While flat-panel cabinets are available in solid wood, the most affordable versions are made with thermofoil, melamine, or laminate. Metal is also an option for those in search of a minimalist ...

Also, certain cabinet styles lend themselves better than others to glass uppers. A flat panel cabinet, for example, is too simple for this effect. There is no sculpted edge for the glass.

(The runner-up, flat-panel cabinets, secured only 22% of the vote.) “It adds subtle dimension while maintaining simplicity, allowing us to incorporate other interesting design elements without ...

It’s expensive to remodel a kitchen, and cabinets can make up 30% of the costs, so make sure you or an owner five to 10 years in the future won’t think the look has gone out of style, she says.

"For boring flat panel cabinets, add oversized architectural pulls in a contrasting finish for a more elevated look," she says. Anwar also praises the benefits of brand-new hardware.

If a balanced panel is exposed to the same environment on both sides it will remain flat. The example below shows a balanced and unbalanced construction.

She needed to keep the kitchen’s original flat panel cabinets intact for storage purposes but did give them a major facelift. “I sanded and repainted them myself to match the wall paint color ...