These 30 Traditional Kitchen Ideas Will Never Go Out of Style, According to Designers (2024)

Room Design

Kitchen Design

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  Add (Some) Color

  

  For this timeless kitchen, interior designer Bianca Ecklund paired mostly white elements with unexpected touches of texture and color.

  Take the backsplash, for instance, and the dose of deep navy on the island cabinets. That’s Benjamin Moore’s Deep Secret, which is used throughout the house for depth and dimension.

  “Adding traditional touches in the light fixtures and cabinet hardware grounded the space for a timeless feel,” Ecklund says.

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• 02 of 30

  Prioritize a Functional Layout

  

  Traditional kitchens prioritize practicality, and that utilitarian mindset includes the layout.

  A traditional kitchen should be functional, family-friendly, and comfortable—whatever that means for your particular needs. This Design Hutch kitchen, with peninsula seating and plenty of countertop workspace, is just that.

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• 03 of 30

  Seek Out Durable Surfaces

  

  This kitchen belongs to a lively young family of five with another on the way. When Think Chic Interiors was tasked with renovating it, designer Malka Helft prioritized a sophisticated look created with durable surfaces.

  That included countertops and a backsplash made out of Dekton porcelain, a material that not only looks and feels like stone, but is heat-, scratch-, and stain-resistant.
  
  "This is a beautiful high-end kitchen that is not only child-friendly, but gives children the feeling that this is a space for them to use freely," Helft says.
  

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  Focus on Symmetry

  

  Traditional style often emphasizes symmetry. Take this Bria Hammel Interiors kitchen as an example. Its balanced elements create a harmonious feel, rather than a room full of juxtaposition and contrast.
  

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  Use Warm Tones

  

  For this kitchen renovation, the homeowner requested a timeless look with soft pops of color. Interior designer Mimi Meacham of Marian Louise Designs got to work. She achieved the look with custom lanterns as well as petite sconces flanking the stove.

  “An all-white kitchen can be beautiful and warm with the right white paint and warm wood tones sprinkled in,” Meacham says.

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  Create Plenty of Storage

  

  This Bria Hammel Interiors-designed traditional kitchen doesn't lack storage space. (lucky for the homeowners). An abundance of cabinets and drawers allows for proper organization, so every single unsightly kitchen tool has a home out of sight.

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  Tap Into Your Home's History

  

  Design duo and DIY experts David and Stephen St. Russell of Renovation Husbands brought their kitchen back to its roots. When renovating their Boston home, the pair sought to marry its traditional Victorian style with the comforts of modern living.

  Out went the Scandinavian kitchen, as it clashed with the spirit and history of the home. In came integrated appliances, which feature a traditional aesthetic and efficiency, both in their footprint and cooking abilities.

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• 08 of 30

  Mix Traditional With Modern

  

  No one says you have to stick to a single kitchen design style. In this kitchen, Bria Hammel Interiors employed the best of contemporary design alongside traditional.

  Its clean lines and sleek surfaces lean into its modern side, while its white and wood cabinetry and island incorporate enough embellishments to veer towards traditional—you can have the best of both worlds.

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• 09 of 30

  Try Traditional With a Twist

  

  Traditional with a twist—that's the look of this kitchen by Rumor Designs. This mountain home combines traditional elements with playful ones.

  For instance, the earthy green cabinets (painted Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams) are paired with wire-brushed oak cabinets on the island. That creates an organic base that's oh-so-traditional without feeling tired.
  

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  Install Glass-Front Cabinetry

  

  Glass-panel cabinets, a staple of traditional kitchens, come in all shapes and sizes. In this design, Bria Hammel Interiors used window-pane glass just on the tippy top of the tall upper cabinets. That allows for a traditional look while also showing off Grandma's fine china and trinkets from travels.

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  Balance Old and New

  

  This beautifully traditional kitchen was designed by mother-daughter interior design team, Susan Hayward Interiors. The pair’s goal? To create a classic aesthetic that sparks feelings of nostalgia, while using high-end, cutting-edge materials and appliances. Mission accomplished.

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  Refinish Wood Flooring

  

  For a truly traditional kitchen style, opt for wood flooring over tiles (and if they're original to your house, all the better).

  Wood flooring grounds a space, adding warmth to whatever color palette you land on—even the brightest of whites. Plus, wood flooring provides your kitchen with another natural element that never goes out of style.

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  Elevate the Basics

  

  The Turett Collaborative stuck to elevated basics for this traditional kitchen in the Hamptons. White cabinetry pairs with wide planks of wooden flooring and a spacious island that the whole family can gather around.

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• 14 of 30

  Choose An Eye-Catching Backsplash

  

  For a twist on the everyday subway tile, study this kitchen. Its backsplash is just as enduring, with its glossy white tone and dark grout.

  Still, its unexpected geometric shape and vertical placement add visual interest, all while staying in a traditional tone that'll forever be in style.

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• 15 of 30

  Invest in High-Quality Appliances

  

  This light, airy kitchen designed by Natalie Kraiem Interiors blends beauty and functionality—a hallmark of traditional kitchens.

  See Also

  34 kitchen remodel ideas to inspire your upcoming project

  "The goal when designing the kitchen was to think long term—I considered what design and technological features that I could incorporate now to ensure the space would be up to date for years to come," Kraiem says,

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  Go Glam

  

  A hint of glam never hurt anyone, and that's the case for traditional kitchens too. Consider upping the sophisticated ante with glamorous pendants or elevating any traditional materials in luxe finishes. The elegant elements create a polished look while keeping in line with the overall theme.

