Kitchen Design Ideas

picture of kitchen design ideas in NJ

The 3 Kitchen Design Styles

Although there are countless variations  most kitchen design styles fall into one of three categories – traditional, transitional or contemporary. There are similarities in that all styles have floor cabinets, wall cabinets etc. (see our kitchen definitions page). It is typically the ornamentation of wall and floor cabinets and the center island where the different design styles show themselves. Here’s a more complete overview of the 3 primary kitchen design styles.

1) Traditional Kitchen Design

Traditional Kitchen Design features significant ornamentation – including various moldings such as crown moulding at the top of the cabinets and a recessed kick plate under the floor cabinets. Additional accents can include fluted columns and prominent door and drawer hardware The cabinet doors are typically raised panel face-frame doors with the frame surrounding the inset doors (learn more on our Kitchen Definitions page). Colors are muted and the materials are natural – meaning wood, the finish can be a stain or paint.

Picture of a raised panel kitchen cabinet door
This raised panel door is a common style in traditional kitchen designs
Crown moulding on top of a traditional kitchen cabinet
Decorative Crown Moulding if present often features elaborate ornamentation.
Decorative moulding on a stove hood in a traditional kitchen
Decorative moulding on a traditional kitchen cabinet hood.
photo of elaborate moulding on the sides of a kitchen island
The traditional kitchen design style will often include elaborate moulding on center islands.
This kitchen in our Vauxhall NJ showroom is a traditional kitchen design

This kitchen in our Vauxhall New Jersey showroom is a traditional design style. Notice the crown moulding, raised panel doors, elaborate stove hood and decorative moulding – all hallmarks of a traditional themed kitchen.

A closer look at some of the moulding in a traditional kitchen design

A closer look at a traditional kitchen design focusing on the moulding and raised panel doors.

A traditional kitchen design with white painted cabinets

This traditional kitchen design features white painted wood cabinets. Glass window cabinet doors are often incorporated into a traditional kitchen design.

Traditional kitchen theme with dark wood stain on all cabinets and the island

Dark stained cabinets are the theme in this traditional kitchen design. Wooden floors are very common in today’s kitchens and the interaction between the floor and cabinets is striking.

2) Transitional Kitchen Design

Transitional kitchen styles include elements from the past and present, blended together to create a design that offers the best of both worlds. Transitional Kitchens have become today’s most popular kitchen design style. A transitional kitchen is in the middle between traditional kitchens and contemporary ones in that it combines elements of both styles. The showy moulding treatments present in traditional kitchens have been muted. There is still moulding but it is subdued – less showy, and involves simple lines. Doors are often sunken panel or shaker style, colors can range through the spectrum. 

A shaker style kitchen cabinet door showing the recessed center panel
This Shaker kitchen cabinet door includes a recessed center panel.
Transitional kitchen crown moulding example
The simple lines of a crown moulding for transitional style kitchens
A picture of a transitional style stove hood.
An example of a transitional style stove hood, with minimal ornamentation
Traditional style kitchen island photo
There is less ornamentation in a transitional style kitchen island vs. a traditional island

This transitional kitchen design features a three-tone theme. White cabinets meet up with blue cabinets and the stained center island adds a third color. You can see that when compared to a traditional kitchen design the cabinet moulding and decoration is mute compared to a traditional kitchen. The range hood is simple and the cabinets have shaker style doors and drawer fronts. 

Another example of a transitional kitchen design theme

Ornamentation in the transitional kitchen style is present, but it is subdued. The moulding finishes feature simple designs with minimal ornamentation. The center island, which seats 5, features simple, elegant mouldings and columns. This kitchen is beautiful, functional and will stay in style for many years to come.

3) Contemporary Kitchen Design Style

Contemporary kitchen design is typically very light on any ornamentation. Crown moulding is rare as is virtually all other moulding. The cabinets and drawer fronts may be a material other than wood and the hardware may be very unobtrusive. The lines are clean and simple.

examples of 4 different colored contemporary kitchen cabinet doors
Contemporary kitchen design often use materials other than wood, and the color palette is wide and often vivid.
a contemporary kitchen hood with no ornamentation
A contemporary stove hood typically has little to no ornamentation.
an example of a contemporary kitchen island with very little ornamentation or frills.
A contemporary kitchen design island has simple lines, and little ornamentation.
A contemporary kitchen design in New Jersey shows the clean lines and minimal ornamentation

This modern kitchen design features a counter seating area with minimal ornamentation – they are clean lines and the counter looks substantial. Notice how indiscrete the handles are on the door – another common theme in modern design. The cabinets themselves are all man-made materials. There is a massive amount of storage in this relatively modest size kitchen. This allows the countertops to remain uncluttered. Again, the lines are clean and simple – the kitchen functions very well and it is very efficient to work in.

Another example of a contemporary kitchen design

This contemporary kitchen design has a three tone theme with 2 shades of gray and select wood grain cabinets. All materials used in the cabinet are man-made which allows for large doors and drawers. In contemporary kitchens there is often a desire for clean, uncluttered countertops – that means there has to be a lot of storage, and the storage has to be done thoughtfully if the kitchen is to function efficiently. This kitchen which was a Kitchen Classics design and installation that has all the best that contemporary kitchen designs have to offer – clean, simple, abundant storage and efficient functionality.

contact our senior kitchen designer who designs all 3 styles of kitchens.