subject: Blending The Old And New In Kitchen Design [print this page] In terms of style, function and utility, the modern kitchen is head and shoulders above its older counterparts. Nowadays, there are so many amazing space saving solutions, so many creative design features, it becomes easy to forget how badly designed the kitchens of bygone eras could be.
But there are some features of older kitchens that have stood the test of time and for good reason. Perhaps its a sense of nostalgia that these features provide, a timeless design that represents an era perfectly, or simply a functional design feature that simply cannot be improved upon. However, most people would agree that it is a stylish blend of the old and the new that really makes a kitchen stand out from the crowd.
If you are considering the currently favoured classic country kitchen, but with a modern twist, there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind. Two of the fundamentals of a classic kitchen are: keep your traditional accessories on show, whilst keeping any modern gadgets out of sight (but within easy reach); and natural finishes and painted wood surfaces always work well, and will give the kitchen an inviting feel.
But what traditional features still have a place in the modern kitchen? And what modern features combine best with a traditional style?
Farmhouse Sinks
The farmhouse (butler or Belfast) sink has come very much into vogue in recent times, as the country kitchen style has grown in popularity. This type of sink is always ceramic, rectangular with rounded corners. The farmhouse style works well in an enormous range of kitchens - Shaker, Victorian, Georgian and many more. But if it is well used, the farmhouse can add a touch of class to a modern designs, if it is well suited to its surroundings.
