Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | Sign In

Classic Kitchen Design

Kitchens for the Modern Family

Jul 14, 2009 Debra DeLorenzo

A classic kitchen is designed for a family home. It has safe traditional colours and materials, and works as the hub of the home.

The classic style of kitchen comes from a time when practicality was paramount. With the rise in retro styling it is no surprise to see a move back to this style of design.

The Multi Zoned Kitchen

As a family kitchen it will be used a lot and by many different people simultaneously. Think about who will be doing what and when. Having a second sink in an island creates a new work zone for hungry kids coming home from school, or a drinks servery for a party. Keep it away from the main sink and food prep area so the chef is not interrupted. Position the fridge near the entrance to the kitchen so that fridge raiders don’t interrupt the work flow. Microwaves should be at bench height so all but the youngest can access them.

Horizontal and Vertical Surfaces

These kitchens are used a lot so make sure you specify hard wearing surfaces. Stainless steel for counter tops is a good choice as while they might scratch, they are virtually indestructible. If you want to make them more interesting you can get patterned stainless steel. Laminate counter tops are also a cost efficient solution but make sure they are high pressure laminates as only HPL’s are tough enough for horizontal use.

Cabinetry should be a laminate and although a low pressure laminate is usually used on the vertical surfaces, sometimes a slightly more expensive high pressure laminate is used if you are expecting high wear and tear.

Keep it Safe with Colour

It would be best to stick with neutral colours on your cabinetry rather than bright or dark colours that may date. If you want some colour you can introduce this with artwork, wall colours or even kitchen accessories. This is particularly important if you are thinking about resale in the near future.

Practical Can be Interesting

Free standing cookers and retro looking fridges and dishwashers allow you add a bit of fun without compromising on quality. By making a standard stainless or laminate counter top thicker you can add some real impact. A painted back glass splash back is another area where you can have some fun. Here you can put in a bright colour or even print a picture onto the glass to make a focal point. As these are relatively inexpensive to replace you can change the colour or picture to make over your kitchen.

Classic kitchens require more practical design than aesthetic and with more than one user it pays to spend more time on layout than the final look. After all these kitchens are there to be used.

The copyright of the article Classic Kitchen Design in Interior Decorating is owned by Debra DeLorenzo. Permission to republish Classic Kitchen Design in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Retro Appliances With Matching Coloured Splashback