How to design an Italian style kitchen

The traditional Italian kitchen uses lots of earthy tones: shades of cream, brown and green. Traditionally, this is usually most heavily reflected through the stone and brickwork of the walls and floor, as well as exposed beams across the ceiling, but you don't need to completely renovate the ceiling and walls of your kitchen to achieve the look.

The colour scheme to choose for your kitchen will depend on both the size of your kitchen space and the amount of light.

If the kitchen space is large, open and filled with natural light, darker shades can be used across most areas of the room, including the units, worktops and floor. American or afzelia walnut are rich, dark woods that add depth, which are complemented by shades such as roman leaf, oatmeal and moss stone.

For smaller kitchens that want to replicate Italian style kitchen décor, aim to use lighter colours throughout the space, to make the room feel larger. Oak is great choice for the wooden elements of the kitchen, which often pairs well with mink, Gatsby green and pebble.

Wood and stone collide in Italian style kitchens, as traditional wooden units are often topped with granite worktops. Similarly, where wood will cover the ceiling in beams, the floor will typically be stone tiled, which is ideal in a hot environment for keeping the room cool.

Whatever the size of your kitchen, wooden units are the best option for creating an Italian design. Shaker and inset door styles are bang on trend, with either knob or bar handles.

Depending on your personal preferences, kitchen worktops should either be made of wood or granite. Venetian Gold or New Tropical Brown granite worktops are very on trend for an Italian kitchen design; they provide a luxurious finish to the traditional wooden units. Wood options should either be a dark walnut or brighter oak, which reinforces the rustic feel to the room.

Cabinets should be a mixture of solid wood with some glass-paned doors, behind which you can display your favourite cooking equipment, ingredients and crockery.

If you have a large kitchen, a kitchen island should definitely be considered. In traditional Italian kitchens. The worktop and units will be a slightly different colour to the rest of the kitchen, for example, a darker granite worktop with coloured wooden units, whilst the rest of the kitchen has lighter worktops and cream cupboards.

The island can be used for cooking as well as dining, so choose a kitchen island with space at one or two sides for stools, allowing family and friends to sit together with the cook as they prepare a delicious meal.

Much like a traditional farmhouse kitchen, Italian style kitchens have a focus on cooking, so display equipment, ingredients and appliances proudly, rather than hiding them away.

A range cooker is a great choice for this style of kitchen, as it can provide a focal point to the room that highlights a love of cooking for large numbers of families and friends. Traditionally, of course, this would have been a wood-burning stove, but a modern gas or electric range cooker will fit in perfectly today.

Copper accessories are a staple of Italian home style, never more so than in the kitchen. Light fittings and pans displayed on the walls above the oven are a great way to bring this trend into your home, as they're both practical as well as aesthetic.

When it comes to sinks, there are no strict rules. Traditionally, ceramic would be used, but plenty of beautiful Italian kitchen designs also feature stainless steel. The most important thing is that the sink is large, to accommodate regular pot washing and food preparation, so choose whichever style of sink that works best for your budget.

Of course, the best accessory for an Italian style kitchen is Mediterranean ingredients. Fresh lemons, jars of pasta and bottles of wine are all practical, whilst adding a fully on trend finishing touch to this romantic design.

Italian kitchen design is as practical as it is beautiful. With plenty of space for socialising as well as preparing food, this elegant and traditional design is a great choice for anyone who wants to make the kitchen the heart of their home.

Are you ready to design your own Italian style kitchen and need some help from the kitchen experts? Get in touch today to book your free appointment with our kitchen designers, or try our free, online kitchen planner!