Tips and Tricks for an Elegant Kitchen

1. DON’T OVERDO IT.

There’s a necessary balance when you introduce modern amenities to a traditional home, so consider the style of your home as a whole before planning your changes. “You can’t have a contemporary kitchen when the rest of the house is traditional,” says Tatiana. “It comes down to selecting the right design elements.”

2. HIDE APPLIANCES.

Stainless steel appliances are great for function, but don’t exactly fit into a classic design. “With one view of the kitchen, you can’t see the appliances, so you can focus on other materials,” Tatiana says.

3. BE SELECTIVE WITH MATERIALS.

When it comes to planning your new look, prioritize your materials over paint colors. “Pick your materials first and wall colors last,” says Tatiana. “There are millions of wall colors, so you can pull shades from your materials to select the wall colors.”

4. DON’T FORGET THE WINDOWS.

“Windows should complement the rest of the space,” says Tatiana. “They’re an architectural feature that should be part of the interior design process.”

5. PLAN OUT YOUR SPACE.

The layout of your kitchen is the most important functional aspect. “Space planning will change with traditional and contemporary kitchens,” says Tatiana. “A family will have different needs than a couple or single person, so [space] is the first thing I plan.”

might ask. The deep-blue cabinet is a custom piece that conceals the refrigerator and includes side cupboards for food.

Other changes were equally creative solutions. “The original kitchen had exposed beams that were taking up space, so we raised them and covered them behind the ceiling drywall,” says Tatiana. “That way, they’re hidden, but still supporting the ceiling.”They also replaced the cabinets, flooring and appliances. “We tore out every single thing in that kitchen,” she says. “There wasn’t even any drywall, so we could update the plumbing and electrical.”

THE BLENDING OF STYLES

Tatiana chose shades of white and gray for the walls and cabinets, to stay traditional and prevent any one piece from standing out.

“You don’t want any pieces to jump out at you,” she says. “You want a smooth transition between materials and colors to keep the eye looking around the space.” With this color palette, the traditional aesthetic is maintained, and you can switch out seasonal décor items with ease.

She picked classic furniture pieces to bring in the antique look and used leaded glass on the cabinets to continue the traditional look in a subtle way. The details of the swirled-marble ornate backsplash also add character to the space.

“You want a smooth transition between materials and colors to keep the eye looking around the space.”

Tatiana was able to seamlessly blend modern elements into this traditional kitchen, giving it a fresh feel without making the elements look out of place in the home.

The custom-made cabinet that conceals the refrigerator has built-in drawers and cupboards for extra storage space. Pull-out drawers allow easy access to food items and small appliances.

ABOVE RIGHT| The opening from the kitchen to the breakfast nook was almost completely blocked by storage cabinets. “[The homeowner] wanted the extra storage, but also wanted openness to the breakfast nook,” says Tatiana, “so we made storage a priority...