The kitchen is a room you’re likely to be in daily, whether it’s to prep food, eat or relax with a coffee and muffin. The last thing you want is to get tired of your space or worse – be afraid to get it dirty.
A smooth blend
Transitional design is not just a mix of modern and traditional styles; it borrows elements from many areas. For example, shiplap, an apron sink and white upper cabinets reflect a farmhouse and cottage style. The Shaker cabinets lean toward a more traditional design, while mixed metals in the plumbing, hood fan and lighting illustrate an industrial and modern style.
The key is to consider how different design elements complement one another. Smooth black metal softly contrasts with the grainy wood beams, and the pop of bold colour doesn’t seem out of place since it doesn’t conflict with the other hues in the space. In this scenario, the blue makes a real impact against the mostly white kitchen, while blending nicely with the soft gray backsplash tile and the deep brown earthy wood beams, the legs of the chairs at the island and the larger wood table and chairs.
Relaxed sophistication
A transitional design is appealing because it is “approachable.” Elements such as the large apron sink encourage people to not worry about the mess when washing the dishes. The open shelving is the perfect space to display plants, frequently used serving pieces and kitchen decor.
Mixing metals in plumbing, hardware, appliances, and lighting offers up a relaxed sophistication while unifying other elements around the kitchen. For example, the black handles and metal hardware address the hoodfan; the nickel finish on both sink faucets highlight the warmth of the veining in the countertop.
Balanced, not busy
The trick is to pursue cohesive minimalism. Ample storage in cabinets keeps the mess contained. Balance also comes from shape and scale. To prevent monotony, the space utilizes straight lines and curves. The lines of the shiplap ceiling and Shaker cabinets direct the eye. Arches soften the edges — the delicate pendant lights, the faucet and the column detail on the cabinets. The upper cabinets use circular knobs and the lower ones linear bar handles in the same black finish.
Too much of one texture can throw the design out of balance. The ribbing on the sink offers relief from the smooth surfaces of the backsplash and countertops nearby and is similar to the pattern in the pendant lights.
By extending the shiplap and wood beams from the kitchen into the dining room, the area is expanded, seamlessly connecting the two spaces.
Approachable elegance
For a kitchen that’s livable and timelessly designed, keep the details sophisticated but the space relaxed. Have elements call to one another to ensure cohesion but keep it balanced with different textures, shapes, and scale. A transitional kitchen offers many opportunities for your personality to populate the space.