What Kitchen Cabinets Do I Use for a Tropical Look?

Contemporary Tropical

• Contemporary tropical design is very common in areas of the U.S. like Florida and California. These styles offer a casual-chic and current design that is carefully merged with the beauty of the environment. For such a kitchen, choose simple and contemporary cabinets, and allow accessories to bring out the tropical flavor in the room. Contemporary cabinets are typically un-ornamented with flat doors. Often man-made materials like glass and plastic are used. To help this stark style blend with the warmth of the outdoors, try painted wood. White is crisp and clean, but also look at hues that bring the outdoors in, like green and blue.

Caribbean Plantation

• Perhaps your home's tropical design was inspired by a vacation destination. If that destination was the Caribbean, Colonial-style cabinetry is in order. Colonial style is defined as the combination of many European styles that were prevalent in the U.S. and the Caribbean during colonization; it is distinct in that it is slightly more rustic than the original European designs. These cabinet fronts are more decorative than contemporary cabinets without being overly fussy. Basic paneled doors work well. The cabinets also resemble furniture as opposed to built-ins, which can be accomplished through the use of furniture feet and posts on cabinets, especially islands. Rich wood cabinets are well suited for a Caribbean colonial home. Try dark yet warm cherry or rubberwood.

South American Tropical

• The design elements of tropical South America are very distinct from those of the U.S. and the Caribbean. To achieve a traditional South American design, use a combination of mission-style cabinetry and open shelving. Open shelving appears more rustic and casual and balances out the somewhat severe lines of mission-style cabinets. If you want a wood tone, a warm medium to dark finish works well. On the other hand, you can definitely go bolder with your color choices. A whitewash technique using an accent color from the rest of the room, for example, shows off the wood grain while adding a touch of warmth and flavor. Painted cabinets in a spicy red or bold yellow also work well here.

Blending Luxury Finishes With Tropical Style

• The problem with many modern kitchen designs is that they try to ignore immense appliances or pretend that a massive floor plan doesn't clash with a quaint country style. Old World style is the ideal means of making a large, modern and luxurious kitchen appear more down to earth, cozy and tropical. One reason this works well is because Old World proportions are much larger, meaning that a massive refrigerator and eight-burner stove will fit right in. As far as cabinetry, however, use color and texture to attain the tropical vibe. Dark, warm woods, again, are best; add leaded glass to add rustic charm. Painted lower cabinets or an island with natural wood upper cabinets achieve a collected vibe. Choose bright, warm, tropical paint colors but with an antique finish. Throw in a palm tree print on the curtains, and you've merged Old World style with high-end finishes and tropical flair.