The designers at Wilmington’s Markraft Cabinets, celebrating 30 years in business, love sharing their expertise with their clients. That’s why they compiled this list of their top 30 design ideas for kitchens and bathrooms.
 
Kitchens
 
1. Pot and pan storage drawers. Hate stooping to see what’s hidden in the back of a floor-level cabinet? Deep pull-outs make cookware easy to see and reach.

2. Drop zones. Countertop charging stations are convenient for powering up phones and tablets.

3. Built-in appliances. The refrigerator, dishwasher and other essentials share the rest of the kitchen’s design, with custom-fitted doors and side panels.

4. Under-cabinet lighting. Illuminate work areas with long-lasting, economical and cool-running LED technology.

5. Multiple colors in a cabinet layout. An island in a different color from other cabinets adds interest.

6. Floating shelves are an elegant choice for prized display items.

7. Crown moldings, chair rails and cabinet trim give a room extra visual interest.

8. Glass-front cabinets not only showcase fine china and glassware, they also make the kitchen feel bigger and airier.

9. Apron front sinks extend the sink surface down the cabinet front.

10. Entertainment zones. As much time as we spend in the kitchen, why shouldn’t it accommodate TV, music system and Internet devices?

11. Interesting backsplash tiles. Designers can call on an array of materials, including glass, marble and ceramics, in many colors and patterns.

12. Quartz countertops. These elegant and durable surfaces give a kitchen a bright, distinctive look. Favorite brands include Cambria and LG.

13. Large hardware. Big, bold handles, pulls and hinges can become a key design element.

14. Designated stations in the kitchen help the busy cook manage tasks and tools. Examples include a chopping station, coffee station and small appliance station.

15. Custom wood hoods. Range hoods are being built to harmonize with the cabinet design, or with a classic mantelpiece look.

16. Soft close doors and drawers. Ingenious hardware eliminates slamming and banging, ensuring cabinets and drawers are fully closed.

17. Furniture-style islands have a lighter, less built-in look, with details such as legs or decorative feet, and distinctive decorative panels.

18. Decorative end panels. Why settle for boring? Panels give cabinet ends the same look as the door.

19. Auxiliary sinks help avoid bottlenecks in the work flow. Examples are specialized prep sinks, clean-up sinks and vegetable sinks.

20. Pull-out faucets combine practicality with elegance. We love designs from Hansgrohe, Kohler, Moen and Brizo. 

Bathrooms

21. Towel warmers. What could be nicer when stepping out of tub or shower? Options include a wall fixture or a warming drawer.

22. Shower niches. Cut-outs in the wall hold the shampoo and other bath essentials.

23. Spa vanities. A floating vanity hangs on the wall but doesn’t extend to the floor. Minimalist furniture types stand on legs.

24. Steam showers. A Mr. Steam unit includes glass enclosures extending to the ceiling with such touches as jet sprays and waterfall heads.

25. Free-standing tubs. An old idea is new again! Right now the Victoria + Albert line has cornered the market on footed tubs.

26. Glass tile. Choices include accent tiles, floor tiles and large glass blocks.

27. Pebble floors provide a stimulating textured feel and therapeutic value for people with foot problems. These surfaces also are used as wall accents.

28. Integrated TV-light mirrors. Don’t miss your favorite show while getting ready. From ElectricMirror.com.

29. Decorative lighting: Bye-bye, Hollywood strips. Hello, beautiful sconces and pendants.

30. Wall mount faucets keep the sink top clear. Kohler and Rohl offer great ones. 

If these 30 ideas aren’t enough, Markraft’s designers have hundreds of others. You can meet with them, see product examples and browse through a dozen sample layouts in Markraft’s Design Center. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at 2705 Castle Creek Lane, just off Castle Hayne Road.
 
Since 1985, Markraft has specialized in cabinet and countertop design and installation in residential and commercial construction and custom remodeling. To learn more about Markraft, go to www.markraft.com. Contact Markraft at 910-762-1986 and like Markraft on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkraftCabinets.