European cabinets are a great option for homeowners looking for sleek and modern design. They offer a wide range of designs and colors that can complement a variety of home styles.
These cabinets can be made using a variety of materials and finishes, including high-gloss and matte surfaces. Some popular options include melamine and thermofoils, which are scratch-resistant and moisture resistant.
Minimalistic Design
When designing a new kitchen, there are many factors to consider. Among them are aesthetics, functionality and durability. Choosing the right cabinetry style is critical in order to achieve the perfect balance of all three elements.
Modern European cabinets are a growing trend that combines minimalist design with sleek functionality. This unique style, also known as frameless cabinetry, maximizes space in your kitchen by removing the center stile that is present in traditional cabinets.
This style is characterized by flat surfaces, sleek finishes and concealed hinges that accentuate the smooth, minimalistic look. A minimalistic style paired with a wood or high-gloss finish can make your kitchen appear spacious and clean.
Aside from maximizing space, these sleek cabinets also eliminate the ‘aperture’ or opening of traditional cabinet doors and drawers by mounting them directly to sturdy base cabinets. This allows for the entire face of a cabinet to be opened, maximizing storage and accessibility. This can also be a great option for Phoenix or Las Vegas homeowners who want to remodel their kitchens with a galley layout.
Frameless Construction
The face frame construction of traditional cabinets creates a solid wood ‘frame’ around the door and drawer openings. This helps reduce ‘racking,’ which is the tendency of a cabinet box to move out-of-square, thus obstructing access and potentially damaging interior surfaces.
In contrast, European cabinets, or frameless cabinetry, are constructed without this face frame. Also known as full-access, or European style, this cabinet construction is gaining popularity among American homeowners seeking more contemporary cabinet designs.
With frameless construction, the doors and drawer fronts mount directly onto beautifully finished cabinet boxes. The result is a smooth, sleek look that can pair well with modern and contemporary door styles and other home design trends. Additionally, frameless cabinets provide more accessibility to the cabinet interior by eliminating the need for a face frame, and they have tighter reveals between each door or drawer front than framed cabinets. This makes it easy to utilize new and emerging kitchen design concepts such as open shelves, glass doors, or stacked cabinets.
Modern Materials
European cabinets can be made with modern materials such as laminates and acrylics that offer an attractive, high-gloss or matte finish. These modern materials are durable, easy to clean, and can be customized with a variety of color options.
Laminates are a common choice for contemporary European cabinet design. These thin, lightweight materials were formerly considered fragile and unstable, but new manufacturing techniques have improved their durability. They can be laminated over MDF, plywood or other wood substrates to create a sturdy finish.
For a more traditional look, you can choose to paint your cabinets. You can contrast black and white for a stark modern style, or go with more subtle colors like grey and blue that will complement the existing tile or walls. You can also use a glossy coating like shellac to give your cabinets an ultra-polished appearance that is easy to maintain and resists fingerprinting. This type of coating can be used on all surfaces of your cabinets, even glass doors and drawer fronts.
Customization
If you’re a homeowner looking to create a modern aesthetic in your home, then European kitchen cabinets might be the perfect fit. A consultation with a cabinet company is the best way to discuss all the options available to you.
Modern European cabinets can be made from a range of materials that offer a wide spectrum of design possibilities. For example, melamine is a low-maintenance material that comes in a wide range of colors and finishes. Thermofoils, on the other hand, are moisture resistant and can deliver high-gloss or super-matte finishes.
One of the most popular choices for Euro-style cabinets is matte lacquer. Bauformat, for instance, uses advanced liquid nitrogen technology to produce its matte lacquer. This unique finish is durable and offers a non-fingertip surface.
