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Cherry or White Kitchen Cabinets

15 years ago

We are redoing our kitchen and I am in the process of ordering the cabinets. I like the Shenandoah McKinley Collection from Lowes because of the drawers matching the cabinet doors but would this style be too busy? My husband wants to do White cabinets again and is open to any style. He doesn't notice the drawer detail (lol). I've had white cabinets forever and just wanted to change. Are cherry cabinets in? I think oak is out for now (I've heard)? Is the style I'm thinking of limiting my tile selection and/or granite when I get to that decision? If I chose the Butterscotch Glaze in the McKinley Maple because my husband wants the white and I have liked White cabinets in my house...is that in or out? Unfortunately I have to order 30" cabinets because our soffit has too much plumbing and wiring but I will order 30" cabinets and build up to the ceiling with filler and 3" classic crown molding. I'm also going to use granite countertops and some type o to cover the plumbing we can't move. I'm also going to use granite countertops and some type of tile back splash that has yet to be determined. Also, I have Oak floors that will be sanded and refinished to give them a new look.

Please see the links: these are for the lowes cabinets I'm considering.

Cherry:

http://shenandoahcabinetry.com/products.asp?id=56

White:

http://shenandoahcabinetry.com/products.asp?id=55

My kitchen now before starting renovations:

https://picasaweb.google.com/kim.weinhold/Kitchen#

Comments (21)

  • 15 years ago

    According to my weekend paper the pundits from NKBA have stated that the trends for 2011 no longer include white kitchens. Shaker style dark-stained cabinets are in - not in my kitchen, but whatever, as are dark counters.
    . But they're also saying that side-by-side fridges are in now and not the bottom-freezer fridges.
    However for everyone who says that white kitchens are passee someone else will be saying that dark kitchens are passee.
    Although I don;t like dark cabinets I also think that cherry is a classic.

  • 15 years ago

    I think you should get what you like and not worry too much about trends.

    As others have said, in similar posts, it's more likely you'll 'date' your kitchen with countertop or backsplash choices (or appliances) than with cabinets. I have seen that glazes are on their way out...but like blfenton says...when one person says something is passe, another will say it's still very popular.

    Just pick what makes you happy and you'll have a kitchen that suits you...and that you'll love spending time in! :)

  • 15 years ago

    How about a combo platter? :)

    Look at your second link again. Some white cabinets, some stained cabinets, and wood floors.

  • 15 years ago

    I would say absolutely go with something you like, not with what may or may not be trendy today. You'll have to live with the choices you make for a very long time (unless you're planning on selling right away).

  • 15 years ago

    I agree - get what YOU want.

  • 15 years ago

    I agree go with what you love not what you think the trend is.I always think about some trends that I don't even like! Also think how long you will be in the house enjoying it- I always think by the time I sell my house who knows what will be in? Probably not what I have anyway LOL!!
    I LOVE the Shenandoah McKinley Collection but it has a different name at HD. It was what I had decided on- but DH didn't like the light butterscotch color so I had to change the color and then the KD couldn't get the cabinets to work size wise with my layout so I had to change to kraftmaid to get the right size.

  • 15 years ago

    this is a little funny, because typically the subject title means the husband wants wood and the wife wants white cabinets. but you're asking whether one is in/out.

    actually that can depend on what part of the country you live in, and what your neighborhood likes. :)

    there was an article on atticmag.com that declared the "all white kitchen trend is over" or something to that effect. but lots of people are still choosing white at gardenweb.

    so... as others have said, don't worry about in/out because someone else is bound to say out/in. get what you'll be happiest with.

  • 15 years ago

    My husband and I do not like white cabinets. We wouldn't consider buying a house with them, unless we wanted to do another kitchen remodel. However, based on the pictures I have seen here they are very "in" at this time. I love cherry!

    I like that cabinet style you picked out as well.

  • 15 years ago

    Thank you for all the replies.

    idrive65: I would consider the combo but my kitchen layout something like that won't work for me. I don't have an island which I think works the best in that application. My kitchen is Ushaped with a penisala.

    I just wanted to get some other opinions as to white/cherry. I've never had Cherry and think that's the way I want to go but hoping I won't miss the white like I've had in the past. I do have a very bright kitchen so I don't think the cherry will make it too dark with my big bay window and window over my sink. Everyone is very helpful on this site. I will be back often as I progress in our remodel.

  • 15 years ago

    mine are white and cherry. that way while one is "out" the other might remain "in". cabinets are pricey. please don't select based on what others consider the trend. GL!

  • 15 years ago

    I felt like I was going against trend when I ordered cherry cabinets a couple of years ago. It seemed as though all of the kitchen design mags featured page after page of white kitchens, with maybe one token quarter-sawn oak bungalow kitchen or supermodern flat front exotic. I wanted traditional, raised panel cherry doors. I like the look of the white "Something's Got to Give" kitchens, but it just wasn't ME. I went with what I'd been dreaming of for years, and I am happy I did.

  • 15 years ago

    hi mrsdow...

    I agree that you should go with what you want..

    I don't think a Natural Stained Cherry would look like a "dark" kitchen..But I believe sun exposure darkens it?? Not sure how much...Maybe someone could address that?

    FYI..I couldn't access the photos of your kitchen because I believe you have your album set as "private".

