While designing your kitchen, one must make sure what needs to be where. As a designer, the most important detail is to understand the circulation of the space. Orientation and circulation are the most crucial part of designing a kitchen space. According to the kitchen triangle rule, the sink, stove, and fridge should be placed in such a position that they form a triangle. Apart from the circulation, the most observed feature of the European-style kitchen is the kitchen island. This kitchen island gives a more modern and cleaner look to the kitchen and functionally it acts as a barrier with maximum visual connectivity to overlook the adjacent spaces, making the kitchen appear big. For smaller kitchen spaces, an open floor plan is ideal to make your kitchen appear European. One of the key features of the European-style kitchen is ensuring a clean open space that blends with the other spaces. 

Earlier European-styled kitchen meant an ornately carved wood look, however now it has a more modern approach. Since the European style is mostly inspired by nature, it focuses more on simplicity and functionality. One of the most essential features is minimalism. A Clean slate marble and wood cabinets with subtle ornamentations. The use of natural materials like wood and stone is more common. however European kitchen cabinets are synthetic, processed glass, metals, and engineered wood are also used. For finishes, the cabinets can also use laminates to mimic the appearance of wood grain patterns and special paints such as polyurethane and acrylic gloss finish. 

Minimalism and simplicity being the key feature, light colors and patterns are used to enhance the mood and blend with the natural materials of the kitchen furniture. Monochromatic shades or pastel palettes are highly recommended. The use of cool and neutral colors also psychologically influences the human body. They not only uplift and enhance the ambiance of the space but also have a calming effect on the body while working in varied temperatures in the kitchen. Light colors are also reflective; hence they make the space appear more open.   

Storage is one of the most sensitive elements of the kitchen. The kitchen, irrespective of the space requires maximum storage. The ideal design is one where maximum storage can be accommodated without making the elevation cramped up. European-styled kitchens have cleaner elevations because they flush the cabinets with the wall.  

Minimal furniture with maximum storage. European kitchens have frameless construction. This means the cabinets are constructed without a face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. All that is visible is the flat door and drawer fronts. Because of the frameless construction, the hinges are also hidden which gives a seamless look and at the same time maximizes the storage space. 

The strongest concept of the European-style kitchen is minimalism. Attention to detail is more important while designing a minimal space. A kitchen is a space primarily used for cooking but the secondary functions include, gathering, visual and physical interactions between spaces, and maximizing hidden storage. European-style kitchen focuses on how to minimize all the functions and to make it appear elegant at the same time. Sleek furniture and flat panels. Use of reflective colors and materials, hidden appliances, open floor plans, and opening the kitchen space to make it appear like an extension of the living space instead of a separate room. The goal should be to keep it minimal. 

Lighting and ventilation play a major role in kitchen design. Making sure maximum natural light enters the room and the kitchen has enough ventilation is cost-effective and durable as well. Window frames are usually sleek and clean. The lights preferred are cool white lights with a temperature range from 4000k Celsius to 6000k Celsius. Glare-less chip-on-board lights can also be used. The type of light used changes the mood of the space completely hence it is equally important to choose the right kind of light as per the functionality of the space.

These are the 6 most efficient, easy, and practical ways to make your kitchen a European-inspired kitchen. The benefit of remodeling your kitchen in European style mainly focuses on how adaptive and flexible your kitchen becomes while appearing elegant and modern. The common element in all the above points is minimalism. Due to this, it also becomes cost-effective and simple to operate, maintain, and redesign. 

With the evolution and space crunch, interior designing has become more and more challenging. Designing a space that cannot compromise on functionality as well as aesthetics is not easy. The kitchen, being one of the most user-oriented spaces, needs a personalized approach toward design. The American kitchen was typically built as a utility space and the European kitchen was mostly an extension of the living space that also acted as a gathering space. Due to the smaller house plans, people from remote regions are adapting to the European style of planning a kitchen, which makes the space appear bigger at the same time serves the functionality. In India too, people are remodeling their kitchens as per the European modern style. 

These 6 key features will help one redesign their kitchen themselves. The goal is to make your kitchen the heart of your house, not only functionally but also aesthetically. 

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Text provided by Pooja Gosar-