The traditional kitchen is making a major comeback these days. With its warm, cozy ambiance and timeless design elements, the traditional kitchen evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia. At the same time, new innovations and trends are emerging that allow traditional kitchens to offer the convenience and functionality of contemporary cooking spaces. There are many exciting current events and developments to explore for those interested in creating or updating a traditional kitchen.
Sustainable Materials and Practices
Sustainability is a top priority in kitchen design today. Fortunately, the traditional kitchen lends itself well to green materials and building practices. Here are some of the current eco-friendly trends for traditional kitchens:
Salvaged and Upcycled Materials
Using salvaged materials is an excellent way to make traditional kitchens more sustainable. Reclaimed wood from old barns, floors, and structures adds rustic appeal and character. Other salvaged items like old bricks, beams, and lighting fixtures also work well. Upcycling by taking discarded items and creatively repurposing them for new uses is also increasing in popularity.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
From ranges to refrigerators to dishwashers, today’s appliances offer energy efficiency ratings much higher than older models. Choosing Energy Star certified appliances can greatly reduce the traditional kitchen’s carbon footprint.
Natural and Local Materials
Traditional kitchens integrate seamlessly with natural materials like stone, brick, reclaimed wood, granite, and marble. Using materials harvested and manufactured locally reduces the embodied energy of shipping and transportation.
Water Conservation Features
Low-flow faucets, dual flush toilets, on-demand water heaters, and graywater usage help conserve water. Rainwater harvesting using cisterns and rain barrels also supplements water needs sustainably.
Smart Energy Home Systems
Home energy management systems like Nest allow you to automatically control lighting, HVAC, and appliances to optimize energy efficiency in your traditional kitchen and home.
Vintage-Inspired Color Palettes
While white cabinets remain popular, many homeowners opt for vintage-inspired color palettes that add warmth and personality to traditional kitchens. Here are some of the most popular current color trends for traditional kitchen designs:
Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets
Two-tone kitchen cabinets involving different stained wood tones and complementary paint colors enable creativity and customization. Pairing navy blue lower cabinets with natural wood uppers is a favorite.
Earthy Neutrals
Natural, grounded hues like beige, tan, cream, slate, and brown work well in traditional kitchens. Matte finishes and textured grains add cozy warmth.
Deep Hues
Jewel-toned greens, rich navy blues, and chocolaty browns provide striking accents. Use deep hues sparingly on an island, range hood, or open shelving.
Bright Accents
Citrus yellows, cherry reds, turquoise blues, and emerald greens inject vibrant personality when used judiciously for accents. Try a colorful refrigerator, backsplash, or accent wall.
Classic Black and White
For traditional kitchens with a vintage farmhouse vibe, black and white makes a classic, timeless statement. Checkerboard floors and blackened steel finishes contrast beautifully.
Smart Home Technology Integration
Smart home technology allows even the coziest traditional kitchen to offer the functionality of a contemporary, connected space. Here are some of the top ways to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge tech:
Voice Activated Assistants
Devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home reside conveniently on the countertop or wall so you can voice control lighting, music, appliances, security systems, and more hands-free.
App-Controlled Appliances
Many new stoves, ovens, and refrigerators can be controlled and monitored remotely using a smartphone app. Receive notifications and adjust temperatures, modes, and more from anywhere.
Automated Lighting
Automated lighting systems like Phillips Hue allow you to program accent lighting scenes and schedules. Sync mood lighting with sunrise/sunset using smart sensors.
Integrated Audio
Distributed audio systems let you stream music wirelessly throughout the kitchen and home via apps, smart speakers, and built-in ceiling or wall speakers.
Smart Thermostats
Programmable WiFi thermostats like Nest self-adjust to occupancy schedules, saving energy in traditional kitchens and homes.
