When you’re planning a whole home renovation, your kitchen cabinets play a huge role in how the space looks, feels, and functions every day. The right cabinet style can make your kitchen feel larger, more organized, and more “you.” As you plan your remodel with Stonehaven Remodeling Services, understanding your options will help you make confident choices that fit your design and your budget.

Why Kitchen Cabinet Style Matters in a Remodel

Cabinets are usually the biggest visual element in any kitchen. They frame your appliances, define your layout, and set the tone for the rest of your finishes.

Choose the wrong style and your new kitchen can feel busy, outdated, or disconnected from the rest of your home. Choose the right cabinet style and everything else—countertops, backsplash, flooring, lighting—falls into place more easily.

Good cabinet design also improves:

• Storage and organization

• Traffic flow and workflow

• Cleaning and maintenance

• Long-term durability and value

That’s why cabinet decisions are one of the first major steps Stonehaven Remodeling Services walks homeowners through during a kitchen remodel.

Start With How You Use Your Kitchen

Before you look at cabinet doors and colors, think honestly about how your kitchen works today:

• Do you cook most nights or just a few times a week?

• Is your kitchen the main gathering spot for family and friends?

• Do you need kid-friendly surfaces and hardware?

• Are you tight on storage, or do you have room to spare?

Your daily routines should guide your cabinet layout, door style, and storage features. For example:

• Busy families often benefit from easy-to-clean flat-front doors and lots of drawers.

• Serious home cooks may want deep drawers for pots, pull-outs for spices, and tray dividers near the oven.

• Entertainers may prefer glass-front or open shelving to display dishes and glassware.

Once you understand your needs, it’s much easier to pick a style that fits both form and function.

Popular Kitchen Cabinet Styles to Consider

Here are some of the most common cabinet styles you’ll see during a remodel, along with who they tend to work best for.

1. Shaker Cabinets

Shaker cabinets have a simple, clean frame-and-panel design. They’re timeless, flexible, and work with almost any design.

Best for homeowners who want:

• A classic look that won’t go out of style

• Flexibility to work with traditional, transitional, or modern finishes

• Easy resale appeal

Shaker cabinets pair well with quartz countertops, subway tile, and a wide range of hardware finishes.

2. Flat-Panel (Slab) Cabinets

Flat-panel or “slab” cabinets have a smooth, unframed door with no decorative lines or panels.

Best for homeowners who want:

• A sleek, modern or contemporary look

• Easy-to-wipe, low-maintenance surfaces

• Clean lines that make a small kitchen feel bigger

These cabinets look great in bold colors or wood veneers and work especially well in open-concept homes.

3. Raised Panel Cabinets

Raised panel cabinets have a traditional, more decorative look. The center panel is raised, often with additional detailing.

Best for homeowners who want:

• A formal or classic design

• A rich, detailed look in wood tones or glazed finishes

• A kitchen that matches traditional trim and architectural details

If your whole home renovation includes classic millwork and more formal spaces, raised panel cabinets can tie everything together.

4. Glass-Front Cabinets

Glass-front cabinets aren’t usually used for every door, but they’re a great accent.

Best for homeowners who want:

• A lighter, airier feel in the kitchen

• Space to display dishes, glassware, or decor

• Visual interest without changing the whole layout

You can choose clear, frosted, or decorative glass depending on how much you want to show.

5. Open Shelving

Open shelves work best as an accent, not a replacement for all upper cabinets.

Best for homeowners who want:

• A casual, airy look

• Quick access to everyday dishes and glasses

• A place to add personality with decor

Because open shelves collect dust and require more styling, Stonehaven Remodeling Services often recommends a balance: mostly traditional cabinets with a few open sections.

Choosing Cabinet Materials and Finishes

After style, material and finish are the next big decisions.

Cabinet Materials

• Solid wood: Classic and durable, ideal for staining or painting.

• Plywood boxes with wood doors: A strong, stable option used in many quality cabinet lines.

• MDF (medium-density fiberboard): Smooth and stable, especially good for painted doors because it resists warping.

Your budget, climate, and desired finish all play a role in which material makes sense for your project.

Finishes and Colors

Think about:

• Light vs dark: Light colors can make a smaller kitchen feel bigger. Dark colors add drama but may show dust and fingerprints more easily.

• Paint vs stain: Painted cabinets offer a clean, uniform look; stained cabinets highlight natural wood grain.

• Two-tone designs: One color for upper cabinets and another for lowers or the island can add interest without overwhelming the space.

For design inspiration and general best practices, you can review resources like the National Kitchen & Bath Association to see current trends and guidelines.

Don’t Forget Function: Hardware and Storage Features

Cabinet style isn’t just about the doors. The “guts” of your cabinets matter just as much as how they look.

Consider adding:

• Full-extension drawers so you can see everything inside

• Soft-close hinges and slides for quieter, smoother use

• Pull-out trash and recycling near the sink

• Pull-out shelves in base cabinets for easier access

• Tray dividers for baking sheets and cutting boards

• Corner solutions like lazy Susans or blind-corner pull-outs

These upgrades improve daily life far more than most decorative details, and many homeowners say these are the features they appreciate most after the remodel is done.

Matching Your Cabinets to the Rest of Your Home

The kitchen shouldn’t feel like it belongs in a different house. As you update your cabinets, think about:

• Trim and door styles in other rooms

• Flooring and wall colors in nearby spaces

• The overall style of your whole home renovation (modern, farmhouse, traditional, etc.)

Stonehaven Remodeling Services helps you coordinate cabinet style, hardware, counters, and paint colors so your kitchen flows with adjoining spaces like the dining room, mudroom, or living room.

To see how upgraded cabinets fit into a full kitchen project, you can explore the Stonehaven Remodeling Services kitchen remodeling services page and review examples of completed renovations.

How Stonehaven Remodeling Services Supports Your Cabinet Choices

Choosing cabinets can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. When you work with Stonehaven Remodeling Services, our team:

• Reviews how you use your kitchen today

• Helps you choose a cabinet style that fits your home and lifestyle

• Guides you through materials, finishes, and hardware

• Plans storage solutions that solve your real pain points

• Coordinates cabinets with your flooring, counters, and backsplash

From first design meeting to final install, we help you make decisions that look beautiful on day one and still feel right years down the road.

If you’re ready to explore cabinet styles as part of your whole home renovation or stand-alone kitchen remodel, reach out to Stonehaven Remodeling Services and start planning a kitchen that finally works the way you need it to.