Arts And Crafts Kitchen:
Design Ideas From A Simpler Time

The Arts and Crafts movement was a time when people sought a more simple interior design for their homes. Folks wanted kitchens that were less "fussy" then what was found in the past.

After becoming popular in England, the trend moved to Europe and eventually to the United States. Homeowners wanted items in their homes that were of higher quality and not those that were being mass produced at the time.

Cabinets of this era were quality built and featured simple recessed panels similar to shaker cabinets. Cabinets of this era often had cabinet door glass that was either stained and clear that added a lot of style and gave an open feel to the space.

Glass cabinet doors often had grill dividers that added character. Decorative kitchen cabinet hardware and other period accessories added to this style.

The trends that were popular during this time were stained or painted wood, square ceramic tiles, moldings with straight lines, and the use of lighter colors.

The kitchen floor plans had a well thought out kitchen layout design for ease of use. Today this style is being sought after for many of the same reasons.

Paint And Stain With an Arts And Crafts Kitchen

If you are looking to create an arts and crafts style, this popular design will be easy. Let's start with color. During the arts and crafts era, woodwork began to show a mixture of painted and stained treatments used together. Beautiful cabinets featured painted wall cabinets with stained base cabinets or vice versa.

The colors that were used most often were muted, medium tones: the browns, greens, oranges, taupe, reds and blues. Colors were drawn from those found in nature. Stain colors were likely to be lighter than in past eras. Lightly colored walls with a simple ceramic tile backsplash is a great compliment to this style.

Think mission or shaker style furniture with straight panels and 90-degree corners. The wood species commonly used for the cabinets included ash, maple, oak, cherry, birch, pine, and hickory.

A unique option for your cabinets may be to add cabinet legs or have an island with tapered legs. Add bead board to an island and other cabinet end panels for added character. Bead board can also be used on walls with a chair rail to finish it off.

Another option of having glass as a focal point is to install a stained glass window. This will add charm as well as color to your kitchen. Bring color into this style of kitchen with light fixtures that have stained glass or detailed colored finishes.

Lightly stained hardwood floors were also popular at the time, and if you have the original hardwood floor, refinish it to keep the charm intact.

Simplicity is the Appeal

In order to do this, use well thought out kitchen storage cabinets and if you have the space, add a full size pantry for more storage. Use 42" high kitchen wall cabinets if you need more space to store all of your things.

As always, try to blend the decor that you have in the rest of your home with your new kitchen design. Pay close attention to all of the details that make up this arts and crafts style.

With the hectic schedules and fast paced lifestyle that we all live, having things simple is a wish for many. A warm home that feature an arts and crafts kitchen can be your first step to living in a more simple setting that may be prefect for you and your family.

Having an arts and crafts kitchen requires pulling together all of the right elements. If you want a kitchen that is stunning but you're not sure if you know how to select everything for this kitchen style, then consider having a kitchen or interior designer help with your project.

It may be one of the best investments you can make towards a new space that brings total satisfaction to you and your family. To help you out, Premier Kitchen Design has secured a discount that gives you 20% off Angie's List - THE place to find the best rated designers in your area. Use the promotional code "premier" to try out this valuable membership today!

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