What Makes a Kitchen Design a Classic Kitchen?

One of my favorite classic kitchen designers is Park and Oak so we’ll explore examples of their work which so beautifully incorporate classic design elements.

Park & Oak Classic Kitchen Design Ideas

Creative interior designers Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto bring clients’ dreams to life.

Whether the project involves new construction, renovation, or furnishing…

as you can see, classic design details are interpreted with fresh style. Let’s look closer to demystify a few clues and be inspired by their choices.

1. Color Story Magic

In this glorious Hinsdale kitchen (just a stone’s throw from our former Elmhurst home!), a warm medium gray tone graces a rustically elegant classic kitchen design.

Even when you know you’re after a neutral color story, choosing colors for cabinets, walls, trim, and doors can be unnerving. You’ll be living with the choices for many years! Thank goodness, designers occasionally divulge trusted paint colors and ideas for color stories to give us a place to begin with sampling.

Need even more paint color ideas for grey? See THIS STORY. I love living with grey-blue cabinets I painted when we renovated our kitchen:

I decided on Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray at 66% saturation. Another beautiful grey close to this color is Repose Gray (Sherwin Williams), and I compare them in THIS.

Here are a few more possibilities to sample:

2. Simple Foliage Accents

Let’s face it. A sexy dark gray La Canche range needs no other embellishment and sets an elegant tone in any kitchen. But what if a fancy French range is not in the budget?

Lean into subtle details like those near the range to elevate a mood and provide a a pop of freshness. Whether it is a spray from your own yard or simple eucalyptus branches from the grocery store in a simple glass jar/vase, why not see if it perks up your space?

3. Organic Textures

There are endless possibilities when it comes to bringing in texture, and woven counter stools are just one.

Will incorporating metals along with natural woven materials increase interest and character to the scheme?

What about the life natural materials such as wood add to the overall warmth? What type of textiles for upholstery, patterns, prints, and motifs promote nature and well being?

In this Hinsdale kitchen, rattan brings modern rustic texture and character.

In another classic kitchen by Park & Oak, you can see how bamboo and natural woven textures balance other classic elements and cool white.

4. Accenting With Rugs & Runners

What cozy warmth and personality a simple rug or runner adds to a kitchen!

Since there are countless options across a wide range of price ranges and colors, the only challenge is selecting a favorite. Beyond the aesthetic value, a runner can be a wonderful way to soften the hard floor surface upon which you may be standing for periods of time.

5. Art in the Kitchen

What an utterly cozy yet sophisticated look this kitchen by Park and Oak exudes with its framed oil paintings flanking the sink:

Infusing a kitchen with personal style and art (just like decorating any other living space) is a brilliant way to achieve a bespoke look. Bring in collected treasures, paintings, sculpture, and pieces that make you smile.

A backsplash reflecting your favorite colors, patterns, motifs, and textures is another way to add a personalized custom layer to your classic kitchen’s design.

If you’re me, a thrifted bust of David on the kitchen counter may be what is needed to feel at home in the kitchen (hahahaha – here he is in our former Arizona kitchen renovation):

6. Unlacquered Brass

There are a host of different ways to introduce this material. Aren’t these flushmounts handsome?

Do you like these bin pulls on cabinets?

Good gracious, we must take another look at the kitchen above! So much calm without being one-note…I wouldn’t want to leave!

WE INTERRUPT THESE KITCHEN IDEAS FOR A RECIPE just like my mamaw used to make us when she visited. My mom never baked so we never had baking pans but this didn’t stop my granny from baking cobblers in Fireking oven-safe bowls! Have you tried this method my mamaw used for cobbler?

Don’t you love recipes where you only need one pan? Here’s a possibility which celebrates the prospect:

7. Wood on the Ceiling

Classic kitchens often celebrate nostalgia, simple lines, and texture from materials such as beaded board. Don’t forget you can use the material on the ceiling too.

