!

  • Use laminate countertops instead of stone or quartz. Laminate tops are very durable and have many color and pattern options.
  • Do as much of the labor and material running as you can to avoid charges by contractors.
  • If possible, try selling your old cabinets and using that towards your project. The buyer may even be willing to remove the cabinets for you to save you time and money.
Floor Plan

Other Ideas

Some other ways to help you pay for your remodel project are:

  • Ask your designer to create more than one layout option to see what it takes to get the best price and value.
  • Ask your designer if they offer low-interest financing to allow you to get more done.

If you have a small budget, consider refacing your existing cabinets with Showplace Renew. This is a cost-effective way to keep your cabinets and make them look new with materials to reface the cabinet frames, and then replace the doors and drawers/drawer fronts and add other accessories to refresh your kitchen space and make it not only beautiful, but even more functional. Check with your dealer if they offer Showplace Renew products. Read about Showplace Renew in our blog.

Thanks to Curt Johnson, designer at Showplace Cabinetry Design Center in Sioux Falls, SD for contributing to this blog.

Showplace Renew: Cabinet Refacing Products to Save You Money

If your remodel budget is too small to do everything you’d like to do, save BIG money by refacing your original cabinets with Showplace Renew! Find out more below.

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If your creative vision accepts the basic layout of your room, Showplace Renew cabinet refacing is a smart way to go.

What is Cabinet Refacing?

When you reface with Renew, the old cabinet doors go away. You get new doors and drawer headers, with limited lifetime warranty quality. You also get fine veneers finished to match, applied directly to the face frames of your cabinets. In other words, Renew gives anything external a fresh new face. Renew also offers matching end panels, appliance faces, and anything else in the vast range of Showplace offerings. 

In fact, this is what sets Renew apart from most other refacing options. With Renew refacing you do have the option to add completely new Showplace cabinets and accents to your design. Add a new island or peninsula. Add a range hood. Or even take out a wall and extend the kitchen design. Showplace Renew gives you this unique and valuable freedom.

Is Cabinet Refacing Right for Me and My Home?

Of course, that’s a question only you can answer, but here are some guidelines.

Gray gloss bathroom cabinets

Sturdy Cabinets

First of all, your existing cabinetry must be structurally sound. If it’s not, it really makes no sense to give a new face to a wobbly or worn-out structure.

Meet Your Needs?

Just as important as cabinet integrity, does the basic layout of your kitchen meet your needs? Today’s trends include an open floor plan. If your current kitchen is closed off and you want to open it up, you will most likely have to remove a wall or two and add some entirely new cabinets. That means Renew’s highly-flexible nature is uniquely suited to your project.

Practical

There are also practical factors to consider. A refacing project often can be completed much quicker than a full remodel, with less disruption to your life. If that’s important to you, Renew is a great choice.

If you’ve recently done other upgrades to the kitchen, like new counter tops or flooring, refacing lets you retain them. And if you’re hoping to sell your home soon, Renew gives a kitchen or bath an entirely updated look, at a lower total project cost that does not bite off too much precious equity.

However, a remodel can be a big, complicated job. If you’re going to “DIY” or work with a “big-box” home center, all the stress and hidden pitfalls are yours and yours alone. (And that’s especially true if you’re adding new cabinets or accents to the mix.) But when you work with a Showplace Renew dealer, their substantial experience is on your side. They know what to plan for, what to avoid, and how to get everything done with the least disruption to your life. 

Painted Cabinets: 3 Things to Know

Painted cabinets are popular and also require a commitment from the homeowner to keep them in pristine condition, typically more maintenance than stained cabinetry. If you plan to select painted cabinetry for your home, here are three things to know about paint on wood surfaces.

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Paint characteristics are the same, no matter the brand, the surface, or the cabinet manufacturer. What can you expect when you buy painted cabinets from Showplace?

As described in our blog about stains, wood allows stains to soak into wood and take on some of the character of the wood.

Paint, on the other hand, just sits on top of surfaces, including wood used for cabinets. We go to great lengths to ensure your cabinets look like new for as long as possible, but here are 3 things to expect from painted cabinets.

Cracked paint from separated door joint

Open Door Joints

When we build our doors, we use glue and joint grooves to construct the doors. Then, we place all doors in a clamp that presses the joints together until the glue dries. This process ensures that the door construction is as solid as possible.