Open Layouts
While the traditional kitchen retains elements like decorative cabinetry and quality craftsmanship, many homeowners now opt for a more modern, open layout. Here are some of the most popular open concept elements being integrated into today’s traditional kitchens:
Spacious Work Islands
Large kitchen islands provide ample workspace and storage as well as an informal eat-in dining space. The island becomes a communal hub for cooking, socializing, eating, and homework.
Fewer Walls
Removing walls between the kitchen and other living areas helps brighten up traditionally dark, closed off kitchens. This opens sight lines for an airier, more social feel.
Unfitted Kitchen Design
Traditional kitchens are moving away from the restrictive fitted look by using free-standing pieces like islands, dressers, hutches, and pantries instead of built-in cabinetry. This allows for greater flexibility.
Indoor/Outdoor Flow
Incorporating sliding doors, French doors with large windows, and eat-up bars provides seamless access to patios and decks. This blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor cooking and dining spaces.
Blending Styles
Combining traditional cabinetry and materials with transitional features like stainless steel appliances, modern faucets, and stone or quartz countertops strikes an appealing balance.
Multipurpose Elements
Today’s traditional kitchens incorporate design elements that allow them to function as more than just a cooking space. Here are some of the top current trends in multipurpose traditional kitchen features:
Built-In Breakfast Nooks
Nooks built into kitchen windowsills, corners, or ends of islands provide cozy breakfast dining spots and additional seating. Add plush cushions, pillows, and throws for comfort.
Home Office Spaces
With kitchen computers and laptops now commonplace, incorporating desks or workstations allows cooking and office work to happen simultaneously.
Charging Stations
Built-in charging stations with outlets, USB ports, wireless pads, and docking areas allow family members to power up devices right in the kitchen.
Extra Storage Solutions
Homeowners are adding storage elements like floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets, deep drawers with dividers, spice drawer inserts, and even hidden storage compartments.
Pet-Friendly Features
From built-in food stations to water bowl nooks and pet play areas, traditional kitchens are becoming more pet-friendly so furry companions can keep close.
furniture-inspired-styles-and-finishes
Furniture-inspired styles that emulate antique dressers, hutches, and armoires are a hot trend in traditional kitchen design. These provide both storage and display space with charm and functionality. Some current ways to integrate furniture elements into the traditional kitchen include:
Floating Hutch Cabinets
Hutch-style upper cabinets fitted with glass doors and interior display shelving float above lower cabinets for a built-in furniture look.
Rustic Wood Accents
Incorporating reclaimed barnwood, salvaged floorboards, rough-hewn ceiling beams, and antique cellar doors adds rustic furniture charm.
Distressed Finishes
Layered antique paint finishes like chippy, crackle, rub-through, and distressing emulate timeworn furniture character on traditional cabinets and walls.
Antiqued Hardware
Vintage-style iron pulls, latches, hinges, hooks, and knobs add old-fashioned authenticity to traditional kitchen cabinets and furnishings.
Customized Storage
Tailored storage furniture like floor-to-ceiling pantry closets, kitchen dressers fitted with drawers, and movable kitchen islands resemble antique armoires.
Timeless Materials with Character
The textures, grains, and natural patinas of time-honored materials add character and vintage appeal to traditional kitchens. Here are some of today’s most popular traditional kitchen design materials:
Natural Stone
Granite, travertine, limestone, and slate styles with unique veins, fossils, cracks, and imperfections add organic character as countertops, backsplashes, and floors.
Unfinished Wood
Unstained woods like oak, maple, pine, and fir allow their natural grains, knots, and splits to show through for raw, rugged visual texture.
Terra Cotta
From floor tiles to backsplashes to patterned tiles on range hoods, terra cotta’s distinctive orange-red hue and uneven surfaces add handmade character.
Wrought Iron
Hand-forged iron brings human craftsmanship to traditional kitchens through pendant lights, brackets, rails, hooks, and trivets.
Reclaimed Brick
Salvaged bricks in varied muted tones and mottled colors, complete with patinas and markings, create textured focal walls or floors.
