Italian kitchens often have rustic elements that feel warm and cozy. Terra-cotta tiles and wood floorings that appear worn and lived in are both great choices for this style. Avoid modern lighting like fluorescent job lights, opting instead for charming wrought-iron chandeliers and sconces.
Backsplashes made of organic stone are another must for traditional Italian kitchen designs. Look for options that are both functional and beautiful, ideally in a neutral color.
The Open Cooking Space
A key element of modern Italian kitchens is the open cooking space. These cook spaces use a mix of shelves and kitchen cabinets to keep the area uncluttered, making it easy to move around and clean up after meals.
The kitchens also rely on large windows to provide natural light throughout the day. This helps make the room feel bigger and more welcoming. If you don’t have access to a lot of windows, consider adding skylights that can help brighten up your cook space without taking up too much valuable real estate.
Another standard element of the modern Italian kitchen is an organic stone backsplash. These beautiful backsplashes are not only gorgeous to look at, but they also come in a wide range of shades that can complement any design style.
The colors used in these kitchens often mimic the hues found in Tuscan sunsets, terra cotta, and other nature-inspired color palettes. These colors can give your kitchen a warm and inviting feel.
The Freestanding Furniture
Italian designers put a lot of emphasis on creating functional furniture that is both stylish and practical. This translates to kitchens as well, which are designed with a blend of classic and modern accents that elevate functionality.
For example, many Italian-style kitchens use natural materials that prioritize durability and function. This may mean using terra-cotta tiles for countertops or backsplashes or choosing natural woods like cherry for cabinets. In addition, copper accessories have become a popular choice for Italian kitchens because they look sophisticated and add warmth to the space.
Having large windows is also an important element of Italian kitchen design. This lets natural light flood the cooking space, which helps keep the room clean and fresh. Moreover, a big window can help to make the kitchen feel larger than it really is. Muted colors on the floor and laminate surfaces with high reflectivity also help to preserve this brightness in a natural way.
The Slab Door
Modern Italian kitchens emphasize clean lines and high-quality materials. One of the most popular ways to accomplish this is with slab cabinet doors.
Slab door styles lack a face frame and hinges, so they have more of a streamlined appearance and are easier to wipe down. They can also be paired with different types of cabinet hardware, including decorative knobs and pulls.
You can choose from a range of slab door materials, including MDF and solid wood. The MDF option is typically more affordable, but still offers superior durability and moisture resistance. Wood is a more traditional choice and is also available in several finishes to complement the style of your kitchen.
Whether you choose a textured laminate like our Textured Laminate Egger Grey Vincenza Oak slab door or a more traditional Shaker-style flat panel, the slab door provides a streamlined, contemporary look that’s perfect for a modern Italian kitchen. Its straight lines can be complemented with a variety of other Italian design elements, such as open themed pendants and hanging fixtures, patterned tile or even wrought iron accessories.
The Exposed Wood Ceiling Beams
Whether they were built in place of a load-bearing wall or included for decorative reasons, exposed wood ceiling beams add rustic charm to Italian kitchens. Typically painted in warm, earthy hues like terra cotta and soft yellow, these beams help create the cozy, lived-in feel that defines Italian design.
For a kitchen that’s as gorgeous as it is functional, consider this cook space from Mark Cristafalo. The absence of upper cabinets keeps all your pots, pans, and utensils within reach, while a herringbone pattern for the backsplash and Florentine terra-cotta floor tiles creates visual interest and ties the design together.
If you’re going with this style, make sure to keep your lighting simple to let the exposed wood beams shine. This way, they will be the real stars of the show. Light fixtures can range from classic metal chandeliers to LED strips that highlight the beams’ natural beauty.