AMERICAN-STYLE KITCHENS: WHERE FUNCTIONALITY MEETS CONVIVIALITY
23 January 2024
An American-style kitchen is more than just a place for preparing and eating food, it is a place for coming together and sharing. Here are some tips on how to create a perfect American-style kitchen.
WHAT IS AN AMERICAN-STYLE KITCHEN?
American kitchens are characterised, first and foremost, by the presence of a central island or peninsular counter, elements that make it possible to combine the usual functions of a kitchen – storage of food products, food preparation and eating – with a strong spirit of conviviality, by creating a place to meet and share inside the home. American-style kitchens lend the environment a sense of warmth and hospitality, for both family members and their guests.
As we will see in greater detail, the fundamental elements of any American-style kitchen are the electrical appliances, and in particular the refrigerator.
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AMERICAN KITCHENS: THE INDISPENSABLE ELEMENTS
The centrepiece of an American-style kitchen is the central island or peninsula. However, American kitchens also have other distinguishing features. Let’s take a closer look at them.
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THE ISLAND OR PENINSULA, THE CENTREPIECE OF AN AMERICAN-STYLE KITCHEN
The main function of an American style kitchen is to create a connection between the kitchen and the living area. In is no coincidence that American kitchens are often chosen for open space interiors.
The island can be entirely or partly operational and therefore provided with a work top, a hob and a washing area or in any case at least one of these elements. It also has a storage function, thanks to the base unit that can accommodate pans, cutlery and other utensils, or even the dishwasher. However, its main purpose is to provide a large table top around which it is possible to come together, not only for main meals, but also at any other time of the day.
A space around which to meet for a snack, a drink, or even just for a leisurely chat.
An alternative to a central island, a peninsula is an extension of the kitchen furniture that can be fixed to a wall or extend the counter top, as in the case of corner compositions. Once again, peninsulas can have a storage function, while the hob and/or washing area can be located along one of the walls.
A peninsula can also have a different height to the work top, and create a snack counter or a dining table. Lastly, in spacious environments, a peninsula can even be an extension of an island and create further element for socialising.
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THE REFRIGERATOR: ANOTHER ICONIC ELEMENT OF THE AMERICAN STYLE
Another element that characterises an American-style kitchen is without a doubt the refrigerator. In this case, this electrical appliance becomes a piece of furniture in its own right. It is no coincidence that side-by-side fridges are known as “American-style” refrigerators: generously sized, with double if not quadruple doors and accessories like drinking water and ice dispensers. Free-standing fridges, with designs that vary depending on the style of the kitchen furniture, are also very popular and are often inspired by the rounded contours and the bright colours of the 1950s and 60s, without excluding bona fide original vintage appliances.
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TALL UNITS: A MULTIPURPOSE SOLUTION
Tall units are particularly important in an American-style kitchen because they can house various closed and open elements for storing both food and pans and glassware. Thanks to solutions such as shelves and pull-out baskets, they offer great versatility and provide practical and discrete storage space even for home cleaning equipment. Lastly, by permitting raised and ergonomic positioning, they are the ideal solution for housing one or more ovens, microwaves and other electrical appliances.
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LIGHTING: CREATING ATMOSPHERE IN AN AMERICAN KITCHEN
Essendo costituite da vari As they consist of various elements distributed within the space in different ways, American-style kitchens require a careful arrangement of the lighting sources.
For an optimum distribution of lighting it is therefore essential to provide each element with the right type of light fitting.
- Ceiling lamps, ideal for lighting islands and peninsulas, providing warm and relaxing light.
- LEDs built-in to hoods and wall units, essential for lighting worktops and hobs.
- Wall-mounted spotlights, which can be positioned to highlight furnishings and decorative features.
- Adjustable ceiling spotlights, for creating an atmosphere with subtle lighting.
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AMERICAN-STYLE KITCHENS: STYLES, COLOURS AND MATERIALS
An American-style kitchen is essentially a concept: it is a place that combines the functions of food preparation and eating with the conviviality of an extension of the kitchen space into the living area. This idea can be implemented with various architectural styles to create aesthetic consistency with the rest of the home.
It is, however, possible to identify three style types that are typically associated with American-style kitchens:
- Industrial style: this is the most contemporary style, in which stainless steel is the protagonist, alongside materials like resins or wood, to mimic the appearance of old industrial or craftsmen’s workshops.
- Country style: this rustic and cosy style is characterised by the choice of warm colours and materials like wood, often using the most noble essences that have been subjected to ageing treatments. Marble and natural stone are the most suitable choices for counter tops and shelves.
- Shabby chic style: reminiscent of Nordic style, with subtle, natural colours and matt finishes.
Once again, wood is the material of election, although laminates and veneers are also widely used. For the worktops, which often have a built-in sink, the material of choice is stoneware, including the sophisticated Laminam variant.
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AMERICAN KITCHENS IN SMALL ENVIRONMENTS: IDEAS AND PRACTICAL TIPS
Does limited space rule out the possibility of an American-style kitchen? Fortunately not. Even a small kitchen can be homely and functional, provided certain tricks are used.
- The island or peninsula must be of a limited size, and preferably equipped with extendable or pull-out surfaces, in order to provide an additional table top without taking up room when it is not needed.
- There are now countless space-saving solutions built into base units and tall units allowing orderly storage that optimises every cubic centimetre available.
Sliding or retracting opening systems can also be used to reduce the footprint of cabinet or appliance doors. - For small kitchens it is always advisable to opt for pale or neutral colours that make the environment seem brighter and more spacious.
- Lastly, it is essential to optimise the lighting, by making the best possible use of natural light and the diverse solutions the market offers. Spotlights and under-cabinet LED lights in particular can be used to direct lighting even on those strategic points that do not enjoy optimum benefit from the main light provided by one or more ceiling lamps.
CONCLUSIONS
Rustic or modern, suited to open-space interiors but also functional in smaller spaces, American-style kitchens are an increasingly popular choice for Italian homes.
Thanks to the variety of modular elements and the wide selection of materials and finishes, Gentili Cucine offers countless solutions for a custom-made perfect American-style kitchen.
Discover our modern and classic kitchens and contact our experts for a customised design.
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