Grabill Cabinetry: New Influences, Colors and Style Options

Because we’re always curious about what’s on the horizon, we thought you might be, too.  When we want to know what’s new and now in kitchen cabinetry, we go to our main source for finishing and color trends: Grabill.

“When people see the Drury Design projects on our site, it takes us up a notch,” says Josef Carlock, dealer development at Grabill Cabinets.

“Since 1987, we’ve installed thousands of Grabill’s cabinets in Chicago kitchen remodels,” says Jim Drury, vice president of Drury Design. “No two projects are alike and everyone has custom details that we know Grabill can produce – beautifully.”

Thanks to Grabill’s master craftsmen, Drury Design can build innovative projects like this Chicago kitchen design, which won two NKBA 2015 awards: Best of Show and First Place Large Kitchen.

Recently, Josef walked us through what to watch in Grabill’s kitchen cabinetry design trends. He started off by talking about GenX homeowners.

GenX Homeowners Influence Kitchen Design Trends

Generation X, abbreviated as GenX, is the generation born between the early 60s and 80s.

Josef commented on this group’s rising influence, “Our audience, and the people that Drury Design is providing their products and services to, is different than it was 10 years ago. Most of our clients are now GenXers. GenXers have a distinctive style. They don’t want to live in the kitchen they grew up in. And, they will only invest money in a design that is a personal reflection of their lifestyle.”

Trendy? Why not?

Because Grabill strives to provide personalized solutions, the company is unique in the cabinetry world. “Clients often come to Drury to design one-of-a-kind kitchens that are different from their neighbors. We love that,” Josef says.

1. Kitchen Cabinetry Fashion Colors

Grabill is all about colors and flexibility in finishes. The company offers 60 finish colors; most of these are fashion colors. To preserve the color and finish, a UV protected clear coat is the last of up to 15 steps from sanding to finishing.

To curate their 2015 fashion color palette, Grabill dove in deep. Colors include Ice Blue, Calla Lily, Spruce Pine, Parsley, Cabernet, Cinnamon Spice, Yellow Daffodil, Pale Moon, Timber Wolf and Graphite.

Josef says, “Our latest review revealed that most of the trendy colors and custom finishes from 2014 came from Benjamin Moore, so we decided to use Benjamin Moore Color Trends for 2015 as a major influence on our newest standard finishes. We also looked at furniture trends (Brownstone, Lexington Home, Bernhardt, Noir), Color Marketing Group 2015, and KBIS displays including cabinetry, interior furnishings and counter materials from manufacturers like Cambria.

Although Grabill’s custom cabinets go into the most modern transitional kitchens, the company is very old school, and hands on, when it comes to production. Each piece of wood is hand selected for every room.
To explore Grabill’s cabinetry fashion color selection, check out Grabill’s styles and finishes gallery.

2. Grain Matched Veneers are Huge

Veneers, a very thin slice of a free wood adhered to plywood, have a distinct color or character that sets the tone for the room. Some are very busy, while others are monochromatic.

You may choose a glaze to set off the grain, which makes a mature and distinguishing statement. Grain matched veneers are the only kind Grabill makes, while other manufacturers offer grain matched veneers as an option.  Grain matched veneers are often used in fine furniture.

3. Glass Doors Grows in Popularity

Glass has the potential to create looks that breach notions of past, present, and future style. Glass inserts feature a variety of patterns, textures, and shades to create brilliant designs that are timeless works of art. To ensure durability and safety, glass inserts are tempered or backed by material.

4. Aluminum Frames Add Accents

Fascinating and appealing for their bold luster, aluminum frames create alluring and refined designs. With a number of different thicknesses and options for inserts, aluminum frames effortlessly lend themselves to sleek, sophisticated designs. When you visit the Drury Design Kitchen and Bath showroom, you’ll see a variety of ways to add aluminum accents to your modern transitional kitchen design.

5. Rustic Chic Touches Transitional Kitchens

What does Rustic Chic look like?

Think mountains meet modern metro with rough sawn floors, super clean straight lines, two or more cabinetry colors, at least three textures, and cabinetry like white oak rift with a slate gray stain textured with wire brushing to let the stain bite into it.

What cabinet colors are you considering in your Chicago kitchen design?

At Drury Design, award-winning designers partner with homeowners to translate individual style, desires and needs into inspirational, yet highly functional and focused solutions. Founded in 1987, Drury Design’s downtown Glen Ellyn, Illinois 7,500 sq. ft. studio showcases idea-packed kitchen and bath vignettes.