Pear white cabinets

Designing Your Dream Kitchen With Unexpected Cabinets

Have you been looking for a way to breathe new life into your kitchen design? Do you want something unique and distinctive to add a little spice to your home? In this post, you will see our favorite unexpected cabinet ideas that will take your kitchen from drab to fab!

How to Create a Cohesive Design

Whether you choose classic or more underrated kitchen cabinets, the most important thing is how you will make them fit into the overall design. Accent pieces and neutral pieces should balance each other out and create a cohesive environment.  

Creating a kitchen design with all the pieces you love can be difficult. Do you love to cook? Does your breakfast nook look like it belongs in a country home? You might want to consider bringing these elements into your kitchen design.

Tying the kitchen design in with the rest of the house gives a put-together look that we all love. So make sure you take into consideration the bigger picture even if you are just remodeling your kitchen or switching out your cabinets.

Unique Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

If you are the type of person who chooses to go off the beaten path and explore the unique styles and options, then this is the perfect article for you.  Kitchen cabinets are a crucial part of any well-designed kitchen. If you want to design your dream kitchen, you’ll need high-quality cabinets that will meet all of your needs. The best way to get a truly unique look is by using unexpected cabinet styles. For example, if you have a small kitchen, an old-fashioned wall cupboard might be perfect for you. Another option is to use custom cabinetry with different drawer sizes.

Cost of Unconventional Cabinets

If you want a kitchen that is likely to be a conversation starter, then unconventional cabinets might be the way to go. Unlike traditional cabinets with flat doors and drawers, these options have curved doors and open shelving. Be warned: the cost of such cabinets will vary greatly depending on the size and materials used. But, if you can get past the sticker shock, it’s worth it because they offer a unique style that will not be found in traditional kitchens.

Unexpected Cabinet Ideas for a One-of-a-Kind Design

A kitchen is one of the most important areas in any home. It’s not only the place where we do the majority of our cooking, it’s also a key area for family bonding time, entertaining friends, and having the occasional glass of wine. When planning out your dream kitchen, you should consider some design twists that make it stand out from other kitchens. Following are some of our favorite kitchen cabinet ideas that include some classic twists, quirky colors, and charming textures that will add some novelty to your design.

Cinnamon Maple Glazed Kitchen Cabinets

Cinnamon maple glazed cabinets are a gorgeous example of cabinets that can warm up any space. The beautiful cinnamon tones and maple wood create the ultimate choice for traditional kitchen designs that exude a homey and cozy atmosphere.  Since the shade is not too dark, it can work wonders for both small and large kitchens. Add some interesting light features and you’ve got a winner. 

This open-concept kitchen features similar cabinets. We love how they used simple, but traditionally attractive cabinet handles. The old-school charm of the hardware adds even more character to this kitchen. Of course, the carpet just takes it to a whole other dimension. The wood floors are in tone with the overall design and the table and chairs are a perfect fit for a farmhouse style as well. The backsplash they chose is terracotta in the shade of green and the countertops are granite – again a true choice for traditional kitchen designs. 

Cinnamon maple glazed kitchen cabinets
Photo credit: Jon Miller Hedrich Blessing

Mahogany Maple Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re looking for a design style that is not quite so traditional but does have a rustic, country feel to it, mahogany maple kitchen cabinets might be a perfect choice. These cabinets take a different approach from the more typical oak combinations with a lighter, more golden reddish-brown color that gives a much more elegant and rich feel to kitchens. This design also lends itself well to cabinetry in the other rooms of your home as well.

Mahogany is deep and exceptionally warm color that can transform a space. Maple is one of the most popular types of wood because it is strong yet affordable. The combination of maple cabinets in mahogany color can only create a magical design. 

This Berkeley Hills custom kitchen is a true inspiration for a modern kitchen remodel with unconventional colors and a unique vibe. We love the vertical lines on the cabinets that take us back to another era and the pearly white backsplash. 

 

Mahogany maple kitchen
Design and photo: Berkeley Mills

Mocha Distressed Kitchen Cabinets

Mocha distressed kitchen cabinets reflect a retro-modern kitchen design. They are not traditional, yet they are not completely contemporary either. The perfect blend of the two, can achieve a fantastic composition and elevate your space with the right accents. 

Mocha distressed kitchen cabinets have a rustic, yet chic feel. They will look great with a country-style kitchen as well as with a modern one. These cabinets are perfect for those wanting to make a statement with their design. The Mocha is a light brown wood color that lends itself well to modern kitchens. It’s also versatile enough to work in more traditional kitchens as well.

The rustic design in this kitchen showcases how amazing distressed and reclaimed cabinets can look. This style is growing in popularity and we are here for it. We love the unexpected wall color they chose for this room as well as the light fixtures. We’re truly inspired to dive into the rustic trend.

 

Mocha distressed kitchen
Photo and design: KraftMaid

Indigo Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re feeling creative, then it’s time to customize your kitchen to reflect your personality. Have you tried using cabinets in unexpected colors? These colors can be pale blue, moss green, or lilac purple for a lighter tone; or dark blue, navy blue, or navy mixed with white for a darker tone. Check out these indigo cabinets. 

Stunning for contemporary and coastal homes as well as farmhouse kitchens, the indigo blue can be versatile as well as really unexpected! While it might seem like a bold choice, combined with classic and neutral colors, it can still create an elegant space that takes everyone’s breath away. We love the gold hardware they choose for these cabinets and applaud the color choices as well. The white walls make the space feel open and airy, while the rich indigo blue gives us the excitement we love in a design.  

