What Is a Traditional Kitchen? A traditional kitchen includes classic designs that incorporate European details like decorative accessories, antique finishes and vintage cabinets. And just like grandma’s, the room is swathed in a neutral, mostly natural color palette that’s warm and inviting. For a traditional flair, try colors that include:   What Makes a Kitchen […]

What Is a Traditional Kitchen?

A traditional kitchen includes classic designs that incorporate European details like decorative accessories, antique finishes and vintage cabinets. And just like grandma’s, the room is swathed in a neutral, mostly natural color palette that’s warm and inviting. For a traditional flair, try colors that include:

What Makes a Kitchen Traditional?

Creating a traditional kitchen requires finding the right combination of unique historical design and the materials that support the time that you’re aiming to recapture. To attain such a delicate balance, your NYC designer has to consider several factors, such as:

• Materials must be selected to emphasize the authentic or rustic, natural and era-specific. Imperfect wood on wood kitchen cabinets and stone countertops can be implemented to enhance the visual effect and provide character to your kitchen.
• Selection of cabinets should include multiple raised panels, irregular pattern design and glass fronts to showcase traditional serving ware. Moldings usually are slightly larger than usual, such as crown-type molding. Some cabinets may also use stained glass fronts.
• Colors typically include creams, pastels or light shades of green or gray. Most wooden surfaces integrate raw wood with a heavy gloss coating to display the wood’s natural patterns.
• Floors should always be made of natural wood, tiles or patterned stone. Traditional kitchens never have vinyl or laminated floor coverings.
• Appliances should appear postmodern, perhaps even implementing antique stoves, wood-based cook stoves or ovens with decorative range coverings. Of course, the antique fronts can hide modern, efficient appliances.

The biggest difference in creating a traditional kitchen as opposed to a more contemporary kitchen is the amount of detail and unique attention put into restoring the natural beauty of the wood and other materials to their original state. Designing an old-world kitchen that transports the space back in time takes care and attention to detail.

What Are Some Traditional Kitchen Ideas?

Traditional kitchens are highlighted by fine detail and lavish decor. Every traditional kitchen is uniquely personal and brings out a hint of the past. There are countless ways to turn your kitchen into one that embodies fine European detail. Some of the most popular ideas today include:

• Adding a coffered ceiling to create a vintage ambiance
• Using contrast colors on cabinets that speak of vintage decor
• Adding layers of glass cabinet fronts
• Incorporating a custom-crafted island or serving table
• Using rustic stone, butcher block or soapstone counters
• Creating a backslash with multicolored tiles and decorative stove toppers