Old World design is all the rage in the New World these days. Homeowners and their builders are reworking neglected old properties and constructing brand- new villas that celebrate many of the architectural details and finishing touches brought from England, France, Italy and Spain during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Kitchens and baths are often the spaces most dramatically influenced by design elements from days of old. Today cabinetry and faucet fixtures in the kitchen and bath are taking on new looks that actually steal concepts from old standbys. Homeowners want to create kitchens and baths that feel like they were built centuries ago. A perfect way to achieve that Old World look is with finishes that echo yesterday, but perform like today.

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry offers finishes that unite the old with the new. For example, the brush mark crackle finish uses an eleven-step, hand-applied process to create the effect of a 17th- or 18th-century antique, but without the hassles and dangers of original antique finishes.

"This new finish is really interesting," says George Achey, president of Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry, which for 40 years has built custom cabinets that are classic while integrating the latest technology. "It uses the newest glaze, paint and finishing technologies to create a look that could easily be 100 years old. The good thing is that, even though the finish is "crackled," there are no signs of chipping. And the finishes aren't lead-based like some original antiques, so homeowners don't have to worry about harmful toxic paint."

Add the fact that many of these finishes are offered in a range of colors from white to black and a full spectrum in between, and you have complete customizable options.

Since these finishes are often best expressed on pieces with intricate details such as carved moldings, mantels and korbels, they are perfect complements to homes trying to recreate Old World elegance while maintaining modern amenities. Whether used simply on an accent piece or on a wall of cabinets coupled with modern day appliances, these finishing techniques are a great way to intermingle the old with the new. This trend continues to be popular with custom builders and designers, who often take two years to complete that perfect new house that looks like it has been around for centuries.

For more information on these new/old finishes, visit www.plainfancycabinetry.com.