Compatible counter and flooring choices can make maple cabinets shine in any kitchen decor. To some homeowners, maple kitchen cabinets add a warm, homey touch to the kitchen. For others, they seem hopelessly out-of-date and depressing. Used for furniture-making since colonial times, fine-grained hardwood maple is known for its durability and a distinctive golden-brown glow, which can be enhanced with clear varnish or natural stain. Your choices of floor and countertops can make traditional maple cabinetry a partner in contemporary kitchen design. Honoring Tradition Although the warm glow of maple enhanced many country and country-style kitchens, materials choices can let you respect tradition without countrified decor. For a welcoming maple-based kitchen, granite counters reference older times and houses. The flecked surface of granite stone offers a refreshing contrast to maple's smooth uniformity. Another stone once obtained and cut from local quarries, soapstone is now widely available for smooth, durable countertops.

Wood flooring in a hue similar to that of the cabinets recalls simpler times and building materials, and your whole kitchen will project a warmth that only natural materials can offer. Highlight the warmth of your wood floor with a rag rug or other handwoven mat for a historically respectful but contemporary look. Maximizing Warmth Let maple cabinets form the foundation for a warm, comfortable kitchen whose main theme is to welcome. In a cozy kitchen, stew trumps puff pastry, family conversations flow and guests never notice the living room. Diy Platform Patio FurnitureNatural materials can again serve for countertops, and butcher-block countertops provide flexible, maximum workspace for a kitchen where there is more than one cook. Indoor Plant SpotlightsSynthetic countertops with an acrylic or resin base can offer a seamless look, easy maintenance and the advantage of multiple color choices. Red And White Plaid Duvet Cover

Enhance the golden tones of maple with counters in a traditionally warm yellow, orange, red or brown tone. Explore terracotta pavers and other tile floor treatments for an easy-maintenance, naturally warm floor. Expect a wide variety of color choices from dark browns and grays to sandstone and wheat tones. Welcoming Nature A palette that contains both cool and warm colors suits a contemporary kitchen with easily accessible outdoor views. Materials and color choices matter equally when keying kitchen decor to the surrounding garden, woodland or water views. Local natural stone, sand or earthy surfaces offer hints for the visual texture of both countertops and floors. Take color cues from the mossy green of your woodland garden or the lavender-gray of a late-day sky. Add a paler or deeper shade of maple for contrast. Natural hardwood is a good flooring choice, as is sustainable, eco-friendly cork flooring. For the long-lasting decor scheme, however, your color range remains subdued, and the views from your windows serve as the strongest decorative element in your room.

Ultramodern Maple Maple's fine grain and satiny surface make it a suitable cabinet material for even super-contemporary kitchens. Glossy surfaces like brushed stainless steel and ceramic tile provide clean lines against which the uniform surface of maple cabinets serves as another color block. Hard-surfaced, shiny floor coverings like sheet vinyl and polished tile can be used in almost any color preferred to finish a room whose clean lines and reflective surfaces convey both energy and calm. A Note on Adaptability Although maple cabinets often appear in natural finishes, the wood's tight and unblemished grain makes it a good vehicle for paints and stains. Although the previous suggestions are based on natural maple, cabinet color change is another decor option. Departments Appliances Building Supplies Doors Flooring Hardware Heating & Cooling Home Decor Lawn & Garden Lighting & Fans Outdoor Living Plumbing Storage Tools Windows Rooms Kitchen Bathroom Garage Outdoor Living Laundry Room Kitchen Gallery Browse and get inspired by our kitchen scenes below, which feature Special Order cabinets from quality brands.

