Kitchen Design: Minimalist Kitchen Design 01

Minimalist Kitchen Design - So you've decided to redesign your kitchen, and you're looking into themes, budgets, and contractors just like any other homeowner. But if you haven't been in the loop, you may be surprised at the range of designs now on offer. Do you go for an edgy modern kitchen or stick to the basics? Which one will suit your budget and lifestyle? If all the options are leaving you confused, here's a guide to some of the most common kitchen design themes and what they're like.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - Traditional: A traditional American kitchen keeps things simple and utilitarian, but adds decorative touches whenever possible. Here, the "work triangle" rule is more prominent: the sink, stove, and refrigerator form an imaginary triangle where most of the work happens. Use this if you're a come-and-go cook who likes to keep things fast and efficient.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - Country: Country kitchens are making a comeback after the straight, rigid designs that ruled the market these past few years. This theme is all about going back to basics. Lots of wood and warm light add a cozy glow to the kitchen, and natural materials such as stone and hardwood keep things sweet and simple.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - Minimalist: If you have a large kitchen, try emphasizing that space with a minimalist kitchen design. Minimalist kitchens create the illusion of space by flushing most, if not all, of the items against the wall and leaving the central area blank, except for a small kitchen island if necessary. Neutral colors such as black and white are beautifully contrasted with splashes of color on the tile, walls, or countertops.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - Classical: Ornate designs and intricate details are the main elements of classical design. Try replacing your cabinet doors with rich carved wood, or adding curved metal handles to cupboards and drawers. Use strong, warm lights and set it off with elaborate fixtures. If you have any kitchen furniture, go for wood or at least faux wood, preferably in a deep, varnished color.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - Modern: Like most modern designs, a modern kitchen incorporates elements from several other themes. The key concept is customization: your kitchen should be customized to suit your lifestyle and personal tastes. Some must-have elements include natural elements, fast, user-friendly kitchen gear, and a smooth overall feel that's easy to clean and maintain.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - A visiting friend recently asked me how I came up with such a contemporary style for my kitchen. Until he asked, I had never really considered my kitchen contemporary and I posed myself the question: What exactly is a 'contemporary' kitchen? After some research on exactly what elements compose the typical contemporary kitchen, I found I was able to break the style into three sub-styles. Each sub-style still contained the elements needed to consider a kitchen 'contemporary', such as a clean-edged, streamlined appearance, and an overall focus on function rather than form. The sub-styles also each held their own unique take on how these elements were applied and used through such commonalities as appliances, cabinets, counters, and flooring.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - The first of these three sub-styles could be considered minimalist. While the concept of minimalism is the largest contributor to the overall style of contemporary kitchens, there are varying degrees to which the subject can be taken. Taken to the extreme, minimalist kitchens are left with a form-fitted space in which the bare necessities remain. Clean counters, sharp-edged cabinets and appliances, and colors of black, grey, and white, impress upon one the absence of décor and the fact this the area is there for pure use. There are no extras, no shiny bobbles, no frills, just the steel, glass, and tile necessary to get the job done. While this sleek style might be abhorred by the fan of superfluities, by those who enjoy function over form and a quick and easy clean up, it can be considered beautiful.

Minimalist Kitchen Design - The second sub-style of a contemporary kitchen is what would be deemed 'home contemporary'. This sub-style is most prevalent in today's modern kitchen. While there is still a focus largely on function and minimalism, this contemporary style melds into the equation some of the atmosphere found in a home environment. There is more life to the style. There might be coolly colorful granite countertops instead of white tile, wooden floors instead of polished concrete and more colorful paint selections, but the overall contemporary style elements remain. While the focus is skewed more toward eye pleasing features, the sleek superfltity of the space is still maintained.