The Cabinet Style That Perfectly Complements Your Craftsman Kitchen

Is there any home design style that screams Americana more than a Craftsman? When it first showed up at the turn of the century, it was more or less a direct response to the elaborate design trends of the Gilded Age. It brought a renewed focus on nature and the beauty of handcrafted work, standing as a clear rebuff to the rise of mass production during the industrial era. That's why it's so important when remodeling one of these beauties to get the interior design right, especially in the kitchen. Because a Craftsman-style house was built with nature and craftsmanship in mind, your best option in the kitchen is a simple Shaker-style cabinet.

What makes a Craftsman home different from, say, a ranch-style? They were both extremely popular home designs during the early 20th century. But there are some major differences. Ranch-style homes tend to be simpler in structure and are always one floor. Craftsman homes feature tapered pillars, a large front porch, exposed rafter ends/beams, and usually showcase more natural materials like stone, brick, or wood shingles. These features are what make Craftsman homes so endearing to their owners — all those wonderful little touches of craftsmanship. That's why a remodel on one of these beauties needs to be done thoughtfully. It's a huge nod of respect to use materials, colors, hardware, and lighting that harken back to the intention of its architecture.

Craftsman kitchens, like the other features of this design style, are all about blending natural beauty, craftsmanship, and utility. Shaker cabinets create that balance beautifully. The straightforward design of a Shaker cabinet — a simple flat recessed panel surrounded by a four-piece frame — mirrors Craftsman design principles. When we see this cabinet style in a Craftsman kitchen, it is usually made from warm woods like oak, cherry, or maple without any extra finish. When remodeling, this should be taken into consideration. Let the natural wood show for a simple, earthy feel that fits perfectly with the exposed beams, built-ins, and other natural materials typical of a Craftsman home.

If you want to update the look of your Shaker cabinets, consider using more natural paint colors, such as soft greens, creams, or muted blues. Try to keep the tones subtle so that they blend in with the rest of the home design. Adding hardware can really accentuate these cabinets, especially if you use the traditional metals of the time — oil-rubbed bronze, black iron, and antique copper or brass. Your cabinet pulls should reflect the traditional lighting used in Craftsman homes — mission-style light fixtures and Tiffany stained-glass lamps. If you're remodeling your bathroom along with your kitchen, you can pull the Craftsman vibe in there as well by using the same style cabinetry on your vanity.