You see the most beautiful Pinterest picture. Your dream kitchen. It’s exactly what you want as a kitchen. You can not wait to start this project and channel your inner Julia Child. BUT pump the breaks ~ you’re at a minimum of 20+ decisions to get there and you have no idea where to start. Door style, build type, drawer function, soft close, paint color, material, hardware, and the list goes on.

Grab the notepad ~ we are about to break it down in FIVE STEPS to ensure you make the right decisions for both your style & budget.

Step 1: Inset vs Overlay

Choosing between Inset vs Overlay is where you start. This is going to dictate the rest of your cabinetry (and your budget). Let me explain!

Inset Cabinetry: This is where your doors/drawers sit INSIDE the cabinets, creating a super clean, high end look.

Pros; less likely to have chips on the doors, an automatic timeless and elevated look. Cons; more expensive (15-30% more), loss of interior cabinet space, swelling of cabinets due to weather may cause drawers to not open with ease.

Overlay Cabinetry: This look is where the doors sit on the OUTSIDE of the frame work. This is a very common look and you can even choose between a full or partial overlay. Full overlays are going to have less of a gap between doors and the closest you will get to the inset look.

Pros; less expensive, multiple door styles available (shaker, beaded, craftsman, etc.), more interior space. Cons; doors can become loose/uneven, partial overlays sometimes get a bad wrap of looking “cheap” depending on material.

Morgan’s Opinion: A full overlay kitchen is going to save you quite a bit of money and will still achieve the high end look that you want for your kitchen. It’s the perfect happy medium.

Step 2: Door Style

Look back at that inspo photo~ the style of the door plays a huge part in the over all look of the kitchen. When choosing a door style I would highly recommend; simple. When you start adding multiple panels or ornate designs it will quickly become dated and (in Morgan’s Opinion) overwhelm the kitchen design if not done properly.

Step 3: Color & Wood Type

Solid painted cabinets are most definitely the current trend. BUT let’s have a moment for wood stained cabinets ~ they are making a comeback, especially dark wood.

Questions to review with your provider: What material will they be using? Will they be prepainted/dipped or painted after install? Can they color match? If using a stain; what type of wood (alder, oak, maple, etc.)?

Step 4: Layout

Morgan’s Opinion: Before designing the layout I would suggest taking inventory of your kitchen items. Along with taking note of how you best use your kitchen. Example: do you need a ton of prep space, serving space, are you constantly using a ton of small appliances, etc.

Some things to consider when designing the layout:

• Where do you want drawers vs doors?
• Plenty of space to put small appliances
• Microwave: in drawer or on counter?
• Hidden appliances?
• If possible: stay away from corner cabinets
• Built in organization: spice rack, lazy susans, trashcan, etc.
• Open shelving? Any glass doors? All the way to the ceiling?

Check out my Amazon Storefront for some of my favorite “pretty organization” items!

Step 5: Hardware

A common debate is what color hardware (knobs and pulls) is in style; black, brass, gold, bronze?? One thing I’m currently loving is how people are mixing hardware/fixtures throughout the house. Meaning that just because you have gold knobs doesn’t mean you have to have gold doorknobs, lights, or faucets.

Morgan’s Opinion: I think hardware trends will forever come and go. I say find a style you like at the time and run with it. Changing hardware in the next 10 years is not the end of the world.

Click here to see the knobs/pulls in my own home. The style & color are perfect but the price is even better. Shop directly here!

I hope you found this guide to be somewhat helpful in your kitchen endeavors and you are one step closer to that perfect kitchen!

xoxo,

Morgan