European kitchen styles can vary, ranging from a traditional room to a modern design. The most consistent European styles carry notes from Nordic countries and midcentury modern design elements. With a granite countertop, you don’t have to worry that your European style kitchen will mesh. Granite goes well with Greek, Scandinavian, Danish Modern styles, and more.
What is it?
A European design generally features flowing curves juxtaposed with dramatic angles. The design is carried out in the kitchen’s cabinets, furniture, color choices and accessories. These styles, which originated in the Nordic regions around the 1940s, generally employ geometric shapes and hard lines offset by curved lines. The flowing style was most often expressed in chair legs, arms and backs. Cabinets were the opposite, most often featuring hard lines, flat surfaces, simple styles and flush doors.
Matching a style with your countertop
Here are just some of the variations of European style to which you can match your granite counters:
- Greek. In this classic design, a white background comprised of the walls and cabinets is offset by shades of blue. Whether it be subtle blues or a bold, striking blue, this style is reminiscent of the ocean and sea upon which Greece is set. A cool gray/blue granite counter or a sleek all-white countertop works seamlessly with this style.
- English. Typically a rustic, simple, inviting look, an English kitchen style features straightforward cabinets that emphasize the functional without sacrificing warmth. The stove is often a centerpiece of the room, and as much of a role it plays in the room’s daily tasks, it should also make a statement. Granite counters with a simple pattern and singular color choice enhance this design.
- Beaux. A classic French style that flourished between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Beaux kitchen style depends on symmetry, lavish decorations and grandiose features. In this kind of kitchen, fancy granite patterns and veining make a statement.
- Classic Revival. An early 20th century kitchen style, Classic Revival employs an emphasis on classical form and function. A nod to early Greek design, Classic Revival references columns, symmetrical patterns and a formal feel. In this somewhat ornate style, detailed granite edging profiles are a must.
- Romantic French. This whimsical style is reminiscent of the French countryside. The color palette is generally neutral, complemented by soft whites and subtle tans. While white plays a dominant role, the granite counters can feature a romantic, playful feel. Detailed woodwork, straight lines and elegant natural stone are uniquely suited to this style.
- Danish Modern. Light-colored wood. Lots of white. Contemporary-style furniture. These are a few of the qualities that make up the Danish Modern kitchen style. Keeping in line with this sleek, contemporary style, you can pair it with a granite countertop in white to enhance the light, airy feel, or compliment it with a slightly darker hue of white and gray.
- Italian. An essential factor in an Italian kitchen, lots of natural light embodies this design. The ode to natural light also creates a warm and inviting space in which to work. Granite counters that replicate a marble pattern and reflect light are ideal.
- Scandinavian. This style employs modern art with bold colors and geometric shapes as statement pieces on the walls. Cabinets employ simple shapes as well, nothing elaborate. Cabinet color hues stay within the classic white look or opt for a bold color here, too. In some cases, everything in the kitchen stays within one color choice, while in others, the homeowner may opt to showcase appliances, for example, in a contrasting color. Granite’s bold color options make it a great way to cap off the Scandinavian kitchen style.
- Tuscan Provencal. Offering a rustic look, Tuscan Provencal kitchen design is rife with beach colors and gives a nod to countryside living. These kitchens normally employ deep red, orange and terra cotta colors that you’d normally see in Tuscany. Tuscan murals and tiles replicate life in the countryside. Granite countertops that complement this color palette add a richness to the design.
Granite countertops are an ideal material to use in a European style kitchen, no matter what particular design you’d like to replicate. Work with a granite fabricator to choose just the right color and pattern to enhance the look.