Rustic Kitchen Cabinets – Old is beautiful

Rustic kitchen cabinets are very elegant and stylish. These fit perfectly into traditional and country-style homes as they effectively represent that cozy old fashioned look. There are a few points to consider when choosing and designing rustic cabinets to ensure they stay clean, functional, and long-lasting.

Alder is great to work with when building rustic kitchen cabinets. It is a soft type of hardwood with straight grain and fine texture. The color is generally light brown with hints of red and yellow. You can barely tell the difference between the heartwood and sapwood, but enough exposure to ultraviolet light will reveal a striking contrast. Compared to other types of hardwood, alder does not easily change color when exposed to light. Sometimes it can take years to change, while other times with minimal light exposure they 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. The heartwood easily darkens 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 shades. Cherry is one of the most demanded 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 achieved without having to sand or finish the wood, as the color palette of walnut is so versatile. There are also true knots that create a natural look. Even cabinet headboards can have knots that some light gets through.

Other great hardwoods are red oak and maple. These are highly 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 any kind of glaze or paint. You may choose to add antique finishes or stains if you want a very old country feel.