Many people are craving to go back to a simpler time. They want to experience life as it was fifty, seventy, or even a hundred years ago and escape the hustle and bustle of the twenty-first century.
Time machines don’t exist, but country kitchens do. These attractive interiors feel traditional, cozy, and functional. You immediately feel relaxed and at peace when you step inside them.
Coming up with country kitchen ideas isn’t always straightforward, though. It’s not always clear what a country kitchen should look like.
That’s where this post helps. We explain the principles behind these kitchens and then provide concrete examples, showing you what they look like and the elements you can include.
What Is A Country Kitchen?
A country farm kitchen is a style of kitchen that evokes natural and rural themes. Designs typically aim for warmth, comfort, and nostalgia, reminding owners of earlier, more peaceful times.
Country kitchens typically feature natural or semi-natural materials like wood, stone, and metal. They avoid the use of synthetics such as vinyl or plastic.
Elaborate country kitchens often have shaker cabinets with grooved panels, beveled details, and glass doors. Open shelving and make-shift baskets are used for storage.
Philosophically, country kitchens emphasize the working nature of the room. Table linens, copper crockery, and rustic accessories offer utility, ready to go when needed. Country kitchens also have neutral color schemes based on cream, white and beige. More vibrant blues, greens, and reds are sometimes part of the theme where appropriate.
Finally, country kitchens are spaces for people and pets to socialize. As such, they are living kitchens designed around your lifestyle.
What Are The Benefits Of Country Kitchens?
Country kitchens offer various benefits to homeowners that are hard to get if you choose another style. The rustic, natural elements, soft colors, and retro accessories create a vintage aesthetic you will grow to love.
Cozy And Inviting
The foremost advantage of country kitchens is their cozy and inviting atmosphere. Completed renovations feel welcoming and warm, making cooking and entertaining more enjoyable, particularly during colder parts of the year.
Versatile And Adaptable
Country kitchens are also highly versatile and adaptable, adjusting to suit your needs. They come in various formats, from conventional “American farmhouse” to “French country.”
Easy To Customize And Personalize
Furthermore, you don’t have to stick with a prescribed design to achieve the canonical aesthetic. Country kitchens give you tremendous freedom to develop new concepts and ideas that work for you, from putting your copper pans collections on the hob rack to heirlooms and DIY projects.
Durable And Designed For Family Life
Another benefit of country kitchens is their durability. Homeowners love them because of their ability to withstand wear and tear by children and animals. Natural materials like stone, wood, and metal resist damage and look better with age.
Timeless And Never Go Out Of Style
Lastly, country kitchens are timeless and won’t go out of style. They are brilliant at reflecting the unique history of any culture you want to emulate, whether European or American.
4 Principles For Country Kitchens
Before we dive into the country-style kitchen ideas below, you need to know the principles behind them. Once you understand them, it makes designing your own easier.
Use Color Palettes That Reflects The Countryside
The most important principle for designing a country kitchen is to choose a palette that reflects the countryside. Focus on earthy tones such as:-
- Beige
- Brown
- Green
- Yellow
Then, mix various textures and patterns to give the room depth, such as floral wallpaper, plaid and gingham fabrics, and metal elements, such as copper range hoods.
Add Natural Materials
The second principle of country kitchens is to include natural materials. As you might expect, wood is a staple because it adds richness and warmth to the space, but you can also leverage copper, rattan, and linen.
For instance, you might use:-
- Wood in your flooring, countertops, and furniture
- Copper in your range hood, sink, basin, or tabletop
- Stone for your island
- Brick for a statement wall or backsplash
- Brass for light fixtures and fittings
Natural elements and an earthy color theme give the room an old-fashioned feel and transport you back in time.
Add Rustic Touches
The third principle is to add various rustic touches to the room to give it a sense of history and character. Ideas include:-
- Installing old-fashioned stoves, faucets, or lighting fixtures
- Displaying family heirlooms
- Placing pottery, crockery, and mason jars on open shelving
Make The Ambiance Cozy And Comfortable
The final principle of country kitchens is to ensure a cozy and comfortable ambiance. This should happen naturally if you follow the other principles listed already. If it doesn’t, you can correct it by adding soft furnishings, like cushions and rugs, or more artwork to the space.
How To Create A Country Kitchen
Now your brain is fizzing with ideas for your next country kitchen, it’s time to find out how to build one.
Step 1: Choose A Range As The Focal Point
The range is the most critical element of a country kitchen. Traditionally, it did the cooking needed to provide high-calorie meals to farmers working in fields all day. Today, it serves as the focal point. You can choose a stainless steel range shown in the examples here or an older-fashioned cast iron model used historically.
Step 2: Install A Large Sink
Next, you’ll need a large sink for washing up your pots and pans. Most traditional kitchens use ceramic butler or apron sinks, but CopperSmith offers various copper versions with a choice of finishes you can select via the customization options.
We’d suggest opting for a double-basin sink if you have space in your kitchen. One basin is for washing up, and the other is for rinsing and preparing food.
Step 3: Add Stone Or Wood Flooring
After that, you’ll want to add stone or wood flooring. You’ll notice that most kitchen examples in this list use hardwood. However, you can also use flagstones – popular on Old World working farms.
A tumbled stone finish creates an aged effect if you want your country-style kitchen to feel nostalgic, while smooth finishes look more modern. Tiles aren’t the best option for rustic kitchens. If you insist on them, choose dark brown.
Step 4: Incorporate Antiques And Salvaged Items
Incorporating antiques and salvaged items into your newly-renovated country kitchen is another powerful way to make it feel more authentic. These props immediately help it appear more aged as you wait for the other natural materials to wear. Include copper pans, lantern pendants, and butcher blocks, as in the examples above.
Step 5: Pick A Large Dining Table
Lastly, you’ll want to pick a rustic-looking table for the family to gather around. Many country kitchens use raw, untreated wood tables, but we think copper is a better option. CopperSmith’s copper tabletops give the room a warm glow, reflecting off the other surfaces beautifully.
Now You’re Ready To Build Your New Country Kitchen
Now you’ve been through all our country kitchen ideas, you’re ready to build your own. We learned these kitchens generally use earthy colors, warm tones, natural materials, and rustic touches. They should feel familial and inviting and offer plenty of functionality for busy families. Preparing meals and sitting down to eat should be a breeze.
Don’t know where to look next? CopperSmith has you covered. We offer an incredible selection of fixtures and fittings for country kitchens, including range hoods, tabletops, and sinks. Our copper and brass products perfectly complement this style, helping you get the kitchen you’ve always wanted. Check out our 3-D Configurator to see what your new interior will look like, or contact us for a free quote.
