A beautiful Country Kitchen – Photo Courtesy: Susan Serra
Interior Design has seen a move away from the stark, harsh schemes of a decade ago, which were all about white, stainless steel and lack of clutter. In recent years, we have started to rediscover traditional style, with the country kitchen look making a comeback in a big way. Although it’s not practical to completely revamp your kitchen every time trends change, there are a lot of ways of injecting some country flair into your home, even if you are on a restricted budget.
Units
A traditional country kitchen has wooden units, generally made from solid wood. If changing your entire kitchen is not an option, think about changing the doors only. Unit doors can be bought cheaply online and it is worth keeping an eye open for local DIY stores having a sale as end of range items can generally be snapped up at bargain basement prices. Keep the old unit doors just in case you tire of the country kitchen look.
Other Furniture
A country kitchen wouldn’t be the same without a large unit to display crockery, and oak dressers are firmly back in fashion. Try to source a second hand dresser where possible, but oak dressers are also sold through many high street stores and internet retailers. Don’t go for a matching look with your crockery; it is far better to mix and match pieces with different designs and colors. A dresser is also the ideal way to display family photographs and other items which have special sentimental value. Swap formal, modern dining chairs for a wooden chair with comfortable cushions and hang pots and pans on display rather than hiding everything away in cupboards or drawers.
Accessories
The cheapest way to get a country feel into your kitchen is to invest in some new accessories such as tea cosies, tea towels or small appliances such as kettles or toasters. Choose bright colors such as red or green, and patterns such as gingham or spots. Changing the blind or curtain at the window for a more traditional design will also help complete the look. Opt for a tablecloth in durable oilcloth, which looks good and is very easy to care for too. Less is often more when it comes to the country kitchen look though, and one of the pitfalls is going too far and the kitchen ending up looking overly cluttered and fussy.
Walls
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the color of a country style kitchen, but warm shades of cream, yellow or green work well. Wallpaper is often not a practical choice for a kitchen as it is less easy to clean. Decorate the walls with chalkboards to write shopping lists on, pin boards to hold all of the children’s latest artwork and party invitations, and get some traditional style prints or pictures to brighten up any empty spaces. Add to the look little by little so you can get the ideal look without going too far and regretting the switch away from ultra-modern.
For a stunning range of Oak Dressers, perfect for your country kitchen, head to the National Furniture UK online store.
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