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Which style kitchen is right for you? Take a look at this list to find the kitchen styles you like best, and to get ideas and inspiration for decorating any style of kitchen.
The Modern Kitchen Style
Modern Kitchen Style — The Farnsworth House, Plano Il, by Noteworthy Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Often, when people speak of a “modern kitchen,” what they really mean is a “contemporary kitchen.” You might wonder what, exactly, the differences are, and how to differentiate “modern” from “contemporary.” While the differences are subtle, it’s important to make the distinction. This is particulary critical if you are planning to remodel your kitchen, or build a new kitchen from scratch, because you’ll need to communicate your design preferences to professionals and it will be essential for them to understand the specific goals you have in mind for your new kitchen’s style and functionality.
When you say, “I want a modern kitchen,” do you really mean “I want a kitchen that looks totally stylish and up-to-the-minute, right now”? If so, the chances are good that what you really want is not a modern kitchen design, but rather a contemporary design.
When you say, “I want a modern kitchen,” do you mean to say that you want a kitchen design that could — and probably is intended to — complement a structure built between the years 1900 -1979, featuring a vaguely retro, minimalist, vintage look and feel — yet it also retains a timeless quality that’s absolutely appropriate for life in 2015, 2016 and beyond? If so, the chances are good that a modern kitchen is exactly right for your needs.
“Modern” isn’t at all a new concept, although many brand new kitchen and home designs do continue to incorporate design elements that were popularized during the early years of the modernist movement. For that reason, it can be challenging to figure out where “modern style” stops and “contemporary style” begins.
Common elements between the two design styles could include clean, uncluttered lines, open floor plans and extensive use of glass, metal, concrete, stucco, brick and / or wood fabrications.
The Contemporary Kitchen Style
Anything goes in the contemporary kitchen, but clean, minimalist lines are frequently current characteristics of the style, along with appliances that blend seamlessly into thedécor. Stainless steel has been a contemporary kitchen fabrication of choice, and has remained a popular material for kitchen fixtures in the recent past. Other materials such as chrome, brushed nickel, and brass have been recent alternative options for fixtures in contemporary kitchens.
Any color could be the right color in a contemporary kitchen, although white and gray are two of the hottest color choices of the moment. Black and white is also an important color combination. Granite kitchen counters are in widespread use in contemporary kitchens, and white granite is an up-to-the-minute choice for trendy kitchens in 2015.
The Country-Style Kitchen
There are zillions of different ways you could decorate a country-style kitchen, which means that country kitchens defy easy explanation.
Over the years, one popular theme has been the red and white country-style kitchen, with cozy red and white checked tablecloths and a variety of different red or white appliances.
A Farmhouse-Style Country Kitchen.
A farmhouse kitchen is another popular variation of the country kitchen. A farmhouse kitchen generally has a large sink, ample pantry space, plus lots of cabinets for holding dishes, pots, pans, canning jars, bakeware and all the other gadgets a gardener needs to process and preserve fresh produce.
The French Country Kitchen Style
The French country kitchen is typically a warm, sunny, comfortable space, often featuring cream, off-white, butter yellow, golden yellow or pale blue surfaces or paint. The French country kitchen might also be colorful, perhaps featuring a color story of red, blue, yellow, green and cream or white — or colors of the occupants’ choosing.
Wood floors, cabinets or other surfaces abound, with warm woods, light-colored woods and interesting wood grains evident in various examples.
Floral motifs and rooster motifs are popular design elements, which you might find present on the wall art, the table linens and even sometimes on the dinnerware. Plaids and florals are popular for printed fabrics, perhaps adorning curtains at the windows, slip covers or chair pads.
The Suburban Casual Kitchen
This is a laid-back, low-maintenance, user-friendly style of kitchen that could be right for just about any suburban family. It features basic yet plentiful cabinetry, perhaps wood or perhaps in other fabrications. This kitchen is practical and easy-care, with tile or laminate floors and plenty of stainless steel surfaces.
The Craftsman Kitchen Style
When you think of a Craftsman home, the kitchen probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind; Craftsman homes are noteworthy more for the living rooms, the dining rooms and the fireplaces. Still, the kitchen is an important room in any home, and the Craftsman kitchen is no exception.
To get inspiration for what constitutes the typical Craftsman kitchen, I took a look at back issues of The Craftsman magazine and a book called Craftsman Homes, both published by Gustav Stickley in the early 1900s. What I found: comfortable, roomy kitchens featuring built-in sinks and furniture, plus abundant tile.
The Beach Cottage Style Kitchen
A beach cottage kitchen features a breezy, easy charm. It might incorporate a nautical theme, or perhaps incorporate ocean-themed elements such as fish, dolphins, coral or shells.
The Eclectic Kitchen
Your kitchen doesn’t have to be decorated in any one style or theme. You can curate your own space and combine as many elements or styles as you want to. Feel free to put French country-style roosters together with minimalist white cabinetry plus a cozy red and white checkered tablecloth, or put together any other mixed and matched, eclectic look that would make you happy.
Find More Kitchen Style Ideas and Inspiration
Get the lowdown on all the latest kitchen design trends. Discover the hottest kitchen gadgets, accessories, and fixtures:
References and Photo Credits:
- At the Library of Congress Government Website: Fall at the Farnsworth House
- The farmhouse-style country kitchen picture is courtesy of Kohler.com.
- The craftsman style kitchen photo is from a vintage back issue of The Craftsman magazine.
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