The Traditional Kitchen
Is the traditional kitchen
Regularly seen in the traditional kitchen is the generous use of natural materials. Formal cabinets of mahogany, walnut and cherry with raised panel doors are a customary design. Kitchen designers will often use rope and/or crown molding as well as corbels and fluting to complete their traditional looks. These elements are not only pleasing to the eye, they also add authenticity to the style period the designer is striving for.
A large part of the traditional kitchen decor is the use of natural stone or tile. These two materials come in a large variety and enhance the traditional look with their elegance. They can be used as a combination of the two or singly. A very fitting detail, also in great demand with the traditional designer, is the use of vintage fixtures. Lighting, hardware and faucets in a reproductive style will add to the traditional look of the kitchen and are easily acquired at stores in many cities.
Kitchens of the Victorian era are the epitome of traditional. High arched doors lead into a kitchen that can only be described as elegant. Ceiling panels and ornate crown molding are signatures of Victorian tradition. Cabinets of heavy woods contrast richly with ornate wallpaper and tile or wooden floors.
Another example of traditional design in the kitchen is the Italian kitchen. Similar to the Victorian kitchen, the Italian kitchen relies on its cabinetry to make a strong statement. The design is in the details: cream colored cabinets with overlays of rope molding and trim. Custom carved reliefs along with intricate tiling help give the traditional Italian kitchen an olde world feeling. Add heavy granite or marble tile for the counter top and you have the recipe for an elegant and functional space.
The Italian kitchen may not be for everyone. The formal elegance of the traditional Georgian era kitchen has much to offer. This kitchen uses a liberal amount of ornate crown molding to top its cabinets of cherry, mahogany or walnut. The raised panels on these doors are generally square and heavy. A wall of stacked cabinets was characteristic in the traditional Georgian kitchen, stacked from floor to ceiling. The addition of black accents was not unusual, such as a center island.
The traditional kitchen has much to offer in design elements for today’s home. Even with its formality and elegance, the homeowner should not discount its functionality and convenience. The basics of the traditional kitchen are the same: The use of natural materials, antique and vintage fixtures and ornamental details. But the possibilities are nearly endless!
