When trying to reproduce the traditional European kitchen look, the first place to start is the cabinetry. There are no flat panels here. All panels, doors, and drawer fronts should have some form of edging or detailing. This can be in the form of panel surrounds, or even tongue and groove striping. These panels and fronts are then painted rather than having the wood exposed.
Kitchen Cabinetry Colour
Traditionally this style of kitchen has a painted finish and there are two approaches to what colour you choose for your cabinetry.
The first is to go neutral. By choosing pale neutral creams, greys, greens, or taupes the shadow lines created by the detailing on your cabinetry gives some pattern and interest. Neutral colours give rise to beautiful relaxing kitchens and allow individual items, such as appliances and splash backs, to be the main focal points.
The second approach is to paint your cabinetry in strong traditional feature colours. Deep greens or bright blues and yellows give character to the room. In these kitchens it is the cabinetry colour that is the focal point.
Traditional Countertops
The next big item is the counter top and the most commonly used material is granite. Dark almost black granites look great in brightly coloured kitchens while creamy colours will blend in nicely with a light neutral. Timber tops are also common and due to their nature can be any colour. Timber looks best in its natural state so if you want a dark counter top choose a dark coloured timber rather than staining a pale wood. Synthetic stone and stainless steel are not at home in this type of kitchen and should be avoided.
Splashbacks and Furniture
A European kitchen’s splashback is tiled. A neutral coloured tile with a contrasting grey grout will look great behind your cooker. Accentuate this with some decorative tiles for even more impact. You will only need a few as too many will make the area look busy. Talk to your tiler to come up with an interesting layout rather than a standard brick pattern.
One of the greatest things about this kitchen style is the ability to incorporate antique pieces of furniture. Old marble topped tables, dressers and plate racks can be incorporated into the design, and adds to the unfitted feel of the room. These items can sit alongside new cabinetry to add a real sense of history and tradition.
European traditional kitchen are less ornate than their American cousin, but their use of colour and space make them a tempting option. These types of kitchen are timeless, you may never need to change.
Debra DeLorenzo - Debra DeLorenzo is a fully qualified bathroom and kitchen designer (CKD/CBDNZ) and has been in the design industry since 1996. She has won ...
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