White Kitchen with Gothic Details

The traditional white-on-white kitchen gets a graphic update with geometric patterns. Glass-front cabinets are designed with gothic-style intersecting arches, which resonate with the graphic sink skirt and valence. Subtle lavender, chalky blue, and mint green details stand out against the crisp white backdrop. A small baker’s table was added to the center island for transition and a hint of charm. A beadboard ceiling and vent hood complete the casual look.

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Kitchen design: Colette van den Thillart

Serene Green Cabinets

Custom cabinets are painted a light green-gold with a distressed finish for a timeworn effect. The island is equipped with three barstools upholstered with leather seats. The stools’ turned legs and island’s support posts bring elements of the adjoining family and dining rooms into the kitchen, complete with the island’s warm wood finish. “Because the living room, dining room, and kitchen are basically one big room, we wanted the kitchen to blend in,” says homeowner Nancy Race. “We made the cabinets that lovely color and finished the room with molding and panels on the appliances to make those elements more furniture-like.”

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Kitchen design: June Price

Full Inset Doors and Drawers

Indicative of fine furniture, full-inset doors and drawers require more precision to create than the overlay variety (which is much more forgiving). Deep crown moldings add an extra level of elegance to this kitchen, while the custom-designed lobster panels add a touch of whimsy.

Interior Design: Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat

Rope Twist Onlay

Decorative onlays add interest to cabinets. This traditional kitchen includes yellow-painted cabinets embellished with rope twist onlays, also known as rope molding and barley twist table legs or island posts.

Interior Design: Michelle Allman

Leaded-Glass Windows

Although new, the hutch gives the appearance of an antique piece fitted with leaded-glass windows. These glass-front cabinet doors were inspired by old salvaged windows used elsewhere in the house.

Interior and Kitchen Design: Susan Geier, Michael Ranson

Period Details

For this kitchen, cleverly mixing elements from two semi-custom cabinetry collections--"Edwardian" and "Victorian"--created a gracious, centuries-old look. Furniture-style details include a gently arched apron beneath the countertop, turned legs set atop plinth blocks, and an ornate potrack topped with crown molding. See next slide for a look at the kitchen's range hood.

Design: Shelley Gordon

Period Details

Three cabinets were combined in the butler's pantry to give the appearance of an antique breakfront. Crown molding, beadboard backing in the central unit, flush inset doors and drawers, and deep base moldings combine their decorative power to complete the transformation.

Design: Shelley Gordon

Crown Molding

Crown molding adds verticality and beauty to the top edges of upper cabinets while hiding any gaps between them and the ceiling. Note that in this furniture-style china hutch, the doors feature seeded glass accents and diamond-shape moldings. See next two slides for additional details from this kitchen.

Interior Design: Denyse Rinfret
Builder/Kitchen Design: George Gavalas

Decorative Corbels

Beautiful poseurs, these elaborately carved corbels (or corner braces) appear to be supporting the wood countertop to this island. But their main function is to create a furniture-style aesthetic for a central workstation.

Interior Design: Denyse Rinfret
Builder/Kitchen Design: George Gavalas

Furniture-Style Legs

Looking more like a dining room table than an island, this kitchen work center sports elaborately turned and carved legs with a European influence. Hand-painted details heighten the effect. Sink-wall cabinets feature faux legs in front of the toekick to mimic the look of unfitted furniture.

Interior Design: Stephanie Wohlner

Elaborate Range Hood

In this Old World-style kitchen, an ornate mantel disguises a powerful range hood while adding furniture-style details that create an elegant focal point. Crown molding at the top, corbels beneath the arch, beaded door fronts, and a glazed finish all turn this hard-working piece into a showstopper. See next slide for a detail of one of the pilasters framing the cooktop.

Interior Design: Maureen Griffin Balsbaugh
Builders: Stephen Payne and Oliver Bouchier