What Style of Kitchen Cabinets for a Georgian Style House?

Size and Shape

• Georgian style cabinets should extend to the ceiling, if possible, and should be topped with crown molding. In the case of exceptionally high ceilings, crown molding can still be used at the top of the cabinets to achieve the same effect. Choose tall cabinets, or stack two cabinets for a stately, formal look. The vertical ends of a set of cabinets may have fluted flat column detail or a simple carved design. The doors for a Georgian style cabinet should have a single rectangular inset or raised panel. Use glass doors on some of the cabinets to reflect the vertical rectangular windows on the exterior of Georgian houses.

Cabinet Color

• Painted, satin or eggshell finish in white or off-white with black hardware is commonly used in Georgian style kitchen cabinets; however, other colors may be used for a more dramatic effect. Use Naples yellow, Wedgwood blue, sage green, tan or deep red. Avoid using bright primary colors. Contrast the paint color with hardware in wrought iron, brushed stainless steel or pewter. Painted cabinets are common, but stained wood in cherry, mahogany or walnut is also appropriate.

Federal Style

• Federal style is closely related to Georgian style. It has the same boxy simple shape with classical lines and additional ornamentation. Federal style incorporates Roman classical style, using rounded arches. Cabinets in the federal style would fit nicely in a Georgian home as the periods overlap and both have neoclassical style. A Federal style cabinet door would have an inset with a rounded arch at the top with perhaps additional carving and fluted woodwork.

Additional Considerations

• Hardware on Georgian style cabinets should have a simple elegant shape and may have an impressed, decorative pattern. Long horizontal drawer pulls and round or half-round cabinet pulls are appropriate. Wrought or cast iron, antiqued pewter, brushed stainless steel, nickle and ceramic are good selections for hardware, accessories and appliances. Countertops should be in a solid contrasting color, particularly black, white or cream.