Which kitchen style do you prefer? Scandi vs traditional

[cunningplan101]

Which of these two kitchen styles do you prefer?

Option 1: A simple, minimalist, natural wood, scandi style:

www.remodelista.com/posts/notary-ceramics-sarah-van-raden-portland-house/

Or

Option B: the more traditional, in-frame one below - more colourful though still fairly rustic/plain:

tinyurl.com/y3rljbs3

www.devolkitchens.co.uk/kitchens/shaker-kitchen/edwardian-villa-cardiff

Or, if you hate both, please tell me why and which other style is your favourite!

Thank you. Just asking out of interest really. I like both styles and am currently designing a kitchen.

Traditional.

Scandinavian is boring and conformist.

I can't see anything nice about the scandi style - it looks cheap and depressing to me.

Traditional. Something about the scandi design that I don't quite like. Feels less homey

Traditional.

Traditional - love the colour, simplicity and design.

Not keen on the Scandi at all. Wood colour against the white seems a bit cold, clinical.

Thank you! That's really interesting.

The traditional one is DeVOL so an expensive version of the traditional style. I absolutely love it but thought the colour might put people off.

We might sell our house in 2-3 years so although we want to choose a kitchen that we love ourselves, we don't want to spend money and then end up with a kitchen most people hate. It is all subjective I guess.

When I look through kitchens in sale ads, I see a lot of neutral scandi - lots of wood and white. The in-frame ones I see are grey or cream. Not much colour.

They are v similar to my eyes.

I find the pure white and pale wood dated now.

The coloured paint and richer tones feel more more modern to me, not more traditional.

I think cabinet layout creates a feeling of modernity above all else: no wall cabinets, wide drawers, full wall of cabinets/appliances if you must have high up ones.

Traditional at a push. The scandi one shown looked v dull to me. Other minimalist ones can be nice as look really clean but need to be a high finish. Think about your entire house style and what's practical too. Get a floor that doesn't look constantly messy and is a nightmare to clean.

I don’t hate either but wouldn’t have either. I think I really hate that fridge in the Skandi one which is making the wood look cheap.
The traditional is ok but don’t like sink nor trolley looking unit (or isnit a trolley?) bit fussy around the edges this kitchen BUT I like the overall colour/tone of this more.

I like either style done well. I’d choose one based on the property it was going in.

Some more kitchens with what I'd call a scandi style (but maybe I'm mis-naming it) in case people like these more:

www.remodelista.com/posts/chan-eayrs-london-weavers-house-huguenot/

www.devolkitchens.co.uk/kitchens/sebastian-cox-kitchen-by-devol/ingredients-ldn-kitchen

(In the last remodelista link, you have to scroll down past the sad lady with the baby!)

@HeronLanyon which style would be your dream style instead? (if you don't mind explaining)

@JoJoSM2 Yes that's true that it has to suit the style of the property.

@Lelophants why at a push, if you don't mind saying? Not really keen on either?

@TorkTorkBam That's a very interesting point that it's the layout and not the style so-much that dates a kitchen.

What’s the rest of your house like? Is it more modern and more minimal or traditional?
I’d go with the style that works with the other rooms.

Op - it’s hard to say but less clinical overall for a start ie less empty. Art on the walls. More colour. some softness.

Not cluttered still calm but with more personality. Sorry all vague.

The traditional in your photo would be easiest to do this with for sure.

The more I look at that skandi the less I like it (for me) - for sure it would be less likely to fit with a house I lived in.

Personally I like both but depends on the house and the detail. Additions such as gold taps, brackets, seating details, herringbone tiles etc make all the difference in a design scheme.

I like the Scandi one, it’s raw and interesting, the traditional one is, well traditional and not very imaginative.

I think it’s also depends on the style of the rest of the house and what fits in.

I viewed a house today with a very similar sage colour traditional kitchen and it was very nice and solid, similar to another 3 houses on the market so didn’t stand out, it was just that. It was very well done.

I guess if you are selling you’ll be seeking a wider audience so the traditional is a safe option.

@FAQs Yes I agree that's what draws me to it - the rawness. I think I like cross-sawn wood & white concrete countertops. But it sounds like this is definitely a minority opinion and if we might sell in 2-3 years, the shaker is a better option. And I like that one a lot too.

@JoJoSM2 It's Edwardian and definitely more traditional, though with some quite bright colours (I do love colour but trying to restrain myself a bit with the kitchen). My living room is F&B's Stone Blue up to the picture rail and my spare bedroom is F&B's Babouche up to the picture rail! Dark-stained hardwood floors. Traditional radiators, sash windows, etc.

@HeronLanyon Thanks, that makes sense. I can see what you mean by clinical. Yes would definitely want some art on the walls too.

@Treacletoots v true. will be going for brass taps and a zellige-style tile splashback I think.

Of the ones you posted I like the Bloomsbury Kitchen that is further down the page of the traditional link.

I think the Scandi style kitchens are lovely but they don't always lend themselves to other eclectic decorations and furniture in the same way that traditional (but sleek) kitchens can. If you're thinking long term, a traditional style might be better. Scandi style kitchens can look a bit cheap and odd if the rest of the kitchen decor and gadgets don't conform.

Yes the bloomsbury one is gorgeous @pallisers - I love the dark colours contrasting with the white countertop.

However, our hallway that leads into the kitchen is painted grey (F&B Manor House Grey) with white woodwork - quite similar to this:

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/384776361900067840/

And so I think the kitchen needs to have light walls for contrast.

It depends on the house it's going in. We are going for something more contemporary (though not sure it's really Scandi? But it's handless and will have pink terrazzo tile backsplash!) but we live in a warehouse conversion. I wound never put a scandi style kitchen in a period property, even if the kitchen itself was housed in a modern extension off the period property.

(similar to this in the grey & white contrast, not the antler horns or other decorations)

Not "Scandi". People in Scandinavia have all sorts of different kitchen designs

@ShortAndSharp and @catsjammies - thanks, you both make very good points about practicality and what suits a period home.

I think then a DeVol-style in-frame kitchen sounds like the winner Will keep thinking about colours.