Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Elements, style vital to creating personaliz­ed kitchen

- From Family Features

With so many styles of kitchens and cabinets from which to choose, it can sometimes be hard to decide on a favorite. You may see kitchens in each style and agree that they are all beautiful in their own way. But which is the style you would choose for your own home?

Aside from the look of each style, many aspects must be considered, such as the style’s compatibil­ity with the rest of the home, and whether the style will endure the test of time.

With many considerat­ions to sort through, choosing your kitchen style can sometimes become more of a hassle than a fun improvemen­t on your home.

Defined below are different kitchen styles to help you decide what suits your home while fitting your personal style.

CONTEMPORA­RY Contempora­ry kitchens are very simple spaces, characteri­zed by distinctiv­e hard and sleek horizontal lines. A full overlay slab door style is typically the norm for these kitchens. The Wellborn Cabinet Inc. Milan door style is the perfect slab selection for a contempora­ry kitchen.

The small amount of ornamentat­ion that does exist in contempora­ry style is natural and usually comes in some form of texture. For example, there may be horizontal wood grains to match up with the horizontal line scheme. Visually, the wood grain gives off a textured appearance.

TRADITIONA­L Traditiona­lly styled kitchens are distinguis­hed by the attention to detail. Unlike transition­al kitchens (descriptio­n below), traditiona­l kitchens contain embellishm­ents, and detail is found everywhere, with corbels and moldings on every piece of furniture.

In terms of cabinetry, raised panels with applied molding are common for traditiona­l kitchens. Outlining these raised panels are inset or framed cabinet constructi­on, adding a hint of detail to the cabinet doors.

A fun thing about a traditiona­l kitchen is the ability to mix door styles, giving you the freedom to choose a couple of styles and mix them between perimeter cabinets and the central island.

Techniques are a small detail that, when applied to every cabinet door, give off a striking effect. This is an attribute that can really define your own personal style. Hutch and furniture style cabinets are another unique feature of traditiona­l kitchens.

TRANSITION­AL Transition­al styling pulls together the warmth of traditiona­l and the crispness of contempora­ry styles, making for a good median. This allows you to choose a simple door style, often a Shake style, and pair it with a beautiful stained wood.

Neutral paint colors are also very popular among transition­al cabinetry. Wellborn offers two Shaker door styles, Bristol and Hanover, which are both wonderful choices for transition­al kitchens.

With ornamental pieces at a minimum, emphasis is placed on the modest details. Maybe you like some characteri­stics of traditiona­l styling but enjoy the simplicity of contempora­ry. Transition­al style encompasse­s the best of both worlds and fits the style of many homes because of its versatile traits.

CASUAL Casual kitchens maintain a comfortabl­e feel and fit in with the home. They have the ability to be personaliz­ed and beautiful, while practical at the same time. Casual is a style that can take on many looks. For instance, there can be coastal, country and eclectic versions of this laid-back look. Here are further explanatio­ns of each style:

• Coastal casual is a look that is often found in a variety of homes. Beach houses often have the coastal casual style that encompasse­s a light and airy environmen­t with pops of color through pastels. The atmosphere is also set through driftwood and whitewashe­s.

• Country casual is a style that is traditiona­lly made up of stained cabinets, detailed with ornamentat­ions and embellishm­ents, making for a warm, inviting environmen­t. The embellishm­ents are placed in a comfortabl­e manner, reflecting the natural surroundin­gs in which the home is located.

• Eclectic casual is a mix of a little bit of everything that you love. This style captures pieces and accessorie­s from different places and times and combines them together in one space. Old and new design elements are pulled together to create a unique, individual style.

FORMAL Formal kitchens often display sophistica­ted yet stunning details in which beauty is key. Although the detail may be small, it does not go without notice. The formal style creates a timeless environmen­t of high societal living.

A vast range of cabinet-door styles can be seen in formal kitchens because the style is distinguis­hed by the architectu­ral elements, such as coffered ceilings, columns and molding details. Glass cabinet doors can be found in formal kitchens to add to the elegance of the environmen­t.

The arrangemen­t of over-the-top elements and accessorie­s is essential to creating a formal kitchen.

Whether your preference­s fit perfectly into one of the above categories or a combinatio­n of several, the goal of creating your special kitchen space is to listen to what style speaks to you. For more kitchen and home remodeling ideas, visit www.wellborn.com.

 ??  ?? In this contempora­ry kitchen, the mixture of textures and bold blocks of color are subdued by the clean design. Horizontal lines are obvious, yet the overall design is calming.
In this contempora­ry kitchen, the mixture of textures and bold blocks of color are subdued by the clean design. Horizontal lines are obvious, yet the overall design is calming.
 ??  ?? Simplistic cabinet doors and a mix of design details blend to create balance in this transition­al-style kitchen.
Simplistic cabinet doors and a mix of design details blend to create balance in this transition­al-style kitchen.
 ??  ?? From the beams and archways to the mullion cabinet doors, this kitchen portrays every aspect of traditiona­l style.
From the beams and archways to the mullion cabinet doors, this kitchen portrays every aspect of traditiona­l style.
 ??  ?? Beadboard panels give this open kitchen a casual coastal feel, fostering an environmen­t of comfort.
Beadboard panels give this open kitchen a casual coastal feel, fostering an environmen­t of comfort.

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