Review of stylish kitchen cabinets and their features

Felix December 5, 2018Specialization: philological education. 20 years of experience as a builder. Of these, for the last 15 years he led a team as a foreman. I know everything about construction - from design and zero cycle to interior design. Hobbies: Vocals, psychology, quail breeding.

Furniture with sliding doors will allow you to make maximum use of your kitchen space.

Greetings, my dear readers.

A wardrobe in the kitchen or in a combined room is slightly different from its usual counterparts, designed for storing linen and clothes. Let's understand these features.

Features and purpose

Most people do not accept the use of such models in the kitchen or dining room, but it is precisely this piece of furniture that adds zest to the interior. Apartments of the old stock do not have a large area for installing a compartment; a way out of the situation would be to make them to order.

The sliding wardrobe for the kitchen has a special feature: its design is somewhat different from the standard variations designed for storing clothes. There are no rods inside to place hangers; they are replaced with large, spacious shelves. It is recommended to store on such elements:

• winter preparations in jars;
• small household appliances – mixer, meat grinder, juicer;
• household utensils;
• large utensils for cooking.

In addition to regular shelves, the interior space has space for drawers, where it is convenient to store cutlery. Depending on the dimensions of the kitchen, the size of the product is selected, the facades of which are made in accordance with the interior of the room.

The sides of the product must have a surface that will not require unnecessary effort to maintain. When choosing glossy facades, you should expect daily cleaning of the kitchen.

Where a sliding kitchen is especially appropriate

But is a sliding kitchen suitable everywhere? Most likely, such facades will not fit into a classic interior. In the Empire or Baroque style they will also not be entirely appropriate. A sort of alien element. But in any modern style, such cabinets will demonstrate your practicality and ability to respond to fashion trends. Glass doors in a high-tech kitchen that slide apart, controlled from a remote control or from a phone, will certainly impress your guests.

In an avant-garde style kitchen, hinged doors will also look like an anachronism. Modern style, minimalism, loft - all these styles are “tailored” to a large space. Sliding doors help save space in the kitchen and make staying in it more comfortable. In a minimalist style, sliding doors hide everything you need. Empty horizontal planes are a “feature” of the style.

Varieties

Decorating kitchens with sliding wardrobes is a rare phenomenon. That is why there are very few ready-made options on the consumer market. Users who equip their kitchen area with such a product often order furniture according to individual drawings with a clearly selected design. Kitchen cabinets with sliding doors can be divided into 2 types:

• built-in - such models are most optimal for placement in large kitchens. Having a free niche, you can easily fit the cabinet into the room. The model has advantages, including huge capacity, a variety of internal contents, and the ability to use the product as a storage room. The user himself decides how high the shelves will be, how many drawers are needed to place utensils, and whether hooks are needed. Sliding doors in this design are mounted at the end of the wall and ride on roller guides located on the floor;
• cabinet - a stationary sliding wardrobe is suitable for small-sized kitchens. Its dimensions can also vary according to the preferences of the owners, however, it is much easier to find such a ready-made model than a built-in one. The contents of this option usually contain shallow shelves and a small number of drawers.

According to the shape, cabinet models are angular and rectangular. The first option is appropriate in the case of a free unused corner in the kitchen. The interior of such a cabinet is spacious, but it is inconvenient to place dishes here.

Built-in

Hull

Doors

For a small space, hinged doors may not be suitable for a cabinet, since if they are not closed, constant impacts cannot be ruled out. An excellent alternative is sliding doors, which are more functional and visually attractive.

You can buy designs not with doors, but of the open type. If, however, you purchased a cabinet equipped with doors, then they do not necessarily have to be opaque. Install glass doors to add maximum space to the room.

And if there is only one window opening in the room, then such doors will help add more light. With proper placement, lighting will help create coziness.

When choosing a cabinet, do not forget to focus on the palette, which will affect both the general mood and the desire or reluctance to stay in the room. Warm colors awaken the desire to eat, but cold colors suppress it.

To decorate a small room, purchase furniture with a light palette, this way you will add more light to the space and visually make it larger.

The filling of structures must also be determined in advance. First of all, these are storage systems located inside. You can give preference to corner metal structures, containers, drying, drawer dividers.

The sophisticated storage design allows you to keep your food and utensils in perfect order while still making them as easy to access as possible. However, it is important to understand that the filling can be quite expensive.

