Natural materials, technological efficiency and organic connection with nature, we tell you how to design a kitchen in the Art Nouveau style.

The Art Nouveau kitchen is a smoothness of lines, noble shades and natural materials. It looks modern and very traditional at the same time. Comfort in such a room is created not by curtains with ruffles or a bright tablecloth, but by a harmonious combination of textures, colors and silhouettes. In this article we will tell you how to design the kitchen area in this style correctly.

All about the design of the modern kitchen

Features

Most people perceive “modern” as a synonym for the word “modern” (and moderno is translated from Italian that way), and in some sense this is not far from the truth. But it is impossible to attribute to this style any interior that is not decorated in the classics, although many people think this way.

Art Nouveau as an independent style appeared at the end of the 19th century and existed for a very short time, literally several decades before the First World War. But even in such a short time, the designers and architects who formed this direction had time to say their weighty word. Art Nouveau appeared as a response to the eclecticism that prevailed at that time: a mixture of styles, a repetition of already existing techniques. At the same time, there was a sharp leap in technological progress. The designers tried to contrast this chaos with a new design: orderly, innovative, but at the same time maintaining a connection with nature.

As a result, modernists were divided into two groups: those who put technology at the forefront (typical for England and Scotland), and those who advocated the primacy of decorative and natural beauty (France, Italy). Gradually, modernism ceased to exist as a single style, dividing into separate directions: Tiffany, Art Nouveau, Constructivism, liberty, etc. But despite the fact that Art Nouveau in its original form no longer exists, designers still use the ideas of this style in interior design.

The main markers of modernity:

Modern Kitchen design ideas

This style looks most organically in large country houses, but it is also possible to apply it in a typical city apartment. In this case, it is best to use stylization, taking the brightest features as a basis. Let’s consider how to design the interior of a modern kitchen, with photos of beautiful examples.

Color scheme

Since this style is largely inspired by nature, the palette in the kitchen should be appropriate. The main colors are brown and white. They are complemented by a variety of shades of gray and beige, interspersed with black. The color scheme can be either dark or lighter, depending on your preferences, as well as the size of the room. If the kitchen is compact, it is worth taking as a basis a white or light shade of brown, they will make the space visually more spacious.

Natural illumination of the room is also important. For a kitchen with windows facing south or southeast, cooler shades will be suitable, which will “cool” it (especially important in the cooking zone!). If, on the contrary, there is not enough sun, then take warm shades (beige, brown, biscuit-gray) as a basis, which will make the space more cozy.

Any natural noble tones will be suitable as accent colors. Most often used:

Walls and sets can be contrasting in color, but the effect of enveloping space looks very cool when furniture and decoration are made in shades close to each other. 

Finishing

This style does not imply savings on finishing, only high-quality natural materials are used.

They create a sense of the nobility of the interior, its durability, elegance. Of course, if you use stylization and adapt modern ideas to the conditions of a typical apartment or a certain budget, you can use imitations, but they must be of high quality.

Wear-resistant coatings that are not afraid of moisture, mechanical damage, and household chemicals are suitable for the kitchen floor. Usually these are tiles and porcelain stoneware with the texture of stone or marble. Sometimes, instead of imitating natural materials, a laconic geometric or abstract pattern is chosen, but it should not be too small and variegated. For the dining area, you can use quartz vinyl, high-end laminate, parquet or engineering board.

Wall decoration can be either neutral, acting as a laconic background, or a full-fledged decorative element of the interior. It is important to remember that not all materials are suitable for the kitchen. If you want to use wallpaper, choose those that will withstand the difficult conditions of the cooking zone: steam, temperature changes, humidity, constant pollution. Non-woven or vinyl coatings, as well as fiberglass, will best cope with this. But textile and paper wallpapers are definitely not for the cooking zone. Waterproof paint or decorative plaster is also suitable for wall decoration. The apron is tiled, painted or covered with a special protective panel. In modernity, a light glossy sheen of various metals looks great. If you want to focus on the dining area, take a closer look at the wallpaper with floral ornaments or wooden wall panels.

The design of the ceiling depends on the architecture of the room. If it is a private house or apartment with high vaults, you can decorate the ceiling with decorative beams or curly elements. In other cases, it is better to limit yourself to a laconic single-level canvas of a light shade. The classic version is white, but sometimes the ceiling is painted in light gray or cream beige.

Furniture and appliances

The main piece of furniture in the kitchen is a set. It should be restrained, but elegant, look expensive and solid.

The priority is wood, MDF of good quality, acrylic. But cheap plastic is definitely not suitable.

Modernism assumes smooth lines, the absence of sharp sharp corners. In the classic version, these are curved radius facades (especially if the layout is L-shaped), but you can also choose a standard headset, “softening” it due to the textures. Its size and filling completely depend on your requests, as well as the size of the kitchen. In this direction, there are no strict requirements for the functionality of furniture: you can choose a spacious mezzanine suite, abandon the upper cabinets altogether, add an island or a peninsula. 

An important point is the choice of equipment. Art Nouveau, despite its craving for natural elements, welcomes all achievements of progress. Therefore, such a kitchen should be “stuffed” with modern gadgets and appliances that simplify cooking and cleaning. At the same time, the space should remain visually harmonious and restrained. Almost always use built-in technology. If you choose freestanding models, they should not be too bright, shiny and chrome-plated, so as not to get out of the overall concept.

The dining area is usually represented by a traditional dining table. Any shape, but rounded corners are desirable. It is often made accentuated: for example, with a marble countertop or golden legs. Chairs can be quite simple or of an interesting curved shape.

In a small kitchen, a large dining table is often replaced by a bar counter or a mini island.

Decor and textiles

In terms of decor, modernity is very close to minimalism, the fewer decorations, the better. Piece-by-piece valuable copies are welcome.

Use beautiful dishes, decorative vases, cutting boards as accents. The table in the dining area can be decorated with a bouquet of fresh flowers or dried flowers, put candles, add a couple of laconic sculptural figures. There are practically no textiles either: classic drapes or Roman curtains on the windows, a set of kitchen towels in the same style, and that’s usually all. Carpets and tablecloths are almost never used.

But special attention is paid to lighting. It performs not only its direct functions, but also plays the role of decoration. Accent chandeliers, beautiful glass or gilded pendants, complex compositions of lamps all complement the interior of the kitchen in the Art Nouveau style, as in the photo below.

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