Transforming your kitchen with a traditional country look doesn’t have to mean a complete renovation; with clever use of themed utilities, low-cost accessories and a new color scheme, you’ll find that you can give yourself the authentic country styled kitchen that you’ve always wanted, without the hefty price tag. Vintage, country kitchens are definitely ‘in’ at the moment but many people have trouble defining the style; you might go out and buy a tea pot, but without the right kitchen look built around it, it’s not going to be right.
Interior decorating doesn’t have to be expensive; remember, a facelift can do as much for your kitchen as a full renovation. Collecting ideas from already existing traditional kitchen designs is a great way to set the foundations for the direction you wish to take your interior decorating. Your first step should be to replace the items that you already have on display on your work surfaces. Look for toasters and kettles in vintage styles, preferably in creams, reds or duck-egg blue; if you base your color scheme on your appliances then it’s easier to match accessories and fabrics. Laura Ashley have some amazing, vintage-chic kitchen supplies on offer, but even ‘modern’ accessories, like coffee machines, can tie into your country styled kitchen if they’re color appropriate. Ken wood do a raspberry red coffee maker that mixes vintage colors will sleek metal design, tying both the modern and the traditional together.
When it comes to crockery, stick with floral or mellow pastel styles. CathKidston’s range of cake tins and Tupperware are a fun, old-fashioned addition to any kitchen. The traditional, country look is usually accompanied by a sudden need to make your own jam and start a herb garden, but even if you’re not a food-fanatic, baking paraphernalia can really add to a vintage theme. Invest in a cute cake stand or dot old fashioned butter and milk containers on your sides. If you have ladles and spatulas on display, hang them with distressed iron hooks to give the illusion of age. Similarly, by swapping out your cupboard and door handles with distressed iron replacements, it’ll give your kitchen a lived-in and cosy atmosphere. Another simple but high-impact solution is in changing the appearance of the doors themselves; fit new doors to old cabinets for a quick fix that’s cost-effective and different, or paint old wooden doors with pastel shades to brighten the room.
In terms of fabrics, floral oven gloves, tea towels and aprons give kitsch appeal to a kitchen without breaking the bank. Handy sewers can also use the wide range of craft books available in stores and online for inspiration. Manuals such as The Complete Book of Retro Crafts, Homemade, Make and Sew by CathKidston and Kirstie Allsopp’s Craft are stocked with handy tips and ideas for everything from how to paint teacups, to how to make a retro blind for your kitchen. Hang embroidery, patchwork and needlework pictures to give a lived-in and cared for feel to your kitchen, or consider adding a few more unusual decorations to the room. Vintage flower vases may not scream ‘kitchen’ at first, but they’ll look lovely on a windowsill with a freshly-picked bunch of flowers. If you’ve got photographs on the walls or on the side, replace the frames with distressed brass or iron, use wicker baskets to hold utensils, or try an old-fashioned analogue clock or (if you want a bit of music to cook to) a vintage style Roberts DAB.
Country-style kitchen may be the height of fashion, but you don’t need to empty your bank account to achieve this sought-after look.
Country Side Kitchen Decor
Wooden Kitchen Design
Contemporary Kitchen Design
Contemporary Kitchen Design