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  Lean Into Old World Charm

  

  This Marie Flanigan-designed kitchen, with its unexpected pop of blue on the cabinetry, seamlessly blends traditional old-world charm with modern sensibilities.

  "The checkerboardfloor, touches of brass detailing, and incredible marble are all traditional-leaning elements thatmake the space feel layered," Flanigan says, "It's as if the kitchen was plucked from a European country house."

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  Incorporate Natural Wood

  

  While many cabinets in traditional kitchens will be painted, adding highlights of natural wood creates a depth and warmth that white-washed elements can't. To have the best of both worlds, pair light cabinets with wood details.

  That's what Bria Hammel Interiors did in this kitchen, with a wooden island base, range hood, and ceiling beams.

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  Try All White

  

  Wood floors, a marble backsplash, soft white paint, and a classic view—does it get any more traditional than that?

  “For all the trappings of updated traditional, try all white done right,” Flanigan says.

  Once you nail that shade, Flanigan recommends layering the space in beautiful finishes, from your countertops to light fixtures, and classic cabinetry silhouettes.
  

  Tip

  When choosing the right white paint color for your space, take into consideration the undertones and amount of natural light.

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  Add a Hint of Greenery

  

  There's no need to go overboard on accessories in a traditional kitchen, but you can never go wrong with a potted plant or two.

  A bit of greenery adds color, texture, and life to a kitchen—all necessary elements for an otherwise clean and simple space.
  

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  Layer Natural Textures

  

  In this kitchen—interior designer Marie Flanigan’s own—she ensured there were plenty of natural textured layered throughout. That offers a kitchen (and any room of a house) a sense of legacy and tradition, she says.

  In this space, she chose limestone floors, reclaimed wood beams, marble countertops, and unlacquered brass, which together create a warm and inviting ambiance that will age beautifully.

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  Add a Punch of Pattern

  

  Classic kitchens can have a little fun too, you know. Because so many aspects of a traditional kitchen are neutral and streamlined, you're allowed to go wild with an element or two—like, perhaps, punchy patterned tile flooring, as Rose & Mortar used in this kitchen.

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  Embrace an Airy Feel

  

  “A light and bright kitchen is always a traditional design approach,” Flanigan says.

  For this particular traditional kitchen, Flanigan enhanced the airy feel with open shelving and lanterns in a classic silhouette. The pièce de résistance though is the powder blue range, a stunning focal point that adds serious charm.

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  Layer Personality-Packed Accessories

  

  Traditional kitchens tend to be streamlined, which gives you a lot of liberty to get creative with accessories. Patterned runners add a punch of personality, and so do cane-backed island stools.

  Don't underestimate the power of art in a kitchen too, which so often gets overlooked. Consider framing a trio of pictures—whether you choose family photos, original artwork, or vintage finds is up to you.

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  Show Off Your Traditional Dinnerware

  

  Open shelves lend themselves to contemporary kitchen designs, but not so much to traditional. To show off your beautiful dinnerware behind cabinet doors, consider semi-sheer cabinet fronts, whether made out of wire or otherwise.

  That's what Jill Howard Design Studiodid in this kitchen. The look lightens up the upper cabinets while showcasing beautiful ceramic collections.
  

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  Emphasize an Island

  

  Bakes & Kropp married function and form in this Long Island kitchen. The oversized island is built in a classic silhouette and serves triple duty. Not only is it an entertaining space with seating for four, but it also provides additional storage and a spacious prep station. It offers a comfortable space to cook, catch up, and relax.
  

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  Mix Up Lighting Styles

  

  Lighting is a top consideration for any room, including kitchens of all styles. While practical styles, such as task lighting, are a must for traditional kitchens, have a little fun with other pieces. Vintage-style sconces add flair, while globe lights add a modern touch.

  Or, take a page from this kitchen via Jill Howard Design Studio. Sheincluded beautiful black pendants over the kitchen island, which add texture, contrast, and the all-important ambient light for late night snacking.

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  Include Touches of Farmhouse

  

  If you're in a paint color conundrum, Erin Coren, co-founder and principal designer of Curated Nest, says white is always a timeless choice. That's especially the case for kitchens in historic homes, which add warmth and brightness to the heart of the home.

  "In this storybook Tudor-style home, character was not lacking," Coren says. "We drew inspiration from the architectural style, plus farmhouse touches and modern classics."

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  Go Light and Airy

  

  It's hard to imagine this light, bright kitchen as anything but. Still, before Curated Nest's transformations in the space, the home had a choppy layout with a dark kitchen.

  Now, this traditional kitchen is drenched in sunlight, with an eat-in area thanks to a breakfast bar with expanded seating—perfect for entertaining, homework help, or co*cktail hour.
  

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  Evoke a Spanish Countryside Kitchen

  

  Inspired by the Old World kitchens you may find in the Spanish countryside, Melinda Trembly of Rincon Rd transformed this 1960s home's kitchen from top to bottom—literally.

  That included refinished flooring with an always-in-style herringbone inlay, white oak cabinets, warm taupe- and cashmere-toned stone countertops, and Zellige tile backsplash.