The Definitive Guide: Choosing A Kitchen Design Style
If you have been considering remodelling your kitchen, then you will have been mulling over the plethora of various kitchen design styles there are to choose from. From Classic, Coastal, Cottage, Farmhouse, French Country, Industrial, Modern, Mediterranean, or Traditional - the style you settle on will also be influenced by the space available, the type of home you own, it’s age, natural light in the space and many other factors.
We’ve written this blog to give you a guide to the different kitchen design styles there are to choose from, hopefully it helps to give you some inspiration for your next project.
How To Choose The Perfect Kitchen Style For Your Home
There are a few basic design principles that need to be remembered throughout the design phase of your kitchen project. For example, unless we are totally remodelling the layout and circulation of your kitchen then we will be dictated by the space available. Small galley kitchens cry out for pale, reflective surfaces and finishes, whereas larger South facing kitchens should have mainly matt finishes otherwise the space could feel overwhelming.
Lifestyle by Design! Prior to picking a style, you should consider key practicality and usability questions like:-
What budget is available for the project? Budget expectations should be considered, extensions and luxury finishes will add to the overall cost of your project.
What space is available? Considering your existing kitchen and whether you want to extend. Measuring your space up properly is key.
How much cooking / preparation do you really do? The amount of side space for preparation and the type of appliances chosen should be specified to your unique needs.
Sticky Fingers? It’s no joke! If you have a young family, or grandchildren that visit regularly, are you really going to want to have highly polished cupboard surfaces?
What Different Kitchen Design Styles Are There?
The days when the kitchen was a dim and dreary room, located in the basement and hidden away behind closed doors are long gone! These days, the kitchen is very much the heart of the home, and as such, the design style you choose should reflect the way you wish to live in it.
Classic Kitchens
When we get asked to design and build a ‘Classic Style Kitchen’ this is usually because it is part of a show-home refurbishment, or a buy to let property. We see the classic brief depicted as a blank canvas ready for the homeowner to add their personal touches. A natural colour palette of whites and light wood finishes with simple architectural details make this kitchen very easy to update with pops of colour and textures.
Coastal Kitchens
Life’s a breeze! Whilst not all homes will have the benefit of the view, a relaxing coastal themed kitchen style is achievable in most homes. A soothing colour palette such as azure blues, sea-foam greens, light beiges and pink blushes all create the perfect coastal vacation mood. Adding a combination of white and natural wood finishes will ensure a bright, yet relaxing environment and the addition of tiles and accessories will help complete your theme.
Cottage Kitchens
We see the ‘Cottage Kitchen’ as a meeting of farmhouse and craftsman styles. Imagine vintage inspired features and playful fabrics, with beautiful finished natural and painted wood and salvaged hardwood flooring or tiles.
A cottage kitchen should make you feel comfortable and at home, the colour palette should be neutral allowing for you to add your eclectic collectables and antiques as the design features of the room. We love adding bright retro appliances for an added splash of colour and vibrancy.
Farmhouse Kitchens
Warm and inviting and finished off perfectly with an AGA or Rangemaster, a farmhouse kitchen style is instantly welcoming and warm. Main features include a long wooden kitchen table, open shelving, butlers sinks and salvaged wooden or tiled flooring.
Mixing and matching a primary colour of red, yellow or blue, with an aged tone of pale yellow or cream will create a bright yet comforting interior. We love vintage inspired lighting in farmhouse kitchen design.
French Country Kitchens
Think organically rustic fused with modern and contemporary. A french country kitchen should be romantic, warm and accentuated by rough hewn textures, and copper pots, and surfaces with signs of wear or patina add to the ‘well loved’ feel. Adding characteristic shades of mustard yellow or fiery red, alongside warm tones of wood, with sleek white and ceramic accessories finishes your french country kitchen perfectly.
Industrial Kitchens
One of the more recent trends in kitchen design, the industrial kitchen style will feature raw materials not just including wood, but concrete and metals too. Exposed brickwork and/or steelwork with chunky, solid, oversized furniture, with a tiny hint of wear and tear, adds to the practical and affordable historical foundation of industrial design.
Modern Kitchens
Designed to keep clutter to an absolute minimum, a modern kitchen should exude sleekness and sophistication. Think strong horizontal lines, frameless cabinets, warm woods and minimal ornamentation, really allowing the natural beauty of the finishes to shine through. A light natural colour palette, with reflective surfaces and high-tech appliances complete the feeling in a modern kitchen style design.
Traditional Kitchens
Ultimately defined by their detailing, a traditional style kitchen can include decorative moldings and arches, raised panel cabinets, a mix of antique and wood turned finishes and features - all set off beautifully with a coffered ceiling and statement pendant lighting, like a chandelier. Whether it’s classic American shaker style, or old world, traditional kitchen style is all about balance and symmetry with nothing being too overly modern. Classic design elements like granite or marble worktops, with traditional cabinet styles will ensure your design is classically functional and timeless.
Bespoke Kitchens
Perhaps you have found a plant that sparks your imagination, or have fallen in love with some tiles designed by a local artisan? A bespoke kitchen design is all about you and incorporating all of your treasured possessions, hopes and dreams into one unique space for you to enjoy.
If you’re curious about the timeline and timescale of a bespoke kitchen, then we have just the blog for you!
With so many kitchen design styles to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
If you’re looking for a bespoke kitchen design by a bespoke joiner, or have your sights set on a particular style, we’d love to help your kitchen dreams become a reality. Contact us for a no obligation quote today.