From East to West: How Kitchens Around the World Look in Countries Across the Globe

Human culture is infinitely varied and complex. Anywhere you go, you can find different cultural expressions in art, work, food, and daily living. And that’s certainly true in kitchens around the world.

In this post, we’ll take a look at a number of kitchens from around the globe. However, this isn’t meant to be an exhaustive presentation of each culture. Every location has multiple streams of design preferences and influences. Rather, these are just a few examples that can open your eyes to what’s out there.

Japan

Our first stop is in the Far East. Here’s an example from a Tokyo apartment. Space is very limited in the city of over 9 million?actually, it’s over 37 million if you count the metro area. In this space, the kitchen is hidden behind a retractable wall.

That allows the rest of the room to have multi-use capabilities. Also, you’ll notice that the design of the kitchen is very minimal. It has all you need when you need it.

China

This second example is from a kitchen in Beijing, China. China also has a very high population density, and that means space is at a premium. This kitchen is along one wall, but it also includes the washer and dryer (one unit does both). Many kitchens around the world maximize space with multi-use arrangements.

India

India is famous for open markets with brightly colored spices. Step into a kitchen, and the color continues.

This is an example of a modular kitchen in India. The kitchen provides a lot of storage and countertop space in a U-shape design.

Egypt

Here’s a contemporary apartment kitchen in Cairo, Egypt. You’ll notice that there’s a bright pop of color here, too. Like the example from Japan, this kitchen hides away behind a swinging door. The door provides you with storage for spices. Also, it makes the room feel more like a living room when you aren’t using the kitchen.

Sweden

This example comes from Sweden. It uses a Scandanavian country-style design. The kitchen has a very simple and clean aesthetic that’s accented by black light fixtures.

Spain

Continuing our exploration of kitchens around the world, here’s a kitchen in a rustic home in the Spanish countryside. What it may lack in cabinet space it makes up for in charm. From the terracotta floor to the exposed wood ceiling, everything works in the space.

It has room for everything you need?an oven, stove, microwave, and counter space.

Morocco

Morocco has long since been famous for its signature design style. You can see this in the intricate patterns on the floor, pantry doors, and the ornamentations above the window and doorway openings.

It can certainly keep your eyes busy for a while. At the same time, it all works together with the stainless steel refrigerator and the powder blue walls.

Iceland

This apartment kitchen in Reykjavik is pure minimalism. The look is definitely clean and spacious. It also helps that the kitchen is open to the living area.

If you look closely, you can see a stovetop that blends into the black counter. Further enhancing the airy feeling is the ice blue backsplash nestled between pure white cabinets.

Brazil

Brazil’s climate draws many people outdoors, and you can see this space takes advantage of that. The kitchen has a seating area right outside separated by a retractable wall.

Surrounding the gas range is a bright orange countertop. This kitchen is in Rio de Janeiro and it brings some of the city’s bright colors inside the home.

Argentina

Here’s a kitchen design in Argentina that makes liberal use of concrete. However, the huge corner windows help to balance out the industrial look of the space. They also allow you to appreciate the surrounding scenery.

The windows bring in lots of light and brighten up the kitchen. In keeping with the modern design, the appliances and cabinets seamlessly blend into the room.

Costa Rica

Here’s a modern kitchen in Costa Rica that incorporates local tradition. Costa Rican homeowners enjoy natural wood throughout their space, and you can see this in the exposed beams and wood cabinetry.

Also, tiles are popular in Costa Rican kitchens. Here, terracotta tiles provide the flooring while the backsplash also has diagonal tiles. Additionally, you can see some more cultural influence in the molding around the hood and cabinets.

Mexico

Having visited a number of places on our trip from east to west, we end our journey of kitchens around the world in Mexico. This kitchen has a very traditional design, and it’s covered in tiles from head to toe.

We have hexagonal terracotta tiles on the floor as well as tiles that stretch up the wall. These are called Talavera tiles and are a classic Mexican design. These hand-painted tiles add a ton of excitement to the room.

Conclusion

There can be as many different kitchens as there are people in the world. Now, we’ve only scratched the surface with this post, but hopefully, you’ve found some inspiration.

Whether you want your kitchen to have one style or incorporate ten different influences, the sky’s the limit.