Rustic Kitchen Cabinets – Old is Beautiful
Rustic kitchen cabinets are very stylish and elegant. These fit perfectly in traditional and country style homes as they effectively represent that old-fashioned and cozy look. There are a few points to consider when choosing and designing rustic cabinets to ensure they remain clean, functional, and long-lasting.
Alder is great to work with when building rustic kitchen cabinets. It is a type of soft wood with a straight grain and a fine texture. Generally, the color is light brown with hints of red and yellow. You can barely tell the difference between heartwood and sapwood, but sufficient exposure to UV light will reveal striking contrast. Compared to other types of hardwood, alder does not easily change color when exposed to light. Sometimes it can take years before it changes, while others with minimal light exposure almost never darken. Rustic alder cabinets are very elegant and provide a warm and relaxing atmosphere through their soft effect.
Cherry is another great hardwood to work with when building rustic kitchen cabinets. Colors can range from off-white to red to brown, depending on whether you are using sapwood or heartwood. Heartwood darkens easily over time when exposed to light. Although there are several colors to choose from, the sapwood is generally more prominent creating a fine combination of hues. Cherry is one of the most popular materials when creating a rustic design.
Hickory is one of the strongest guys to work with. It has unique grain patterns that stand out. Rustic kitchen cabinets can be easily obtained without having to polish or finish the wood, as the walnut color palette is so versatile. There are also true knots that create a natural look. Even the headboards of the cabinets can have knots through which some light passes.
Other great hardwoods are red oak and maple. These are very durable and versatile with visible grain and knots that bring your cabinets to life in the right light. You can effectively create that rustic feel by simply leaving them in their natural state without polishing or painting. You can choose to add vintage finishes or stains if you want a very old country feel.