Change in climate, meaning high or low humidity, may cause wood to shrink or expand, causing paint to crack at those joints where there may be the most movement. This is normal and is not considered a warranty event.

Chipped Paint

Surface Damage

Even though we move all finished parts through a large oven to bake on a top coat for all finishes, that is no match for life with kids and pets.

Toys, claws, pots and pans, utensils, and other hard, sharp surfaces can still do damage to our paint and this is not covered under our warranty.

Surface damage includes stain spots, chips, paint wear, scratches, and more.

Image of Water Damage on cabinet drawer front

Water Damage

Just like with the wear and tear from living around your cabinets, water and other liquids can also damage painted surfaces.

You may see abnormal wear to your paint on cabinets around a sink or waste basket cabinet.

Be sure to take care of your cabinets using the information in our blog post about caring for painted cabinets.

It’s important to note that touch up kits for our standard paints are an easy tool to help with maintenance on chips and blemishes. Be sure to ask your dealer to include a kit with your painted order. Read our warranty here.

Wood Grain and Stain: 3 Things to Know

If you plan to select stained cabinetry for your home, here are three things to know about how wood grain can affect the look of your stained cabinetry.

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No matter where you purchase your cabinets, you will most likely select a wood species that is universal among all manufacturers, so the results will be very similar.

Stains respond differently to the species of wood you choose. Each type of wood has a different level of density and grain characteristic that determines how the stain will soak in and appear. The pattern of graining is unique to each wood species.

Of course, light also affects the look of any finish. See our blog post on the effects of light on cabinet color.

Let’s take a look at some cabinets in our factory to see how the look of stain changes with different graining.

Grain Pattern

As you can see, this vanity cabinet has doors and slab drawer headers with varying grain patterns which change the look of our Thunder stain on red oak.

The slab drawer headers and door frames are made of solid wood. The customer opted to choose doors with veneered plywood center panels instead of solid wood panels. The grain is horizontal on the headers, causing the stain to appear darker than the doors that have vertical graining.

The door center panels are made of veneered plywood, which also have varying grain characteristics.

This look is acceptable and shows the uniqueness of stained woods.

Quartersawn White Oak Cashew drawer base cabinet

Cut Direction

The drawer headers on this three-drawer base cabinet are made of quartersawn white oak finished with our Cashew stain. We also used our Weathering process with Walnut accents to create a worn look.

Notice the cut pattern causes the stain to soak in differently, creating a beautiful look with the variety of graining.

The varying levels of light and darkness in the finish of this Character Stain show the true beauty of this wood and cut.

This look is also acceptable and typical of this type of wood.

Row of natural walnut cabinets

Heart or Sap Wood

Of course, even natural wood has a variety of looks without a stain to highlight those variances.

Grain varies, causing the look to be different on each piece used to build a cabinet, but so does the presence of sap or heart wood.

This pair of natural walnut cabinets highlights how wood color varies when light areas of sap wood are present.

This look is acceptable and shows the true character of woods like walnut.

Effects of Lighting on Cabinet Color

Many factors affect the appearance of color. So, when you’re investing in new cabinets from Showplace, you want to make sure they’re going to look as close as possible to what you’ve envisioned.

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If you’re just getting started and are trying to pick the cabinet colors for your space, narrow down your choices by working with a designer at your local Showplace dealership.

Explore their color chip samples and our list of standard paint and stain colors. Then, when you think you’ve selected the colors you want, order a sample door from your dealer so you can see what an actual Showplace cabinet door will look like in your space. We highly encourage you to make your final finish selections based off a sample door, rather than a color chip.

Be sure to hold the door at the approximate location the cabinets will be installed and view the door with lights on and off, and at different times of day because light affects color in different ways.

Here are some ways light may change how your cabinets appear:

Lamp Icon

Artificial Light and Color

The type of indoor lighting will change the appearance of the finish or surface of your cabinets because different bulbs have a different color temperature.

Incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, or LED lighting have different color and intensity.

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Natural Light

Natural lighting will also cause your cabinets to look different, depending on how direct the light is, whether clouds are dampening the intensity of the sun, or if window treatments are causing indirect sunlight.

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Sheen Level

The level of sheen (glossiness) reflects light, which may make the cabinets look a bit different in various lighting. Learn more below.

