Is there anyone that can deny the warm attraction a traditional country or farmhouse kitchen holds for them? The enticing smell of freshly bread cooked bread, the basket of straw-covered eggs sitting on the worktop, and the pair of mud-caked boots by the backdoor… Aside from those aesthetic details, what is it about the farmhouse kitchen design we can learn from, and how can we apply it to a modern and on-trend kitchen setting?
Sink scenario
The ‘farmhouse sink’ has become so iconic through it’s association with the much-loved kitchen style, it has now become a design piece in its own right! This beautiful kitchen uses natural wood and sage painted cupboard fronts to create a warm and relaxing palette, setting off the white sink and crisp white linen to perfection. Detailed attention has been paid to other typical features such as the open plate-rack and the stand-alone dresser, making the tribute complete.
Beams above
Enter almost any farmhouse kitchen and your eyes are drawn upwards to the traditional wooden beams. Timeless and enduring, whether the beams are rough unfinished wood or stained and polished, they never fail to add character and introduce a rustic vibe to a kitchen design. Although not all houses boasts the existing structure, often decorative beams or plinths can be incorporated to great effect.
The pendant alternative
Gleaming copper catches the light and sends reflections flying around the kitchen; creating a warm, industrious glow that could only be found in a farmhouse kitchen. A motley cluster of well-used pans hanging above a central island was a common and welcoming sight that is rarely imitated. We appreciate not everyone will rush to pull their pans out of the cupboard and string them up…this application is only suited to very few kitchen styles!
Where there’s a back door…
Just in from feeding the chickens, mud-caked boots are a frequent find in a farmhouse kitchen. We love this stylish interpretation of the theme, with it’s elegant grey cabinets and trio of glass pendants. The black framed windows bring the design sharply up to date, while the natural wicker baskets, wooden bar stools and warm parquet floor infuse a subtle farmhouse spirit into the kitchen.
Kitchen fire
A crackling open fire is perhaps seen as an unusual design feature in most kitchens but is part of the authentic feel of a farmhouse kitchen. Including a fireplace in a design is a unique move that will immediately shift the hub of the house to the kitchen and transform it into more of a living space than somewhere confined to food preparation.
Open range
More widely recognised and practical than an open fire, the range cooker plays such a key part in the atmosphere created. Aga’s have become sought-after pieces for kitchens trying to emulate a laid-back country vibe, or even in many modern style kitchens. With their beautiful design, the heat they give out, and the ability to house trays, kettles and even the odd lamb – a range cooker is a timeless piece that lives on in the heart of many homes.
Muted hues
Now tell me, when have you seen a jarringly coloured farmhouse kitchen? We’re pretty sure they don’t exist, the only examples of the style we’ve discovered range from muted greys to duck egg blues, with sage or an off-white being the most popular choices. Very tasteful, this neutral look is far from boring once coupled with light wood finishes, white ceramics and shelves of glassware…
Wine cellar or larder
Whether it’s home-cured bacon or home-distilled cider or a fruit wine that’s ageing delectably… Farmhouse kitchens are never short on provisions, or the places to store them! This rustic kitchens uses exposed brick to put a country-style spin on a stereotypical ‘wine cellar’, creating a beautiful feature in the open plan kitchen-diner space.
Wide open spaces
A farmhouse is kitchen is actually an architectural term for a room design for dining, food preparation and as a sociable space. Little wonder then, that many of the kitchens are a masterclass in open plan layouts… Often featuring a large central island (a butcher’s block table if you’re wanting to go really rustic!), the focus of the space centres around entertaining and socialising, often whilst a meal is being prepared.
Fresh produce and linen
What is a kitchen without the smell of cooking food? Home-grown vegetables and freshly baked bread sliced up ready for a humble feast make for an appealing scene with fresh linen overhead and (we predict) a floury worktop just out of sight… The dark blue used in this kitchen design takes the laid-back style to a whole different level, using brass fixtures to bring an element of sophistication into what would otherwise be a very understated setting.