20 Iconic Kitchen Design Styles to Suit All Tastes

Whether your tastes run more toward traditional or you have a hankerin' for some Southwestern spice, follow these crowd-pleasing style recipes to design the kitchen of your dreams.

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July 26, 2022

By: Maria Conti

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The Kitchen: The Heart of Your Home

From your morning cup of coffee to chats with your kids over after-school snacks, your kitchen serves as the backdrop to some of life's sweetest moments, making it the perfect room to showcase your home's unique style. Read on to learn how to recreate French country, coastal, midcentury modern and 17 other iconic design styles in your kitchen. And, if you can't decide which kitchen design style you love most for your space, take our quick style quiz below.

Take Our Quiz: Find Your Design Style + Toast Your Good Taste

From: Andrea Swan

Cottage Kitchens

Charm dinner guests with a homemade (or strategically plated takeout) meal from your cozy cottage kitchen. Cottage kitchens feature airy pastel or neutral cabinets and creamy stone countertops that serve as a backdrop to springy textiles and garden-inspired accessories. Custom millwork like a curved range hood or scallop-cut sink cabinet enhances the playful side of cottage style. Make designer Bria Hammel your muse and incorporate picnic-ready plaid and brass bell jar lanterns in your cottage kitchen design.

Learn More: Cottage Design Style 101

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Eclectic Kitchens

Eclectic interiors combine furnishings and finishes from various design styles with complementary tones and textures to create a dynamic result. Curating contrasting elements in a way that appears cohesive requires finesse, but in this peacock-blue kitchen designer Cecilia Casagrande proves the balancing act is well worth the effort. Dripping in marble, brass and neon butterflies, this one-of-a-kind kitchen marries midcentury, Hollywood regency and contemporary elements to create a spectacular space to share meals with family and furbabies alike.

Learn More: Eclectic Style 101

From: Casagrande Studio

Coastal Kitchens

Coastal design style embraces light-and-airy ocean hues and natural materials like driftwood, linen, capiz shell, bamboo and woven seagrass. Karen B. Wolf Interiors encapsulates coastal appeal in this inviting kitchen with crisp cabinetry, blonde oak floors, a pale blue island and driftwood-inspired bar stools. Herringbone backsplash tile nods to the local catch while a pair of translucent glass pendants (that look suspiciously like fishbowls) illuminate the space from overhead. Take notes from Wolf and create a kitsch-free coastal kitchen by skipping the seahorse wall art and instead weave in understated elements to cultivate that peaceful, out-of-office feeling.

Learn More: Coastal Design Style 101

From: Karen B Wolf Interiors

Farmhouse Kitchens

Farmhouse kitchens are casual and inviting, ideal for gathering with loved ones and talking about life while enjoying a comforting family recipe. This laidback design style brings the charm with reclaimed materials, earthy hues, a few antique focal points and, of course, a splash of shiplap. Here, designer James Farmer sets the bar for cozy farmhouse kitchens with sage green cabinets, aged copper lanterns, a substantial pine island and a custom shiplap range hood.

Learn More: Farmhouse Design Style 101

From: James Farmer

Traditional Kitchens

A traditional kitchen design is timeless, refined and executed with top-quality materials like marble, hardwood and solid brass. This stately chef's kitchen makes a worthy muse for your traditional kitchen design. The inviting space features pale blue furniture-look cabinets with Shaker-style doors. Antique brass hardware dresses the drawers for a touch of shimmer while polished marble countertops add contrast to the design. Classic white subway tile backsplash, a massive, custom range hood and hardwood floors ensure enduring appeal.

learn more: Traditional Design Style 101

From: HGTV Magazine

Midcentury Modern Kitchens

Sputnik spheres, tulip tables and egg chairs — oh my! The iconic midcentury modern era dates from the 1940s to the late 1960s but remains both influential and sought-after by design professionals and enthusiasts today. Midcentury modern kitchens are sleek and streamlined, emphasizing natural light, horizontal lines, walnut cabinetry and playful pops of color. North Fork Design Co. expertly executes midmod in this expansive white kitchen with lacquered flat-panel cabinets, walnut trim and vibrant turquoise accents.