    KA:)

  • 15 years ago

    Hi, I have a sort of G shaped small kitchen with a peninsula and a small island on wheels. I liked white but it would not have looked right in my house. I liked quarter sawn oak and somewhat liked cherry. Around and around I went. The one thing I knew is that I did not want all painted and did not want all wood. You can do some painted and some wood even in an odd shaped kitchen, it's all how you mix the colors and where. I ended up doing a pale yellow on top and a dark cherry on the bottom...I love it. There are endless options on paint colors where you could get the lighter shade you want in part of your kitchen without going white again. The two tone look isn't for everyone I know but I'm one happy camper with mine.

  • 15 years ago

    I have a galley kitchen, sort of, with what amounts to a peninsula with a breakfast bar on one side. It's in progress right now but the cabinets just got painted last week and I love it. Probably will look better with the doors on! The bottoms are cherry and uppers are a creamy off white. I saw a couple photos in some of my kitchen books and really liked the way it looked; I like the way the light uppers make the room feel more airy and less showroomy. More like it was put together over time.

    jterrilynn and kateskouros, do you have photos you could post?

  • 15 years ago

    Hi, here you go! It's really hard to get good pictures though as one side has all windows and the room is small but tall. Not only do I have two different cabinet colors but I have four different counter/table surfaces. I put skinny mirror's in the uppers which reflect the outdoors, they are not wide so you don't really see yourself...just a reflection of everything. This is a DIY kitchen and everyone thought I was nuts with my picks until they saw it finished.

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=finished022.jpg"; target="_blank">


    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=partoffinishedkitchen049.jpg"; target="_blank">

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=morekitchen001.jpg"; target="_blank">

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=morekitchen003.jpg"; target="_blank">

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=finished015.jpg"; target="_blank">

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20picks/?action=view&current=counterwithsink.png"; target="_blank">

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=finished011.jpg"; target="_blank">

  • 15 years ago

    Hi me again. If you are still having a hard time deciding what you want, pick something in your home you like and want the kitchen to blend with. This piece is around the corner from the kitchen in my house so I used it to help me. My house is eclectic so I didn't try to copy the style but tried to capture the feel.

    http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/?action=view&current=mirror002.jpg"; target="_blank">

  • 15 years ago

    When I started redoing our kitchen about 6 years ago, cherry cabs were all the rage on this forum. Then a couple started doing white and the Something's gotta Give kitchen was everywhere. Now the trend is to painted, but more greys and creams than whites. I'm sure that there will be just as many changes in the next 5 years.

    Go and buy 3 big kitchen remodel magazines. Tear out all the pics that appeal to you for their overall feel. When you look at those pics you've torn out, 90% of them will have similar cab finishes. Go with that.

    When I was almost ready to order my cinnamon stained cabinets, I had a sudden epipheny - I hated stained cabinets! I came close to ordering them based on what everyone else was getting, rather than reflecting on what I really liked. I still get shivers of fright when I think i could have ended up with those cabs (which would be lovely for some - just not me).

  • 15 years ago

    I have always, always loved white cabinetry in a kitchen. It looks so clean and fresh. Even if it were considered the most "untrend" thing in the world, I would still get white painted cabinets...because I so strongly am pulled toward that look. I would no more have stained cabs in my kitchen than fly to the moon! I think you need to determine which look is "yours." It is kind of a gut thing. You could go on houzz.com and make a ideabook of kitchens you love and see what stands out. Good luck!

  • 15 years ago

    We started out planning to go with white but read a few negatives about painted cabinets and went with Cherry. Very happy with the finished product...

  • 15 years ago

    Like everybody else, go with what you like rather than pandering to the trends. I like cherry cabinets as long as they have a natural stain. I don't like the very red stain a lot of people put on cherry. I know it will eventually age to a beautiful reddish color, but the stain just doesn't fool me. Of course, I like oak, too...as long as it's quartersawn :) If you're tired of white cabinets, there's no reason not to try something different. Personally, I think that white (wood, not thermofoil) cabinetry is about as classic as you can get, though I'm glad to see kitchens popping up with gray cabinets. I am a bit tired of the all-white kitchen, but most people don't spend hours every day looking at pictures of every kitchen that's ever existed!

  • 15 years ago

    jterrilynn: that is a beautiful kitchen you have :)
    thanks for sharing your pictures.
    my husband talked me into Amish Custom cabinets. Had the cabinet maker over on tuesday and they are going to do everything that I wanted through Lowes; They are even going to make the wall cabinets 40" and then put crown molding on top of that with a decorative rope braiding at the bottom for a light rail. I'll be going with a maple cabinet...stain color undetermined at this point. Anyone here have maple cabinets and suggestions on stain color? He brought samples over and the maple is really beautiful and in my price range. He is only $500 more than everything I priced at Lowes and it's all wood and custom fit. His cherry is $2600 more than maple and in the pictures and samples that he brought you can't even tell the maple from the cherry. My DH will move the wiring in the soffit and the cabinet guy will notch out the top of 1 wall cabinet to accomodate the plumbing pipe so you won't see it. I just won't be able to use the very top portion of that cabinet. I'm so excited about this news.
    You guys are awesome. I'll be back to report progress.
    My apologies for the link not working. I checked it after posting and it worked fine then...not sure what happen. I'll go back and see if the link works. I've been continually taking pictures as we destruct our kitchen :(

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