Traditional, Modern, or Transitional? A Basic Kitchen Style Guide

What are the different styles of kitchen design? Just as there is a wide variety of clothing and furniture styles, there are also many types of kitchen styles. You may have heard heritage names like French country, craftsman, and mediterranean. In fact, all three of those styles are types of a Traditional kitchen style.

Add contemporary and transitional kitchens to the mix and you have three basic kitchen styles, each with its own variations and spin-offs. Having a basic idea of these three design styles will help you get oriented as you put your room together.

As you determine your kitchen style, consider your personal preferences as well as the architectural style of your home. Live in a brand-new contemporary loft? A more modern, urban style will be more appropriate than a farmhouse look.

What are the Latest Styles in Kitchens?

The latest style choices in kitchens include multi-use spaces, ceiling-high white and wood cabinets, large kitchen islands, playing with color in all shades, unique countertops, and range hoods. Multi-use spaces have only become more popular since 2020, while colorful cabinets have become a huge focal point in the design. There's also growth in unique countertops and range hoods that provide safety for cooking.

Which Kitchen Style is Best?

Each of the different kitchen styles has its benefits, and choosing the best is up to personal preference. For instance, if you want to create a sleek, mature design then a modern kitchen is right for you. On the other hand, if you are drawn to more classic choices in design like craftsman-style cabinets, then a traditional kitchen is more up your alley. A transitional kitchen will give you the best of both worlds, for example, a modern farmhouse kitchen.

Traditional Kitchens

Traditional kitchens usually include more decorative features like moldings, appliques, corbels, and raised panel doors. Sometimes traditional kitchens may be more formal like you’d find in colonial, old world and French country styles.

Other traditional styles, such as coastal, rustic and country, might be more casual. Traditional kitchens often showcase the natural beauty of wood cabinetry. Other features are raised-panel door styles, ornate glass doors, and decorative millwork or molding.

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Modern / Contemporary Kitchens

The labels modern and contemporary are pretty undefined. Distinguishing the difference between contemporary and modern kitchen design can involve splitting some hairs.

Generally speaking, both contemporary and modern kitchens represent new, updated styles and trends. Recently they’ve emphasized sleek, open spaces and clean lines. It’s also common to see man-made materials such as paint, plastic, stainless steel, laminate, glass, and concrete incorporated into the design.

Contemporary styles simply refer to “the current time”. The trends happening now. Unlike modernism, it’s not rooted in any historical period but is geared toward the present and future. It does not follow any particular style or school of architecture but deals with the new trends, however, and however they change.

In 2022, a contemporary kitchen design might incorporate new trends like bold splashes of color, open shelving, natural materials, smart appliances, mixed metals (especially brass) and a multi-user layout. Contemporary styles look very trendy, but before you start buying a lot of contemporary fixtures, keep in mind that different trends come and go.

Transitional Kitchens

One of the most popular styles today is the transitional kitchen. It combines features from both traditional and modern design to create a fresh, updated look. The goal is to balance out the embellished details of traditional design with the new paints, trends, and materials of the current day – without seeming stark or futuristic.

Design lines are softer, lean towards the simple and linear, and are not as heavy with decorative accents. Simple features and cabinet molding may be used. With their clean and streamlined profile, Shaker-style doors are popular in transitional kitchen designs. Cabinets are often finished in a neutral paint like white, gray, or black.

A playful mix of old and new, transitional kitchens often seek to capture timeless styles with a personal touch. The modern farmhouse design style is a perfect example of a transitional kitchen. Other styles you may have heard within the transitional category include the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Arts-and-Crafts Movement as well as Pottery Barn-inspired cottage styles.

What’s your favorite kitchen style? Whether it’s traditional, contemporary, or something in between, understanding the different kitchen styles will help you make decisions as you plan your kitchen remodel.