How to Choose Cabinet Styles and Finishes for Your Kitchen
Style Is More Than Looks
Your cabinet style sets the tone for your entire kitchen. It influences which countertops, hardware, backsplash, and flooring will look best — so it's worth taking the time to choose thoughtfully. The good news: there are really just a few major style families, and once you identify which one fits your home, the rest of the decisions get much easier.
The Three Major Cabinet Style Families
1. Shaker Style
Shaker cabinets feature a five-piece door with a flat center panel and clean, square edges. They originated in 18th-century American craftsmanship and have remained the most popular cabinet style for over a century — because they work with almost everything. Shaker cabinets look equally at home in a farmhouse kitchen, a transitional space, or a contemporary design depending on the finish you choose.
Best for: Transitional, farmhouse, traditional, and contemporary kitchens.
Explore: Our Shaker Collection – available in White, Sand, Kodiak, and Moss.
2. Modern / Slab Style
Modern cabinets have flat, frameless doors with no decorative detail. The result is a sleek, minimalist look that emphasizes clean lines and open space. Our Brooklyn Collection takes this aesthetic and adds a subtle texture and depth that elevates it beyond a plain slab door.
Best for: Contemporary, urban, and minimalist kitchens.
Explore: Our Brooklyn Collection – available in Bright White, Modern Gray, Slate, Midnight, Fawn, and Pearl.
3. Traditional / Raised Panel Style
Traditional cabinets feature raised or detailed center panels, decorative moldings, and ornate hardware. They create a formal, furniture-grade look that's well-suited to classic and European-inspired kitchens. Our Oslo collection falls into this family.
Best for: Traditional, classic, and formal kitchens.
Explore: Our Oslo Collection.
How to Choose a Finish
Once you've chosen a style family, the finish is your next big decision. Here's how to think about it:
White and Off-White
White cabinets are the most popular choice in North America for good reason: they make kitchens feel larger, brighter, and more timeless. They pair well with virtually any countertop or backsplash. Off-white and antique white tones add warmth and work especially well in traditional kitchens.
Try: Shaker Designer White, Shaker Sand, Brooklyn Bright White, Brooklyn Pearl, Oslo White.
Gray and Greige
Gray has become the go-to neutral for modern and transitional kitchens. It's sophisticated, versatile, and pairs beautifully with quartz countertops and stainless appliances. Brooklyn Modern Gray adds warmth while keeping the contemporary feel.
Try: Brooklyn Modern Gray
Dark and Dramatic
Espresso, charcoal, and black finishes create a bold, high-contrast kitchen that feels luxurious and modern. They work best in kitchens with good natural light or paired with light countertops and backsplashes.
Try: Brooklyn Midnight, Shaker Kodiak, Brooklyn Slate
Warm Wood Tones
Natural wood tones — from honey maple to rich mocha — bring warmth and organic texture to a kitchen. They're having a major resurgence in contemporary design, often paired with white or stone countertops for contrast.
Try: Oslo Oak, Oslo Classic Walnut, Brooklyn Fawn
A Few Practical Tips
- Order samples first. Finish colors look different on screen than in person, and they look different under your kitchen lighting than in a showroom. Always order door samples before committing.
- Consider your countertop. Light cabinets pair well with dark countertops and vice versa. Matching both to the same tone can make a kitchen feel flat.
- Think about resale. Neutral finishes (white, gray, natural wood) have the broadest appeal if you plan to sell in the next 5–10 years.
- Don't forget the hardware. Brushed nickel and matte black are the most popular hardware finishes right now and work with almost any cabinet color.