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The kitchen is a fundamental part of any home. This is the area where the dishes that the whole family will enjoy are prepared. Regardless of the occasion, this space should always be kept attractive and clean. However, if you want to give it a unique personality, why not try an international design like a Spanish style kitchen?
This type of cuisines directly imported from Europe captures the entire architecture of the Spanish country by using vibrant colors with many decorative elements in carved wood. Of course, today there are not only rustic styles with this theme but some more modern options that also maintain a series of characteristic elements.
Image source: Cynthia Bennett & Associates
If you are looking for the kitchen to be another cozy part of your home such as a room or living room, then see the following guide that will take you into this design that has not aged despite the years.
How to identify a Spanish set
Image source: White Webb
We already mentioned that the Spanish kitchen is perfect to preserve the warmth of the home that a room or a living room can have, but in it, we can find all the elements we need to work in a sophisticated way.
Contrary to what one might think, the popularization of this style of kitchens does not come from the time of colonization, but from the mid-twentieth century in the states of California, Florida, and Texas. It is a way of decorating that has drawn a lot of attention among buyers, becoming houses with high market value.
Image source: Bercum Builders Inc.
What elements can we find in a Spanish kitchen so as not to confuse it with another style? The first are the colors. The palette typically used in traditional Spanish houses is in brown tones with cold rooms. The decoration is kept to a minimum so that the cold can be preserved during high temperatures seasons.
Being so close to the Mediterranean, decorations from the sea, such as shells and other nautical elements, are perfect ornaments for the walls or to create built-in accessories.
Image source: Rustico Tile and Stone
On a constructive level, the most notable Spanish elements are high and long ceilings, and the connections between corridors are made with arches. The Spanish tile kitchen is almost completely dominated by square terracotta, and beyond the wooden details for drawers and countertops, the walls are usually left white.
The rudimentary materials are an easy way to achieve the European style at its peak. By this, we mean stones, forged metals with rustic finishes, structural elements in wood and everything that reminds us of a simpler time.
The good thing about the Spanish style kitchen is that, although our home has a modern style, it can be adapted to preserve its charm. Remember that the use of warm tones will always be a focus of attention for meetings.
Spanish style kitchen ideas
The following is a small list with some of the most striking Spanish-style kitchens that we can find.
We hope that these ideas help you to have a broader vision of how to mix the Renaissance style with the most contemporary works. Do not worry, you will find it easy to get similar patterns in each one even though they all have their unique character.
Stunning entries using arches
Image source: Congdong Designer
Whether as a way of welcoming the kitchen, or serving as a central support element for the ceiling, the arches are basic elements in European construction in general. If your kitchen feels very small in space, you can try to tear down a wall (we are talking about a major reform project) and install an arch.
Concave bells to maintain order
Image source: Christine Markatos Design
Following the pattern of installing arches as constructive elements, we can also try to get utensils and appliances that maintain this rounded shape, such as a kitchen hood. The one we present this time is very traditional and made of stone.
The islands, a contemporary element that adapts very well to the Mediterranean
Image source: Maraya Interior Design
The islands, or shelves located in the center of the kitchen, are pieces that have become almost a standard for any modern kitchen, as they provide additional workspace. When it comes to the Spanish style, these should be built-in carved wood and finished at the top with a large stone tablet.
If you don’t like rigid islands, you can always try this idea where the bottom has an opening and the countertop is simply held on two masts.
Modernizing our Spanish style kitchen with a carpet
Image source: TDM Tiling
If white alone seems like a very cold tone, we can always mix a couple of colors to contrast. The dark blue (or almost any dark shade) blends very well with the rest of the decorative elements.
If we decide to use white tiles, placing a somewhat more colorful carpet will soften the overall environment.
An extra addition to this kitchen is to use shelves with large crystals, which reduces the need to carve wood since our dishes will be responsible for decorating the walls.
Terracotta cannot be missing
Image source: H O M E + atelier Michael Ranson
A terracotta kitchen is a Spanish classic. Clay tones are perfect for creating warmth immediately. The colonial-style uses this type of floor a lot, not only for its aesthetics but for its thermal capabilities.
The good thing is that the terracotta floor combines perfectly with the wood, so it is easy to select matching cabinets.
Remember the past
Image source: JEFFERY ROBERTS DESIGN
As we are working with a kitchen inspired by Europe, it is logical to think that we must install many old elements that remind us why it is called the old continent. As we can see, the combination of wrought metals such as iron and bronze creates an ancient charm as if it were a tavern or a castle.
If we are fans of the medieval style, we cannot miss every piece of blacksmithing that can be installed without breaking the general cleanliness of the kitchen. Some places where iron works are in the door handles and hinges.
Put ornaments everywhere
Image source: John Malick & Associates
Do we comment that walnut wood is perfect to be carved and decorated? This is a favorite choice of classic designers since a great variety of art pieces can be made. Notice how the wood connects to the bell and creates continuity with the counter tops.
A bold combination
Image source: Sandra Copperstone
Red with turquoise may seem crazy. They are opposite colors, but well worked can achieve results like the one you see below. Red hexagonal tiles are a good addition to turquoise cabinets and all without over saturating the environment.
However, to keep the design balanced, some elements have been installed in more neutral colors, such as light brown counter tops or cream walls. While it is not a style that pleases everyone, it cannot be denied that it has its charm.
The structure is responsible for the decoration
Image source: Glover + Graham Design Collective
When we deal with wooden beams and columns, the Spanish style kitchen benefits from leaving them exposed without any coating. The best in these cases is that the wood of the drawers matches that of the structure to achieve a uniform appearance.
There are also minimalist Spanish kitchens
Image source: Bannister Custom Homes
The use of neutral colors without abandoning the wooden elements allows this kitchen to have a modern style but that integrates the fair characteristics of the past. You can still see the exposed beams or hexagonal tiles, only in this case in light and dark colors.
Dark Walnut Cabinets for prominent ornaments
Image source: Godden Sudik Architects, Inc.
As mentioned previously, Walnut is a wood that allows a lot of freedom for decoration. Here a series of ropes have been mixed between metal elements in the drawers, which creates a Mediterranean style.
Aging bronze artificially
To wear down the bronze and have that old look that attracts attention in old homes, rubbing a little oil in it can speed up the process. As you can see on the key ring and in the handles of the drawers, the metal has slightly lost its shine, simulating the passage of time in a matter of minutes.
Getting the Spanish style is easier than it seemed
Image source: Rustico Tile and Stone
As you have seen in several of the images and recommendations, getting a Spanish style kitchen is not that complicated. We do not have to look for materials worn naturally by time or look for wood sculptors. A couple of elements are enough to get that rustic and cozy look that characterizes the old continent.
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