Elements of a Transitional Kitchen

Transitional design is the marriage of traditional and contemporary styles.Transitional kitchens take classic design elements from traditional style and blend it with contemporary design to give it a fresh, updated look. Furthermore, it borrows warmth from the traditional side and simplicity from contemporary design. Elements of a transitional kitchen includes shaker-style cabinets, natural surfaces, streamlined tile, simple accents, as well as neutral colors.

Cabinet Design

Cabinet design is one of the signature characteristics of a transitional kitchen. As expected, transitional cabinet design is a cross between traditional and contemporary style cabinets. The most common door style is Shaker. Shaker-style doors consist of a simple panel design and wood construction. There are two options for cabinet construction. The first is full-overlay, which is a contemporary design choice. As a result, your kitchen will lean towards this design aesthetic. The second construction method includes a frame, similar to traditional cabinet design. As a result, your kitchen will lean more traditional (see images below). The last thing to consider is cabinet hardware. Hardware selection is key. It is important to keep it basic and sleek.

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Materials + Color

Both traditional and contemporary kitchens make use of natural materials. As a result, natural materials such as wood and stone are right at home in a transitional kitchen. These materials can be used as countertops, backsplash and flooring. Additionally, it is important to keep edge treatments simple to avoid getting too ornate.

Man-made materials also have a home in these types of kitchens. Mixing man-made with natural materials is a main principal of transitional kitchen design. An example of this would be a stainless steel hood mixed with wood cabinets and stone countertops.

Transitional kitchens are primarily neutral colors, however, it is not out of the question to add a pop of color. It is important that the pop of color is used sparingly, for example, as a teapot or dutch oven on display (see image below). It is also not out of the question to use texture. Textured materials often add depth. Where your kitchen lacks in color, texture can make up for in depth. The backsplash, for example, may be a tumbled or rough edge stone, rather than smooth.

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Pattern + Embellishment

A cornerstone of traditional style is embellishment. Contemporary design, on the other hand, lacks any ornamentation. As a result, transitional designs will take traditional elements and reinvent them in a contemporary way or vice versa. For example, a traditional stone tile can be laid out in a contemporary way (stacked bond). The reverse is true for taking a contemporary tile and using it in a traditional way. For example, forming a contemporary glass tile into a ornamental pattern or shape. Remember to use any embellishments or patterns sparingly, so you don’t outweigh the contemporary elements.

To sum up, transitional kitchen design is a combination of traditional and contemporary style. The blending of old and new creates a sophisticated, timeless look that you won’t regret installing five years down the road. As a result, this is the most popular kitchen style today. This is because it does not require a homeowner to commit to one specific style. The beauty of a transitional kitchen is that you can adjust the scale of traditional or contemporary influence as much as you’d like, to fit your personal taste.

Elements of a Transitional Kitchen

Is a Transitional Kitchen Right for You?

There’s traditional, transitional, modern and contemporary style kitchens. Traditional kitchens tend to feel more cozy and homey, as opposed to the sleek, cutting-edge contemporary kitchen. If you like traditional style but you are also drawn to modern or contemporary then a transitional kitchen is definitely worth considering.You might feel that traditional kitchens can feel old world or a bit dated, or simply isn’t the right fit for the style of your home. On the other hand, a contemporary kitchen might feel cold, stark and lack warmth. That is why transitional design is a good happy-medium that makes for a very popular choice today.