Wilmington, N.C. - White cabinets are making a comeback in kitchen decor.

Although the dark stained wood popularized by Pottery Barn is still a top seller at MarKraft Cabinets, requests for white kitchens are growing, especially among coastal homes. This time around, customers are drawn to painted white cabinets that offer a clean, sleek look different from the white compressed fiber board white cabinets that were popular in the mid-1990s, said Cee Edwards, director of sales for MarKraft Cabinets, Inc.

Clients are requesting painted maple or birch cabinets now because of the smooth texture of those types of wood. Add a glaze to the detail on a white painted cabinet door to highlight that detail.

“Our direction is more toward the contemporary coastal look,” said Colleen Palakovich-Collins, Interior Designer/Sales Representative for MarKraft Cabinets. When working with white, the trick is to create a contemporary look without it feeling cold, she said. Variations of white and grey can strike that balance.

In addition to white paint, customers are asking for bright paint colors such as green, blue and even red in kitchens and bathrooms. These colors are used as accents on a kitchen island or a guest bathroom to give a fun pop of color.

All of the painted cabinets, paints with glazes and designer paint colors are displayed at MarKraft Cabinets’ selection center located at 5424 Oleander Drive, Suite 9.

“The cabinet industry tends to follow the furniture trends,” Edwards said. “We always look at the furniture magazines when they come out, so we know what’s going to be hot next in cabinets.”

He projects that the painted wood – in white or bold colors - will take off next year.

“We go through waves of trends,” he said. Trends tend to last about two years.

Another trend that is making a comeback is light maple and natural wood cabinets. MarKraft has received several orders for this lighter colored wood. Also in fashion right now are oil-rubbed bronze, brushed chrome and satin nickel hardware for cabinet door knobs and drawer pulls.

Lastly, “we’re seeing more furniture pieces used in the cabinets,” he said. For example, a popular item at MarKraft is a light blue vanity with French legs that holds a sink and counter top.

“It serves a purpose, but you get the look of furniture in the bathroom. That’s kind of trendy right now,” he said.

MarKraft Cabinets specializes in cabinet and countertop design and installation in both new residential and commercial construction as well as custom remodeling projects. For more information, visit http://www.markraft.com or call (910) 793-2002.

Source: MarKraft Cabinets