Traditional Style Kitchen Cabinet

The traditional kitchen is one of the most popular design styles when it comes to creating a room everyone will enjoy. Traditional styling speaks to a great many people, and it's a top design choice for many families.

Traditional kitchens typically incorporate painted cabinets with or without glass front doors, simple granite or laminate countertops, and hardwood floors. The best traditional kitchens lean on classic elements, while still allowing room for family fun or guest entertainment. Freshen up the look by mixing in modern or industrial elements, like unique lighting fixtures or boldly painted walls.

Here are the 7 basic features of traditional style kitchens to help you incorporate these designs into your own dream kitchen remodel.

1. Decorative Details & Accessories

The main feature of a traditional style kitchen is the attention to detail and use of decorative accessories. We’re talking wainscoting on the island, crown moldings, corbels and furniture-like pieces with embellishments in every area of the room. Everywhere you look in a traditional kitchen, there should be an element of adornment, architectural design or enhanced pieces with decorative accessories.

2. Neutral Color Palette

Where contemporary and modern kitchen designs focus on crisp, cool colors that highlight materials and bring a pop of edgy style to the space, traditional kitchens are all about sticking to a classic color palette. Think warm and cool neutrals, like deep cherries and light beige.

3. Luxury Countertops

When it comes to color, the countertops bring the fun in a traditional kitchen design. Pick a luxurious countertop material like Quartz or Granite. You can opt for a design with lots of movement in the pattern, or choose a marble-imitating countertop like the classic Cambria Britannica quartz shown in the kitchen below.

4. Vintage or Raised Panel Cabinets

Modern kitchen styles are all about simplicity when it comes to the cabinetry style, but traditional designs focus on cabinets with embellished style. Forego the basic shaker or plain style cabinet for a Vintage Raised Panel or Classic Raised Panel style cabinet door—as featured in this Driftwood finish kitchen.

5. Antique Finishes or Glazed Cabinetry

Staying within the neutral color palate, most traditional kitchens have cabinets with glazes or antique finishes, rather than cabinets that appear more natural. Popular choices here are Cordovan stain on Cherry cabinets with a Sable Glaze or Antique White cabinets with a Walnut Glaze.

6. Simple Backsplash

For a traditional kitchen, a busy backsplash can seem overwhelming and may complicate the space. Because you have so much going on already in terms of decorative accessories, keep the backsplash simple in terms color, style and materials.

7. Ornate or Decorative Lighting

Love the look of a classic style chandelier? Chandeliers look beautiful in a traditional kitchen and can really enhance the ornate and detail-oriented aspects of the room. Decorative lighting is the best way to pull the whole kitchen’s look together, so pick your lighting last, but keep it in mind throughout your planning and designing process.