Crafted Finishes That Add Bespoke Character to Modern Kitchens

A well-designed kitchen can give your home the wow factor and may even help to increase the value of your property. However, many off-the-shelf kitchens look very similar to each other, which can make it difficult to curate a kitchen that has its own sense of character and personality.

Bespoke kitchen doors are a simple and surprisingly affordable way to avoid that basic cookie-cutter kitchen look, which doesn't feel personalised to you or your property. So, let's explore some of the considerations we think it's important to make when choosing your ideal bespoke kitchen doors.

Gloss Or Matt: Finding The Right Finish

Matt and gloss cabinet doors are two very different finishes, each of which has their own sense of style and character.

Gloss finishes have a polished look and feel, with a mirror-like surface which is adept at reflecting light and making a space feel lighter, brighter and more spacious. For this reason, glossy cabinet doors can work wonderfully in a smaller kitchen or in rooms that don't see much natural light throughout the day. Choosing a high gloss finish can also give your kitchen a clean and polished look, particularly if you choose a light colour.

Conversely, matt cabinet doors have a smooth and uniform appearance, which can make a style statement in a space or provide an understated look in a contemporary-meets-traditional design. Matt cabinet doors are wonderfully versatile and can be combined with a variety of different textures in a way that always feels authentic and stylish.

Pro Tip: Matt doors are also less likely to show fingerprints and other marks, which may mean they're the better option in busy kitchens or in homes with young children and pets. However, if you do prefer the gloss look, a quick wipe with a soft cloth is all that's needed to restore their pristine shine.

Colour Tells A Story

As well as settling on the right finish for your cabinet doors, choosing the perfect colour is another important decision you'll need to make and it's one that has the potential to completely transform the atmosphere of your kitchen.

Colour is a powerful storyteller, with each colour able to set a different mood and evoke different emotions. Both light and darker tones can work wonderfully in a contemporary kitchen, and while it can be tempting to stick with white or cream cabinets, playing with colour is a highly effective way to add character to your space in a way that feels personal to you.

Natural and earthy tones, such as smoke green, taupe and rusty red, shine in a kitchen space, as they offer a calming and nurturing atmosphere in a way that brings a sense of the outside in. However, many kitchens can also easily carry off richer or more intense jewel tones, such as indigo blue or fir green, which can offer a sense of drama that can be well-suited to dinner parties and entertaining.

The Transformative Power Of Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

From traditional door and drawer knobs to stainless steel t-bar handles, selecting the right hardware can elevate your kitchen cabinet doors and add the final finishing touches to your overall design.

If you choose cabinet doors with an ultra-modern look, a sleek square D-handle or our Camden bar handles in a satin chrome finish could allow you to make your contemporary vision a reality. However, the beauty of contemporary kitchen design is that you can mix and match different features and accessories in unexpected ways to great effect. So, you may prefer a more traditional shell style handle, or you may want to bring a touch of warmth into your design by choosing a brushed brass finish for your door and drawer handles.

Pro Tip: If you want to create a sleek and seamless kitchen that flows beautifully, you may prefer to choose either handleless kitchen doors or install slab style doors with a cleverly concealed push-to-open mechanism.

The Importance of Plinths, End Panels And Cornices

When replacing the door fronts on existing cabinets, you may need to consider whether any additional details will be necessary to ensure that your kitchen looks complete and is finished to a high standard.

Plinths and kickboards that match your chosen kitchen doors will effortlessly conceal any space between the bottom of your cabinets and the floor. As well as giving a seamless finish, this simple addition will also ensure that no crumbs or other debris can accumulate underneath your cabinets.

End panels fit neatly on the sides of cabinets that are exposed and visible. They help to give your kitchen a seamless, cohesive and finished look, which feels elevated and put together. Similarly, cornices, pelmets and capping rails are decorative mouldings that can be used to cleverly conceal any gaps at the top of your cabinetry and offer a polished, high-end finish.

Pro Tip: If you're not sure whether you'll need any of these extra features, we're always happy to offer our expert guidance and advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will high gloss kitchen cabinets go out of style in 2026?

High gloss kitchens first started to gain popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s, however they aren't showing any signs of going out of style anytime soon. As trends have evolved, gloss cabinets are now often combined with a variety of other materials in contemporary kitchens, such as natural stone countertops and natural wood floors to create a balanced, warm and inviting atmosphere.

Can I incorporate panelled cabinet doors into a contemporary kitchen?

Yes, Shaker style doors can be used within a contemporary kitchen design to effortlessly bring contrast and character to a space. You may want to consider a slimline Shaker style, such as our Waterford doors, which have narrower frames that offer a more minimal, lighter and streamlined look. Slimline Shaker doors are also well-suited to smaller spaces, as well as open-plan layouts that are popular in modern properties.