When planning your kitchen you may need some design inspiration. Choosing a style can help you make many of your selections, when you know what fits in that design style. Things like architectural details, decor, and colors can be found in the details for each design style. No matter what design style you choose in planning your dream kitchen, if you have a counter with an extended overhang you are going to need support brackets. Listed below are top design styles and some of their features. We hope this will help you in the planning and designing of your new dream kitchen.
Rustic American - Stainless Steel is an attractive design element which complements the gray tones and pewter hardware. Steel countertop support brackets can also be painted in the off white and neutral colors if you prefer to match wall color.
Color accents in grayed tones or sun-baked colors with predominately white, off-white or neutral base colors work well. Surface selections like ceramic tile, soapstone, slate and wood in a matte finish with a natural and heavy appearance are all appropriate. Pewter, rustic metals, wood and wrought iron can all be used in hardware choices. Wood finishes in oak, pine and walnut are the most popular wood species for these styles.
Modern/Contemporary -Sleek stainless steel contemporary brackets would work well in this style. This design style is an excellent complement to stainless steel countertop brackets as noted in the hardware choices below.
Stainless steel can be used as an accent color, but vibrant colors of blues, oranges, reds and yellows predominate. Recently, dark black-brown colors are becoming more popular. Surface selections would be natural stone, quartz or concrete as your best options. Nickel, chrome and stainless steel are the most appropriate for hardware. Straight grained woods such as birch, maple and bamboo are the most prevalent for wood finishes in this design style.
Traditional/Country - In this design style you may wish to use the hidden support bracket, or choose one a decorative bracket to paint in a color that falls in the categories below.
Reflect original dye colors from the American Colonial time period using reds, blues and yellows. Items containing small patterns also reflect this time period. Soapstone, granite, wood trimmed laminate and solid surface material with square edge profiles can all be used as your surface selections. Hardware choices should be rustic finishes such as wrought iron and oil rubbed bronze fit in nicely as well as copper and antique brass. Light wood finishes on maple, pine, oak, birch and cherry work well in this style.
Missions/Arts and Crafts - This style lends itself well to the metal finishes offered. Any solid built, metal bracket would be a trusted and beautiful support for your counter. Warm colors such as golden yellow, soft green, natural dyes and earth tones work in this style. Natural stone, multi-colored porcelain pottery, and the matte finish of rough earthenware materials are natural choices for surfaces. Almost any brushed finish or metal, other than brass will work with this design. Missions inspired designs use mainly items constructed of oak. Arts & Crafts designs often use cherry in place of oak today.
French Country - This style comes from France and has predominately curved lines and light colors. Several styles of brackets have curved lines that would fit nicely into this catagory. Pastels are the best choice for colors in a French Country setting. Ceramic tile backsplash areas with laminate tops that have a wood edge are appropriate. You can also use natural stone, quartz and solid surface materials. Your hardware choices would be nice hammered finishes in iron, pewter, copper or bronze. Your wood colors would be in lighter finishes such as pine, walnut, or cherry with some distressing.
Tuscan/Mediterranean - Arched openings and heavily plastered, oversized rooms along with vibrantly painted tile murals, and dark wood balanced with soft edged stone surfaces help define this style. Hidden brackets would lend themselves well to this design style for counter overhangs. Olive green and terra cotta have a definite Italian feel to them as do warm colors in yellows, oranges and reds balanced by blues and greens. Granite with an active pattern and other rustic patterned surfaces are appropriate in this style. Italian environments support the use of metallic surfaces beyond hardware but in most cases, rustic metals and crackled finishes on porcelain are excellent selections. Heavy woods with strong grain work well in this setting. Painted finishes should be worn through and distressed.
Victorian - Medieval motifs such as stylized floral patterns, filigree; lancet arched windows and leaded glass panes are part of this design style. Any bracket in cold rolled steel material could be painted in the dark colors that go so well with this time period. A black powder coat would provide a beautiful supported counter. Golden tones along with olive green, black and burgundy can be used as your color palette. Ceramic tile, granite, and wood are all appropriate for surfaces and hardware could be ceramic or marble, you will typically see ornate polished brass. Heavy dark woods are commonly used such as mahogany, blackened oak, walnut, satinwood or rosewood for your wood finishes.
Transitional - Is a relatively new style combining Modern/Contemporary with more Traditional Old World design style, creating a bridge between the old and the new style. Brushed metals would be very common sight in this style. Stainless steel brackets have become very popular, come in various styles and are a perfect match in this setting. While colors in the contemporary style tend to be bright and bold, more subtle colors or a combination of colors lean more towards the tradition style. Combining granite or quartz with wood accent areas would help define a transitional space. Brushed metals, oil rubbed bronze or wrought iron finishes will all work. Tight grained woods such as maple, birch and cherry can be used.
American Shaker - Defines a woodworking style that is beautifully executed and simple in detail. The Shaker's homes were multipurpose rooms and they hung chairs on pegs along the outer walls so floor space was available for other activities. This style lends itself to beautiful wood décor. A strong metal L bracket with a wood facade provides the sturdy strength of steel with the beautiful wood look to match this design style. Colors range from pinky tones and terra cotta earth shades, through yellow ochre and olive green, to greenish blues and denim. Granite, limestone, slate and square-edged solid surfaces are all appropriate for surface finishes. Wood pegs are the most authentic in place of hardware. You can also use simple metal or hand-forged finishes. Predominate wood choices include maple and cherry. Warm or medium range wood tones are appropriate.