Weathered Metals
Materials like rustic copper, tarnished silver, muted zinc, and aged pewter develop a lovely darkened, softened patina over time that spotlights their natural variations.
Creative Uses of Texture
Beyond just materials, traditional kitchen designers are incorporating tactile visual textures in creative new ways. Some interesting trends include:
Antiqued Mirror Backsplashes
Beveled mirror tiles muted with an acid patina introduce dimension, reflectivity, and the look of a prized antique.
Ruguled Metallics
Textured metals like hammered copper sinks, textured zinc countertops, and patinaed steel range hoods add dimensional detail.
Natural Stone Mosaics
Mini stone tiles in materials like travertine, limestone, and slate create nuanced mosaics perfect for backsplashes.
Linen Accent Fabrics
Soft linen curtains, Roman shades, upholstered banquettes, and chair cushions provide cozy textural contrast to hard surfaces.
Wood Floor Accents
Parquet wood tile floors, reclaimed barnwood island supports, and wood-trimmed cabinetry infuse warmth and grain.
Rustic Beams
Exposed ceiling beams crafted from unplaned logs or salvaged wood introduce organic lines, cracks, knots, and imperfections.
Statement Range Hoods
The kitchen range hood is taking center stage in today’s traditional kitchens as a sculptural design focal point. Here are some of the most eye-catching current range hood trends:
Oversized Hoods
Range hoods are growing ever larger and bolder to become major architectural features, spanning multiple burners.
Ornate Details
From intricate iron scrollwork to vibrant tile mosaics to hand-carved wooden corbels, range hoods are flaunting embellished decoration.
Dramatic Materials
Range hoods finished in unlacquered brass, hammered copper, natural stone, and reclaimed woods make quite the visual statement.
Custom Shapes
Handcrafted range hoods are taking on artistic shapes like arched curves, geometric angles, or abstract silhouettes tailored for the space.
Vintage Styling
Designers are integrating antique-inspired features like grooved iron grilles, arched fronts, crown molding, and custom ironwork.
Chimney Accents
Chimney-style stainless range hoods stretching to the ceiling are being finished with stone, tile, metal, beams, or textured paints for added flair.
Backsplash Focal Points
Long gone are the days of simple white ceramic tile backsplashes in traditional kitchens. The backsplash has taken on a starring role as a focal feature all its own. Here are some of the bold backsplash trends making a dramatic impact:
Oversized Patterns
From sprawling florals to geometric lattices to vivid Mediterranean tiles, overscale patterns create big visual impact.
Vintage-Inspired Tiles
Real or faux antique tiles dating back centuries, salvaged from old buildings and residences worldwide, deliver aged elegance and historic charm.
Natural Materials
Backsplashes carved from material slabs and 3D tiles in natural travertine, marble, limestone, concrete, and shale create organic interest.
Metallic Sheen
Mirrored metals, shimmering alloys, glossy pennies, and reflective glass tiles amp up glamour and shine.
Modern Materials
Stainless steel, weathered copper, galvanized metal, wire mesh, and metal patinas introduce an industrial edge.
Handmade Qualities
Subtle imperfections in hand-cut, hand-poured, or hand-painted tiles in ceramic, cement, or glass add artisanal appeal.
Built-In Banquettes
Banquettes are being integrated seamlessly into traditional kitchen layouts to expand seating and promote family togetherness. Built-in banquettes help delineate dining areas and add comfort and style. Design trends include:
Cozy Bench Seating
Deep padded bench seats topped with plush cushions and throws create a welcoming spot for lounging, eating, or playing board games.
Storage Solutions
Banquettes are fitted with large pull-out drawers for storing linens, games, and serving ware or left open underneath for tucking stools.
Custom Cabinetry Integration
Banquettes are designed like elegant furniture and flanked by cabinetry to blur lines between seating and storage.