See something you like? Visit your local Lowe's and speak with a store representative to help make your dream a reality. Find a Store Gallery Loading... Virtual Room Designer With the Lowe's Virtual Room Designer, you can reinvent your kitchen, from top to bottom, online. Start with upgrading your cabinets and countertops since that is the best way to make a dramatic change. Lowe's has a wide variety of Special Order cabinets and countertops available to choose from, from granite, laminate and quartz countertops to oak, cherry, walnut and maple cabinets. You're sure to find something to fit your budget and style. Design your ideal kitchen online and then shop at your local Lowe's for everything you need to redesign your kitchen. Learn More Replace a Kitchen Sink Your kitchen sink is a busy place — everything from food prep to cleanup happens here — so eventually it will need to be replaced. Watch Video Kitchen Cabinet Buying Guide Kitchen remodeling offers one of the highest return-on-investment results of any home improvement project.

Learn More Featured ContentAntique pendant lights sparkle above an expansive island in this family kitchen. By housing the sink, dishwasher, and other kitchen amenities in the island, storage space is maximized in the surrounding cupboards and cabinets. Sage tones in the tiling and upholstery balance the warm pine cabinets. Floor tiles made from tumbled travertine keep the space rustic and cozy. A clean-lined contemporary kitchen is warmed by light oak cabinetry. Two sinks and modern stovetops emphasize functionality on the island. A mix of materials—black concrete countertops paired with light wood—gives the kitchen a friendly feel. Blanched Wood in a Sunny Kitchen Antique oak beams and a vintage counter from France add patina to this sunny kitchen. Tall windows connecting to a peaked skylight allow sunlight to spill into the space, keeping it light and airy. A chandelier hanging above the counter matches the blanched wood of the cabinets; French limestone countertops tie the peaceful palette together.

Designer: Ann Runyon Carter Wood Paneled Butler’s Pantry Cabinet doors with wire fronts were backed with shirred fabric for a French country style in this butler’s pantry.  Custom chartreuse countertops complement the walnut cabinets. Painted Wood Kitchen With Island A new cherry island with a bowed limestone top offers seating for two. Maple perimeter cabinets are painted linen white and rubbed with a truffle-colored glaze. The cabinets stretch up to the ceiling to maximize storage space while preserving the kitchen’s old-world look. The room is unified with Italian travertine floor tiles reminiscent of old European cobblestones. Weathered-finish faucets by Herbeau add charm. Tall Honey Cabinets With Detailing Honey-toned pine cabinetry and dark green subway tile backsplashes give the kitchen the feel of an old English country house. The cabinets are crowned with dentil molding that lends formality to the space. With its beamed and barrel-arched ceiling, this kitchen provides space and functionality for a family of five without sacrificing style.

The wooden cabinets are lightly glazed to match the cream granite countertops. Neutral hues allow for more dynamic patterns and accent colors, like the glazed pots on top of the cabinets. Designer: John Phifer Marrs Green design rules in this Arkansas kitchen whose staggered-height maple cabinets are made with wood products containing no formaldehyde or toxic glues. Concrete floors are stained a caramel color and scored diagonally in 18-inch squares. Zero VOC paints used on the beadboard island and other interior surfaces emit no volatile organic compounds. Architectural Designer: Suzanne Lantz Rich, dark, and elegant, the cabinets in this period-style Georgia kitchen feature doors designed with a simple beaded inset and little ornamentation other than simple hardware. Marble countertops add a gleaming presence, while a 9-foot-tall refrigerator armoire provides dramatic focal point. The floor is crafted from oak with an English chestnut stain. Kitchen Designer: Kim Neilsen

Durability and a sense of warmth were the prerequisites for a kitchen whose ultimate occupants would be a Michigan family with teenage boys. Informal without being country, the knotty pine cabinets partner with nearly indestructible granite countertops. Hardwood floors and wood pulls extend the focus on natural materials. Interior Designer: Joseph A. Keenan Custom-built by the designer and his dad, these mahogany kitchen cabinets feature full inset doors and drawers and brass bin pulls. The cabinet's rich dark color, Craftsman lines, and Black Brazilian soapstone counters suit the overall design goal of choosing everything to suit a Mission Revival bungalow built in the 1920s. Remodeled for a busy family with young children, this kitchen now features custom cherry cabinets with recessed panel doors and Verde Ubatuba granite countertops. The flooring is birch with a satin poly finish. Red leather barstools add dynamic splashes of color. Interior Designer: Bradley Stephens

