Thinking of renovating your kitchen? Then it’ll help to have a clear style in mind. While the precise details of your remodeling project will vary, your preferred kitchen theme will provide the guiding light that’ll increase the chances of your project being successful.
And, of course, you’ll have no shortage of options available to you. As one of the most important rooms in the home, people have thought long and hard about the best ways to design and style kitchens: contemporary, industrial, and transitional kitchens are just three popular options for homeowners.
In recent times, there’s been a resurging interest in the farmhouse country kitchen. Rustic, stylish, and highly functional, there’s much to love about this kitchen design! In this post, we’ll take a deeper dive into the country style kitchen, outlining what they are, the advantages they offer, and plenty of handy tips that’ll help you to get the kitchen of your dreams.
What is a Country Farmhouse Kitchen?
You’ll know a country farmhouse kitchen when you see one. Or perhaps it’s better to say that you’ll feel it. These types of kitchens are highly cozy and evoke plenty of homeliness and comfort. It’s a style that very much follows the principle that the kitchen is the heart of the home.
As the name suggests, country kitchens look like they’ve come straight from an old-timey, countryside cottage. It incorporates many aspects of country living, a lifestyle that has grown in popularity perhaps as an antidote to the mania and modernity of cosmopolitan life. While this kitchen style began its life in the countryside, you’ll now find it in plenty of urban homes. It’s an easy way to bring some rustic, old-timey charm to your property.
But don’t let the word “old-timey” make you think that an American farmhouse kitchen is outdated or traditional. The style is timeless, infusing elements of the past with modern convenience. It is, in short, pretty much the perfect kitchen style for homeowners who truly value the idea that the kitchen is the heart of the home.
Benefits of a Country Farmhouse Kitchen
Thinking of using the country farmhouse style for your next remodeling project? You’re not alone. This style has been growing in popularity for some years now, and given how beautiful these kitchens are, we’re pretty confident that they’ll be just as popular in the future, too. If you’re on the fence about using the style in your own home, then check out just some of the advantages of this decor choice below.
The power of the farmhouse kitchen lies in its simplicity. It’s an effortlessly homey look. And this simplicity isn’t all for show; it really is simple. Of course, any kitchen remodeling project will have its challenges, but compared with other decor aesthetics, the country approach is much easier to manage.
Other kitchen designs, such as modern kitchens, typically require complicated arrangements and stylish decorative items to make them work and often make use of complicated color combinations. They can look good, but it’s a lot of hard work — and pretty easy to get wrong!
When you take the rustic approach, you’ll have the freedom to decorate with simple items, such as copper cookware or exposed wooden cutlery, which anyone can manage. Plus, it’s much easier — and more forgiving — to utilize colors in rustic design.
Highly Functional
Country kitchens come, originally, from a period when the focus was very much on functionality, rather than aesthetics. It’s just a stroke of luck that we’ve come to love the style! At their core, these kitchens are highly practical. That means they’ll come jam-packed with convenient touches such as abundant storage space, and a “lived-in” feel, and on top of all that, they’re also easy to maintain. The open layout lends itself extremely well to easy living — as we said, with these kitchens, it’s all about comfort.
Good Value For Money
Most of the time, it can feel that if you want something trendy, then you’ll need to pay through the roof to get it. But that’s not the case with rustic kitchens. While they won’t be cheap — since no kitchen renovation is — they can certainly be more cost-effective than other kitchen designs. For one thing, you won’t need an abundance of accessories to achieve the look. When it comes to all things rustic, less is more. Plus, storage units simply require less material and less craftsmanship. A luxury, contemporary cabinet is expensive; an open shelf is comparably cheap.
In addition, the quality of the natural materials you use to achieve the look means they're long-lasting, so you won’t need to worry about maintenance as much as you would with other material choices. And finally — you can expect that a well-thought-out country style kitchen will boost your property’s valuation. It is, after all, a desirable aesthetic that never goes out of style.
Visually Appealing
We mentioned above that its function, rather than style, that took precedence when the rustic kitchen was first emerging. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not got visual value. Quite the opposite — the simplicity makes it exceptionally beautiful. Walk into a farmhouse kitchen, and you’ll get the sense that everything just feels right. All the natural elements and muted colors come together to create an aesthetic unlike any other. If you’re looking to give your home a healthy dose of charm and visual beauty, then the farmhouse kitchen might just be right for you.
Stands the Test of Time
If you’re going to go through the process of remodeling your kitchen, then you’ll hope that you get to enjoy it for a long old time. You won’t want to have to plan another remodeling project several years down the line, just because trends have changed.