Learn More: Midcentury Modern Style 101

From: North Fork Design Co.

Bohemian Kitchens

Let your free spirit shine with a boho kitchen design. Bohemian style throws out the rule book and plays it big with a mix of bold colors, woven textures, natural finishes and punchy patterns. Here, designer Gina Sims offers ample inspiration in this L-shaped kitchen. Glazed teal tiles scale the wall to create a showy backdrop for dove-gray cabinets with copper hardware, wood bar stools and a mint-green, concrete-topped peninsula connected to a teak-wrapped accent wall. Follow her lead with eye-catching tilework and organic materials to create a one-of-a-kind boho look in your kitchen.

Learn More : Bohemian Design Style 101

From: Gina Sims

Transitional Kitchens

Transitional design style is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles that results in a space that feels current but classic. Transitional homes favor crisp white walls and neutral color palettes and keep decorative accessories at a minimum. Designer Tracy Lynn embodies transitional style in this bright-white kitchen by pairing traditional Shaker cabinets, polished marble countertops and brass hardware with contemporary white oak floors, open shelving and glam gold barstools. Achieve similar results at home with inset cabinetry and marble countertops juxtaposed with of-the-moment light fixtures, faucets or backsplash tile.

Learn More: Transitional Design Style 101

From: Tracy Lynn Studio

Contemporary Kitchens

Not to be confused with Modern design style dating back to the 1930s (though it often is), contemporary design is the style of now. The current style emphasizes simple lines, unfussy silhouettes and open, uncluttered spaces. Contemporary kitchens feature sleek, of-the-moment materials and neutral color palettes enlivened by a single pastel or jeweltone accent for a polished, put-together look.

Learn More : Contemporary Style 101

From: Halstead Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio International®

Country Kitchens

Country kitchens are made warm and welcoming through weathered wood and timeworn materials. An aged oak island or knotty pine hutch are popular characters in country interiors and provide ample storage and style to kitchen designs. Soapstone or butcherblock counters top creamy cabinetry, creating a laidback worksurface that becomes more beautiful with age. Use these elements to create a foundation for your country kitchen, then take a page from Marie Flanigan’s book and embrace open storage in your design. Seasoned cast iron skillets, piled porcelain plates and patinated copper cookware moonlight as eye candy between each meal.

Learn More: Guide to Creating a Country Kitchen

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

French Country Kitchens

French country kitchens are rustic and romantic, striking a balance between modest countryside living and Old World elegance. Typical French country color palettes are diffused and soft, with a mix of warm-leaning neutrals, creamy whites, pale blues and muted greens. Exposed ceiling beams, airy wood accents and honed stone or brick floors evoke European flair, while brass hardware, timeworn mirrors and crystal chandeliers bring polish to the design. But the pièce de résistance for any French country kitchen? A head-turning range hood at the heart of the space. Enlist a local carpenter to create a custom hood for your cuisine or take an elevated approach with a dreamy plaster range hood à la Marie Flanigan.

Learn More: French Kitchen Design

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Mediterranean Kitchens

The recipe for the Mediterranean cucina of your dreams calls for a mix of Old World staples like weathered wood, plastered walls, hand-painted tilework, honed stone and wrought iron accents. Pair these elements with sun-kissed colors and an inviting eat-in layout to achieve Mediterranean appeal at home. This rustic kitchen is steeped in Italian style, featuring a checked stone floor, a plaster range hood, open shelving and a well-loved wooden table for chatting and chopping at the center of the room. A roaring, brick-lined fireplace (perfect for pizza) is at the heart of the design while a carved-out nook provides practical firewood storage below.

Learn More: Mediterranean Style 101

Hollywood Regency Kitchens

A maximalist approach, Hollywood Regency proves that more is more. The Hollywood Regency design era spans four decades, starting in the 1920s and lasting through the 1950s. Aptly named, this glamorous style is borne from lavish-yet-playful Old Hollywood film sets, Golden Era movie star estates and the iconic works of designers Dorothy Draper and William "Billy" Haines. Hallmarks of Hollywood Regency style include sumptuous textiles, neoclassical millwork, polished marble, mirrored metallic finishes, punchy colors, lacquered surfaces, animal prints and exotic wood furniture — typically layered together. Designer Swati Goorha captures the era in this inspired emerald kitchen with glossy marble counters, bold black-and-white floors and a tiered chandelier sparkling overhead.

