Don’t worry about following the latest trends in kitchen style. Follow your own, or better yet, create your own. After all, we all have our own favorite color. And we don’t let anyone else select that for us either.
No two kitchens are the same… just like no two people are the same. We all have our preferences in tastes and cooking styles. If you are confused about what your style can be, keep reading, the following will either make the decision easier or it may confuse you a bit more.
Victorian
It is usually characterized by sloped roofs, pointed arch windows, elaborate moldings along the edges of the roof, high dormers, pointed windows, and other Gothic details on the exterior.
Victorian kitchen styles are known for a level of elegance. Highly detailed, handcrafted cabinets of heavy, dark, aged wood. Cabinet doors can be cathedral or square. Cabinets usually have a weathered look and are made of real, heavy wood. Cabinet hardware can be chrome handles and knobs. Wood countertops included.
This group also uses detailed moldings, columns, and graceful arches as common architectural elements. Lighting fixtures range from chandeliers, kerosene and electric lamps to astrals or sconces that help complete the look.
The old world
Old World cuisines have become more popular recently. Typical door styles in this type of kitchen can be arched or square.
Distressed gives an Old World kitchen a worn look. Antique finishes and thicker crown molding are common elements of the Old World kitchen style.
Natural materials are often used for floors and countertops that help complete the Old World look. Cabinets with glass doors, hand-carved cabinets, and cabinets with open shelves can be incorporated into an Old World kitchen style.
tuscan
A close relative of the Old World style is the Tuscan-style kitchen. The Tuscan aesthetic tends to be more subtle leaning a bit more towards a feminine feel.
Ideal color schemes for Tuscan style to Mediterranean architecture. These would be warm gold colors, darker yellows, and olive green.
Typical sink options for this style would be porcelain or stone. Kitchen furniture can be made of wood or wrought iron. Wide plank distressed hardwood flooring is a great complement to the Tuscan style along with applications of paint and textured wall plaster. The general appearance should be rustic and warm.
Traditional
The traditional American kitchen style offers a more formal look. Emphasize architectural details like crown molding, raised wood paneling, and deep, rich colors to enhance the “traditional” feel and ambience. Plus, dark stains, honey tones, semi-opaque paint, wicker baskets, and oak cabinets add to the more formal feel than the country style.
Typical features include square raised panel doors with larger crown molding. Materials used in the traditional cabinet style include cherry, mahogany, and walnut. Metal accents can usually be found in gold or brass tones.
The color palette includes a range of rich shades of red, black, green and blue. Wall treatments can include small patterned wall coverings and panels. Countertops continue the formal feel and are commonly found in ceramic tile or stone and the use of granite becomes more popular.
country kitchen
There are many different facets to this style of cooking. There is American, English and French). But the fact is that this is one of the favorite and comfortable environments for many people. This rustic, weathered look creates a warm and cozy feeling in a country-style home.
Even the cabinet doors can be left to display colorful dishes, making the interior of the cabinet part of the décor of the overall space. A butcher block or hand painted tiles are great pieces. You can add charm to your kitchen by placing potted herbs on kitchen windows.
Common colors range from muted to earth tones. Exposed beams, pine paneling, brick, and barn boards are elements used to express this style. Fabrics and patterns are a sure way to create a country feel, as is the use of wallpaper and baskets.
Hardwood floors or natural tile would be a great choice for such a setting, but don’t forget to throw in rugs for extra comfort on the cold floor. The key to country style is to keep adding some whimsical elements in designs like fruits, vegetables, or animals.
american country
The American country kitchen style has a more rugged craftsman look. The cabinets in this group are typically of the traditional framed variety. The wood used is commonly oak, maple, birch, or pine with weathered wood knots. Wood plank flooring and rough beam ceilings complement this style of kitchen.
english country
English Country Style is quite similar to the French Country Kitchen Style. Similar options for flooring, countertop materials, and beamed ceilings can be used to great effect for both styles.
Cabinet design generally employs more square elements with curves used in the architectural elements of the room. Pine and oak with a natural or very light finish are common. The painted finishes can be enameled or crackled in pastel colors to accentuate the design. Using lots of flowers in this kitchen will complete the look.
french country
The French country kitchen style is less formal and more subdued. The cabinets are usually made of oak or cherry wood with pickled and aged finishes. More delicate crown moldings are common in this theme.
Most countertop materials work well with this theme, but stay away from the more contemporary glass and stainless steel. Good flooring options would be wood, brick, or natural stone. Flashy colors are not a good choice in this scheme.
Contemporary
This style is mainly inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. There is a sensitivity for materials and the natural environment that meets a contemporary bent. The styles included here are Mission, Prairie, and Arts & Crafts.
When making your cabinet selection, consider birch as a clean, modern wood species. He chooses details such as geometric shapes, artistic glass, contrasting textures and lines, forgings and wrought iron handles.
arts and crafts
The Arts and Crafts movement began in England in the late 1800s as a reaction to the styles that had developed from mechanical production during the industrial revolution. In the US, the movement was promoted in the early 1900s, most notably by Gustav Stickley. The terms “Craftsman”, “Mission Style”, and “Stickley” are often used interchangeably to describe this style of design.
The Arts and Crafts style places emphasis on the quality of the materials used and the artisan construction methods. It is defined by a clean and simplistic aesthetic. When done correctly, it will provide spectacular results in your new kitchen.
vibrating screen
Shaker-style cabinets are similar to the Arts and Crafts style with a few subtle differences that dramatically affect the overall appearance. Arts and Crafts tends to have chunkier proportions than the Shaker style. The Shaker style will focus less on joining techniques and see fewer exposed dovetails, buttons, and sockets. A good way to describe it might be to imagine the Shaker style as a more contemporary and delicate take on Arts and Crafts cabinetry.
Modern
Modern and Euro-Style are terms used to describe kitchens in the modern kitchen style. The main characteristics of the modern kitchen style are clean, elegant lines and a minimum amount of detail in the cabinets. A strong emphasis is placed on accentuating horizontal and linear lines. The frameless cabinet method of construction is used and commonly features a flat panel or “slab” style door and drawer front.
Common materials used in this style include stainless steel, marble, granite, and frosted glass. Basic geometric shapes and bright, bold colors predominate, such as red, blue, yellow, and black and white, or any shade you can imagine. High gloss automotive finishes. Wood veneer door styles are also found in the modern kitchen style and can offer a warmer, less stark feel.
A wide range of countertops works well in this group: granite, stainless steel, glass, and manufactured stone all work well here.
Eclectic
This style is a mix of old and new features combined for a harmonious look. This style is not characterized by a particular color palette, pattern, style, or material, but rather is a mix of whimsical decorations from numerous eras. This included used items, second-hand items, and other recyclable materials. There is a mix of modern appliances and old decorations in complete opposites.
southwest
This style has a lot of detail and craftsmanship. Natural materials such as stuccos and hand-painted fabrics, wood, quarry tiles, ceramic tiles are used.
Colors often reflect the nature of the desert, such as warm oranges, greens, tans, and browns. Southwestern kitchens often incorporate ceramic materials and terracotta features.
The list could go on and on and on… Pick what you like!
