There are a few tricks that designers rely on to elevate a space and make it both unique and functional. For me, custom cabinetry is a must if you want your space to look elevated and distinct. Aside from the space utilization that custom cabinets offer they also help to solve space planning issues that can’t be resolved with standard off-the-shelf cabinetry. And if that’s not enough to convince you then just consider the array of wood, stain and paint finishes that can be applied when choosing custom.

The Client Brief

When I first met Lori and Jamey their new home construction hadn’t begun but the architect was already selected. We spent the first meeting reviewing their architectural plans and making revisions. Once the space planning was complete we moved onto the interior finishes including cabinetry design.

This is the last house Lori and Jamey plan to build so it was important to both of them that the cabinetry design be a priority, particularly in the kitchen. As Lori said, “The kitchen cabinetry is one of the most important parts of the home, it’s where a large part of our time is spent.” I think this applies to most of us so it’s worth considering custom when designing a space that will be heavily used.

While we knew that these cabinets would be a feature of the home we also wanted to prioritize functionality. I’m a huge believer that functionality comes first so we designed cabinetry that’s both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. With every project that includes custom cabinetry I go through each individual cabinet and decide what it will be used for. This allows us to determine if any special inserts are required. 

Cabinetry Objectives by Room

It might surprise you to know how much thought and detail goes into every piece of cabinetry I design. There’s no standard, one-size-fits-all and we need to be specific about not just the aesthetics but also the functionality. Here are some of the objectives we set out that might be helpful if you’re designing your own cabinetry.

1/ Kitchen

This room was designed to be the star of the house. It’s an open concept space that accesses the outdoor space so it’s viewed from many different spots in the home. We wanted the cabinets to have a modern mountain feel so we added a wider bevel to the shaker rails and stiles to soften the profile. 

For the perimeter cabinets we used alder with a darker stain. Our goal was to achieve balance between the kitchen and the heavy timber beams of the living room. We added an off white paint finish to the kitchen island to keep the kitchen from feeling too heavy. The Dekton counters and backsplash materials were paired to keep it from looking too busy.

2/ Bathrooms

We created a more modern feel in the main floor bathroom and the lower level ensuite by creating a skinny shaker profile. We decreased the size of the rails and stiles from the standard 2.5” width. Along with that sleeker design we removed cabinet hardware and instead selected touch latches for a clean, modern look.

The master bathroom ensuite was perfect to create a more transitional feel. I designed a faced framed, modern floating vanity with sleek slab profile for both the doors and drawers. We opted for a more traditional feel to balance the modern doors by using wrought iron hardware. The balance of styles was carried throughout with the traditional light fixtures with contemporary glass shades and a modern wall mounted faucet.

Lastly, the lower level main bathroom leaned into a rustic mountain vibe. We were able to use decor from Lori & Jamey’s previous home. We used the same cabinet profile as was used in the kitchen but we added a perforated metal insert onto the linen cabinet to give it an edgy and unexpected detail.

3/ Bar

We continued the rustic mountain vibe in the lower level and stuck with the same cabinet profile as the kitchen and lower floor bathroom. Instead of a complimentary backsplash tile we opted for metal with a rust patina effect.

4/ Mudroom

Lori knew she wanted some colour in this cabinet design but it was only after selecting navy fabric for the living room sofas that the cabinetry colour in this room was confirmed. The navy paint finish enhances the dark stain used on the bench in this room. With such careful consideration to the surrounding areas this mudroom perfectly reflects both the living room and the kitchen. 

5/ Garage

The homeowners tackled this space themselves and it turned out beautifully. This is the perfect man cave for Jamey who is an avid motorcycle enthusiast and collector. Lori & Jamey custom stained the interior wall boards and repeated the rusted metal from the bar area onto the lower half of the walls. Even the decor was added by them and I feel it couldn’t be more perfect for them.

Cabinetry Considerations

From the beginning Lori and Jamey knew they wanted to use alder wood for their cabinetry design. They also had their hearts set on doing a dark stain which is challenging to find in big box stores at this time because white oak is currently on trend. 

There was a lot of customization happening within the rest of the home including custom doors for the exterior and interior as well as custom posts and beams and a custom  staircase. It felt appropriate that the cabinetry in this home needed to be on par with these other custom finishes.

Obstacles Along the Way

One of the biggest challenges we encountered was getting the stain colours correct. Within the home the timber frames, cabinets and windows each used a different species of wood and yet they all needed to coordinate and look cohesive.

The fir timber frames have quite an orange undertone to them naturally and we didn’t want to bring that forth. Instead we were looking for a cooler feel. It took many test samples to come up with a perfect stain colour that would eliminate the natural orange undertones of the wood. 

