Design Styles

 

COUNTRY & COLONIAL

 

Cabinetry: Use maple, pine, oak, cherry or fruitwoods in natural or light finishes. Open shelving is almost always seen used. Cabinetry should have a furniture or freestanding appearance.

Door Style: Flat panel door or beaded board center panel

 

Hardware: Brass with ceramic, wrought iron, copper, antique brass hardware or rustic finishes

Countertops: Tile, square-edged solid surface materials, natural granite, slate or soapstone.

Colors: Primary – red, blue and yellow

Floors: Natural, rugged materials (real or composite), i.e. planking, brick or rustic tiles

 

SHAKER

 

Cabinetry: Cherry and maple. Warm-medium wood tones. Occasionally skirting, beaded board may be painted. Use of pegs for display/storage. Appearance is simplicity.

Door Style: Stile-and-rail recessed panel door or plain inset

 

Hardware: Wood, simple metal or ‘hand forged’ finishes

Countertops: Square-edged solid surface materials, natural granite, slate or soapstone

Colors: Ranging from pinky tones and terra cotta/earth shades, yellow, and olive green to greenish blue to denim

Floors: Varnished timber or wood and stone

 

AMERICANA

 

Cabinetry: Large in scale, often in oak or cherry. Details that feel handcrafted (i.e. decorative glass in the cabinets, complex patterns).

Door Style: Plain, simple design typically in solid-wood

Hardware: Brushed finish or metal (other than brass); intricately pattered metal work is often used

Countertops: Natural granite or stone

Colors: Warm colors, golden yellow and soft green

Floors: Plain or geometric patterns used in slate, tile or wood

 

ARTS & CRAFTS

 

Cabinetry: Walnut, pine, oak; very rustic detailing

Door Style: Stile-and-rail doors with curved or square top; plank door styles or square raised or recessed panel

 

Hardware: Rustic metals, wood, wrought iron, pewter

Countertops: Should be heavy in appearance, texture and matte in finish; made of wood, slate, soapstone and ceramic tile.

Colors: Warm or neutral colors

Floors: Random patterned flagstone, slate or wide random plank distressed wood floor

 

AMERICAN TRADITIONAL

 

Cabinetry: Use mahogany, walnut, cherry and maple.

Door Style: Stile-and-rail doors with raised panels or flat panel doors with applied square molding and detailed panel edging. Painted finishes or lightly glazed finishes also reflect the style.
 

Hardware: Brass, antique brass, copper, or pewter

Countertops: Solid surface materials with formal, routed edges. Granite or marble both work well in formal rooms.

Colors: Black, red, green, blue; intense colors

Floors: Plank or parquet

 

AMERICAN FEDERAL

 

Cabinetry: Use mahogany, walnut, and cherry.

Door Style: Inset doors with classic Greek key molding or intricate, applied molding. Stile-and-rail door with curved raised panel, classic, white finishes on cabinets.

Hardware: Formal; polished brass and intricate metal work are also appropriate.

Countertops: Solid surface materials or laminate countertops with detailed edges. Natural stone in a polished finish or detailed patterned tiles are excellent accents.

Colors: Red, blue, yellow, green and some pastels
 

Floors: Wood parquet patterns or simple square tiles are also acceptable.

 

VICTORIAN

 

Cabinetry: Heavy dark woods such as mahogany, blackened oak, or walnut

Door Style: Raised panel doors, multiple panel doors, heavily stacked moldings and appliqués or inlays are appropriate.

Hardware: Ornate polished brass, ceramic or marble inset with inlays are appropriate.

Countertops: Marble, granite, and ceramic tiles

Colors: Very dark, low intensity colors: olive green, black, burgundy and gold tones

Floors: Patterned floors – reproduction linoleum or vinyl or marble, limestone or terrazzo

 

 

ENGLISH COUNTRY

 

Cabinetry: Has the feel of pieces of furniture pushed together and can be formal or rustic. Oak, cherry, mahogany, pine in natural or medium stains along with painted finishes; bun feet.

Door Style: Stile-and-rail doors enhanced with ‘antique’ finishes

Hardware: Copper, brass, antique brass, porcelain accents, pewter or nickel finishes

Countertops: Solid surface such as granite, marble, quartz and corian and laminate countertops

Colors: Primary accents, painted cabinet finishes are generally pastel

Floors: Irregular tile, brick, stone or wood patterns in reproduction or natural patterns

 

FRENCH COUNTRY

 

Cabinetry: Walnut, pine, cherry and fruit woods in natural and light finishes with some aging or distressing. Mixing of colors and wood finishes enhances the casual style.

Hardware: Bronze, copper, iron or pewter

Countertops: Solid surface, such as granite, marble, quartz and corian, or laminate with detailed edges

Colors: Warm wood tones with cooler accessory colors (or vice versa)

Floors: Heavy, rustic materials: brick, limestone, terra cotta or hardwood parquet or plank patterns

 

ITALIAN TUSCAN

 

Cabinetry: Oak, pine and mahogany – any heavy wood with a strong grain

Door Style: Arched doors, flat panel door with lattice or wire

Hardware: Rustic metals and cracked finishes

Countertops: The more rustic the better. Solid surface such as granite, marble, quartz and corian and laminate countertops.

Colors: Sun-washed warm colors in yellows, oranges and reds with blues and greens

Floors: Rustic; tile, stone and wood

 

SCANDINAVIAN

 

Cabinetry: Pine or other tightly grained woods

Door Style: Simple frame and recessed panels

Hardware: Porcelain, wood, and pewter

Countertops: Rustic stone, wood print laminate, or quartz

Colors: White, blue, pale green, yellow red and ecru

Floors: Wood with a washed finish

 

 

 

FRENCH EMPIRE

 

Cabinetry: Simple lines; maple, beech, ash, cherry with a beaded inset panel

Door Style: Arched

Hardware: Brass or bronze, black or other metals

Countertops: Any; dark in color

Colors: Beiges with vibrant yellow, blues with black

Floors: Wood

 

URBAN

 

Cabinetry: Oak, teak, birch or maple

Door Style: Slab or narrow dimensioned stile-and-rail doors

Hardware: Chrome, stainless or nickel

Countertops: Stainless steel, concrete, and natural stone

Colors: Vibrant primary colors – blue, orange, red, lime green

Floors: Wide plank pine floor, dark or bleached, narrow plant maple or cork and concrete

 

 

EAST MEETS WEST

 

Cabinetry: Straight-grained, simple doors with graining going either horizontal or vertical in oak, maple or cherry are all appropriate.

Door Style: Square corner slab

Hardware: Unobstrusive; matte finishes

 

Countertops: Matte finishes such as concrete, stainless steel, granite, soapstone and wood

Colors: Forest, sky or seaside

Floors: Concrete, wood or natural stone