9 stunning kitchens you'll want to cook in

"Tell me what appeals to you!" Recently I emailed clients who are beginning design development work for a new house and suggested we start with the kitchen (it is such an indicator of style preferences!). I pulled kitchen photos that incorporate traditional as well as some modern and rustic elements and made notes identifying key style elements so they would recognize what they like.

1. Elegant Country Manor: traditional details abound— island counter with a triple edge, detailed crown mouldings, antiqued metal hood, and dark wood floors. Contemporary elements, however, lighten the look: pale walnut cabinets, modern tile backsplash, overall color palette, and a general absence of clutter.

Cabinetry: inset doors, flat panel style, simple corner “legs” on the island, use of the leg style as a pilaster detail in the wall cabinetry.

2. Modern European Farmhouse: a mix of rustic, finely wrought, and simplicity. The window design is traditional with no casing around the opening and exposed header. The floor is an aged stone. The counters look like marble, but are probably quartzite or engineered stone. The soft grey wall cabinetry offsets a more rustic island treatment and the vaulted ceiling's rustic beams and braces bring light and homeyness. What tops off this kitchen's clean look is the absence of a decorative backsplash.

Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, flat panel with an ogee, arched decorative toe kick, column “legs” on the island.

3. European Transitional Chic: charming, slightly formal elements — triple panel upper cabinet doors, the dark window frames and the antique light fixtures. The counters look like marble and the backsplash is — I think — one from Ann Sacks, marble mosaics set in a diagonal. The color scheme echoes a lot of what’s been happening in kitchens over the past eight years: grey. But it’s a better version: pale grey-blue with a darker midnight blue island.

Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, flat panel with an ogee, “Chippendale X" on the island end panels.

4. Classic Manor House: Timeless style! White cabinetry, black or dark gray soapstone counters, white subway style walls tiled to the ceiling, coffered ceiling, and quasi Victorian/ Industrial light fixtures. You can see the black and white marble floor in the adjacent hall. You can never go wrong with this classic look.

Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, flat panel style.

5. Modern Country: tradition offset by modern primitive elements. The bleached wood in the island and in some cabinet doors and drawers, the waterfall style island, the contemporary light fixtures, and bar seats counterpoint the simple traditional style, painted white cabinets. Note that the ceiling is painted wood and the backsplash is solid stone.

Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, flat panel with ogee for the painted sections, wider flat panel for the wood sections.

6. Coastal Transitional: open shelving, expansive room and views, contemporary lighting, and a spare range hood. Despite the contemporary elements, this kitchen has a welcoming look and that’s due to the use of natural pine, the farmhouse sink, rustic open shelves, and painted cabinetry with “leg” details.

Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, flat panel style, use of block “legs” on the island and as base cabinet pilasters.

7. New Traditional: the cabinets come all the way to the ceiling, the color palette is white on white, and the pendants are large versions of antique lanterns. Note the lower baking section in the island. The kitchen oozes simple elegance.

Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, raised panel style, furniture toe kick details, gently rounded island legs.

8. Chic Country: clean lines; elegant cabinetry; use of traditional elements such as the farmhouse sink and painted cabinet style; contemporary lighting and bar seats. The wide eased edge of the carrara island counter makes a strong impact as does the marble backsplash. Cabinetry: inset doors/drawers, flat panel style, no toe kick details, panel island legs.

9. Traditional Farmhouse: wood floors, painted cabinetry, ceiling beams, divided window panes, wood counter, and farmhouse sink all signal traditional country. I can imagine walking out to my herb garden and then on to the henhouse to pick up the morning’s eggs.

Cabinetry: inset door/drawer, flat panel doors with a bead around the opening, slab panel drawers also with a bead, simple furniture style legs.

Photos Source: Elle Decor