are beech kitchens dated now? should i go for plain white?

Answer 1

Depends on the age and style of your house.

I live in an old house and we've got a kitchen made out of old pine.

But if I were in a modern house I'd go for white and glass.

Answer 2

Listen to Leo, he's right. If you get beech (or any other real wood) it will look better longer, and can always be painted for a different look. I'm a decorator, and wood kitchens are the most popular, but color is pretty big now too. Try doing wood in the main area and maybe the island or a built-in hutch in a paint color. Don't be shy - it could be black, red, green, or even a rich plummy color. Just pick your favorite. This breaks up the expanse of wood and gives a furniture feel to the pieces.

It is worth it to visit a big kitchen showroom and walk through displays - if you live near a big city, drive in and go to the biggest, fanciest kitchen store you can find. Go to a bookstore and buy some kitchen design magazines and a big coffee table book on kitchens - cabinets are expensive, so get a good idea of what you like before you begin, and show your collection of favorite pictures to the cabinet shop's designer.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

No, and no.
All woods are in. Beech is rarer, so it's got more coolness than oak, for instance. White kitchens are harder to maintain and many companies use inferior techniques to produce white cabinetry. Many of these are particle-board, with foil-wrapped doors and drawers. Foil wrapping uses heat and pressure to cover particle-board door and drawer fronts with a thin layer of laminate. Laminate is what they used to make counters out of (Formica, for example, is the best-known brand). The process uses extremely thin veneer, in order to allow it to be applied to a raised-panel door. Because it is so thin, it can chip. Also, with time, the sun will fade the doors to a different color than the cabinets. This doesn't look very nice.

If I were doing a white Kitchen, I'd choose an all wood cabinet and specify a painted-glazed finish. This is a two step finish that gives more texture and lasts longer. It's not pure white, and makes the cabinet and trim details stand out.

Answer 4

I like wood myself. With a good polyurethane finish coat it cleans up easily and is water proof. You don't need the $110/qt. I put on my wood boat (I like wood). You can tint the urethane coat green as I've done on occasion: lightly if you like the grain to show or darker if it's not so pretty. Just an idea. You can always paint over it, but stripping the paint off is a pain. The installation of new doors is a good idea if the frames are good. My neighbor picked up some seconds at a cabinet factory for less half price, and installed soffits that really made the kitchen stand out.

Answer 5

beech has gone out of favour now it seems, with either lighter woods like birch, or more commonly more opulent, richer woods like walnut. i'd love a walnut kitchen but it might be a bit gloomy. don't go for all-white, as it'll look old pretty quick. get cheap cabinets and expensive door fonts... works every time.

Answer 6

Myself i think that wood does look dated.
A lot of people might consider white to be boring and unimaginative. It appearsd to be a very popular colour now but cant always be said to be very inspirational.

You could try using Warm/Smokey Grey or Blue Grey.
These colours could both be considered nice with brushed silver or transluscent effect.

Silver Grey can also look nice and you could use it with some Orange.Yellow Orange could look especially nice.

You could use Orange with Warm Grey if you wished but you might not consider it right for a Kitchen.

Answer 7

Sometimes white cabinets go yellowy. It looks horrible if your appliances are white too.

It's not the wood that is dated, it's the style. Cabinets with rounded tops tend to look more country-ish and that makes them look dated. If you go for a shaker style, it will always been in style.

An easy way to update the style too, is to replace the knobs with stainless steel pulls.

Go to a renovation store and get some pamphets or look for some examples online for what you may like.

For better colour contrast, lighter cabinets look better with darker walls or darker paint looks great with lighter cabinets.

Home renos can be fun! Play with lighting too!

Good luck!

Answer 8

Hi, white or beech, well when you come down to it, it is up to you your choice and what you like.Doesn't really matter want others think,does it, unless you are for ever changing things to suit.Get what you like for a change.

Answer 9

Go for what ever you are comfortable with, all kitchens have different natural lighting and people have many ideas on what is the in thing, go for the finish you like as you are the one who will have to live with it, also fashions change and what is out to-day will be in to-morrow

Answer 10

both white and beech are very dated colours are all the rage red yellow even gray