Five Tips for Designing a Cedar Park Craftsman Kitchen

Jun 7

This is a question that we are often asked: How can I create a craftsman kitchen that feels authentic without being too cliché? Many interior designers put craftsman doors onto wood cabinets and call it a "craftsman" kitchen. But, what were kitchens like in the craftsman era?

Craftsman style can be traced back to the 1850s through the 1930s. It's known for using stained woods, clean lines, and tile and cabinetry made by craftsmen. The rise of the craftsman style was a result of the industrial revolution. However, companies soon began mass-producing these materials, built-ins, and even whole homes. Although most homes in this period had elaborate porches and parlors, the kitchen was usually designed for staff only (not to be seen). Although a homeowner from the early 1900s wouldn't have their kitchen open to guests, it's a beautiful contrast with a more elegant, simple kitchen.

Cedar Park Home Remodels' interior designers know how to create rooms that reflect the craftsman style while still feeling modern. These are some tips:

1) Mix furniture pieces and built-ins in your kitchen.

The idea of a built-in kitchen was emerging during the craftsman era. The kitchen would often have one wall of built-in cabinets while the rest of the space would have freestanding furniture. When remodeling kitchens, we prefer to give the appearance of separate furniture pieces. We use contrasting colors, hardware, and details such as feet to achieve this effect. Sometimes we find an antique hutch to add to a vintage kitchen. A vintage piece can bring a lot of history and charm to a renovated kitchen.

2) Craftsman Era Materials are still being produced!

Craftsman home kitchens are our favorite because they use real materials. The backsplash was a craftsman-style design that our clients requested when designing the kitchen above. There are still many companies that produce authentic craftsman-era products that will look authentic in a new kitchen or renovation. Motawi tiles, Bradbury wallpaper, and Stickley furniture are some of our favorites.

3) Use lots and lots of natural timber.

Fine craftsman homes are known for their use of natural timber. Many craftsman homes had wood floors, ceiling beams, moldings, and built-ins. This often led to darkened rooms. Although it might seem brighter for painted cabinets to be used, stained wood can be used as flooring or moldings. You don't have to use a lot of wood if you have a bright room. You can mix and match different stain colors. Lighter stains are a good option to brighten your kitchen.

4) Make vintage-style cabinetry details

The authentic craftsman kitchen shown above has many beautiful period details. We would love to recreate inset doors and wooden end brackets in a new craftsman-style kitchen. You will also notice that the cabinets come with multiple panels. While this adds some nice detail, it does not feel ornate. This Craftsman-style kitchen was usually built in-house. You will notice that the majority of these cabinets have common framing. These cabinets aren't made of separate pieces that can be screwed together. Cedar Park Home Remodels doesn't make them on-site, but we offer custom cabinetry that can also be built in a similar way.

The one thing we would not repeat in this vintage kitchen is: There are no toe kicks. We love the furniture look but modern homeowners expect a toe kick. Even when it comes to a sink. This photo comes from Old House Online. Another great resource for Craftsman-inspired design.

5) Utility is the first priority

We found many kitchens with intricate moldings and flared legs when we searched online for craftsman kitchens. Although there are many options for designing a modern craftsman-style kitchen, we think simplicity and a utilitarian vibe are key to the original craftsman style. You can mix and match modern hardware, fixtures, and appliances with your old-fashioned cabinetry. A functional kitchen is better than a beautiful one.

Cedar Park Home Remodelers

Cedar Park, Tx

(737) 307 8281