Kitchen Workbook: 10 Elements of an Eclectic Kitchen
Eclectic kitchens can come in wildly different flavors, from homespun to far flung. Consider these 10 a sample platter
Houzz contributor & founder/ principal designer at KitchenLab | Rebekah Zaveloff Interiors. We're a Chicago based interiors firm specializing in kitchens & baths – the rooms which often begin as the focal point of many of the projects we design & manage. We create a link for our clients between the design process & the construction process which is often missing & we offer tailored interior design services for adjacent rooms or whole houses depending on the scope of the project. We love to mix styles and make our spaces feel like they "grew there" and were collected over time. We also offer e-decorating services through our company Design in a Bag.
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Eclectic is a term that is often used when a person has a hard time pinpointing his or her own style — or anyone else's for that matter. Eclectic done right has a sense of effortless confidence, even though this is one of the hardest looks to achieve. Eclectic done wrong is somewhere between a chaotic mess and a train wreck.
Sure, it's your house, and if you're a total rebel and really don't care if things work together, then by all means, go for it. But if you want to look like a rebel with a cause — you want your home to look like it's been casually collected over time with effortless ease — here are a few things to consider. Warning: If anything that doesn't match makes you crazy and feeling short of breath, continue at your own risk.
More kitchen styles:
Classic | Traditional | Transitional | Modern | Contemporary | Cottage | Craftsman | Mediterranean
Sure, it's your house, and if you're a total rebel and really don't care if things work together, then by all means, go for it. But if you want to look like a rebel with a cause — you want your home to look like it's been casually collected over time with effortless ease — here are a few things to consider. Warning: If anything that doesn't match makes you crazy and feeling short of breath, continue at your own risk.
More kitchen styles:
Classic | Traditional | Transitional | Modern | Contemporary | Cottage | Craftsman | Mediterranean
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| 1. A fashionable mix. Just like a DJ that's sampling tunes or a fashionista mixing clothing, attempting the art of the mix can go awry on a drop of a dime. It can become a cacophony of sound or a clashing of pattern on pattern. Believe it or not, eclectic design actually involves a ton of restraint, and I'm not sure about others, but for me it involves a lot of trial-and-error editing. This kitchen's mix-master elements: its simple farmhouse-style cabinets, butcher block top and bar stools mixed with the elegant glass chandeliers and marble countertops, and a dash of whimsy thrown in with the wallpaper and bright colors. |
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| 2. Well-traveled flair with modern touches. I love this kitchen's bohemian feel. In my book, you can never go wrong mixing modern molded white plastic chairs and a vintage Kilim rug. And not to mention, who thinks of doing that in a kitchen in the first place? Most people would put an island in here. The cabinets have an Asian flair, while the modernism of the lights, appliances and chairs creates an unexpected tension. |
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| 3. Humor and irreverence. This kitchen has it going on. And it's a lucky space in that the dining area is part of the kitchen, so more layering with furniture pieces is possible. (With a kitchen that's compartmentalized away from the rest of the house, it's tougher to achieve this level of mixing.) This is the sort of space that's fun to analyze. You've got modern tile and cabinets mixed with a traditional chandelier and dining table. There's more contrast created by the modern chairs and lacquered red console, and humor added with the yellow striped ceiling. Not only does this room masterfully mix periods and styles, it also has a handle on color that few have. |
4. Masculine, moody and elegant aspects. Not all eclectic kitchens have to be a study in mixing and contrast on every level; some are more quietly eclectic. I love the simple mix of the dark lacquered modern cabinets and ethnic patterned tile on one full wall (how it's meant to be done.) And the antique brass hardware is a wonderful accent that many would overlook and just default to silver.
by Camilla Molders
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5. A modern, colorful and global outlook. Another fabulous mix of styles and color. The colors and lighting are decidedly ethnic, but the walnut cabinets are earthy modern. What's interesting is that the tile is really simple and unadorned, but with that color mixed with the Venetian plaster feel on the walls, it looks more ethnic even without a specific pattern. The red bentwood cafe stools add a vintage flair, but in that color mixed with the turquoise tile, they take on a whole new language.
