Everything You Need to Know to Create a Traditional Kitchen Easily
Traditional kitchens have this warm and inviting vibe to them that one’s bound to be intrigued.
If you are here looking to create a traditional kitchen, you’re in the right place. We share your fascination with it too. But before you start creating it, you need to know what makes it different. So many intricate details go into making it different than ordinary. Yet these kitchens are always high on storage, function, and style. Win-win, right?
In fact, you can spot these details in almost every major element: the cabinetry, counters, and backsplashes. Each of these comes with a unique flavor in traditional kitchens. Your kitchen may be Old World or Mediterranean or Coastal; the styles share some similarities. They are, in fact, many different sub-styles of a traditional kitchen.
For instance, most traditional kitchens use features like turned legs for the island, dark-paneled wood pieces (to hide the refrigerator), and molding of the custom hood surround. More often than not, their layout is the same too.
Essentially, a kitchen that’s been done in the traditional style has a lot of embellishments all over. Still, the best are the ones that feel layered, rather than loud and overbearing.
To create a traditional kitchen that draws inspiration from the styles mentioned above, use the guide below.
1. Artistic Tile Work
A traditional kitchen likes to identify with personal decorative touches. Bring an old-world charm with glazed cabinets and plastered walls. Together, they truly help make your kitchen the ‘heart’ of your home.
And a beautiful hand-painted tile backsplash completes the picture.
2. Tuscan Influence
Traditional kitchens borrow a lot from old-world Tuscan design. You can draw inspiration from this design in several ways too.
Start by mixing dark and light cabinetry. Then, treat those with glazed finishes. This lends the kitchen a timeworn appeal with a rustic touch.
Carry the style further with weathered and glazed ceiling beams that create an aura of old-world-character. A wooden island countertop and bronze-finish light fixtures lend a sophisticated yet reminiscent touch.
3. Defining Traditional Style with Color
A particular color or a finish points to the home’s historical origin. For instance, all-blue cabinetry will not only lend it a Victorian and Scandinavian feel — but also go with traditional style sensibilities.
4. Kitchen Cabinets with Glass-Front
Personal touches are a big part of any traditional style kitchen. To display those, glass-front cabinets are ideal. They also add a subdued elegance to the space.
Showcase the best of your heirlooms, or fancy crockery to add a personality to the kitchen with all the colors. The windows behind the cabinets add a unique style while giving way to natural light and outdoor view.
5. Add Custom Details
Contrary to contemporary kitchens’ obsession with clean lines and sleek surfaces, traditional style has a lot of embellishments. A kitchen offers maximum scope to flaunt the various details. Even its counters, cabinetry, and backsplashes provide excellent opportunities for adding special personalized touches.
As for a traditional kitchen island, go for a mahogany-hued one with walnut veneers and carved brackets. Pair it with an elegant marble backsplash with decorative tiles. Go for carved detailing on the hood. Finish the traditional ensemble with leaded-glass cabinet doors.
Add to the mix large windows, fabrics in eclectic mixes, coffered ceiling, specific molding details, and you will have a kitchen of your dreams.
6. Raised-panel Doors
Flat-panel doors and shaker-style cabinetry are ubiquitous in most modern kitchens. And traditional kitchens are known to flaunt a lot of ornamentation instead.
Raised-panel doors often define traditional kitchens. The shadow lines then lend a unique characteristic to it.
7. Add a Farmhouse Sink
Traditional kitchens often sport farmhouse sinks. These sinks, also known as apron-front sinks, have deep basins that allow for plenty of dishwashing. The overhanging fronts also eliminate injuries from sharp countertop edges.
They lend a great design statement to the kitchen; bringing in a classic, country vibe. Sure, you can create this style with the old ceramic white basin too — but why not try something bolder? It’s available in stunning finishes like black hue or stainless steel also. Try it for a distinct visual impact.
8. Borrow Inspiration from a Spanish Colonial Style Kitchen
The traditional style is known to influence a great many architectural styles around. For instance, a Spanish Colonial style can also become traditional with a few added details.
You can add Mexican tiles that have been carefully hand-painted for some color, pattern, and texture to the kitchen’s backsplash. You can also add a Spanish bar-like feel to the flooring with some Mexican clay tiles. Last, you can finish the sequence with a turquoise-painted island that will add a visual punch to the setting.
9. Add Blue Accents
You can never go wrong with blue when it comes to adding color for a traditional style. In fact, it’s a timeless choice. A white kitchen wakes up to style with Delft-style tile backsplash. The blue can be picked up all over the room in decorative accents like the pendant lights and barstools.
10. Select Luxurious Countertop Materials
Use your countertop to flaunt your kitchen’s traditional aesthetic. Materials like walnut butcher block, Calcatta and Statuary marble, quartzite, and light granites in pure white, light grey, light tan, and gold work well in a traditional kitchen.
Marble infuses an old-world feel that draws many buyers who are looking for the style in particular. Walnut butcher block is another material that typifies comfort and warmth. You can either use it for all your counters or an expansive kitchen island. Non-shiny finishes are frequently observed in traditional style kitchens.
11. Ornate Lighting
You know those detailed lights you observe in classic dining rooms? You need to bring it to the kitchen this time.
Copper chandelier in a classic-styled white kitchen is an excellent choice for a traditional kitchen. Cabinet lighting is a great add-on too.
Alternatively, a custom linear light can also be used as the focal point of the kitchen. If you fancy, antique pendants and spotlights can be a distinct feature within the space too. For a kitchen with a neutral design, consider a classic crystal chandelier and contemporary pendants instead.
But don’t stop there. Feel free to spruce up your kitchen with island lights, minimalistic lantern type lights, etc. Elongated shades over rectangular tables, ball basket chandelier, and bell jars are best to build up the traditional style.
12. Molding and Trim
Molding, trim, and appliqués are a few essential details that mark a traditional style kitchen. It may also be extended to ceiling, cabinet, door, and window, as well as the floor trim used in the room.
Furthermore, you can combine molding strips for an elegant statement. Corbels and appliqués may be used to accentuate your kitchen cabinets as well as the range area to build up the traditional character.