Country

Country style adds a healthy dose of comfort to the sometimes intimidating grandeur of traditional kitchens.

Country is where formal meets cozy. While traditional style has carved wood elements and natural wood grain made more subtle with stain, country style simplifies the look by reducing the depth of carving and highlighting surface details instead. The furniture look, created with details like feet, brackets and valences keeps visual interest without getting too fancy or formal.

Not as informal as cottage style, country styling often features glazes and paint details. You are more likely to find colored cabinets in a country kitchen as well as built-in details like bread boxes, appliance garages, knick-knack shelves and corner cabinets. Display cabinets are a big element of country kitchens. A particularly country touch is to have textured glass or wire netting inserts in the display cabinets.

For even more of a timeless look, consider keeping your more modern cooking devices – microwaves, extra ovens, etc – out of sight. Appliance garages are a popular method for this, as is furniture paneling or small appliances in the pantry.

One offshoot of country style is Old World style – more of a European or global take on the same informal yet antique look. Colors and patterns, especially in tile, are more common in these kitchens. If you were looking to incorporate elements from somewhere abroad (Morocco, France, Spain, etc.), Old World may be just what you’re looking for.

For more formality, consider Traditional style kitchens.
For a brighter, less formal look, try Cottage style kitchens.