Besides being a conversation piece, luxury custom cabinetry adds a unique richness and character to a home. With alder becoming the 'new oak' in popularity, those looking for unusual custom cabinets are adding doors and frames made from materials such as stainless steel and hardwood. These items are extremely expensive, but the finished look is well worth the effort.

Stainless Steel Inserts

The newest trend in upper kitchen cupboards or custom cabinetry in offices is the addition of stainless steel to wood frames and mullion frames (frames with bars in the middle) rather than using it on its own. The frames are coated with black stain or solid lacquer and often given a grey or metallic glaze. Then, stainless steel mesh woven into intricate patterns is mounted into the frames instead of traditional glass.

Lacewood, Curly Koa, And Peroba Rosa

Soft variegated wave patterns in these woods along with their warm colors add a comforting feeling to any room. From Australia, Lacewood can have a soft wavy pattern or it can have strong rays woven throughout if it is quarter-sawn. Curly Koa, from the island of Hawaii is traditionally used for the bodies of guitars and ukuleles; however, it is starting to appear more often in custom cabinetry. Peroba rosa, or amarillo, originates in areas of Brazil and is most notable for its soft, unusual colors of purple, pinks, yellows, and reds. When given a natural finish, the colors will deepen are darken with age.

These woods are durable and strong making them ideal for kitchen cupboards. To keep down the costs, they are often used as veneers or inlays in tiger maple. To get a similar look for less, custom staining done in suitable colors can be used on tiger maple or flaming birch.

Teak, Padouk, Rosewood, And Tigerwood

These woods are used in luxury custom cabinetry for their strong, striped colors. Teak is nothing new to custom cabinets, but the way it is being used is changing. This soft, oily wood was formerly popular for outdoor furniture and now it is being used to create gorgeous countertops and cabinet doors. It does not mould well, so it is best kept to sharp clean lines to eliminate flaking.

Tulipwood and its close relative Brazilian rosewood, with its perfumed smell, along with another Brazillian species tigerwood are also stunning additions to custom cabinetry. These are some of the most expensive woods available and are best saved for small inlays and ornamentation. These woods are endangered species, so if you choose to uses these woods in kitchen cupboards, you want to be sure that they come from a plantation or other eco-friendly source.

Exotic hardwoods and stainless steel are a stunning addition to luxury custom cabinetry. Use them to create stunning mitered doors, add beautiful inlays, or as a small border around an island. These materials make it easy to create a dazzling design that will stay in fashion forever.