Learn More: Hollywood Regency Style: Get the Look

From: Swati Goorha

Industrial Kitchens

And on the polar opposite side of the style spectrum, we have industrial interior design. Industrial spaces are pragmatic and pared-down, built with commercial materials and featuring exposed ceiling beams, open piping, concrete floors and iron fixtures. This industrial warehouse kitchen provides plenty of inspiration for your own cook space, with oversized iron-framed windows, a concrete waterfall island, bronze dome lights and a collection of sun-loving houseplants scattered throughout.

See More Photos: Inside Steve Ford's Urban Warehouse Home

Moroccan Kitchens

Moroccan design is distinctive and alluring. Saturated textiles, curved walls, key-hole doors, white-washed stucco, intricate patterns, mother-of-pearl inlays and glossy zellige (or Zellij) tiles are all synonymous with the style. Designer Bryan Wark shows how to make Moroccan magic at home in this bright white kitchen with a blue zellige backsplash and a sloped, white plaster range hood. Teak serveware lines the counters for organic color while an antique patinated brass pendant light rounds out the Moroccan kitchen design with timeworn warmth.

Learn More : Morocco Inspires Kitchen Remodel

From: Bryan Wark Designs, Inc.

Scandinavian Kitchens

Blending minimalist lines with warm, natural finishes makes Scandinavian design a favorite of modern families and single households alike. Scandi kitchens are open, airy and, above all, functional. Each piece of furniture serves a purpose in the design. Achieve the Scandinavian look in your kitchen with unadorned wood cabinets, concrete or honed stone countertops and wide plank oak floors. Install open shelving for your serveware and glasses, then polish the design with a kick of color via artwork or furniture.

Learn More : Scandinavian Design Style 101

Art Deco Kitchens

Get the daily recommended dose of drama in your diet with an Art Deco-inspired kitchen design. Born from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in France and lasting until the late-1930s, Art Deco style showcases all-things-glamorous: lacquered surfaces, mirrored metals, exotic materials, jewel tones, pastels, geometric lines and shapely fixtures. Infuse Art Deco style in your contemporary kitchen with period-inspired features à la designer Naomi Stein. Here, she brings Deco flair to this expansive kitchen with a custom brass range hood, gold-dipped bar stools, rich marble backsplash and a pair of spellbinding milk glass pendants.

Learn More: Art Deco Design Style 101

From: Naomi Stein

Southwestern Kitchens

Spice up your life with a Southwestern kitchen. Southwestern design is dynamic and incorporates elements from indigenous Pueblo people, Navajo Nation, Mexican artisans and the early Spanish colonists. The results are striking with warm color palettes, sloping walls, hand-painted tiles and durable, hardwearing materials sourced from the desert landscape. This Southwestern kitchen strikes a balance between old and new with a modern, muted color palette and a statement-making, handmade tile backsplash that runs from counter to ceiling.

Learn More : Southwestern Style 101

Minimalist Kitchens

Minimalist design is the celebration of less. This style reveres clean lines, low-contrast neutrals, open floorplans and clutter-free surfaces. Together these elements create a tranquil and practical backdrop to bustling everyday life. Capture the spa-like calm in your casa with features from this minimalist kitchen design: smooth flat-panel cabinets, integrated appliances and solid stone counters with a coordinating slab backsplash.

Learn More : Minimalist Design Style 101

California Chic Kitchens

If you're besotted with playful bohemian interiors but feel like you need a more streamlined environment for prepping and serving meals, this is for you. California chic interior design combines muted hues with clean, contemporary lines and bohemian or southwestern accents. The design team at THELIFESTYLEDCO brings the heat to this Cali-chic kitchen with white cabinetry, a polished black island, basket pendants and Spanish-inspired hexagon floor tiles. Achieve the same Joshua Tree vibes in your kitchen with a neutral color palette, contemporary cabinets and two or three statement features like hand-painted backsplash tile or woven light fixtures.

From: THELIFESTYLEDCO