Sheen Level

If you’ve ever picked out paint before, you already know what “sheen” is. It’s the relative “shininess” or “glossiness” of a finish. Showplace offers all its finishes in your choice of two levels of sheen, no extra charge. 

“Satin” is what most people would consider normal sheen for home cabinetry. “Matte” is a little bit softer, a little bit flatter than Satin and is often associated with the finish on fine furniture.

Satin sheen tends to be a bit more reflective than matte, but adds more depth to the color.

Be Prepared

  • Be sure to purchase a sample door from your Showplace dealer so you can take it home and place it in your space to see how it looks in the lighting you have now.
  • If you plan to include different lighting in your space than you have now, go to different rooms in your home that may have similar lighting to view the sample.
  • Remember that colors on a screen will most likely not match the appearance of the same color in person, so consider this when viewing colors online.

Semi-Custom Cabinets vs. Stock Cabinetry

You may be wondering how Showplace products differ from cabinets you can purchase from “big box” stores. Their stock cabinets may look similar from the outside, but there’s more of a difference than meets the eye.

Stock Icon

Here’s what you get from stock cabinetry purchased from a national chain store or stock cabinet company:

  • Standard-sized cabinets offered
  • Standard offering of wood species
  • Standard selection of finish colors
  • Standard selection of door styles
  • Limited or no ability to change cabinet dimensions
  • May be built-to-order, but often built ahead and sold from inventory
  • Priced most affordably due to limitations and materials used
Semi Custom Icon

Showplace is semi-custom. Although Showplace will build custom configurations and offers custom paint colors, we do not offer limitless species or custom door styles and custom stains. Here is a list of generally accepted semi-custom cabinet attributes:

  • Standard-sized cabinets offered; virtually any dimension of these cabinets may be changed to fit the kitchen or bath design and the available space
  • Standard offering of wood species with some specialty species offered
  • Standard selection of finish colors with some specialty finish treatments offered
  • Standard selection of door styles
  • Custom sizing and configurations available within standard wood species, color, and style offerings
  • Cabinets built-to-order for individual homeowner
  • Mid-priced to reflect flexibility and broad product offerings
Custom Icon

Showplace offers many custom features found with other cabinet makers who call themselves custom; since there are no universally accepted attributes to describe custom cabinets, we thought we’d share this list:

  • Standard sized cabinets may be available; specialty is “you draw it, we build it”
  • Standard offering of wood species, but will accommodate special requests
  • Standard finish colors offered, but will accommodate special requests for color matching and specialty finish treatments
  • Standard door styling offered, but will accommodate special requests
  • Special configurations of cabinetry are offered without restrictions on species, color and style
  • Cabinets built-to-order for individual homeowner
  • Most expensive due to limitless options
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Semi-custom Showplace cabinets were used in this modern kitchen design. Click the image to visit this gallery.

Showplace Flexibility: Drawer Header Choices

Flexibility is just one of many reasons why Showplace is the best cabinetry choice for your home or business. A semi-custom cabinet line means that you have many choices for the look and feel of your space. Drawer headers, or “drawer fronts” as they are sometimes called, are one of the many elements of a design that create that perfect look.

Showplace offers several header choices that coordinate with specific door styles to give you plenty of options for your design. Take a look at our various header selections below.

Five-Piece Headers

The drawer header that looks like a small door is called a five-piece header. The name comes from the fact that each header is constructed with five individual parts: two stiles and two rails to make the header frame, and a center panel that fits inside the frame to attach pull hardware.

Gray office cabinets

Slab Headers

Slab headers are a single piece made of wood or HDM material with an outside edge profile. Often a design will have slab drawer headers because of a few factors: look, price, or because of a pull hardware requirement. We offer several edge profiles for our slab headers that coordinate with a specific door style.

  • Slim Shaker Edge – for Slim Shaker door styles
  • Smooth Edge – for Aria, Pendleton and similar door styles
  • Decorator Edge – for Covington and similar door styles
  • Notched Edge – for Lancaster and similar door styles
  • Slant/Raised Decorator Edge – for Covington and similar door styles
  • Slant/Raised Eased Edge
  • Radiused Smooth Edge – for Cambridge and Arlington door styles
  • Square Edge – for Milan door style

So, as you can see, the sky is the limit when it comes to Showplace. Visit your local Showplace dealer to see examples of these header options and start dreaming about your Showplace living or entertaining space!