Richly toned alder cabinetry helps this kitchen achieve its goal of presenting a warm Tuscan appearance-even though it is located in Arizona. A brick-vaulted ceiling, stone sink, and limestone countertop help integrate the alder kitchen into the rest of the home and its pigmented, hand-plastered walls. Kitchen Designer: Mick De Giulio Interior Designer Billi Springer For a fresh take on Victorian-era formality, this century-old kitchen was designed around the existing stately copper hood from the 1930s. Cherry cabinets from Wood-Mode sport recessed-panel doors and a warm finish with hints of gold that complement the hood's copper tones. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets with shirred fabric panels behind glass-front doors resemble an old-fashioned cupboard. Deep green quartz-surfacing countertops add rich color. Kitchen Designer: Florence Perchuk, CKD Stately walnut cabinets with a chocolate finish create a polished framework for stainless-steel wall ovens and wine refrigerators in this New York kitchen.

The twin refrigerators were elevated on a stainless-steel panel so they would be the same height as the wall ovens-creating a balanced presentation. Between the appliances, a bar area with open shelving features a white milk-glass countertop for glamor. Chunky glass knobs add a touch of glitz. Kitchen Designers: Robert Schwartz, Karen Williams Interior designers: Peter Balsam, Jayne Goldstein Part of a Tuscan-style kitchen in New York, this stately island is made from reclaimed chestnut with a tung-oil finish. Buff-color perimeter cabinets feature Giallo Reale marble slabs from Walker Zanger. The beautiful flooring is reclaimed white oak. Sleek maple cabinetry with a natural finish partners beautifully with stainless-steel appliances and a rugged concrete countertop. Full overlay doors sport a modern attitude enhanced by intermittent pieces of frosted glass and silver-tone knobs and pulls. Photo: My House in the Mountain States, McGraw-Hill Companies Cabinets in Poplar and Oak

Build for a professional chef, this kitchen features cabinets handcrafted by a local artisan. Upper cabinets are white-painted poplar and lower ones are charcoal-stained quarter-sawn white oak: all with flush inset doors and sturdy satin nickel pulls and knobs. The 14-foot-long island is topped in honed granite. Part of an eco-friendly home project in California, these cabinets are made from Lyptus hardwood, a fast-growing hardwood grown in managed forests in Brazil. The cabinets feature full overlay, flat panel doors and interiors crafted from a non-formaldehyde plywood. Recycled glass-and-tinted concrete countertops can be recycled again. The translucent IceStone backsplash tiles contain recycled glass. Stately white pillars frame a view of this Massachusetts kitchen whose homeowner was looking for "sophisticated casual" style with limited color and patterns. Oak cabinets with a warm finish were chosen to anchor the look, with crown molding for elegance and black granite countertops for character.

The hardwood floor shows off a painted checkerboard pattern. Multicolor Windsor barstools add a touch of whimsy. Quarter-Sawn Red Oak Cabinets Two tall ebony-stained pantries bookend Cloister-style cabinets from Plain & Fancy crafted from quarter-sewn red oak with a black glaze. Shaker-style doors add quiet style to a room designed for a young professional couple. Next to the ceiling, a row of aluminum cabinet doors with frosted-glass insets add polish. Ann Sacks backsplash tiles unify the color scheme. The countertops are made from mocha-color CaesarStone quartz-surfacing. Although new, this Washington kitchen was designed with such patina and character it looks as if it had been around for at least a century. The kitchen works around a custom center island built of heavily knotted alder planks that were stained, glazed, and distressed with knives and forks to add the look of age. The green-painted cabinets are from Neu Woodworks; the backsplash and countertop are jumbled marble from Ann Sacks.