If you’re seeking lovely evergreen kitchen design to inspire plans for your kitchen–one that pleases today and will please you for years to come–this may appeal. A discussion of kitchen trends vs. timeless options follows.
Kitchen Trends? Evergreen Kitchen Design Explored
We’re living in an age of steady flow of trendy kitchen content from social media feeds, design blogs, magazines, reality shows, and even non-virtual sources such as kitchen showrooms.
Distinguishing Evergreen Kitchen Design from Trends
In the marketplace, we’re ever reminded of new and improved kitchen design features to improve daily life, boost property value, and thrill our senses.
Modern farmhouse kitchens still resonate which means Shaker style cabinets, floating shelves, shiplap, and subway tile show up in the marketplace, media, and consciousness of mainstream America.
But trends come and go, and what’s temporarily hot may be deemed “over” in just a couple of years.
They come with risk. What’s more, modern farmhouse may not be the most appropriate style for your home’s architecture.
Do Timeless Designs Cost More?
Timeless plans often cost more initially since they are more customized and require more planning, design help, and high quality materials built to last.
House flippers seem especially fond of trendy kitchen features since what’s trending is readily available and cheaper. They hope to appeal to a wide range of buyers so they choose popular finishes and stick to trends as a safe bet.
Unfortunately, this strategy essentially dates a kitchen. While flippers may splurge on particular trendy design elements, those elements are not necessarily wise investments…will a gold grouted backsplash feel WOW later?
Trendy options can be less costly than an evegreen kitchen design, but choosing them may ultimately cost more. Kitchens are expensive to re-do…trust me!
Timeless designs are an investment in time, creativity, and expense now to avoid demo and remodels later.
Is a Timeless Kitchen Boring?
Timeless design isn’t just for conservative practical types. It’s also not about creating something old fashioned, unfashionable, generic, plain, dull, or without an identifiable style.
Pretty timeless kitchens have style for miles!
But they often require specialized labor or materials, handmade elements, skilled craftsmanship and patience.
Successful projects take shape from a deeper sense of history, quality, thoughtfulness, and design confidence.
If you have never designed a kitchen, your confidence may be low. This is why it is essential to partner with professional kitchen designers and interior designers who understand timeless design and have years of experience designing kitchens for a variety of personalities.
Tips for Timeless Kitchen Design Planning
Understand your home’s architecture and style to begin the process of imagining a timeless kitchen design to harmonize with the rest of your interiors.
For example, if your home is a cottage, there are many timeless directions you can explore design-wise. While timeless design is often understated and sophisticated, you may decide to lean toward casual, country simplicity more than say a formal, traditional, more elegant direction.
Once you find a kitchen style that appeals to your aesthetic and feels appropriate for your home, you can explore that design style’s details more deeply to note the elements you want to include.
Whether you’re working alone or with a designer, use Pinterest to curate inspiring images of cabinet styles, appliances, flooring, color stories, countertops, sinks, and hardware.
Educate yourself about the durability, longevity, and quality of materials for flooring, cabinets, trim, doors, and windows. For example, wood flooring products that are 1/2″ in thickness cannot be refinished as many times as 3/4″ thick flooring.
Take your time finding a local design professional who has experience creating timeless designs. Your diligence now will be worth it in the end.
What Makes Timeless Kitchen Designs Timeless?
There is a wealth of design and architectural intelligence undergirding timelessness. Knowledge of traditional, enduring, and classic principles will guide your choices for materials, finishes, and even color.
Think about popcorn ceilings or avocado appliances that are a dead giveaways that a kitchen was created in the 1970s!
Materials and design elements for timeless kitchen designs tend to age well. For example, unlacquered brass has gained popularity in recent years but is fitting for a timeless kitchen because it not only lasts but also develops an attractive patina with age.
Like the idea of clear glass shelves? I found THESE glass shelf options.
The color palette for a timeless kitchen is also important and neutrals are commonly selected since they feel understated and natural.
Are white kitchens the safest choice for a timeless kitchen?
White kitchens have staying power for sure. White feels clean, bright, and not tied to a particular era or decade.
Incorporating Antiques, Architecture & Handmade into Timeless Designs
There are so many great books on this topic, and antiques are such an important part of finishing any interior.
When everything in a space is new, things can feel dull and ordinary.
Artwork, accessories, seating, and lighting offer opportunities to shop for vintage or antique items.
Architecture can also play a starring role in a timeless kitchen whether it be existing or new.
Is there an opportunity to add crown molding, a built-in, or a special ceiling treatment?
Even details like tongue and groove for walls can add a richness and tradition.
Handmade and hand-crafted design elements often join the mix in a timeless kitchen.
Bespoke cabinets, for example, or hand-forged hardware.
Hand-applied plaster finishes for walls or hardwood flooring finished on site by hand are also examples of such commitment to artful quality over commercial mediocrity.
Obviously, there is much more to say about approaches to a timeless kitchen design project. In our Georgian’s kitchen renovation, we brought together timeless elements we favor:
Muted colors, high quality fixtures, gilded iron for lighting, marble for walls, farm sink, and plaster finished custom range hood. (The cooktop is a dead giveaway this is a modern renovation! And with a limited budget, we skipped a custom panel to hide the existing dishwasher!)
Photo Gallery With Moments of Timeless Kitchen Beauty
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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