Kitchen Furniture Styles

By Miles Stoppard

When you are thinking of renovating your kitchen, consider your kitchen furniture styles, too. There is more to choose from than you could possibly have imagined. There are as many styles of tables, chairs, side tables, highboys, and cabinetry as there are home styles.

Here are a few of the many, many kitchen styles to choose from, plus some designer tips to help you complete your charming kitchen with appropriate kitchen furniture styles.

Cottage style kitchens are homey and warm, patterned after homes built in the'20's. Kitchens were smaller then, often with wainscoting -- called "bead board" today. Lines were straight and simple. The doors were frequently left off cabinets; simple shelving was common. Windows featured small panes of glass and shutters. Natural wood was often applied to both floor and ceiling.

Functional, clean, simple lines typify a Shaker style kitchen. Cabinetry is often made of cherry, though other woods are also appropriate. One of our favorites is "reclaimed" or recycled wood -- wood that has been taken from an older building to be reused. You pay a little more for the craftsman's effort but you get instant antique cabinetry and kitchen furniture in the bargain.

Mission style kitchens and kitchen furniture have a solid, rectangular design. The style began in the'20's and is still popular today. Mission style is typified by rectangular panels and natural wood finishes though original woodwork has often long since been painted. If you are refurbishing an older mission style kitchen, you may wish to go through the process of stripping the paint to reveal the solid wood beneath. Besides the cabinets, mission style furniture is available for kitchens -- mission style tables and chairs. Similar, though subtly different, styles include craftsman and arts and crafts kitchen furniture.

Do you like country flair? Think bright, cheerful paint, wallpapers, and windows hung with curtains of chintz or calico. Clever cabinet door treatments eschew glass in favor of pierced tin panels or even chicken wire. Ceiling beams hung with antiques add a nice touch. Country kitchen furniture can go to either extreme: simple and functional, or frilly and decorative.

Are you thinking contemporary? Contemporary kitchens often have a Scandinavian look that includes shiny stainless steel and big cabinet hardware. Frosted glass cabinet doors hide the contents and minimize clutter. The furniture in a contemporary kitchen should be simplicity itself. One of our favorite sources for contemporary style kitchen furniture is Ikea. Give yourself a treat and visit one of their stores.

Rustic kitchens and rustic kitchen furniture are our favorite theme. We love large, chunky furniture, often with dark stains or paint. Look for sturdy, almost over-built kitchen tables and chairs. Hardware is often hand-wrought iron. Decorate with copper pots and pans and painted tiles. You can buy antique storage units at premium prices, or shop contemporary stores for excellent look-alikes.

There are dozens more kitchen furniture styles because there are as many styles for the kitchen as for rest of the home. To find your perfect style, browse the internet, using search terms like "Kitchen Furniture Styles." We are absolutely certain you will be surprised at the sheer volume of the furniture styles available. Enjoy! - 32406

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