Words: Francesca Seden

Transitional kitchen design has been growing in popularity in recent years, blending together the warmth and cosiness of traditional design with more contemporary elements. 

According to our contributors it is a style that is centred on balance and harmony and is more open to interpretation, as such it “allows for creative design solutions which produce very interesting and beautiful schemes,” says Natalie Peters, designer at Kitchens Etc.

Stacey Cobley, senior designer at Harvey Jones, adds that this sort of design “is a true masterclass in balance, seamlessly blending handcrafted cabinetry and classic door profiles, with contemporary features and innovative layouts that introduce sleek sophistication.”

Phil Beechinor, director of Alexander Kitchens, offers a more tangible definition. He notes that a traditional kitchen might combine fewer elements, such as a range cooker, mantle, Belfast sink with chrome and pewter fixings and a simpler colour palette, whereas a transitional project might combine a trendier colour with slimmer profile shaker furniture. 

He adds that instagrammable additions like pantry units, coffee stations and bar areas can be built into furniture or be walk-in spaces in their own right.

Looking towards the big trends within this area of design, for this year and beyond, our manufacturer contributors had a few different ideas regarding colour.

Chris Dance, showroom manager for InHouse Inspired Room Design recommends neutral tones with pops of accent colour, while LochAnna’s kitchen category manager, Sinead Trainor, believes pastel tones are likely to be popular as they can provide the ‘wow factor’, and “make the perfect pairing with a variety of wood tones and finishes”.

Josie Medved, design manager at Symphony Kitchens, meanwhile, noted the recent popularity of colour drenching, and thinks rich, saturated tones will be popular.

In terms of textures, our contributors talked about a layered approach which uses a mix of different materials to create tactile warmth. These include natural stone which, according to Neolith sales promoter Ria Parkinson, “marry form and function, offering timeless appeal and modern practicality, as well as a sustainable and durable solution”.

Fluted wood, reeded glass and metal finishes also came up, as well as biophilic elements such as house plants and herb boxes. InHouse’s Dance also noted a trend for large, uninterrupted slab splashbacks made from materials such as marble or engineered quartz, offering a sleek and luxurious aesthetic.

Thinking about storage, our contributors agreed that open shelving would continue to replace cabinetry to make for a more personalised space, that also benefits from a less cluttered feel. Pantries, dresser-style units, hidden breakfast kitchens, and hidden drinks bars would remain popular in this type of design.

Finally, regarding appliances, our contributors all pointed towards smart, integrated appliances for maintaining a sleek look and high multifunctionality. Interestingly, none of our contributors specifically mentioned range cookers, but these can make for a great focal point in a transitional scheme and feature in two of our highlight case studies.

Throwing it back to our retailers, both Alexander Kitchens’ Beechinor and Kitchens Etc’s Peters are excited for the future of this emerging style, which is only likely to become more popular, as new colour exploration can help push the trend forward.

Beechinor mentions the inclusion of dusky pinks, while Harvey Jones’ Cobley says we can expect to see “rich greens, deep blues and even bold purples taking centre stage”.

“The great thing about transitional design,” Beechinor concludes, “is that because of the fusion of styles, there’s so much scope to create something distinctive and unique.”

Case study 1: Kitchens Etc

According to designer Natalie Peters, transitional design should show personality in some shape or form, to make it personal to the client.

This modern terracotta painted island cabinetry adds contrast and a vibrant colour pop, set off by the striking natural quartzite sculpted stone under-bar feature. Peters believes the traditional wood chop block in curved form adds further depth and complements the contemporary walnut and copper bar furniture handles.

Timeless pendant lights are mixed with contemporary LED spotlights, while midi-height housings with quartz splashback and worktops create a contemporary and airy feel.

The design brings in detail and character, but in less ornate or fussy ways than a traditional kitchen might. She suggests swapping ornate detail for a detailed stone accent, and traditional wood detailing for a more contemporary textured look, such as reeded wood.

Peters also recommends playing with contrast, texture and mixing in other styles in the form of ‘hero pieces’, such as a re-purposed dresser or family heirloom dining table. Peters notes that while shaker doors are a popular choice, door styles with a little more detail such as a slab door in-frame, mixed with tongue and groove, work well.

Case study 2: Alexander Kitchens

Phil Beechinor, director of Alexander Kitchens notes how much of the transitional theme depends on how the scheme is styled and accessorised, and one of the company’s latest projects exemplifies this.

“The client opted for a very contemporary colour combination using traditional furniture and chose a lot of contemporary accessories to modernise,” he explains. 

The black hardware on the shelving, Quooker tap, black frame of the glazed door and the black range cooker make for a striking contrast and add a harder, almost industrial edge alongside the softer gold hardware, and the light and graphite grey cabinetry. Rather than being jarring in any way, it just makes for a more visually interesting space, because those pops of black are just enough to set the scheme off.

Beechinor also notes that a feature of transitional kitchens is often a slimmer worktop profile (20mm or even 12mm) in a more contemporary-looking material, such as porcelain, rather than granite or quartz. A porcelain worktop by Caesarstone is shown. He adds that while sage greens and country blues have been in favour for the past few years, now darker finishes that give a more dramatic contrast between the furniture and accessories, are more in vogue.

Offering some advice to fellow designers, Beechinor goes back to that idea about styling, noting how this “is imperative and may even be the most important part. “Think carefully about work surfaces, feature units and handleware,” he says. “Opt for dramatic lighting options and contrast between fixtures, which can both be great modernisers for a design.”