European Kitchen Cabinet
Introduction to European kitchen cabinet decor
I’m an interior designer focused on European kitchens interior design, and in our company we have researched thoroughly the different European styles and trends and I will give you an introduction to the structure and the different elements used to make a beautiful European kitchen cabinet decor. European kitchens interior design is a blend between elegance, practicality and artisan disciplines in order to preserve a sense of antiquity while feeling the freshness belonging to a contemporary lifestyle.
I will walk you through becoming a connoisseur of European kitchen cabinet decor step by step, and let you in on secrets of mixing materials and colours.
No matter if you are remodelling an old kitchen or building one from the ground up, knowing about European kitchen cabinet decor will let you create the perfect cooking oasis that is stylish yet comfortable.
Key elements of European kitchen cabinet decor
The decor of European kitchen cabinets is quite distinctive and familiar to many foreigners. Although the decor may seem simple, it has a fine quality about it. It simply looks more sophisticated. Here are the main elements of this decor.
- Decorative Detailing: With carved detailing and raised panels, European kitchen cabinetry embraces ornate detail and style in every turn. This gilt and carved finish adds a luxe look.
- Rich Wood Tones: Many European kitchens have warm, rich wood tones in cherry, walnut and oak – timeless hues that also reflect the grain and keep a kitchen cosy and comfortable.
- Glass-front cabinets: As I said, the kitchen in Europe often is designed with gratings and glass-front cabinets. Besides being able to illuminate the kitchen and cater to your kitchen needs, the transparent element of the gratings and glass-front cabinets can give a romantic, airy and open feeling to the kitchen.
- Antique details on hardware: You’ll often find that the hardware on European kitchen cabinets is heavily inspired by classic antique styles, such as elaborate scrollwork, aged finishes, and vintage-looking pulls and knobs.
- Neutral colour palette: European kitchen cabinets manufacturers usually provide rich wood tones to choose. But the overall colour palette of the cabinetry will be neutral and still allow the intricate details and embellishments to stand out, with an emphasis on cream and ivory colours or soft grays.
Ensuring these are present will allow you to achieve a kitchen that, however modern, exhibits the lasting effortless sophistication of European design.
Choosing the right color scheme for European kitchen cabinets
Arguably, choosing the right colour scheme is the most important factor you can get right on a European kitchen cabinetry design if you want to avoid coming across as a swede. Drawing on the Islamic world for inspiration is often much more effective than the generic Eurotrash designs that underwhelm Americans.
Colour is one of the easiest ways to improve your kitchen, too. When it comes to European kitchen cabinets, opt for something warmer and earthier, like the kind of comfortable colours that make you feel like you just want to curl up and relax. Here are some of my favourites:
- Creams and Ivories: solutions that were neutral, calming, and understated, and that formed a versatile backdrop for a riot of accent colours and textures.
- Warm Grays: Rich, warm grays with undertones of brown or beige add depth and sophistication to European kitchen cabinets. They work equally well with warm wood tones and metallic accents.
- Sage Greens Inspired by nature, Sage Green hues add a calming note and a note of vitality, complemented by wood tones and adding a neutral feel to the space, to create a harmonious, organic feel.
- Soft Blues: blues like powder blue or French blue offer a serene yet calming colour palette to your kitchen, without compromising the coziness and elegance.
- Terracotta and Earthy Reds: For a more rugged, Old World look, terracotta and earthy red joiners (cabinetry) add a warm, inviting element to the space.
Remember that your colour choice is ultimately related to both the natural ambient light in the space and to the existing architectural elements and finishes. The colour in a European kitchen should flow with and connect to its setting, so as to create an interesting and beautiful space.
Mixing and matching materials for a unique European cabinet look
One of the most recognisably European aspects of the kitchen cabinet is its defiance of the idea that a room should be made exclusively of just one material – a strategy of layering textures and finishes that creates depth, interest and a slightly idiosyncratic individuality.
The art of mixing materials, godsend to the interior designer, means no European kitchen is ever going to match another: Hang salvaged kitchen hardware on the wall around an old enamel sign and find different sorts of handles for the contrasting set of fitted drawers.
- Wood and Glass: To create a bold visual contrast, pair warm wood tones with glass-front cabinets or glass shelving. The transparency of the glass illuminates the beauty of the wood and also offers a sense of airiness and openness.
- Metal and Stone: Balance brushed brass or antique bronze hardware against natural stone such as quartzite, marble, soapstone or granite. Metallic and mineral natural stone can help soften these details.
- Tile and Wood: Combine elaborate tile patterns (think Moroccan or the ‘Mediterranean modern’ look) with warm wood tones for a one-of-a-kind and expressly eclectic aesthetic. This mix exudes the nuance of artisanship and imbues your European kitchen with a sense of global flair.
- Painted and distressed: Painted and distressed finishes allow your European kitchen cabinets to replicate the fine detailing of antique furniture, giving your kitchen a vintage, lived-in look and feel.
- Leather and Wood: Add luxurious accents with leather to your European design – from a leather-wrapped cabinet handle to bar stools. Leather and wood create a warm and moody, earthy and textural depth.
Just remember, a mixture of textures with the same or near-same colour palette would look better. Have fun finding your own unique combination of materials!
Conclusion: Mastering the art of European kitchen cabinet decor
Learning to achieve that perfect European-kitchen-cabinet look can be a beautifully balanced equation of respect for tradition, and contemporary understanding of design conventions. With awareness of the basics, a thoughtfully chosen colour scheme, and savvy mixing and matching of materials, you can create an endlessly stylish kitchen.
I hope some of the things I wrote here will help you in your future purchases of European kitchen cabinets. Remember, it’s all about the craftsmanship and loving details, and making your kitchen warm and welcoming.
So as you design your own kitchen with European kitchen cabinets, you can do so in the spirit of European kitchen cabinet decor, confident in your own tastes and instincts, and striving to create at every turn a space that reflects your own unique style.
