Timeless Opulence: 20 Victorian Kitchens with Modern Functionality

ByMyProperty Life

An era that was defined by opulence, a brazen show of wealth and power and born out of deep English traditions that have been altered as they spread to different corners of the globe – Victorian period is one that instantly conjures up images of opulence. Its influence on home design can be seen in countries far and wide ranging from Australia and New Zealand in the southern Hemisphere to the US and Canada across the Atlantic. Despite its many variants that were born out of vernacular influences, the style still relies of visual richness, a dash of extravagance and a love for hosting guests, friends and family. It is barely a surprise then that it is still popular in its modern avatar!

Picture-perfect kitchen strikes that ideal balance between modern and Victorian












Having already shared with our readers some of the most beautiful and eye-catching Victorian style living rooms and luxurious bedrooms with Victorian influence, today we delve into the charming world of Victorian kitchens. Considering how most socialites during the period hosted guests almost every day, this was the second most important room of the house after the dining room. Combining efficiency with richness, this is a look at some of the best Victorian style kitchens in modern homes –

A Balance Between both Worlds

Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

We live in a world where we simply cannot move away from contemporary functionality completely and this is why a balance between the past and the present is the best option. In the kitchen there are certain elements that can give the modest, modern kitchen a Victorian sheen without having to completely renovate the space. Start with a beautiful crystal chandelier above the central island that replaces your modern pendants while an ornate hood, patterned kitchen tiles and traditional cabinets come in next. This allows you to enjoy a bit of Victorian panache without sacrificing ergonomics.

Bringing classic Victorian flavor to the modern kitchen in New York with color, tiles and chandelier [From: Fein Construction]
Dark blue cabinets for the Victorian style kitchen that imbibes modern touches within it [From: Watson & Co]
Dark maroon tiles shaping the backdrop make the biggest impression in this U-shaped kitchen [From: John Lum Architecture]
Modern eclectic touches are seamlessly combined with Victorian style in this kitchen
Remodeled Victorian kitchen with modern touches and a light color palette [From: Nerland Building & Restoration, Inc.]
Table in wood at the heart of the kitchen serves both as dining space and prep zone [From: Rehkamp Larson Architects]

Ornate and Dazzling Kitchens

Elaborate patterns, embellishments and trims in gold and metal are an integral part of Victorian style and in the kitchen there is no shortage of places where this comes in handy. A dash of golden glint for the kitchen hood, design for the kitchen cabinet doors and shaker style simplicity in the backdrop can all combine to create that perfect Victorian style kitchen. Deep colors for the backdrop and cabinets in dark blue, green or even black are absolutely welcome here. Copper kitchenware, classic rugs or curtains with florals patterns only elevate the appeal of this timeless kitchen inspired by mid and late 1800s.

Ornate and artistic gold trims are an integral part of classic Victorian style and exude opulence
Ornate pattern for the cabinets coupled with copper trims for the hood and the appliances gives this kitchen a Victorian vibe [From: Ivanova Tatiana]
Tiles with pattern and colorful rug make the biggest impression in here
Dark green walls set a beautiful backdop for this unique Victorian kitchen
Eat-in kitchen with gorgeous ceiling beams in wood and a style that takes you back in time [From: Mobile Line Décor]
Finding space for a tiny breakfast zone in the small Victorian style kitchen
Lovely kitchen with Victorian and antique touches has a sense of timeless appeal about it [From: Hana Snow]

Texture and Pattern Galore

If you love to see a multitude of textures and patterns being combined seamlessly in the modern kitchen, the Victorian style offers a luxurious solution. Unlike industrial and farmhouse space, you need not take an understated approach in here to using brass, copper and patterned floor and wall tiles. All of them are effortlessly combined along with splashes of bright, deep colors in a naturally welcoming setting. A large wooden table at the heart of this space can turn it into an eat-in kitchen that is different from the many polished modern kitchens you come across daily. A perfect social setting with a hint of dazzle!

White and yellow modern Victorian kitchen for a home with rich Victorian era heritage [From: Bellingham Bay Builders]
Exposed brick walls bring a touch of edginess to this unique Industrial-Victorian style kitchen [From: VA Design Studio]
Gorgeous eat-in kitchen in Stockholm with marble countertops and cozy ambiance [From: A Home 4U]
Green cabinets with matte finish, classic island and tiles with pattern for the spacious Victorian style kitchen [From: Atelier Davis]
Meet the fabulous white kitchen with Victorian and Scandinavian touches rolled into one [From: Anders Bergstedt Photography]
Sparkling custom copper kitchen countertop steals the show in here with bluish-gray shaker style cabinets in the backdrop [From: Treyone]
Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

You’re reading Timeless Opulence: 20 Victorian Kitchens with Modern Functionality, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Similar Posts

