Finishing Touches for a Modern Kitchen Makeover

A modern kitchen makeover usually starts with the cabinets, because they cover more of the room than anything else. But the details around them decide whether the result feels finished. Hardware, lighting, storage and countertops are the things you touch and look at every day.

Here is how to choose those finishing touches so they work with your updated cabinets rather than against them.

Start with cabinets that set a clean base

Modern kitchens rely on simple lines and calm, consistent surfaces. If your cabinet boxes are solid, you may not need new cabinets to get there.

• Refinishing keeps your doors, drawer fronts and boxes and changes the colour and finish. With cabinet refinishing, doors are sprayed in our shop with an industrial two-component coating and bake-cured, which gives a smooth, even surface.
• Refacing keeps your boxes and adds brand-new doors and drawer fronts, with the frames finished to match. It is the route to take if you want a different door style, such as a flat slab front in place of a dated raised panel.

Once the cabinets are settled, the finishing touches below pull the look together.

Hardware: small pieces with a big effect

Hardware is one of the quickest ways to signal a modern style. Long, slim bar pulls and simple edge pulls suit slab and Shaker doors alike. Matte black, brushed brass and brushed nickel are popular finishes, and sticking to one finish across the room looks deliberate.

A few practical points:

• Choose pull sizes in proportion to the door or drawer. Wide drawers usually look better with longer pulls.
• If you are keeping your existing doors, check the hole spacing of your current hardware before you shop, and mention any change at your quote.
• Handle a sample before you commit. Hardware that looks good but feels awkward gets noticed every day.

Doors and drawers that close quietly also make a kitchen feel more modern, so look at soft-close hinges and drawer slides when you plan the details.

Lighting: build it in layers

Good lighting makes refreshed cabinets look their best. Modern kitchens usually combine three layers:

• Ambient lighting, such as recessed ceiling lights, for general light across the room.
• Task lighting, such as under-cabinet strips, to light the countertop where you prepare food.
• Accent lighting, such as pendants over an island, to add interest and define the space.

Under-cabinet lighting deserves special attention, because it shows off both the counter and the finish on the cabinets above it. Think about colour temperature as well. A warm white flatters wood tones and warm paint colours, while a neutral white keeps cool greys and whites looking crisp. New wiring and fixtures should be handled by a licensed electrician, so plan that work alongside your cabinet project.

Organizers: keep modern surfaces clear

A modern kitchen looks its best with clear counters, and clear counters depend on good storage behind the doors. Custom cabinet organizers and space savers give everyday items a set place:

• Garbage and recycling pull-outs
• Under-sink storage
• Spice and pantry pull-outs
• Tray storage for baking sheets and cutting boards
• Blind-corner solutions for hard-to-reach corners

They are custom-built with soft-close, and they can be added on their own or with a refinish or reface. For bigger layout changes, custom carpentry and cabinet modifications can add an island, take uppers to the ceiling or convert doors to drawers. Our carpenters and finishers work under one roof, and the carpentry portion usually takes a day or two.

Countertops: the second-biggest surface

After the cabinets, countertops take up the most visual space in a kitchen. In a modern design, quartz and other stone-look surfaces with subtle or bold veining are common choices, and a waterfall edge on an island makes a strong statement.

When you choose a countertop to go with refreshed cabinets, bring a sample of your cabinet colour with you. Look at the two together in daylight and under kitchen lighting, since both can change how a colour reads. Countertops can be coordinated through FloForm, so you can plan the cabinets and countertops together.

Faucets, sinks and fixtures

A new faucet in matte black or brushed brass can tie in with your hardware and lighting. Keep the metal finishes consistent, or choose two that clearly work together, such as black pulls with a brass faucet.

We do not do plumbing, so a new sink or faucet needs a licensed plumber. Book them early so their work fits around your cabinet and countertop schedule.

Bringing a modern kitchen makeover together

The most finished modern kitchens repeat a small set of choices: one or two metal finishes, a limited colour palette and clear surfaces. Pick your cabinet colour first, then choose hardware, lighting, counters and fixtures to suit it. Browse our kitchen makeover gallery to see how finished kitchens combine these details.

Our family-owned team has been updating kitchens across the Lower Mainland since 2009, with 30+ in-house employees and no subcontractors. When you are ready, book a free in-home quote and we will look at your cabinets, talk through the finishing touches and give you clear, line-item pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need new cabinets to get a modern kitchen look?

Not always. If your cabinet boxes are solid, refinishing changes the colour and finish of your existing cabinets, and refacing adds brand-new doors in a more modern style, such as slab fronts, while keeping the boxes.

Should I change my hardware when I refinish my cabinets?

It is a natural time to do it, since your doors and drawer fronts are already coming off for refinishing. Mention new hardware at your free in-home quote so it can be planned with the rest of the project.

Do you install countertops?

Countertop installation is not part of our work, but countertops can be coordinated through FloForm, so you can plan new counters alongside your cabinet makeover.