Farmhouse kitchens are very much having a moment — they’re the on-trend kitchen style right now — but there’s a timeless quality to this style, which can give you confidence that your kitchen will look just as fantastic a decade or more down the line as it does on the first day. You might need to make a couple of modifications and adaptations from time to time, but nothing much.
Elements of Modern Barn Kitchens
Now we’ve got a sense of all that’s great about modern farmhouse kitchens, let’s begin thinking about what they look like in practice. In essence, these kitchens have a casual, simple, ‘back to basics’ aesthetic that incorporates natural materials, cool foundational colors, warm accents, and open shelving. It would be normal to see vegetables standing in a wicker basket in a farmhouse kitchen.
It’s about comfort and simplicity. There’s a ‘less is more’ approach that makes these kitchens so inviting; they’re not cluttered or hyper-modern, they just do the basics extremely well, and as a result, often have a look that’s easy to fall in love with.
Which Properties Suit Country Style Kitchen Design?
The origins of the farmhouse country style lie in its name: it all began in large, country homes far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. So if you happen to live in one of those properties, then the farmhouse kitchen will be a no-brainer — it’s the style that’ll suit your home the best.
But what if you don’t live out in nature? Can you still have a farmhouse country kitchen? The answer to that question is yes, you can! In general, it’s best if you have a large kitchen space, since the style is best suited to spacious and airy kitchens. However, don’t worry if you only have a small kitchen. There are plans available that can give you many of the benefits of this kitchen style. It’s just that you’ll need to get a little creative with how you incorporate the design elements.
If you’re unsure of how this kitchen design will look in your space, then consider using kitchen design software — it’ll help you to visualize the aesthetic before you commit to the project. There are free and paid kitchen design tools available for download, in browsers, and on your smartphone.
Farmhouse Country Kitchen Ideas
Ready to begin the process of designing the farmhouse country kitchen of your dreams? While this aesthetic is more straightforward to put together than complex modern kitchens, it’s still important to follow best practices and make sure you’re touching all the key elements of the style. Below, we’ve put together a host of ideas that’ll put you on the right track.
Incorporate Wood
Wood is perhaps the most important material to include in your farmhouse kitchen. It brings a back-to-earth warmth that you won’t get from any other material. Of course, how much you’re able to incorporate wood will depend on your broad design, but wherever there’s an opportunity, get it in. If you’re lucky enough to have wood beams in your kitchen then you’ll mostly be already there; but if not, you can add wood through your furniture, paneling, or worktops.
If you’re looking to make your kitchen as environmentally friendly as possible, then look at using reclaimed wood for your project. It can be a little more difficult to source, but it’ll look just as good — or, in many cases, better — than if you buy new.
Add a Kitchen Island
A kitchen island is an easy way to achieve the farmhouse style aesthetic. And plus, it’s highly practical. It’ll give you a space to prep your meals and offer an additional dose of storage space, two essential practicalities when you’re aiming to make your kitchen the heart of your home. If you have the option, then consider buying an antique island — it’ll bring with it all its aged character and will provide a focal point for the room.
Large Dining Tables
Another option is to add a large farmhouse dining table. If your kitchen is large enough, then it’s best to have both an island and a large dining table. But that won’t be a realistic option for most homeowners, given the space required. The decision of which one is best for your kitchen will depend on your requirements. If you’re just a small family that doesn’t need a large dining table, then an island will be best. But if you’re planning to routinely seat five or more people, then the table will be essential. In that case, you can get some of the benefits of an island by investing in a rolling high table, which you can bring out as and when required.
Big Sinks
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel or think outside the box when it comes to putting a farmhouse kitchen. After all, the emphasis is always on what’s practical! When it comes to your sink, there’s only one option: the farmhouse sink. Happily, this option is both highly practical and aesthetically pleasing. Here at World CopperSmith, we’re proud to offer a wide selection of stunning farmhouse sinks, which can be customized to your specifications. For the full farmhouse experience, look at using copper or brass, two timeless materials that are both stunning and long-lasting.
Open Storage
Unlike other kitchen styles, farmhouse kitchens have no problem storing things out in the open. In fact, it’s highly encouraged. You will want to have some closed cabinets in your kitchen, but if you thought you’d need to stack your kitchen high and wide with closed storage, think again! Cabinets can work for the lower part of the kitchen, but for the upper part, look at open shelves, ideally made of wood. There, you can place bowls, utensils, or everyday ingredients such as flour, sugar, and spices. This approach feeds into the openness of the country kitchen aesthetic, which is what the style is really all about.
