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Particularly along the Pacific Rim, Asian styles are as influential in home décor as they are in cuisine. If you've chosen an Asian theme for your home, carrying it into the kitchen is easier than ever.

But Asian elements work well in other settings too. In recent centuries, Chinese and Japanese design and craftsmanship influenced Western movements from Arts & Crafts to high tech. In turn, Asian artisans adopted Western influences and made them their own. Asian-style cabinetry, whether traditional or modern, harmonizes nicely with Shaker, Mission, Modern, Contemporary, Industrial - just about any style that emphasizes simplicity and straight lines. With the right color, finish, and accessories, manufactured cabinets in those styles can be perfect.

The Japanese influence is seen in simple wood cabinets with a timeless quality: the wood itself is carefully chosen for its beauty, and the craftsmanship is meticulous. It's all about practical storage, efficiency, and making the most of tight spaces (e.g. some Asian manufacturers offer cabinets with sliding doors). The wood finish usually ranges from mellow to dark, and hand-wrought iron pulls and hinges complete the look. Versatile and classic, these cabinets look as great in an Arts & Crafts setting as they do surrounded by stainless steel. You can customize the features and finishes of cabinets available from many U.S. manufacturers to get a compatible look.

You can also opt to have your cabinets made in Asia (often using traditional methods and recycled wood) in a number of different styles and finishes. If, like Asian customers of years past, you tend to see these cabinets as heirlooms, you might also like the fact that many of these wall cabinets and islands are freestanding. Which may save you money on a future remodel - and also means that if you move, it's relatively easy to take the cabinets with you.

Another popular look: plain, unadorned cabinets painted with a lacquer-like enamel finish. It's hard to go wrong with red, but black is also a dramatic choice. Again, less is more. This clean, uncluttered style works well in homes from the most formal Asian décor to hip contemporary.

If you prefer your styles a bit more cutting-edge, you'll find that Asian thinkers have made an art form out of industrial design for decades. And since their ideas have taken hold all over the world, you'll have no trouble adapting them to your own kitchen. Here's an opportunity to use stainless steel, glass or brightly colored melamine finishes to make your statement. Think smooth, clean surfaces - showrooms may refer to sleek frameless cabinets as "European," but with the right treatment, they're very Asian.

Keep in mind that whatever era or mood they may evoke, Asian-style kitchen cabinets share some essential qualities. While the décor in other areas of the house may be downright ornate, the kitchen is all business, designed as a practical, efficient workspace.

That doesn't mean sacrificing beauty.  Whatever the style, the design is simple and elegant - and all the elements have to work well together. If you've got some strong ideas of what you'd like but you're not quite sure about how it all harmonizes, quality time with a good design professional is a very good investment.

Mission Kitchen Cabinets / Country Kitchen Cabinets / Italian Style Cabinets / Asian Style Kitchen Cabinets / Shaker Kitchen Cabinets / Primitive Kitchen Cabinets / European Style Kitchen Cabinets / Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets