Taste of France

In a new home, traditional kitchen designs can work as well as more contemporary ones, as long as the style complements the interior design of the rest of the house. New homes may offer other advantages, such as good natural light, large open spaces and a blank canvas for designers to work with.

The owners of this kitchen felt that a period kitchen would suit their new rural home, and decided on a French Provincial look with its characteristic painted cabinetry and handcrafted details. It was a choice that kitchen designer Morgan Cronin knew would work well. But even with a new home and a large space to work with, the project still had its challenges.

Unusually for a modern home, the back wall of the kitchen is angled, which meant that the kitchen island and benchtops needed to follow suit.

As the kitchen is visible to anyone entering the house, the client wanted the kitchen island to be positioned centrally, to provide a balanced view of the kitchen from the hall.

"I always aim for symmetry in the kitchens I design, and although you can be more eclectic in a traditional kitchen, symmetry never dates," Cronin says.

Other key features are positioned symmetrically, such as the custom-made rangehood.

"A classic look for this style of kitchen is to have a chimney around the oven, as it was a necessity in old kitchens with wood- fired ovens. By designing the rangehood to look like a chimney piece, we've introduced a distinctive yet functional feature," says Cronin.

"Detailing is also important with traditional kitchens here, details include fluted pillars on the island, two butler's sinks and wrought iron drawer handles."

Paintwork was finished with a patina, for an aged appearance, and a darker paint was applied to indented elements, such as the dentil moulding on the tall cabinetry. Visual interest was also introduced through the benchtops, which are an antique brown granite, chosen by the client, that changes appearance with the changing light.

"We needed a strong colour for the benchtops, otherwise the space could have been too wishy-washy," says Cronin. "The pale paintwork helps to define the granite benchtops and sets them in the space."

With the period style established, the kitchen could accommodate contemporary details, such as bar stools and a glass splashback. The result is a modern version of a period kitchen, says Cronin.

"It's not a heavy, cluttered or ornate look rather, it's a warm, comfortable space that suits this country home."

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Kallan McLeod Taste of France Features typical of a French Provincial kitchen are used throughout