Add a Copper Range Hood
You’ll need to have a recirculating range hood in your kitchen, so why not make it one that looks fantastic, and which very much adds to the farmhouse aesthetic? Done right, your range hood can make a powerful statement in your kitchen, so it’s worth spending the time to get one that pushes your style aspirations forward. If you’re looking for a range hood that will work effectively and stand the test of time, then take a look at the range we have available here at CopperSmith. Our stunning range hoods are available in a wide range of sizes and styles. Opt for a copper hood, and you’ll have a statement piece that’ll have pride of place in your kitchen for decades to come.
Go Big With White
White is the preferred palette in rustic kitchens. So when we say, ‘go big with white,’ we really mean it. While you’ll want to avoid having an all white kitchen, it should be the dominant color. It’ll pair exceptionally well with the natural materials you add to your kitchen, such as wood or copper, as well as the other color shades you include in your decor. Basically, it should be the backdrop. The magic of white (or any other light neutral color) is that it effortlessly helps to make the kitchen look brighter, more spacious, and airier.
Mix Up the Furniture
Farmhouse kitchens rarely have uniform furniture. If you were thinking of buying a cohesive set from Ikea or another store, then think again — it won’t be right for your farmhouse kitchen! To give your space character, look at mixing and matching different types of furniture. This is a quick way to make your kitchen look older than it is. It’ll look like the various pieces have been added over time, rather than all at once. Not that you need to feel that your kitchen is inauthentic; if you buy your furniture from vintage shops, then you’ll be nailing the look in a natural way. Your approach should, in effect, be to buy freestanding furniture; that is, single pieces.
Showcase Cookware
As we said earlier, the whole point of farmhouse kitchens is that they’re open. Not everything has to be tucked away in a drawer, away from the eyes. Storing your goods out in the open allows you to add another level of aesthetic appeal to your kitchen. While there are many goods that you can openly display, perhaps the most striking addition will be your cookware. There’s something inherently farm-like about having your pots and pans hanging on the wall! Of course, you’ll only get the full effect if the cookware is visually appealing in the first place. For that, we recommend copper cookware. Not only does this material offer a superior cooking experience, but it also looks fantastic.
Rustic Accents
We mentioned earlier that wood should be the dominant material in your farmhouse kitchen. But it’s also important to supplement with other rustic materials, such as copper or brass. You can add these to your kitchen by incorporating some metal chairs, installing pendant lights, or, as suggested above, displaying your copper cookware out in the open. You’ll find that they complement the wood and white background extremely well.
Invest in a Quality Stove
It’s easy to think that any stove will do — they all perform the same function, after all. However, when you’re opting for a kitchen design style that is more minimalist than most, it’s best to choose a stove that we can double up as an aesthetic selection. A statement stove is a bigger investment, but it’ll pay off — they’re larger than most and can really help you to step up your recipes. They’re larger, of course, so you’ll need to have enough space. A large stainless steel stove will be the way to go if you want to keep things simple, but if you’re happy to take a risk, then a green, black, or blue stove will really push the look of your kitchen forward.Curtain Cupboard Fronts
Looking for a quick, easy, and highly affordable way to give your kitchen an extra dose of farmhouse appeal? Then do this: remove the doors of the cupboard that lies underneath your worktop, and replace it with a curtain. You can do it in as little as 10 minutes, and it’ll instantly enhance the look of your kitchen. Plus, it offers another way to add some texture and patterns.
Add Your Personal Touches
Finally, look at adding personal touches to your kitchen. There’s an aesthetic to this design, but the primary function is comfort. Your personal touches, whatever they may be, will help to make the kitchen feel like home.
Are Rustic Kitchens Worth the Effort?
In our opinion, there’s only one answer to this question: rustic kitchens are absolutely worth the effort! For one thing, these types of kitchens often require less effort than other design choices, so if you’re looking for a relatively straightforward kitchen remodeling project while also getting a kitchen that you’ll love, then it can be a great option.
There’s simply a lot to love about country kitchen styles. There’s the coziness factor, the warmth they bring, and the high levels of functionality. For anyone who truly wants to make their kitchen the heart of the home, it’s a no-brainer, especially since the increasing popularity means there are plenty of farmhouse kitchen designs available, allowing people who don’t have a country home to incorporate the design into their properties. So we say: go for it. We’re confident that you’ll be happy with your decision!
Get The Perfect Country Style Kitchen With World CopperSmith
At World CopperSmith, we know more than a thing or two about creating outstanding kitchens. Our customized, sustainable products will have pride of place in your kitchen for the rest of your life, and that’s thanks to the high levels of craftsmanship we put into each and every one of our jobs, as well as the quality of the materials we use. For your kitchen, take a look at our range hoods and farmhouse sinks. They are available in copper and brass, two materials that work especially well in rustic kitchens. If you have any questions about our products or wish to know more about the ordering process, please don’t hesitate to contact us.