When you think of an overall decorating style don't worry if you seem to like many. While some people have a definite motif in mind, such as "Country French" or "Contemporary", a beautiful room can combine many styles.
The Kitchen of today can be gleaming and high-tech, cluttered and homey, cozy and warm, or cool and open. It can reflect styles of the past or forecast the future...but it should always reflect you.
There is no fixed formula for creating a Kitchen Decor; elements cannot be spelled out to get an instant theme. Rather, it is up to the designer to combine what they think necessary and appropriate to come up with the desired effect.
Below are listed some generalized ideas to achieve some desired effects.
The traditional kitchen might have fine wood flooring and cabinetry, embellished with handsome detailing and ornate hardware. Antique English, European, or Early American measures, mugs, utensils, and other accessories - made of wood, copper, pewter, or iron.
Countertops made of granite or other natural (or natural appearing) materials. Colours and textures that look as if they've aged over time - grayish whites and grayish greens, are examples. Faux granite or marbleized finishes on baseboards and moldings can also provide an instant pedigree. Curtains and other fabrics in solid colours or traditional patterns, such as damasks, toiles and tapestries.
In a country kitchen style the cabinets would most likely be wood, more specifically maple or pine, left natural or perhaps distressed, crackled, or whitewashed to denote age. The chairs would be cane backed or cane in the seats. The ceilings could have beams or perhaps the pressed time tiles. Pottery, country collectables and antiques would decorate the open shelving areas left for this reason. Vibrant colours can be shown in fabrics and/or accessories. Other surfaces would be covered in period materials such as tile, brick or wood.
For a thoroughly contemporary styling, go with sleek, polished, synthetic surfacing materials (doors, counters, floors, etc.) Use recessed or track lighting, the furniture should have clean, delicate lines. Your design should be using playful geometric and curvilinear motifs. Lastly, use strong, vibrant colour schemes using primary colours or contrasting neutrals, such as black and white.
Whatever your decorative tastes, the colour palette you use in your kitchen will enhance the overall style if it's been considered carefully; while there are no hard and fast rules regarding "proper" colour usage, there are certain combinations and ways of using colour that promise success. Balance is the key.
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