Author name: Hassan Khan

Kitchen layouts and styles are two separate things. As we have discussed in our previous article, layout determines where things need to go to be efficient. Styles result when you create a visual statement. Developing a style usually involves choosing specific colors, textures, and lighting. Your kitchen styles can either shout or whisper. It all depends on the elements you choose. Create Your Own Style Nothing can stop you to create only-one-of-your-own-kind kitchen style. But a good possibility is that you will be reinventing the wheel. You could far more easily put your own spin on one of the many top kitchen design styles, by using signature elements alongside the key indicators of whatever style appeals. And, hey! Manufacturers have already completed most of your work: They have created cabinets, flooring, countertops, appliances, and accessories specifically to suit your need. But still you can create your own style—you need to know a bit about what does and does not define it. Traditional Style Kitchens This style is a formal one. Most common traditional elements include detailed door styles with raised panels, elaborately carved moldings, corbels, pilasters, and legs, as well as ornate, carved appliqués on panels and matching cabinet panels on appliance doors. When used in moderation, some of these are pleasing to the eye, but if overused they create a showy look. Remember: each era reinterprets the style. A traditional style today is nothing like the style of the 1970s. Contemporary Style Kitchens Most people call this style as cold and unwelcoming. But this is not always the case. Contemporary kitchens feature clean, minimum aesthetics with a lack of curving lines, flowing shapes, fussy elements, or ornate fixtures. And they include a few key traditional design elements as well that help warm the space up a bit. Contemporary equals “now,” and the style is constantly evolving. So now means design elements that are trending at the moment such as the muted colors popular these days.  Cottage Chic Practical and comfy, cottage-style kitchens encourage you to feel relax and stay awhile with their quiet charm and cozy appearance. They celebrate the beauty of traditional architecture with vintage accents and classic fixtures, but avoid fussy details favoring clean lines and simple forms that promise to stand the test of time. These pretty and efficient kitchens look light and airy thank to their focus on bright whites and soft colors – but a pop of bright color often adds a playful vibe. Modern Style Kitchens Modern kitchens look most austere. Sleek, streamlined, and high-tech are all key features of this style. It is not for everyone or every kitchen in Pakistan—the look works best in larger spaces and open floor plans. The challenge is to institute a truly modern appeal without making the room seem overly cold or sterile. Judicious use of the occasional splash of color and incorporating natural textures such as hardwoods softens the sometimes stark visual nature. Although these styles dominate kitchens, they are in no way the only design styles from which you can choose. Other designs include historical styles such as Craftsman and Art Deco that resided in specific time frames, a retro that can represent the curvy, and eclectic, which is the inspired use of seemingly disparate design elements that actually work together to create a unified look. Choose your style based on what appeals to your design sense, meshes with your overall home design, and ultimately accommodates the way you use your kitchen. Final Thought Remember: Kitchen styles and trends change over time. The latest trends now include the multi-height surfaces and commercial grade appliances. But that does not mean you must have them to have a great kitchen. Do not jump on the bandwagon of the latest trend, especially if it kills your budget. What is important for you to install timeless and classic elements in your kitchen, and not so trendy that you become tired of them quickly.