Old-World Kitchens

Pair European designs with modern elements to produce an Old World kitchen style.

A wood-burning fireplace designed for cooking adds Mediterranean charm to this eat-in kitchen. The communal farm table is the centerpiece of the space. A modern light fixture provides a foil for the rough-hewn ceiling beams.

Kitchen fireplace

A wood-burning fireplace designed for cooking adds Mediterranean charm to this eat-in kitchen. The communal farm table is the centerpiece of the space. A modern light fixture provides a foil for the rough-hewn ceiling beams.

Photo by: Photo Courtesy: oz architects

Photo Courtesy: oz architects

A wood-burning fireplace designed for cooking adds Mediterranean charm to this eat-in kitchen. The communal farm table is the centerpiece of the space. A modern light fixture provides a foil for the rough-hewn ceiling beams.
By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik

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The Old World kitchen is often the design of choice for homeowners who appreciate intricate moldings, hand-carved details, dark wood floors and rustic charm. The hallmark of a European-influenced style is a touch of elegance balanced by a fresh mix of various design elements.

Make a grand statement by designing an Old World kitchen that pairs worn, distressed cream-white cabinetry with dark wood floors and slate-gray granite countertops. Design an island made from worn light-blue wood to stand as the centerpiece of the kitchen. Accent it with a fancy chandelier that has electric lighting made to look like candles.

Another design concept is the pairing of medium-toned wood cabinets with creamy granite countertops and a kitchen island made from a wood that matches the cabinets. Try matching this design with a neutral-toned checkerboard marble flooring.

While various elements of an Old World kitchen are heavy and dark, modern pops of yellows and greens will blend with the overall design while keeping the room bright and appealing. The ultimate key to achieving this kitchen design is in the details—each Old World kitchen design is distinct because of the attention paid to every nook and cranny in the space.

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