  • Big Barn

    North of San Francisco, in Glen Ellen, a less populated part of the Napa wine country, the culture has been based on agriculture and was named for an original winery.  Jack London made this his permanent home here in the early 1900s. Drawn by the land, London believed in the redemptive qualities of rural life. Less than an hour from the City, rolling hills covered with groves of oak trees surround the downtown. The strong agricultural history has affected the built environment here with many examples of barn like houses that are confusingly morphed between the two vocabularies. On the existing footprint of a 1950’s ranch house, this family getaway evolved in response to a request for a retreat from their urban lifestyle. The atmosphere of a tack barn renovated into a bunk house on site inspired thoughts of a larger barn like typology for this main house of 3,900 square feet. The request from the client was to build in a consistent way within the rolling hills dappled with agricultural buildings. A simple, rectangular, two-story form emerged with an asymmetrical gabled roof. The shorter side of the roof faces the southwest sun and reduces heat gain to the structure. Fenestration is limited to this exposure as well and is organized like thin full height ventilation shutters that reference traditional barn building. The entry, a larger version of the vertical slit elements is recessed for shading. The fireplace and chimney, foreign to the barn typology, is displaced from the structure with glazed joints. The east side is more open to the view and morning sun. A continuous, building-sized assembly of steel sash glazing includes large sliding doors that pocket into the adjacent wall and open the kitchen to the rear terrace.  The upper zone of the main space is void of windows and reminds one of the empty shell-like spaces of barns. A large vertical wood shutter located on the southeast gable end is aligned axially with an internal access through the plan on both levels. When open at both ends, prevailing breezes flow through the mass cooling it naturally. In order to leave the hillside intact and avoid grading, the form is excavated into the site uphill and cantilevered over it downhill. A steel grated bridge connects the upper sleeping level with the hillside and tack barn above. A minimal material pallet of reclaimed redwood, corrugated Corten steel and black steel sash windows combined with integral gutters, and lack of overhangs further the minimal feeling of the construction. Inside the singular materiality is continued via California Oak for floors wall and ceilings. Radiantly heated floors and minimal cooling provided only at sleeping areas, coupled with enhanced glazing, insulation and mechanical system efficiencies mitigate energy use. PROJECT TEAM Architecture : Faulkner Architects Contractor: Redhorse Constructors Civil Engineer: Adobe Associates Structural Engineer: CFBR Structural Group Mechanical Engineer: Sugarpine Engineering Electrical Engineer: Sugarpine Engineering Geotechnical Engineer: NV5 Landscape: Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture Lighting: Ken Fulk Interior designer: Ken Fulk Theatrical/AV: SoundVision Pool Engineer: Terracon Pool Consultant: Blue Revolution Construction Project Manager: Walker Construction Management Special Inspections: PJC & Associates CALGreen: Gilleran Energy Management Irrigation Design: Dickson & Associates Arborist: Bartlett Trees PHOTOGRAPHY Joe Fletcher Photography

  • Elephant’s Hill House

    The privileged view of nature was the core starting point for this project on the mountainous region of Nova Lima, State of Minas Gerais/Brazil. An adventurer couple chose us to create this special project in such an exclusive area. At first, the site’s high declivity seemed to be a big challenge, but it was also what inspired us to come up with the implantation’s solution. Exploring its natural landscape and the Elephant’s Hill view, it was possible to set the social floor at the height limit, above the trees. The street facade turned out to be the side elevation and the main facade now faces towards the side boundary. Due to the high declivity of the area, we were able to create a 3 level house. On the ground floor: garage, laundry, and storage. On the first floor, the office was fully integrated with the living room and a guests’ ensuite. Finally, on the second floor, there’s the hosts’ ensuite, with the most privileged view of the landscape. A slight angulation to the east gave us the opportunity to have both the ensuite and the barbecue area to take advantage of the morning sun and the region’s predominant ventilation. At the same time, it helped to protect the ground floor from the sunset light using a concrete wall that blocks the sunlight inside the house. With the major orientation E-W, the house opens to the northern landscape. Extensive eaves on the north view’s perimeter protect the openings of the summer sun, at the same time as the glasses receive the necessary natural heat to naturally warm the inside during the winter.
    We requested that two trees were precisely placed by the topographer in the middle of the elevated deck that connects the house to the suspended heated pool. These also work as a natural filter to the sun’s radiation, minimizing the sun’s entry in the living room and the kitchen. The 25m pool, a client wish, is a fundamental part of the volumetric composition of the house. Sustained by two concrete columns, they elevate the pool 6m above the natural floor level, providing to whom’s inside the pool a view of the treetops and the imponent Elephant’s Hill. With the capacity to generate about 1400kW of energy per month through photovoltaic panels, the house is self-sufficiency on energy, warming the pool water and neutralizing the energy consumption from equipment and artificial lightning.
    Columns and ribbed slab represent the constructive system. The use of apparent concrete in the house’s wall, swimming pool, and slabs bring the timelessness wanted to the project.