For new construction projects, beadboard can truly do wonders to create a timeless look. As for older kitchen ceilings with popcorn or texture (good heavens, if I never inherit another 1970s swirly sparkling paw-print pattern ceiling, I will be a happy camper), hello, lovely tongue and groove or bead board!

Bob Villa has tips for beadboard on the ceiling as well HERE.

8. Classic Kitchen Ingredients: Subway Tile

It matters not how many Pinteresting kitchen designs call for it, subway tile does wonders as a hardworking, economical, visually pleasing kitchen mainstay.

This simple material and classic pattern doesn’t fall from favor and leaves so much space for other decorating opportunities to personalize the balance of the design.

9. Two-Tone Textural Spaces

If you’re after a truly simple, neutral look with a bit of high contrast, opt for black and natural accents.

In the kitchen by Park and Oak above, notice the harmonious balance of textures and serene color story. I spy Goodman pendants, and I love the gold glowing inside!

A black island need not be a monstrous focal point or feel austere, as evidenced by the kitchen above. Warm wood on the floor keeps the overall look natural and welcoming.

10. Banquette Design

Whether space is tight in a breakfast dining area or you simply love the architectural look of them, banquette seating is a classic choice.

Minimal, built-in, upholstered, or tufted, these benches which add so much cozy intimacy in restaurants make sense for warm dining moments at home too.

11. Handmade Tiles

What an opportunity to choose a beautiful timeless pattern to enhance the experience of cooking and baking every single day.

I am not always a fan of two-tone cabinetry for my own renovations, but to see the moody tone of the wall cabinetry above and the surrounding contrast…wow!

12. Coolness of Copper

What a brilliant pop a simple copper utensil holder or saucepan imparts!

Also, while swapping out your existing range for a dreamy blue number like this beauty below may not be possible…

If this shade of blue makes your heart sing, consider introducing it with decor, upholstery, or tile. It’s helpful to study how a mood is created as the blue works with the white cabinetry as well as the light wood work table.

That charming floor! I used the exact tile for a condo bath we renovated for our son, where it’s a cheerful pop of happy to enjoy daily.

13. Shaker Simplicité

I’m beyond charmed by the meditative, serene, simple yet sophisticated look of these lovely kitchen designs with Shaker style cabinets and graceful, undone charm.

So many takeaways for us here, and it’s easy to see how soothing blue-grey walls work wondrously with soft white cabinetry. Look away from a matchy-matchy look.

15. Dutch Oven as Decor?

Don’t you love it when a workhorse in your kitchen also doubles as a simple yet sophisticated design element? Me too!

Even if your specialty resides on a take-out menu, you can still adorn your range with a heavy charmer. I took a cue from the kitchen above and recently added a charcoal French oven to my range:

Who needs to store their beautiful cookware out of sight? Not me!

(Time to start dreaming about the color of the decorative Dutch oven in your future.)

16. Farm Sink Fans

They aren’t just for farmhouses, and if you have avoided adding one to your kitchen design out of fear they will stain, fear not.

My own apron front fireclay farm sinks have taken a ton of abuse, and there’s not a day I don’t appreciate the beauty and function:

Psst. Isn’t this corner cabinet below genius?

As you can see, there isn’t a singular look for kitchens with farm sinks. They can star in modern farmhouse kitchens, coastal kitchens, urban country kitchens, traditional, and vintage modern spaces.

More Kitchen Design Ideas: Park & Oak

Are we thoroughly blissed out and energized to make small, simple yet sophisticated tweaks to our own interiors?

Thank you, Park & Oak!

NOW DO YOURSELF A SUPREME FAVOR AND click here TO SEE and SAVE MORE INSPIRING KITCHENS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE!

Shop the Look!

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A Classic Beachy Home Tour to Inspire

Let’s peek inside India Hicks’ Hibiscus Hill home in the Bahamas!

Also visit THIS STORY for a French farmhouse kitchen inspired by a Hello Lovely favorite. See THIS ONE too if you love sophisticated European blue-green hues.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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