Two Cabinet Styles, One Kitchen

Have you ever thought about using two different cabinet styles in the same kitchen? That’s exactly what the owners of this home, in Portland, Oregon, did! This kitchen is actually part of an entire church that has been renovated into a lovely and luxurious single-family home.

Located on Ocean Avenue, this home has been completely redone to give it a fresh look, while maintaining the structural hints of its past. See the choir loft up above? The kitchen is the site of the former baptismal font, with a strikingly beautiful natural marble island countertop as its visual focus, which transcends all the way to the same backsplash. Gorgeous.

While the space is incredibly unique, my favorite feature is actually more subtle. There are two different kinds of cabinets incorporated into this space. The “main” version is the clean white, traditional cabinets similar to the Oasis style here. Its traditional design fits perfectly in line with the kitchen’s history and is used throughout the majority of the room.

Then, the owners added in another cabinet face, with a more distressed finish, as an accent cabinet style. This was installed exclusively in the perching and preparation islands in the center of the room, to add a dimension of depth to the kitchen. Think of it like getting highlights in your hair! We love this similar Savannah style here.

What I adore about this look is that it’s not immediately obvious, and it shouldn’t be that way. An observer entering the kitchen for the first time will be drawn to the cohesive, multi-layered aesthetic of the space, instead of discerning separate types of cabinets.

That’s the key to choosing two types of cabinets to complement each other; they must have similar themes, which in this case is the style and molding, and be in a related color family. This also works well in larger kitchens, as two kinds of cabinets in a smaller space might be too busy. Finally, make sure that the secondary cabinet finish (distressed) is never touching or adjacent to the main cabinet finish (white). This will ensure an even visual flow throughout the room, and avoid abrupt clashing.

Pairing two different kitchen cabinet finishes can be a seemingly unconventional approach, but result in a completely traditional and beautiful kitchen. Would you apply it to yours?

(Photos via Bangor Daily News)