6. Farmhouse, modern and classic facets. Eclectic can be restrained and subtle. The contrasting elements in this kitchen might not be as noticeable at first glance, but there's a subtle tension between styles. The plaster hood and wood cabinets have a European farmhouse feel, while the built-in hutch wall is very classic and something you see in cottage and bungalow homes across the states. The butcher block–topped island has a humble farmhouse feel, while the ubermodern pendant lights and full-height marble backsplash show off a contemporary element and are all the more interesting because they're placed within the context of these other elements.
7. Modern and pretty expressions. Another quietly eclectic kitchen, mostly modern with the simple white cabinets, open shelves and restrained styling on the island. But add in that fabulous embossed patterned tile running up the beam ceiling with the four antique brass pendant lights, and you have something completely different and unexpected. Even the counter stools have an attitude of being effortlessly cool.
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| 8. A little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. There can be an air of irreverence that comes with an eclectic kitchen, a knack for ignoring the rules ... or, frankly, just having the attitude that there are no rules to be ignored in the first place. This kitchen looks like it and the people who live here know how to have fun. |
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| 9. French country, modern and industrial style. Country houses are often places where homeowners feel it's safer to ignore the rules and do what they like. There's an attitude of "why not?" And when you let your creativity flow without worrying about its being perfect, you often end up with a much more interesting space. Original oak cabinets were painted white and mixed with an industrial stainless steel island and stools, modern appliances and Mediterranean-style terra cotta tyle with plenty of patina. |
by Don Ziebell
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10. Modern rustic taste. Achieving an eclectic look can be as simple as having a country kitchen and doing a modern light fixture of the table. One element is sometimes all a space needs to go from predictable to eclectic.
More in this series:
How to Find Your Kitchen Style
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
So Your Style Is: Eclectic
More in this series:
How to Find Your Kitchen Style
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
So Your Style Is: Eclectic
Comments
jcanost Great book, and thank you for the ideas!! I love these kitchens :)
15 months ago · Like
Molto Bene Studios I want that modern global outlook kitchen! That's how I want my kitchen to read. Great inspiration, thanks.
15 months ago · Like
Spacify Inc, love it
15 months ago · Like
CAROLE MEYER Wow.....# 10 knocks me out....love this kitchen!! Nothing like a fireplace in the kitchen. 
15 months ago · Like
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designchallenged your workbooks are very helpful for anyone planning a kitchen remodel. thanks.
15 months ago · Like
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel You picked a tough subject, and took some risks. Good on ya.
15 months ago · Like
Becky Harris love it! Especially the Donny and Marie song reference!
15 months ago · Like
jdcolfer Thanks for this post....three of my all time favorite kitchens photos are here...you helped me realize my favorite style is eclectic!
15 months ago · Like
thegreenbee I have been, and always will be, eclectic- I could never confine myself to just one style. If it works, it works!
15 months ago · Like
beaniegirl Eeek! Horrible!
15 months ago · Like
fishface2 I agree with beaniegirl - all but #9 and #10 are terrible, not "whimsical" or irreverent, instead of eye candy they cause eye strain. Mine got bloodshot just looking at the pictures. It is as if Houzz is afraid to say so. Fine to tell people to do what ever floats your boat, but please don't use them as examples of what is "good" just because it's different. Reminds me of how fashion critics fawn over some of the ugliest dresses on the planet simply because a powerful star is wearing it and it cost a couple million to get the look - regardless of how terrible the dress itself looks on the star (check the Oscar dresses.... some coyote ugly ones there this year, and very unflattering to the persons wearing them). Don't mistake me for a dull, inflexible person, I am considered "off the wall" and unusual in my tastes by family and friends - eclectic, I guess - so am not afraid to be daring in decorating (my den walls are dark aqua and light aqua). My kitchen renovation is going to be pleasing to look at with lots of humorous, (downright silly in some cases), interesting touches - some aren't obvious until you look around and you get "surprised". Subtlety works better than a visual sledgehammer.
15 months ago · Like
dorrienelle Fantastic kitchens, every one. I wish there were more like this featured. These were made for living and loving, not for selling. Love where you live, folks!
11 months ago · Like
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Bonnie It is so refreshing to see unique and creatively designed kitchens. Thanks for the inspiration!
7 months ago · Like
Jubi Arriola_Headley Don't know what this means - but my favorites happen to be the even-numbered photos - 2,,6,4, 10, and 8, in that order. I am guessing this means I tend toward the transitional with just a touch of the eclectic. :-)
12 days ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Feb. 28, 2013.
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