--- title: "Chicago Custom Cabinets: Is Transitional Your Style?" description: Designing Chicago custom cabinets usually comes down to choosing between 3 different styles. In this article we break down the transitional style. image: https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/hs-fs/file-1253849160-jpg/Gallery/Album/10878/omegakitch1.jpg --- [![KBU-brighter-blue](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/hubfs/KBU_May2019/logos/KBU-brighter-blue.png "KBU-brighter-blue")](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com) [![CONTACT US](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/265052/7bd3552a-d2ef-4ec1-bf75-cd56b7181b8f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/265052/7bd3552a-d2ef-4ec1-bf75-cd56b7181b8f) ![Portfolio](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Portfolio.png?width=1920&name=Portfolio.png "Portfolio") Blog # Chicago Custom Cabinets: Is Transitional Your Style? [Ron Nanberg](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/blog/author/ron-nanberg) | Wed, Feb 25, 2015 | [Kitchen Remodeling](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/blog/topic/kitchen-remodeling) ![Chicago Custom Cabinet Style & Design](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/hs-fs/file-1253849160-jpg/Gallery/Album/10878/omegakitch1.jpg?width=475&name=omegakitch1.jpg "Chicago Custom Cabinet Style & Design")Traditional or contemporary? Are you stuck on which way you want to go with your kitchen design? Before you flip that coin, you need to take a look at some transitional kitchens that blend the best of both design worlds. Traditional kitchen designs focus on more intricate design details and homey touches that create a cozy and nostalgic aesthetic. Modern designs are more about [clean, crisp lines and adornment-free surfaces](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/blog/bid/352128/Kitchen-Design-Ideas-Chicago-Creating-a-Modern-Kitchen). Transitional kitchens take a little of this and a little of that to yield a kitchen design that cohesively blends both styles. ## **Use Chicago Custom Cabinets to Create a Transitional Kitchen Design** In most cases, [your Chicago custom cabinets](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/blog/bid/278127/Why-Choose-Custom-Cabinetry-Over-Stock-Cabinets) will be the focal point of your kitchen design so this is a good place to start. You will notice that most transitional kitchens use doors with flat center panels - no extra woodworking details - such as shaker-style doors. These create a jumping board from which homeowners can add a mix of traditional and modern accents to suit their tastes. Here are some examples from the [Kitchens & Baths Unlimited Portfolio](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/portfolio) that demonstrate how you can blend traditional accents with modern kitchen design features. **Regal transitions**. In [this kitchen](http://my.zerys.com//ProjectTitleAttachment/dsc_6938175318.jpg), there is an almost even mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings and fixtures. We see a modern stainless steel hood boasting an antique coat of arms. Marble countertops are installed on flat-recessed panel doors. The black-and-white [color scheme is timeless](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/blog/bid/305815/Do-All-of-My-Kitchen-Cabinets-Need-to-Be-the-Same-Style-and-Color) but the detailed crown moulding around the ceiling perimeter is a distinctly traditional touch. **Barely traditional.** Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference between a transitional and modern kitchen and the differences are in the small details. [This kitchen](http://my.zerys.com//ProjectTitleAttachment/dsc_6812175410.jpg) borders on contemporary but the crown moulding and traditional bar chairs are the detailed features that keep it from moving solidly into the modern category. **Barely contemporary**. Here, we have [the opposite end](http://my.zerys.com//ProjectTitleAttachment/dsc_5469175442.jpg) of the transitional spectrum. The trim accents and slightly more ornate custom cabinets, combined with that beautifully coffered ceiling, are all indicative of a traditional kitchen design. However, the cabinets are frameless and the black granite countertops and sleek kitchen sink faucet give it a bit of a contemporary boost. **The even split**. Here [we have a kitchen](http://my.zerys.com//ProjectTitleAttachment/omegakitch1175521.jpg) that is a pretty even split. The cabinets are transitional but the homeowners selected contemporary hardware. The hood is almost retro in its look, which also straddles the traditional and contemporary style line. The repurposed kitchen island has an old fashioned look but the large stainless steel refrigerator is decidedly contemporary. These kitchens are proof that you don't have to choose one style over another. With a transitional kitchen design, your goal will be to blend the elements you like best from each style. In most cases, your Chicago custom cabinets will be the key to making that smooth transition. Schedule a consultation with [Kitchens & Baths Unlimited](https://www.kitchensbathsunlimited.com/). Our design team can help you find the perfect balance between your tastes to create a beautiful, cohesive and timeless kitchen design. 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