When you hear the phrase “modern kitchen,” what comes to mind? For many people, it means a stylish design packed full of technology and modern conveniences. While this is one interpretation of the term, there is another in which “modern” refers to a specific design style from the mid-twentieth century that featured the décor popular before the industrial revolution.
During this period, kitchen décor consisted of frameless cabinets, minimal ornamentation, clean, horizontal lines, and sleek, simple hardware. In the following article, we’ll discuss several essential features of today’s modern kitchen.
1. Consistency of Accent Pieces
In a contemporary kitchen, even the accent pieces have to be consistent. For example, tables, chairs, lighting, and wall décor must all contain the same simple, sleek lines to create a cohesive look.
Pendant lights, stunning cookware sets, and minimalist hardware accents are all design elements you might find in a modern kitchen.
2. A Focus on the Horizontal Line
Modern kitchen design places importance on the horizontal line. From rows of cabinets and drawers to hardware set on the horizontal line, a truly modern kitchen draws the eye along pleasing parallel planes. To make the horizontal line even more pronounced, even the wood grain on cabinet and drawer fronts will be placed horizontally rather than vertically (the latter of which is often seen in traditional kitchens).
3. The Natural Beauty of the Materials
Modern kitchens tend to have very little ornamentation. This isn’t to say, however, that they can’t contain some. Decorative pieces and embellishments usually arise naturally from the beauty of the materials used. For instance, the horizontal line of rift-cut oak cabinets or the veining in a marble countertop both exemplify the naturally occurring ornamentation styles you might find in a modern kitchen.
4. Frameless Cabinets
Frameless cabinets offer a sleek, clean look that’s a must for any modern kitchen. When cabinets are truly frameless, you cannot see any of the cabinet frames when the doors are closed. There are many different names for frameless cabinets – Euro frameless overlay, full overlay, etc. – but they all translate to the same thing.
5. Simple Hardware
To achieve this timeless look in your kitchen, you’ll want to opt exclusively for simple, sleek hardware. In fact, many modern kitchens have channel-set hardware pieces that are integrated into the cabinets or drawers themselves.
You may also wish to look for accessories like tubular pulls, linear pulls, or any hardware piece that runs the entire length of the drawer or cabinet itself. This will work doubly in your favor by enhancing the horizontal line that’s so common in modern kitchens.
6. Flat Panel Doors
Flat-panel doors are a signature feature of modern kitchens. Whether on cabinet fronts or pantry doorways, flat panel doors will help give your kitchen a style that’s as sleek as it is timeless. Flat-panel doors, when combined with frameless cabinets, are the epitome of chic design.
Ultimately, the takeaway from this article is the fact that modern kitchen décor is clean and unobtrusive. Its appeal comes from the long, horizontal nature of its eye-pleasing parallel planes. These are created by your rows of drawers and cabinets, and the natural beauty of the materials you use. Woodgrain and marble veining add beauty and elegance, while sleek accent pieces such as stunning cookware sets, simple tables and chairs, and pendant lighting bring it all together into a cohesive design.
This is an article provided by our partners network. It does not reflect the views or opinions of our editorial team and management.
Contributed content
IntelligentHQ Your New Business Network.
IntelligentHQ is a Business network and an expert source for finance, capital markets and intelligence for thousands of global business professionals, startups, and companies.
We exist at the point of intersection between technology, social media, finance and innovation.
IntelligentHQ leverages innovation and scale of social digital technology, analytics, news and distribution to create an unparalleled, full digital medium and social business network spectrum.
IntelligentHQ is working hard, to become a trusted, and indispensable source of business news and analytics, within financial services and its associated supply chains and ecosystems.
