The perfect way to end a day: coming back home after a long day of work and unwinding in your own home. A cozy kitchen allows you to strip away the stress of the day, and leave your everyday cares behind. Here you will find tips and tricks on how to transform your modern country-house kitchen into a place where the whole family feels at home.
Variations on the country-house style
Small spaces can be difficult at times to mimic the look and feel of a classic rural theme. That’s why city-dwellers tend to opt for the modern country-house style instead. The pared-back modern country style combines traditional country-house details with industrial design. Clean shapes set the tone, but are broken up with details like snuggly pelts, dainty side tables and modern porcelain. This style of furnishing also comes close to the Scandinavian lifestyle that is centered around hygge (‘cozyness’ in Danish). The Scandinavian country-house style is based on especially calm colors: white furniture and accessories give the space a calm aura that invites you to relax. Lots of cushions, blankets, lamps and warm wood tones enhance the ‘hygge’ atmosphere.
The Mediterranean country-house style, which uses strong colors, is a wholly different affair. It is defined by sunny yellow walls, often contrasting with dark wooden furniture. The deep blue of the sea, shades of turquoise in the accessories and materials like leather and cast iron all complete the picture. The British country-house style is about going back to basics. Dark wood tones also dominate here, combined with rich colors on the walls and striped accessories.
Different country-house kitchens
The tradition of warmth
The country-house style is a restful kind of décor that simply exudes safety. The farmhouse awakens nostalgic memories of the times gone by. It originated from the style of living in old country houses, where well-heeled families would retreat for the summer season. Think back on the times of preparing meals and eating at the dining room table with your family. If you’re keen on bringing the modern country-house style home with you, then you have a wide choice of design options. After all, country-house style can fit a variety of definitions. In hot Spain, for instance, people spend the summer differently than in cooler England. This means that the country-house style can be adapted to a wide selection of tastes.
What makes a modern country-house kitchen
Today, the kitchen is seen as the focal point of family life. An eat-in kitchen is a great way for everyone to meet and eat dinner around the table, or cook together over the weekend. If you want to transform your kitchen into a feel-good place with a touch of nostalgia, consider building out your space with natural materials. Other materials can be used alongside wood to give your kitchen interior that extra "something." Brick walls break up the uniform surfaces of the furniture, while natural wood grain cabinetry can transform the kitchen into a place of comfort..
Do's
- Use natural fabrics and materials
- Contrast wooden furniture with accessories in pastel shades and striped patterns
- Choose easy, comfortable furniture
- Opt for furniture with its own quirks and signs of wear
Don’ts
- Avoid furniture with chrome-plated metal
- Don’t apply strictly minimalistic design to your living spaces
- Avoid furniture with lots of corners and edges
- Use as few gaudy, unnatural colors as possible
- No multifunctional furniture – selected individual pieces embody country-house charm
Back to nature: country-house style is defined by sustainable materials
Natural materials are the common factor among all country-house styles. The country-house style could be described as a ‘back to nature’ approach, the wood is the dominant material in this look. Gorgeous wooden parquet exudes warmth, wooden cabinets radiate rustic charm and a large dining table serves as a place for the whole family to gather.
The accessories should also work with the warm feel of the furniture. Lots of floral-patterned, brightly colored cushions on the couch that invite you to relax. The glow of candles in candlesticks bathes your living space in the warm light of the evening. The country-house style is defined by soft forms and a natural look. In all of the rooms, it is clear that the inhabitants have lovingly selected every detail and prize a welcoming home.
-image-450w-253h.jpg "CERANA Farmhouse Fireclay Sink")
Country house-style sinks: the farmhouse-style sink makes a comeback
Modern country house-style kitchens are completed by sinks made of stainless steel and natural materials. Granite sinks made of SILGRANIT offer a variety of colors for finding the perfect match, and BLANCO fireclay sinks come in matte colors, which work perfectly with the overall look of a modern country-house kitchen. Today, modern sinks like the CERANA draw upon this tried and tested design. The ceramic sink comes in white and biscuit colors that blend into the snug ambiance of a country-house kitchen.
An overview: How to design your country-house kitchen
- Choose kitchen furnishings made of natural materials that exude warmth.
- Contrast the furniture with special details like a bare brick wall, a cast-iron oven or natural stone elements.
- Create targeted pops of colour: wooden chairs with pastel-coloured seats, subtly striped tea towels or linen or cotton curtains.
- Design your sink as the focal point of your country-house kitchen: models that look like farmhouse-style sink provide a charming vintage look.
- Opt for a mixer tap in matte colours that works seamlessly with the look of your country-house kitchen, or create accents with a nostalgically shaped bronze mixer tap.
- Don’t hide away accessories like beautiful glasses, kitchen scales, fruit bowls or floral-painted crockery, but put them on display in cabinets with glass doors.
Modern country-house kitchen vs. minimalism
A highly modern version has developed alongside the classic country-house style over recent years, this time making use of minimalist details. This modern country style is defined by a certain tendency towards straight lines and a restrained choice of colours. It’s up to you to find the right balance of classic approach and minimalism for your own country house-style kitchen design.
Find out here about the basic principles and contrasts between country house kitchens and minimalism, and establish the perfect blend for your kitchen:
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