by Jan Rutgers
The design of a home’s kitchen can set the tone for the whole home.
One of the first choices you and your client need to do is choose the decor style for the space.
Currently, five of the most popular North American decor styles are Transitional, Contemporary, Modern, Farmhouse and Coastal.
All of these decor styles can be enhanced by the use of mouldings & millwork.
Start in the kitchen and progress through the whole home.
In this VESTA Blog, we will look at how you as a kitchen designer can get these popular looks incorporating mouldings & millwork.
Transitional
For many homeowners Transitional is the ideal choice for designing and decorating their home, because it combines both Traditional and Modern design styles into one space.
A great way to employ Transitional design in a Kitchen space is to combine traditional mouldings with modern cabinetry.
The juxtaposition of the “old with the new” is a great way to produce this look.
To develop an even more on-trend space, try painting the traditionally trim in a color found on one of the paint manufacturers current color pallets.
Contemporary
Contemporary Décor is defined as design that is popular at the moment.
In interior design this is a style that is always evolving.
The two tone Kitchen is a Contemporary look with the perimeter cabinets painted white, and the island in a stained wood or contrasting color.
A great way to enhance a Contemporary Kitchen with mouldings & millwork is to add a ceiling treatment.
Many new homes have high ceilings and this “5th wall” can be the perfect place for a unique treatment.
In the example above ceiling beams painted white frame skylights and take the Kitchen design from good to WOW!
Modern
Modern is a design style originating from the middle of the 20th century, often being referred to as Mid-Mod Design.
If features linear lines for a clean and simple look, perfect for a Kitchen.
Stained wood is popular in this style making stained wood trim the ideal choice for around doors and window openings.
Typical trim profiles for a mid-modern room are simple straight lines.
Slab styled interior doors in a stained wood are popular and low profile ceiling treatments are a great addition to a room.
Always think simple straight lines when specifying mouldings & millwork for this style. Curvy profiles do not belong in this decor style.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse Kitchen style emerged as look several years ago and is still popular with consumers.
This updated Country décor style often features white painted shaker cabinet doors.
Designers are beginning to add new elements to this style such as natural wood accents and matte black hardware, but trim mouldings are staying classic.
Baseboards, casings and crown mouldings are most often painted white and have simple craftsman like details.
Shiplap and bead board are signature elements for wall and ceiling treatments and are ideal to include in your designs.
Add a few beams and you will have the perfect Farmhouse style Kitchen.
Coastal
Coastal design is inspired by living by the water and a casual lifestyle.
While many of the moulding & millwork elements in Coastal are similar to Farmhouse, it is the color schemes that set them apart.
You definitely will want to add in a ceiling treatment in your client’s Coastal Kitchen, but you may also want to add some sky blue paint to it.
Bead board and shiplap are also elements that work well in this style, but again, consider adding color reflective of the surf, sand or sky.
Pale wood tones and white washed finishes are very much at home in this casual Kitchen style.
As you can see, choosing the appropriate moulding trims and millwork elements can enhance the design of your client’s Kitchen.
I believe the Kitchen Designer is the design professional ideally suited for specifying these elements.
Do you currently specify mouldings, ceiling treatments and wall treatments for your Kitchen Designs? Please share with me below in the comments.
If you would like to know everything there is to know about incorporating mouldings and millwork into your kitchen designs, check out Vestabul’s Pillar Course, Interior Finishings (Mouldings & Millwork) or my 8 module Vesta Bundle, Interior Finishings for Kitchen Designers.
Jan Rutgers has been designing kitchens and products for over 25 years and is a recipient of Kitchen & Bath Design News’ Top Innovators in 2020 for the Kitchen & Bath Industry. She has designed more than 1000 kitchens learning valuable skills with each one! Her experience in Kitchen Design, Millwork Manufacturing and Product Development has led her to create VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN where she educates and mentors people passionate about the Kitchen Design Industry.
