Neoclassical isn’t a design term that’s used around the Boston area quite as often as other, more current design terms, like Arts & Crafts, Shabby Chic, or Mid-Century Modern.
But even so, some of the elements of Neoclassical design are very much in use in homes today, and you can do a lot to mix and match these elements with other styles, especially in the kitchen.
In this article, we’ll talk more about what Neoclassical design is, and look at some fixtures that you can incorporate into your kitchen using this style.
Neoclassical Design
Neoclassic design came about after 1765 as a reaction against both Rococo and Baroque styles, with its inspiration mainly from Roman and Renaissance Architecture. Renaissance architecture placed heavy emphasis on proportion, symmetry, and geometry, with the heavy use of columns, domes, niches, gilt, swags and arches, with opulent furnishings.
The idea is to have a very grand, almost romantic feel to the space, without it being overdone to the point of the space feeling gaudy. The hues of fabrics and paint were rich, but muted. Floors were sometimes darker.
Today's Neoclassical Design
In today’s kitchens, a great way to add Neoclassical elements to the space would be to add fluted trim to the doorways, fluted or reeded legs, arch details to the cabinetry fronts, and heavier crown moldings.
Then you can have a lot of fun with your lighting!
Crystal chandeliers, gilded fixtures, and even antique mirrored fixtures would fit very well within a Neoclassical kitchen.
Below are some great examples of some fixtures I think are perfectly suited to this design style.
Best Neoclassical Style Lighting for the Kitchen
Feiss “Drawing Room” Mini Chandelier in Walnut finish - $300
Crystorama "Maria Theresa" Mini Chandelier - Starts at $450
Visual Comfort “Square Tube Hanging Shade” - $760
Hudson Valley “Stratford” Pendant in Aged Brass - $728
Visual Comfort “Sloan Double Shop Light” - $1,615
Crystorama “Brentwood” Chandelier in Chrome - Starts at $1,700
A shaded chandelier is a great way to soften a fixture over an island. Just be careful if you have a cooktop in the island, then fabric isn’t the best idea.
Schonbek “Bordeaux” Chandelier in Etruscan Gold finish - $1,598
Elegant Lighting “Majestic” Chandelier - $1,694
Hudson Valley “Charleston” Chandelier in Historic Nickel - $2,772
Final Thoughts
So you can see, you have a lot of options within this style when it comes to your lighting. The key is to keep it classic and timeless, with rich finish choices. You can have fun with something ‘blingy’ or not. And everything shown above will give you great functional light as well!
Additional Resources
Want to learn how to properly light your kitchen? Get the Yale Kitchen Lighting Buying Guide with explanations of the different types of light and how to layer your light for the perfect kitchen environment. Over 165,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
Related Articles
Why Should You Trust Us?
It seems that every appliance review has nothing but glowing comments about almost every product, yet you read customer reviews and they are almost universally bad.
We are here to fill in the disconnect. We'll give you the best features, and the drawbacks as well, including reliability based on over 37,000 calls performed by our service team just last year. Our goal is to give you ALL the information so you know what's right for you.
Please consider subscribing or adding to the conversation in the comments below. We appreciate you stopping by.
A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
Topics:
