Kitchen design styles are easier to recognize with your eyes than with words: Check out these some of our favorite kitchen design styles, then tell us which one takes the cake for you!
It’s the place where you prepare your meals and spend time with your family, as well as entertain! With as much time as you spend here, you want it to be comfortable, relaxing, functional in the area you’re working in, and of course beautiful! Depending on how small or large your family is, or how old your home is, you may or may be ready for a kitchen remodel! If so, these are great styles to consider.
Traditional Kitchen Design Style
Traditional kitchens are defined by their details, which can include arches, decorative moldings, and corbels, raised-panel cabinets, a mix of antique finishes and furniture-like turned legs — even a chandelier. Whether they have a classic American or old-world flavor, they still carry the stamp of their owners’ personal style.
Elements of a Traditional Kitchen:
- Architectural details
- Flush inset or framed cabinetry
- Glazed and antique cabinet finishes
- Mixed door styles and finishes
- Decorative cabinet door inserts.
- Decorative moldings and corbels
- Architectural details for cabinetry
- Luxury countertop materials
- Ornate and decorative lighting
- Custom metal, plaster and stone hoods
- Backsplash niches and ledges
- Furniture-style tall cabinets
- Hutch-style cabinets
Modern Kitchens
“Modern” can be a tricky term because sometimes it’s used to describe something that’s the opposite of traditional, which varies depending on the time period. The decision of women in the 1920s to swap corsets for flapper dresses was modern at the time, but today those clothes are antiques. Modern can be the norm in many areas, but regardless of the technical meaning, there are some clear characteristics of a modern kitchen.
Elements of a Modern Kitchen:
- Flat-panel door style
- Frameless, full-overlay cabinet construction
- Sleek and simple hardware
- Lack of ornamentation.
- Reliance on the beauty of natural materials
- Emphasis on horizontal lines
- Consistency in style of accent pieces
Contemporary Kitchen Design Style
Contemporary kitchens can be very sleek, but while a purely modern kitchen often celebrates structure and grid, a contemporary kitchen is often more playful in form and finishes, including elements of other styles and creating its own reflection of the times.
Elements of Contemporary Kitchen:
- Cutting-edge appliances
- Old materials used in a new way
- Extensive options for backsplashes
- Updated accents and accessories
- A mix of materials, shapes, and scale
- Bar stools and decorative lighting
Craftsman Kitchens
Craftsman style arose in the early 20th century as a reaction to the mass-produced fussiness of the Victorian era. Its rich woods, built-ins, handcrafted tiles, and well-made simplicity continue to charm us.
Elements of Craftsmen Kitchen:
- Rich woods
- Clean-lined cabinetry
- Simple lighting
- Built-in seating
- Earthy colors
- Hand-crafted tiles
- Natural stone
- Hardware and fixtures with patina
Transitional Kitchen Design Style
Think of a transitional kitchen as a great moderator. With the warmth and welcome of traditional design and the clean, simple lines of contemporary style, transitional spaces project balance and harmony. Because they offer a great deal of flexibility, they’re a great choice for homeowners whose taste spans the two.
Elements of a Transitional Kitchen:
- Crisp cabinetry
- Natural surfaces
- Streamlined tile
- Simple accents
- Natural materials against manufactured ones
- Neutral colors
- Lots of texture
- A touch of embellishment
Cottage Kitchen Design Style
The cottage kitchen isn’t just a decorating style — it’s an attitude. Cozy, happy and unpretentious, it harks back to simpler times and evokes a sense of easy, carefree living. And since the kitchen is usually among the busiest spots in the house, it makes sense to translate that mindset to your cabinetry, fixtures, appliances and more. If you’re planning a kitchen facelift or remodel, consider these ways to infuse your kitchen with cottage comfort.
Elements of Cottage Kitchen:
- Soft colors
- Open shelving
- Beadboard
- Farmhouse Sinks
- Furniture-style cabinet details
- Cup pulls
- Hardwood flooring
- Pendant lights
It’s no secret that your kitchen is, without question, the primary gathering place in your home. Thus, many kitchen design styles are always trending, changing and some even staying for the long term.
Choosing your kitchen style is a BIG decision, so make sure that you choose something that you’ll love for years to come. We can help you create that design, and bring it to life!
I hope you now understand the different options you have when it comes to the kitchen design styles. If you’re ready to get started on your kitchen design remodel, home addition or renovation project, schedule your free design consultation today to get started!
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