Old World Kitchen Design
When most people conjure up an image of the ideal cooking space, they are thinking about old world kitchen design. Of course, this may be difficult to achieve – or is it?
What is old world kitchen design, exactly? Well, if you have ever been to a Tuscan vineyard (or, if you have seen pictures of one), you probably have a good idea. This style consists of large brick burning ovens, marble backsplashes, ceramic tiles under foot, and oaken tables that stretch on for miles. Accessory wise, this design type include lots of low burning candles, large wrought-iron hanging pot racks, and caves of wine sunken into kitchen walls. Sound out of reach? If you use a bit of creativity, it may not be.
Let’s be realistic – most of us can’t afford to sink millions of dollars into a kitchen space. Therefore, imagination is key. In order to being creating this design style, start with your kitchen walls. Walls inside of an ancient kitchen are usually deep orange stucco. Unless you have the budget to re-do your walls completely, you will need to head to your local hardware store and brush up on those faux painting skills. Next, look to your counter tops and cabinets – what do you envision? While you can really go any direction here, it is best to stick with dark wooden cabinets and granite or marble countertops (faux marble works well too!). Finally, you will have to think about those floors.
Old world kitchen design includes floors that are made from some sort of ceramic or tile. Not only is this type of material expensive, it is also impractical if you live in a cold climate (sub-zero tiles touching bare feet is not a pleasant thought!). Heating your floor is one option (albeit an expensive one), though hard wood or linoleum that resembles tile is also a good plan
As you can tell, there are many ways to re-create that desired look on a budget. If you take the time to really research inexpensive ways to create a beautiful kitchen, you will soon see that there are many ways to reach your goal without breaking the bank.
It would be hard to find a homeowner that doesn’t love the idea of an old world kitchen design, though this type of decor is not always practical. If you have the money to spend creating this look perfectly, go ahead. If not, think about the ideas that are mentioned above for the kitchen of your dreams.