We repeated this process with multiple samples on the alder that was being used for the cabinets so they had the same cooler stain colour. Lastly, we worked on the interior window frames until everything was perfectly matched.

We ran into some space planning issues when the original architect created some awkward space issues. After the project began there was a change in architect and we worked with this new team member to address our concerns. The space was redesigned so that the cabinet design could proceed without any issues.

Why Custom Matters

There are some great prefabricated cabinetry available in big box stores so why would anyone spend the time and money on custom cabinetry? That’s a question that comes up a lot but there are some benefits you get with custom that don’t exist with ready-made cabinets.

1/ Optimizing Space

When standard cabinetry is being installed there will often be space and gaps that need to be addressed. If you live in a small or irregular space there’s no way to maximize the space with pre-made cabinetry. Instead, custom cabinets are built to fit your exact specifications which means you can utilize every inch of space in your room.

2/ Reflects Your Style

When designing custom cabinetry you can create something that represents your personal style. The limitations that exist with pre-made cabinets are eliminated and you can create a distinctive statement in every room of your home.

3/ Create Solutions

Most homes have some obstacles that make cabinetry design difficult. Custom cabinetry can deal with any unique issue that exists in your space. It’s possible to address all the limitations and challenges of a space with a custom design. 

Working As a Team

Although the architect had been selected before I began I was thrilled to find that we shared the same design software. This meant we could work cohesively and collaboratively by sharing our files and working together. 

Next it was time to assemble the team and find the cabinet maker. Since this home is so big and the cabinetry was so widespread we needed to find a cabinet maker that could handle the size and scope of this project. Brad Bannister from BMK Homes was selected as the builder and one of the best things about working with a great builder is he/she always has the best trades. In this case, Brad’s recommendation was to use Brennan Shaw. 

Brennan is a one man show and hand draws all of his designs. This made for a great collaboration because I was able to digitally design all of the cabinetry including specific door profiles for each room of the home. I then sent him the elevations and renderings and he could work from those.  

Making Selections

Once we started to review cabinet fronts and storage options it became clear that Lori and Jamey had definite preferences. Shaker fronts were definitely the winner for the kitchen, lower main bathroom and bar cabinets while a face frame flat slab door was the winner for ensuite and repeating the skinny shaker profile from the main bathroom in the upper level would work for the lower level ensuite. 

The kitchen was designed with panel-ready appliances and custom doors are always required in that case. There was also a strong preference for drawers over doors because as Lori said “they’re more functional.” If you love to organize and keep your space in immaculate order, drawers are always a smart choice.

The Art of Renderings and Elevations

Imagine you went back 20 years and were building a home with only hand drawn designs. Thankfully we’ve come a long way and I can offer my clients the very best designs built using software that can show the entire future space. If you’ve ever struggled to imagine a concept you’ll understand how paralyzing it can be to make a decision without all the facts.

I love to create 3D renderings because they can take clients like Lori and Jamey on a journey through the finished space. We can discuss not just the appearance of the cabinetry but also how the design functions within the space. 

When Lori was asked whether she prefers 3D renders or elevations she answered, “It is very helpful to have both. The 3D helps for those of us that need visuals to understand and also the elevations to decide placement of electrical, etc”. This is such an important point because while we want to confirm the overall design, it’s the elevations that allow us to see the exact placement of switches and electrical outlets. 

Like Lori, most of my clients appreciate that there’s so much involved in cabinetry design and being able to select the details like the size of the drawer pulls and knobs can save aggravation and money by getting it right before ordering begins. 

There’s a peace of mind that comes with seeing the design come to life. It gives the confidence that the pieces all work and come together into the dream space in the end. “After we met with Adrienne we could feel like the decisions were complete and that we could move on and not have to revisit. When asked by contractors what to do we could suggest revisiting Adrienne’s notes, and they could proceed.” There are so many decisions to be made during a new build and having renderings and elevations allows my clients to proceed confidently. Want to know more about 3D renderings? I’ve created an entire post around the benefits.

The Final Result

It’s a long journey to completion of a new build. It takes a lot of patience, planning and perseverance to make it through. I think this home is an absolute gem and couldn’t be happier with the results. 

But it’s really only important to know what Lori and Jamey think of the final result. They love the entire home but do have a favourite. “The kitchen is our favourite and because it is open concept we see it all the time. It works well when 2 or 20 people are present. The cooking area works well with everything needed within easy reach. Seeing the outside view when standing at the kitchen sink and island is amazing.”

If you’re planning a new build or a renovation and need some help, reach out. I’d love to discuss your upcoming project with you.

Warm regards,

Adrienne