Few kitchen styles offer a more homey and inviting atmosphere than a country kitchen. The design and character of this style is a popular choice for those with a family who want the kitchen to be the heart of the home.
Country kitchen designs tend to be simple, with minimal detailing and cabinet door trim to reflect the functionality of traditional country kitchens designed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although some country kitchens have skirting boards built into their design, Plain English’s The Longhouse Kitchen is intended to appear freestanding with each base cabinet having its own set of ‘legs’, inspired by traditional kitchens found on vernacular farmhouses in Suffolk.
To help create bespoke country-style kitchens, there are traditional features one would expect to find included in the design. Classic Farmhouse or Butler sinks are popular choices; its shape, size, and sturdiness are practical for those who have a family or regularly prepare food in that area and want to avoid the splashing water commonly associated with shallower styles. Reclaimed old taps and a traditional cooker, such as the Aga, bring real character to a country kitchen, and with so many cookers on the market, there is one to suit every lifestyle and requirement.
If you have hand-painted kitchens in mind, colors like green, yellow, and terracotta that have an earthy or natural undertone complement the country setting and help create a country-style kitchen feel. Small hand-turned wooden knobs or tarnished brass handles accentuate these colors well and create a “room” effect.
To add to that aged country look, incorporate rustic woods into the kitchen, whether it’s through an old chest of drawers, a scrubbed pine dining table, or shelving; this will add texture and the more weathered the wood is, the older and more authentic it will look. Plain English uses reclaimed Pitch Pine on their freestanding workbenches; they provide the perfect place to prepare fresh vegetables from the garden for those healthy family dinners.
In older homes, use existing features, such as a brick fireplace or original flooring where possible, to maintain the character of the room. If the fireplace is no longer in use, a fireplace can provide a quirky area to add additional cupboards for storage or alternatively can create a beautiful casing for an Aga or galley cooker.
Traditionally, country houses featured beautiful old flagstone floors and in the ‘Flower Room’ in Plain English’s Suffolk showroom, there are traditional Suffolk ceilings.
If a new floor is required, the materials must be strong enough to cope with the purpose of the room and the traffic moving to and from it. Stone, slate or tiles are usually the most practical, especially if it is a country setting.
Regardless of the finishes and details you choose, make sure the materials and designs used are of the highest affordable quality; this will ensure that the new kitchen has as much staying power as the traditional rustic 18th and 19th century designs that inspired it.