What is a Modern Victorian kitchen design?

The Victorian era lasted from 1837 to 1901, and with it came a vast revolution of change through innovation, architecture, design, and, most of all, lifestyle. Victorian homes are renowned for their ornate, decorative and elegant style, which are everpresent in details such as mouldings, carvings, and intricate stained glass work. Today, many homeowners invest in the unique and notable Victorian style, exploring and researching ways to incorporate elements of this refined classic design into their modern victorian kitchen design. A popular approach to achieving the Victorian kitchen style is to blend traditional features of classic Victorian aesthetics and craftsmanship. However, with a modern twist, delivering a timeless and inviting space with the innovation and benefits you can expect from a modern-day luxury kitchen.

How is a Victorian kitchen different from a modern kitchen?

During the Victorian era in the 19th century, kitchens were very different to the contemporary kitchens we are all accustomed to today. Some distinctive differences set them aside, from appliances, functionality, overall design and layout.

Kitchen Size

Victorian kitchens were often smaller than the modern kitchens we have today. They needed a separate room for food preparation, whereas today's contemporary kitchen usually combines a workspace with a living area.

Kitchen Equipment

Victorian kitchens lacked what we take for granted as standard conveniences, such as running water, refrigeration, and electrical appliances. A stove did most of the cooking, fueled by coal or wood, whilst the food was out of sight, kept in separate storage and side rooms known as kitchen pantries or larders.

Intricate Kitchen Design

Victorian kitchens were often ornate and decorative compared to today's modern kitchen design: detailed and intricate woodwork, ostentatious ceramic tiles, and stunning stained glass windows. You would often find a large table in the centre of the kitchen area for food preparation; meals in the Victorian era were always from scratch; this demanded much more workspace.

The Kitchen Main Function

During the Victorian period, the kitchen was a space used for cooking, washing clothes, bathing, and sometimes as a living area for servants, quite a contrast to today's modern kitchen design and installation. Today's kitchens are typically larger and equipped with standard electrical appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers. The contemporary custom kitchen is now designed with functionality and efficiency at the forefront, with open-plan kitchen designs, generously sized worktops space and innovative smart solutions.

Overall, the Victorian kitchen design catered for a completely different lifestyle and era, whereas our modern-day kitchens reflect and highlight our society's changing needs and expectations for a positive work/life balance, where we can cook, work and entertain all in one space, quite arguably, the most essential and sought after room in the home.

What is a Modern Victorian Kitchen Design?

Ask a range of kitchen planners, and they will agree; a modern-style Victorian kitchen design blends traditional features with contemporary design elements. This accentuated style draws from its use of intricate details, elegant lines, and bold colours.

Still, it also incorporates modern features and what you expect from a contemporary kitchen, such as stainless steel appliances, sleek worksurfaces, and open-plan work and living zones. To achieve a successful and aesthetically modern Victorian kitchen, the balance between combining traditional elements with modernistic features and state-of-the-art expectations of our present time is crucial in ensuring you have a functioning modern Victorian kitchen.

Modern Victorian Kitchen Colour Palette

The colour palette is one of the essential elements of a modern Victorian kitchen design. The traditional Victorian palette consists of warm, inviting hues and tones such as burgundy, forest green, and navy blue. You will create a classic and authentic feel to your Victorian kitchen when paired with lighter, brighter colours such as cream, light blue, or pastel pink. Choosing colours that complement each other and help deliver a harmonious and cohesive look. Sage and pastel green colours offer a natural and atmospheric look that works effortlessly in a traditional victorian setting and a modern and contemporary kitchen.

Kitchen Materials and Finishes

The modern Victorian kitchen design can be crafted similarly to the original creations of a bygone era, using selected materials and finishes. Traditional Victorian kitchens usually feature wood cabinetry, ornate mouldings, and finely detailed carvings. To create a more modern Victorian look, updating materials to compliment the contemporary ambience is crucial, such as painted cabinetry, sleek worktops and stainless steel hardware.

Modern Kitchen Lighting

Lighting is imperative within the modern Victorian bespoke kitchen design. Classic Victorian kitchens often feature elegant chandeliers and prominent lighting fixtures that are not only intended to be practical but also aesthetical. The lighting fixtures are easily adaptable to contemporary options such as LED or pendant lights. Choosing the most suitable lighting will complement the overall design and provide the correct illumination for cooking and food preparation but also create a warm and seductive atmosphere to socialise and unwind within.

