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Finishing Touches in Your Kitchen

Using Moldings and Finishing Touches

Moldings are being used more and more to add personality and pizzazz to kitchen cabinets. Woods like oak, cherry, maple and other hardwoods add richness no other feature can match but details like fluted columns, beaded inset doors, valences, cornices, rosettes, galley rails and open shelves combine function and beauty in any room of the house, including kitchens and baths. View the gallery of finishing touches >>

Consider these molding ideas:

• Add wood knobs, trim and other details in a contrasting wood or finish to create a distinctive look.

• Top a cabinet or shelves with crown molding.

• Put moldings underneath the lip of a toekick.

• Run moldings around the corners and along the face of cabinets to add depth and eliminate the square, boxy look.

• Make the exposed sides of cabinets as attractive as the fronts by adding frames, moldings or shelving.

• Soffit areas are definitely a place for a personalized touch. Simple, single moldings (such as counter or light rail moldings) can be placed at the top and bottom of wall cabinet runs.

You can create the custom furniture look in your kitchen and distinguish your cabinetry from the rest with a wide variety of finishing touches including fluted pilasters, appliqués, carved ornaments, corbels, onlays, rosettes, valances, rope motifs, balusters and moldings. Whether you prefer a formal, elegant look, traditional charm or casual comfort, you can select just the right details to make an unforgettable impression.

Photos feature Fieldstone Cabinetry.