In the world of kitchen design, there are several different categories of style that most designs fall under:
Below, we will go in-depth about each of these popular kitchen design styles and the characteristics that you can expect from each one of them. Kitchen cabinetry has a huge impact on the overall appearance and feeling of the kitchen space, which is why our team of kitchen designers at Modiani Kitchens in Englewood, NJ enjoys taking you through all kitchen style and design options.
Contemporary Style Kitchens
A contemporary style kitchen is characterized by a sleek and uncluttered appearance. Contemporary may also be called modern. Many European high-end kitchen designers tend toward contemporary style kitchens due to their modern appeal and their smooth, straightforward approach to design. One quality of contemporary design is that the kitchen designer works to create one cohesive look. This often means that large kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves, and ovens, are designed so as to blend in with the room rather than present themselves. Designing appliances and kitchen cabinetry to feature wood, steel, or to be lacquered is very common in contemporary design, also see our modern kitchen portfolio. Light fixtures are treated as visual centerpieces in contemporary design and are often very artistic in their appearance. Contemporary design is rarely overly accessorized, and countertops are typically square edged and made of a natural but modern material such as metal or glass.
Traditional Style Kitchens
Traditional design is another way of saying common or “old fashioned” design. Traditional style kitchen design embraces intricate woodworking and styling that may have been possible in the 18th and 19th centuries. You can think of a traditional kitchen as a very straightforward, albeit warm and inviting, kitchen layout. Natural woods and warm colors are very prevalent in traditional design. In traditional design, lighting will be more functional than it is artistic. Accessories, while prevalent, will not be quirky or draw too much attention to themselves. Neutral and natural color tones are popular in countertops and flooring. Natural stone, for example, is a very popularly used material in our traditional kitchen projects. In addition to stone, wood is a hugely prevalent material in a traditional kitchen. Often the cabinetry and flooring will be wood. “Farmhouse”, “rustic”, and “country” are all words that are used to describe such designs, however, it should be noted that traditional design is not the opposite of luxury by any means. Many extremely well-designed and high-end kitchens embrace a traditional style. Traditional design is more about embracing woods, natural fixtures, and intricate styling than it is about embracing anything that could be described as “low end”.
Transitional Style Kitchens
There are instances where a kitchen designer will embrace elements from contemporary luxury design as well as elements from traditional design. These mix-and-match style designs are referred to as “crossover” or transitional kitchen designs. For example, one design may embrace the stark countertop style of a contemporary design while also working in intricate styling details that would be more evident of a traditional design. This embrace of both worlds comes from a widening in interests on behalf of the kitchen dweller. For example, many homeowners who love to cook and consider themselves to be good cooks enjoy watching shows about cooking while they are in the kitchen, thus necessitating a more modern appearance with a television incorporated into the space. Please have a look at our transitional kitchen portfolio for more details.
Modiani As Modern Kitchen Design Expert
Our Modiani kitchen showroom in Englewood, NJ is proud to be New Jersey’s expert for modern or contemporary kitchen design. Modern style kitchens are often characterized by the use of glass, wood, steel, laminates, plastic, and granite. Depending on the style of your home, a modern kitchen can be an excellent complement to the existing space. If you are considering updating your kitchen with a modern look, there are several elements to consider. A modern appearance in the kitchen is achieved by the implementation of specific styles in the appliances, countertops, fixtures, and cabinetry in the kitchen space, and round edges are also popular in modern design. Because modern designs always have an eye on functionality, modern kitchen projects often feature a variety of storage options including cabinets as well as drawers. Glass doors are often incorporated into the modern kitchen cabinet design in order to showcase modern housewares. Modern cabinetry does not feature a lot of space between cabinets or drawers and instead has a solid, streamlined, cohesive appearance to it.
Kitchen Design Features
Perhaps more than any other space in the home, in the kitchen, appliances are key in people’s home and need to go hand in hand with the chosen kitchen style. The kitchen appliances that are used to achieve a modern look in the kitchen are often stainless steel. Although some kitchens can get away without having all of the most up-to-date modern appliances available, a modern kitchen project relies on functionality and a feeling of advanced technology. Therefore, to achieve a modern kitchen, appliances should include a dishwasher, a microwave, a ventilation chimney, range cookers, sinks, and faucets. The kitchen sink is another way to add to the overall modern design of the kitchen. Modern kitchen sinks are often made of glassy steel, white ceramic, or black granite. Many modern designs – which are purposed to enhance functionality in the kitchen – actually feature two kitchen sinks. The larger sink is used for washing large cooking utensils that would not go in the dishwasher. Meanwhile, the smaller sink is used to clean vegetables or to prepare food for cooking.
Modern Kitchen Islands And Countertops
Gaining popularity in all types of kitchen styles, kitchen islands are also a major feature and part of today’s kitchen design considerations. Like kitchen countertops, kitchen islands come in a wide range of colors, materials, and designs. Common materials used for the kitchen island are marble, limestone, and granite. Kitchen islands may either be permanently installed by being affixed to the kitchen floor or they may be mobile or freestanding. Permanently installed kitchen islands may have appliances or sinks integrated into them, making the island an extremely functional space within the kitchen. Islands are also often used as a dining space, either in addition to or in place of a more traditional kitchen table. Kitchen countertops are also very important in the kitchen, and they come in a variety of styles. For the modern kitchen, the most popular materials for the countertop are concrete, marble, limestone, and granite. These materials bear a clean and streamlined appearance and they are also fairly easy to maintain, enhancing the functionality of their presence. As you can see, there are many decisions that go hand in hand with the considerations regarding your ideal kitchen style. Contact our Modiani kitchen showroom to find out more about the kitchen design and style options for your particular interior space.