Kitchen Furnishings and Decorative Touches

Furnishings and decorative features are also crucial in creating a modern Victorian kitchen. Traditional Victorian kitchens often featured ornate furniture like dining tables and chairs and decorative elements like stained glass windows. To create a modern Victorian look, these elements can be updated with more contemporary furnishings, such as bar stools, modern dining tables, framed artwork, canvasses and other relevant and attractive accessories.

A modern kitchen design is a great way to incorporate the classic Victorian style into any contemporary home. With ornate details, elegant lines, and bright, bold colours, the Victorian style is perfect for homeowners who wish to explore a kitchen space that is both functional and stylish. When designing a modern Victorian kitchen, it is crucial to strike a harmonious balance between a bygone era and contemporary functionality, using traditional materials and finishes and choosing furnishings and decorative features that complement the overall kitchen design.

Can you mix Victorian kitchen design with modern?

Many homeowners and interior designers combine traditional styles with all the expectations and functionality in today's kitchen styles to create a unique and personalised look, individually tailored to your home, space and family. The classic Victorian kitchen design's classic and prominent features will blend beautifully with modern and contemporary elements. Working with a team of kitchen planners allows you to explore how to create the perfect kitchen where traditional designs seamlessly flow with modern-day styles.

Incorporate Victorian Era Design Elements

One way to do this is to incorporate Victorian design elements like decorative tiles, ornate cabinetry, and stained glass windows into a modern kitchen design. They create a harmonious blend of old and new when paired with modern appliances like stainless steel refrigerators and ovens.

Modern kitchen materials for vintage looks

Another popular way to use more modern-day materials, such as quartz countertops and sleek cabinetry, is in a traditional Victorian-style kitchen. This exquisite look of the kitchen will preserve the classic aesthetic of the Victorian era but bring a fresh new ambience, benefitting from all the innovative appliances and up-to-date technology for daily continual use and functionality. When mixing Victorian and modern design, it's imperative to consider the overall aesthetic and balance traditional and contemporary elements and features.

Work With A Professional Kitchen Designer

A professionally designed kitchen will seamlessly blend the two styles, producing a unique and functional space that reflects the homeowner's taste, personality and character. There are no limitations when creating a new kitchen for your home, where family and friends can gather, socialise and relax. You can create something unique by drawing inspiration from past kitchen ideas. The kitchen's role within the household has changed dramatically over the centuries and decades; once a space for food preparation, cooking, bathing and washing, the modern-day kitchen has become the epicentre of activity for socialising. Today kitchens are spacious, incorporating living areas, central kitchen islands, and zones to work, rest and cook, socialise, and bring family and friends together. Today's kitchen is the most integral room of the entire household. In the Victorian period, the kitchen was purely functional.

Although the Victorian kitchen and the contemporary style designs of today's modern classic kitchens are quite notably different in their purpose and daily functions, the superior design, style and class, and sophistication have permeated through time, have shaped and inspired modern-day kitchens and have left its mark on our daily lives, in design and building structures; we see and still use today.

Explore A Modern Kitchen Showroom For Inspiration

Visiting our Plum kitchen showroom will allow you to explore and immerse yourself in the many styles of modern-day Victorian kitchens on display to peruse and be inspired. Not only will you have the opportunity to view the stunning range of kitchens on offer, but you can also learn more about Victorian kitchen design and how this unique and distinctive style could be adapted and blended into a modern-day contemporary bespoke-style kitchen for your home. Our skilled kitchen planners and kitchen designers are always on hand to discuss our new products, custom kitchen options and unrivalled Plum complete package, covering everything from design, kitchen installation and appliances, electrical and plumbing, and even kitchen building work where required. We can arrange to remove unwanted items, such as the old kitchen cabinets and appliances if needed. Looking for kitchen finance? Our helpful team can explore your options with you.

Our Redditch Kitchen Showroom can be easily reached from the M42 Motorway. For a short car journey from South Birmingham, Solihull, Barnt Green, Alvechurch, Studley, Bromsgrove and Redditch.