Spanish-style is a trendy modern kitchen design. Warm and inviting, it lends a look and feel that can be contemporary or traditional, depending on your tastes.
Spanish revival architecture enjoyed a surge of popularity in 1920s California. Homes of that period feature a mix of Spanish styles. In this era, Spanish Colonial, Spanish Baroque, and Moorish Revival combined to create what we now refer to as Spanish Revival.
Features Of The Spanish Revival Style
Terra cotta tiles, white stucco walls, rustic, rough wood beams, arched doorways and windows, rounded edges, and wrought iron fixtures are common features. Neutral, earthy hues dominate, but richly textured and colorful brocades occasionally make their way into the scheme of things to add dimension.
Kitchen seating often features natural fiber seats of sisal, wicker, or rushes. You’ll also see ornately painted tile work on the backsplash, dark wood cabinetry, and ornate drawer pulls.
Flared Range Hood
One of the most recognizable features of the Spanish revival kitchen is the flared range hood. Most often made from sheetrock or cast stone, the hood may feature ornate scrolls, arches, or corbels. Adding a flared hood is a must to achieve this style.
Large Cooking Area/Alcove
In Spanish culture, life centers around the kitchen, family, and food. Because of this, the cooking area, prep area, and the stove itself is often quite large. To achieve an authentic Spanish style cooking area, this zone is generally set into an alcove with an arched opening to frame it.
Hand-Painted Tiles
Probably one of the most prevalent features in a Spanish style kitchen is the use of hand-painted tile. The designs are ornate and elaborate, and will often repeat throughout the kitchen.
There are many ways you can use hand-painted tile in your kitchen design; the backsplash, trim, and baseboards are all good candidates. You may choose to tile your countertops with hand-painted tile to accent or match your backsplash.
Dark Wood Cabinets And Ornamentation
Walnut is both common and authentic in the Spanish revival style. Most Spanish-made antique furniture you find will be made from walnut and may feature ornate details like beaded or rope trim.
Decorative finishes are generally ornate. Wrought-iron pendants, chandeliers, and insets all speak to the Spanish influence.
Floor Tile
Earthy, red terracotta tiles are a must for a Spanish-style kitchen floor. Hexagonal tiles are an option, but large square tiles, rectangular tile, painted tile, and even brick also make their way into the mix. Tiles can be set diagonally or in a herringbone pattern for interest. Grout is generally a darker color, but there is no hard-and-fast rule to say that you must.
Saltillo Tile Concerns
If you’re leaning towards a Spanish kitchen design, you may be thinking about Saltillo tile. Saltillo tile hails from a Mexican city of the same name and is made from clay of that region. Sun baked and then kiln fired, it is a popular eco-friendly choice.
However, a caveat is necessary – Saltillo tile is far less durable than other terracotta tiles. Since it is unglazed, it is quite porous and tends to stain easily. If it is not sealed properly (and often, in high-traffic areas), it will absorb pretty much everything around it – including the grout that holds it in place. Additionally, you probably wouldn’t want to use Saltillo tile in areas that might be subject to a lot of moisture or extremely cold temperatures as they may crack.
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
Oil-rubbed bronze has a deep, rich, chocolate-brown color with copper undertones, lending an antique look. Generally seen in faucets, drawer pulls, and other kitchen hardware, most manufacturers offer this finish, so it’s quite easy to find.
Arches And Exposed Wood Beams
High ceilings and dramatic archways lend an authentic feel to the Spanish-style kitchen. The arches could be around your cooking alcove, windows, or the entryways into the kitchen, but it is the one element that will immediately identify the style. You could also place an arch over your eating bar in a semi-open kitchen or knock out a wall to create an arch.
Exposed beams on a vaulted ceiling give the kitchen some Spanish grandiosity. Choose a stain to match your walnut, or mahogany cabinetry is both rustic and stylish.
Adding Just A Touch Of Spanish Influence
If you do not want to remodel your kitchen completely, but you want to get that Spanish look, think about replacing your backsplash with hand-painted Spanish tile. This design approach fits well with many types of décor, from traditional to modern and contemporary styles.
Are you dreaming of Spanish kitchen design for your St. Louis home? We know how to do it right! Reach out today, and let’s talk about it.
