Finding Your Kitchen Style

y">symmetry in mind.
Committing to a specific style of kitchen can be an- Can be an unfitted kitchen with free-standing
overwhelming decision to some. It's not only anfurniture, balanced by natural materials and warm
expression of your personal style it is also a reflectionneutral colors of cream, browns and greens.
of the overall architecture and design of your home.- Stone or wood floors were indicative of the classical
So when you begin the process of selecting the stylestyle.
of your kitchen, make sure it fits in seamlessly to its- Wooden butcher block counters are also indicative of
existing environment. In other words - an old-worldthis period.
Tuscan style kitchen would stick out like a sore thumbArts and Crafts Style Home:
in a sleek and streamlined contemporary home.- Stained or painted flat panel and bead board (inspired
Since the kitchen is the hub of all activity and tends toby the Shaker period) styled cabinet doors
relate from one space to another it's very important toconstructed of oak, maple and ash are characteristic
consider how the kitchen materials, details, shapes andof the period.
cabinet styles relates and transitions from one space- Introduce plain glass or colored glass to lighten up the
to the next.darker stained cabinetry.
Smaller kitchen spaces tend to call for cleaner lines- Stone materials with similar characteristics and tone
and less detail and ornamentation in its design style -to limestone or soapstone will lend credibility to the
where a larger more spacious kitchen area couldArts and Crafts style.
definitely tolerate more detail.- Oak and slate flooring were typically used in these
I always advise my clients to research all the kitchenkitchens and are still perfect for today.
design magazines - on and offline - and to focus onMid Century Style Home:
the specific styles of kitchen cabinets, counter tops,- This is where the fitted kitchen is at its best - with
backsplash materials, flooring and appliances that reallylong runs of base and upper matching cabinetry with
speak to you. Creating that inspiration file will serve asintegrated appliances.
your starting point - in fact, you'll begin to see your- Can take the design a little retro incorporating either
design style begin to emerge.painted or wood slab doors and drawers.
So how do you know which kitchen style best suits- Clean lines and simple ceramic tile or wood floors.
the style of your home?- Back splashes can be finished with clean machine
Consider these guidelines when doing your research.cut tile, brick, stone or even stainless.
Colonial Style Home:Contemporary Style Home:
- Shaker, country or traditional style cabinetry - stained- Crisp clean and sleek rectilinear lines inhabit this
maple or painted wood kitchen cabinets in green, blue,kitchen.
cream or grays.- Wood cabinetry either natural or stained a deep rich
- Keep the cabinetry design simple and avoid heavilytone adds warmth and drama to the simple lines.
decorated embellishments.- Woods, stainless steel, glass, and quartz countertops
- Wood floors, and fireplaces are characteristic ofare characteristic of this style.
Colonial designs.- Typically cooler and more neutral tones but a jolt of
- Natural countertop material such as soapstone,color adds some added drama to the space.
limestone (dense) and butcher block will lend some- Texture and interest is created by a combination of
authenticity to the kitchen.materials and surfaces.
- Simple backsplash tiles without patterns.Whether you're traditional or contemporary always
Classical Style Home:pay attention to the integrity and the architectural style
- Country and traditional style cabinetry - stained orof your home - and borrow elements from a few of
painted woods of birch, maple and pine.them to represent your kitchen style.
- Rectilinear design and slight ornamentation keeping