 

Indigo cabinets
Photo and design: Studio Dearborn

Zebra Wood Kitchen Cabinets

While it might not be the most popular option, zebrawood is definitely an exotic and modern option. It’s perfect if you like to make a statement. This type of wood looks incredible when stained and finished. It’s a bold choice to have a kitchen with zebra wood cabinets, but it also has a lot of advantages. It’s a hardwood that’s easy to maintain and is resistant to aging. It doesn’t scratch easily, either. If you’re looking for something interesting in your kitchen, this might be the way to go.

Zebrawood cabinets are a great way to make your kitchen feel more luxurious. They can be made in any color you want, which allows you to customize the look of your kitchen exactly how you want it.

We love the look of zebrawood in this kitchen design. The countertops made in this style are a great focal point and will no doubt catch everyone’s eye. They can work equally well in modern and traditional styles, in fact, a mid-century modern kitchen would shine with a cabinet like this. 

 

Zebrawood kitchen cabinets
Designer: Karen Kassen

Honey Maple Kitchen Cabinets

Honey maple cabinets have a warm glow to them, with the natural warmth of the wood combined with the color to give your kitchen a distinctive look.  Whether you’re looking for beautiful, contemporary cabinets or classic, country style, the versatility of honey maple kitchen cabinets makes them excellent for any space and design. 

This modern small kitchen combined honey maple cabinets and bamboo floors in tone, which create a cohesive and open kitchen. The light wood cabinets like this are excellent if you have a smaller space and less natural light since they will make it look bigger. Choosing a light and bright wall color can also help with opening the smaller kitchens up. 

Honey maple cabinets
Design: Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

Pearl White Kitchen Cabinets

A fun twist on the classic white cabinets, the pearl white cabinets can still be a white kitchen favorite. Pearl white cabinets have a shiny finish which makes them look more expensive and luxurious than other colors. 

The white pearl gloss looks exceptional on these modern kitchen cabinets and we love the adventurous backsplash. If you’d like to spice things up in your kitchen, then take notes from this design.

Pear white cabinets
Photo: The Cabinet Spot

 

Rustic Turquoise Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinetry is available in just about any color, size, and style imaginable. More importantly, with so many kitchen cabinet designs to choose from, you can find the perfect set of kitchen cabinets for your budget and desires. Often we stick with the classics and play it safe, but maybe now is the perfect time to get adventurous. If you want a more rustic-inspired finish on your cabinetry why not try turquoise! Be bold! 

This kitchen design is packed with personality. It combines two-tone kitchen cabinets in wood and turquoise colors and switches between raised flat panels and glass front. It’s a perfect vintage kitchen space. For this kitchen, they went with laminate countertops which is also an underrated and interesting choice. The bright yellow walls add a touch of farmhouse charm and joy to this design in addition to opening it up and making the space seem larger. 

Rustic turquoise kitchen cabinets
Design: Atlantic Design Center

Cognac Kitchen Cabinets

One of the newest trends in kitchen design is to use cognac cabinetry. This style of cabinet features a reddish-brown base with a light orange or yellow undertone. It’s an offshoot of the popular espresso finish that has been used for years.  

Cognac kitchen cabinets are a versatile and stylish option. They can be used as either an accent or as the dominating element in your kitchen space. If you’re looking for a more traditional look, then these might be the right choice for you. However, if you want to create a fun and lively atmosphere that still has that classic touch, then we suggest you add a few more accent pieces that will liven up the space since the color can appear a bit dark at times. 

We love these stylish raised panel cabinets in cognac color and the subtle, elegant hardware paired with them. A true modern rustic combination, it features an incredible colorful backsplash and unique granite countertops that further elevate this space and make it unique. 

Cognac kitchen
Photo: KraftMaid

Rustic Walnut Kitchen Cabinets

Rustic walnut kitchen cabinets are a gorgeous and underrated option.  They can be well-suited to a country kitchen. They are constructed from natural wood and the grain pattern is visible. The cabinets would look stunning with fixtures and hardware that resemble a refined antique. 

If you’re looking for inspiration and considering rustic walnut cabinets for your space, check out this kitchen. The beautifully stained walnut cabinets with modern, black hardware are a gamechanger. This space combined stone countertops, rustic-looking cabinets, and light wood floors and turned it into a cabin kitchen out of our wildest, most creative dreams. 

 

Rustic walnut cabinets
Design: Sun Forest Construction

Textured Kitchen Cabinets

Textured cabinets make your kitchen look modern and high-end while giving the room a warm, rustic aura too, depending on the color and design you choose. You can find textured cabinets in a variety of different finishes to match any style of kitchen. 

If you want a kitchen with personality, textured cabinets are a great way to go. A few different textures can add interest and depth to an otherwise plain kitchen. They also add visual weight that will make the room look larger than it is.

We love these deep gray textured kitchen cabinets. In perfect harmony with the white and grey swirled countertops and backsplash, they achieve the ultimate contemporary kitchen. 

Textured cabinets
Designer: Bradley Huson

 

We hope you liked our round-up of unexpected kitchen cabinets. If you’re looking for the perfect cabinets for your kitchen, feel free to contact us and we will help you out!

Table of Contents

Kitchen Remodeling

From new cabinets to center islands and family seating, nothing is off limits for your new kitchen remodel.

Bathroom Remodeling

Transform your bathroom from a place that you just shower and get ready to a peaceful, spa-like atmosphere that you won’t want to leave.

Tile & Flooring

Whether you are looking for bright and bold or simple and subtle, we offer a variety of options that will complement your home.

Countertops

With so many material options available, we will find the right countertop to fit your home.

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