The Design Style That Makes Your Kitchen Feel Timeless And Elevated

You know what they say; new year, new kitchen. Or, that's at least the mantra on your mind if you're considering a kitchen renovation this year. If so, we have some inspiring advice. Stop chasing design trends that can just look outdated in a few years. Kitchen projects require the kind of funds, time, and labor you don't want to be splashing out too often. Instead, embrace one overall aesthetic that promises a timeless kitchen for years to come: traditional. 

Until recently, traditional motifs themselves may have been considered among dated kitchen trends — but they're making a comeback – one could argue they never fully went away, but just got overshadowed by looks like minimalism. Now, many of us want to ditch clinical, super-modern aesthetics for plenty of reasons. Built on warm colors and wood tones, golden, nickel, and brass hardware, farmhouse sinks, country-style tables, antique dishes and decor, and layered textures, traditional kitchens are cozier and more inviting — ideal when you consider how much time you spend in your kitchen. 

They offer more potential to express your own style, and fill spaces with things you love, vintage finds, and heirlooms. And, they offer more versatility and flexibility: Design comfortable cooking stations or breakfast nooks the way you like, and swap out smaller details over the years for more affordable, accessible updates. Of all the design trends that can add more personality to your kitchen, the looks with the most longevity all fall under the "traditional" umbrella.

There are many different ways to design the vintage-style kitchen of your dreams – from full gut renovations to decor swaps, you can start taking your kitchen into traditional territory regardless of your budget. If you're really stripping the room down to the studs, think about rustic kitchen design decisions: wood floors, ceiling beams, and cabinetry, and a mix of rich, natural materials like stone and brick. Lean into a rich, earthy color palette with neutrals, browns, deep greens, dusty blue, terracotta, burgundy, etc. Explore classic fixtures and layered lighting for an elegant look, and consider furniture swaps, too — instead of a kitchen island, employ a sturdy wooden farmhouse table, and use an antique hutch for storage.

Even if you're not doing a full renovation, start mixing and matching modern and vintage kitchen items to embrace a traditional vibe. Surround your table with vintage dining chairs, subtly different but similar in wood tone and color. Layer on textures, like tablecloths, placemats, napkins, cushions, and throws over chairs. For organization, find kitchen staples that double as decor, like mason jars for dried goods and vases for utensils. Incorporate greenery via small plants, or start your own indoor herb garden. Hunt flea markets, antique stores, and thrift shops for vintage cookware, serveware, and accent pieces — the most rewarding approach is to keep adding to your traditional kitchen over time, confident it'll never go out of style.