How to Design a Colonial Style Kitchen
Designing a colonial kitchen can be a fun and rewarding project. Knowing which elements to incorporate is half the battle. Incorporating your kitchen with the rest of your home is the key. This article will help you get started. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Use the rest of your homes design as a starting point. Perhaps the hardwood flooring can be brought into the kitchen. Consider the molding choices on the doors and windows in the rest of the home. Your color selection in the kitchen should complement the rest of the home. Your main consideration here is not to make your new kitchen clash with the rest of your home.
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Select your cabinets and counter tops. If working with existing cabinets, whitewashing them may be an inexpensive solution. If you need more cabinet space, don't be afraid to add open shelving. Colonials often used this element in their kitchen space. Simply acquire additional wood and paint to match the rest of your cabinetry. If acquiring new cabinets, remember colonial kitchens were of simple design. Consider the shaker design strategy of simple lines. Add functional space in traditionally non functional areas, like a wine rack below an island. Natural counter tops are a must. Granite, soapstone or limestone are all excellent choices, though butcher blocks were common as well.
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Select your appliances and sink. These items should blend into their surroundings. Appliances should match. Stainless appliances are not a requirement; consider black instead. Remember, colonial homes had no appliances!
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Choose your hardware. Colonial kitchens used wrought iron most often. You could also select antique pewter or brushed nickle handles and pulls. Brass should be avoided.
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Improvise! Colonial kitchens started out with no appliances and had to be retrofitted as new technology came along. Think outside the box here. Perhaps an old wooden table can be your new island. Just add a new counter top.
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Add your design elements. Perhaps you can add a pot rack over your island, and hang handmade coffee cups instead of pats. You could even grow a vining indoor plant on the rack. If space allows, add an old wooden barrel or butter churn. Antique stores would be useful for items such as these.
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Tips & Warnings
Visit old home days in your or neighboring towns. This is a great way to see period specific, local colonial kitchens!
Go to local salvage yards that specialize in older homes. This is a fantastic chance to obtain usable older sinks and other items for your kitchen.
Make sure your new kitchen design does not clash with the rest of your homes design.
- Photo Credit Photo: livefreenh