Casual Dining Experience
Rounding the banquette corners helps create an intimate, relaxed vibe perfect for casual family meals and snack times.
Multipurpose Uses
Banquettes become home office workstations, craft areas for kids, homework stations, and additional guest sleeping space as needed.
Window-Side Placement
Positioning banquettes under windows provides scenic outdoor views, natural light, and ventilation from fresh breezes through opened windows.
Classic Flooring Choices
The floor is a foundational design element that sets the tone for the traditional kitchen aesthetics. Homeowners are selecting these trending time-honored flooring options:
Black & White Checkerboard Tiles
The ultimate retro classic, black and white checkerboard tile floors lend a nostalgic 1950s soda shop vibe with clean geometry.
Hexagonal Tiles
Interlocking six-sided tiles in materials like terra cotta, porcelain, and vinyl create versatility through endless geometric configurations.
Hardwood Planks
Wide-plank oak, walnut, or pine hardwood floorboards and parquet patterns evoke old-world charm.
Stone Materials
Slate, travertine, and marble floors with Old World mottling, veining, or fossils bring timeworn elegance.
Vintage Patterned Linoleum
Sheet linoleum with retro floral, checkerboard, or geometric motifs provides affordable, laidback style.
Classic Brick
Reclaimed bricks repurposed from old structures or newly fabricated to look old have an inherent heirloom charm.
Adaptable Storage Solutions
Home chefs are seeking flexible storage systems to accommodate an expanding array of kitchen tools and appliances. These storage solutions allow items to be reorganized around evolving needs:
Roll-Out Trays and Drawers
Pull-out trays and drawers maximize vertical storage and visibility. Customizing cubed trays accommodate everything from cutting boards to utensils.
Slide-Out Pantry Cabinets
Floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets fully utilize available space. Sliding shelves further optimize storage options.
Adjustable Shelving
Mixing shelves that can be moved up or down, tilted forward, or added/removed altogether lets you reconfigure storage as needs change.
Spice Drawer Inserts
Interchangeable small-compartment spice inserts allow you to group spices however desired as your collection changes.
Jars, Canisters and Bins
Glass jars, metal canisters, ceramic crocks, and woven bins neatly store food while retaining visibility of contents. Their versatile modular design facilitates reorganization.
Multitasking Furniture
Movable kitchen carts with shelving above and below or island hutches with adjustable shelves adapt to different storage needs over time.
Eclectic Furniture Collections
The traditional kitchen furniture trend embraces an eclectic mix of distressed, antique, and handcrafted pieces for visual interest. Creative furniture vignettes might include:
Farmhouse Tables
Well-worn farmhouse plank tables and carved benches exude roughhewn, timeworn appeal. Their oversized scale anchors large traditional kitchens.
Curio Cabinets
Glass-front curio cabinets fitted above dressers or hutches provide striking display space for cherished dishware collections.
Architectural Scaffolding
Ironwork architectural relics like corbels, columns, and clawfoot tub bases repurposed as kitchen islands or bar seating inject heritage.
Salvaged Furniture
Incorporating old factory carts, vintage library ladders, well-used hutches, and upcycled crates adds worn personality.
Handcrafted Signage
Rustic hand-painted letters, monograms, and phrases on planks or emblazoned directly on exposed brick over the range personalize in heritage style.
Statement Lighting
Showstopping, oversized wrought iron chandeliers, vintage pulley lamps, and salvaged industrial pendants create ambient mood lighting.
Natural Ambiance Enhancements
To lend their spaces warmth and vibrancy, homeowners are integrating natural design details throughout the traditional kitchen, including:
Leafy Plants & Greenery
Lush potted palms, trailing ivy, flowering orchids, and fresh cut greenery infuse living color and oxygenating freshness.
Rustic Wood Beams
Exposed timber beams made from unprocessed logs or hand-hewed barnwood add outdoorsy, organic texture overhead.
Sunny Windows
Abundant windows, skylights, and