Manufacturing materials

Depending on the design of the kitchen cabinet, the materials used to make it will vary. For example, a built-in model is often made of plasterboard, and the owner can make the frame for installation himself. This material is attached to pre-prepared metal profiles using self-tapping screws. After this, the niche is finished and the cabinet itself is built in.

When considering stationary compartments, it is worth highlighting the following manufacturing materials:

• natural wood;
• wood materials - chipboard, MDF, fiberboard.

Solid wood is rightfully considered beautiful and environmentally friendly. Not only does it have an elegant structure, but it emits a unique aroma long after the furniture is installed. Such raw materials are reliable and practical and do not cause allergies. Solid wood has a peculiarity: it is difficult to process and easily absorbs moisture, so before purchasing a product for the kitchen, it is worth checking about the moisture resistance of the furniture.

Chipboard and fibreboard are widely used for the production of built-in and stationary wardrobes. They are affordable, have a variety of designs, and are wear-resistant. All cabinet filling is made from these materials. MDF is used to decorate door facades. At the user's request, they can have a glossy or matte surface, be grooved or smooth.

If you plan to install a mirror on one of the compartment doors, consider not placing the cabinet next to the stove.

Wood

Chipboard

MDF

Facade finishing

There is no point in giving advice here, since everyone has different preferences. Some people will prefer exclusively frosted glass, while others will like a bright red glossy surface, which will also have reflective effects.

Posting rules

Stylish kitchens with sliding wardrobes are an original method of interior design. By choosing the right place to install this piece of furniture, you can completely transform the design of the room. To install built-in models, it is necessary to have a niche or unused space where the construction of a cabinet is allowed.

To install the cabinet according to all the rules, it is recommended to pay attention to the following tips:

• place the compartment along the wall opposite the window - this will give you a better view when accessing the dishes;
• installation near the kitchen door will hide the cabinet from the view of guests;
• if there is a large area, it is recommended to install a U-shaped compartment above the door and on the sides of it;
• with the help of a cabinet you can easily divide the kitchen into zones - then the product on the blind side should have a corresponding design.

The sliding wardrobe must be mounted so that there is easy access to the doors. Do not place the product near heating radiators.

Nuances of choice

The main parameters of a kitchen cabinet are functionality, aesthetic appearance and durability. In addition, the product should not be afraid of moisture. In the photo below you can see examples of original sliding wardrobes for the kitchen area. When choosing a model, pay attention to the following criteria:

• material - traditionally cabinets are made from laminated chipboard - they are reliable and durable, resistant to moisture. Pay attention to the edge along all visible ends of the product - it will help protect the wood from damage;
• mechanisms - there are two types - roller and monorail. The first option for door movement involves moving them along grooves, which periodically move and require correction. The monorail mechanism is easy to use, as it is securely fixed in the structure;
• dimensions - if the kitchen is small, a sliding wardrobe can completely replace the entire working set. All you have to do is order a cooking surface and the kitchen is ready;
• color palette - from a practical point of view, you should not choose white and light colors for kitchen furniture - they are too easily soiled. Give preference to bright or subdued colors.

Installing a wardrobe in the kitchen is a good solution for small spaces. The built-in model will be relevant if there is a large area, as well as for placing a lot of dishes and accessories.

Design of a kitchen apron in the form of sliding wardrobes

Wide, voluminous compartment doors look most attractive in modern interiors. And the kitchen is no exception. To achieve the desired effect, you can combine the cabinet and kitchen apron area into a single cabinet.

The functionality of this solution is beyond doubt: virtually the entire wall is used for storing numerous jars of spices, cutlery and other kitchen accessories. At the same time, there is no feeling of redundancy and clutter; everything is hidden from prying eyes by sliding panels.

Only the apron area can be equipped with sliding doors. This achieves optimal zoning: on the “apron” you can place small jars and kitchen utensils in one row, and use the cabinets for full storage.

Not just any sliding system can be used to implement such an idea. Since it is better to keep the working surface intact, without damaging the top layer, installing mortise guides is undesirable.

• The lower guide of the sliding system should be compact and overhead, or even absent altogether (as in hanging compartments).
• The lower rollers should be designed so as to eliminate the possibility of scratching the tabletop and jamming.
• It is advisable not to frame the panels of the sliding apron with a side profile at all. This creates a feeling of massiveness and does not fit into the design concept.
• In addition, material of different thicknesses can be used as sliding panels. But it is advisable to use acrylic, tempered glass and plastic with a thickness of 4-5 mm.

Photo