Shaker — still the safest choice
Five-piece shaker doors with a clean inset panel have ruled kitchen cabinets for the better part of fifteen years for good reason. They look great in nearly every style of home — coastal Florida, modern, transitional, even farmhouse. Painted white shaker has become a cliché, but painted shaker in a deeper color (Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore, Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, sage green, soft black) is having a real moment. If you can't decide on a cabinet style, this is the choice you'll regret the least.
Slab — modern, clean, and growing
Slab doors are flat with no frame — just a single flush panel. They read modern, they're easy to clean, and they make any kitchen feel bigger. In rift-cut white oak or walnut they look stunning. In painted lacquer they look custom. The downside: slab doors show every imperfection, so the material and finish quality matter enormously. A cheap slab door looks like a cheap slab door. A good one looks like a million bucks.
Two-tone kitchens
Painted upper cabinets in a light color, wood or darker painted lowers, sometimes a different color for the island. This look is everywhere right now and works particularly well in Florida light. Just don't pick three radically different finishes — two complementary tones plus a metal accent is the sweet spot.
Reeded & fluted fronts
Vertical reeded details on cabinet doors, panels, and islands are appearing in higher-end design work. Done well, they add texture and visual interest. Done poorly, they look fussy. We recommend reeded only as an accent — on the island, on a cabinet end panel, on appliance panels — not on every door.
Glass-front uppers
Glass cabinet doors are a great way to break up a long run of solid uppers and show off dishes. Mullion patterns (true divided lite, X-mullion, etc.) add character. Clear glass for display, fluted or seedy glass when you want the texture without the visible stuff inside.
What we'd avoid in 2026
- Heavy raised-panel cabinet doors — they feel dated unless your home is genuinely traditional.
- Honey-oak stains — they're slowly making a comeback as "natural oak," but mid-tone golden oak still feels 1998.
- Bright cherry stains — same problem.
- Open shelving as a replacement for upper cabinets — pretty in photos, impractical in real life. Use them as an accent, not a main strategy.
How to choose for South Florida
Florida light is bright. White and very light cabinets can wash out, while medium-tone wood or painted color cabinets often look richer here than they would in a darker northern home. A few principles we apply to every kitchen we build:
- Pick the floor first, then the cabinets. Cabinets are easier to repaint than floors are to replace.
- Choose hardware that doesn't fight the cabinet. Brushed brass, polished nickel, or matte black are the safest choices and pair with nearly anything.
- Stay neutral on the perimeter, get adventurous on the island. A bold island color is easy to repaint in five years if you want to change it.
- Soft-close everything. Soft-close hinges and drawer glides add maybe $300 to a whole kitchen — and you'll appreciate them every single day.
Want a kitchen built by a local team who knows what works? Read about our kitchen remodeling services or request a free estimate.