COUNTRY KITCHENS
From classic and traditional to modern rustic
Country kitchens can range from classic and traditional to modern with a hint of rustic, but, whichever you choose, they should feel warm, welcoming and the ideal place for eating, working, socialising and relaxing. While the quintessential country kitchen is a mix of favourite pieces, contemporary fitted kitchens optimise space, so a design that incorporates elements of both – freestanding furniture with built-in cabinets, a wooden table lit with pendant lighting – avoids the ‘clinical’ look and creates a beautiful, organic space.
1 SOFTER SILHOUETTE Neptune’s Henley design, with metal-and-wood Carter shelving and openframe kitchen island, shows how a fitted kitchen can look less structured. A slimline desk offers a practical work station (neptune.com)
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ISLAND LIFE An island unit offers useful storage, a seating area and somewhere to prepare food. Try breaking up its surface area with glazed cabinets so it looks appealing, too, and not too blocky (devolkitchens.co.uk)
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RICH & EARTHY A contemporary rustic kitchen by Sebastian Cox for Devol (devolkitchens.co.uk) has sawn timber fronts, an unusual copper worktop and brass taps. Everything is offset by a rustic wall of exposed brick, creating a lively collection of textures to stimulate the eye
4 ALL IN HAND Keep utensils that you use regularly within easy reach. A magnetic knife strip is perfect for storing knives safely behind this Aga and stops them jostling together and blunting in a drawer
THE DARK SIDE Embrace the lack of natural light by using dark shades offset with clever lighting; suspended pendants over surfaces, dimmable ceiling spots and under-cabinet lighting all work well (devolkitchens.co.uk)
INSIDE LIFE Look out for clever ways to stow away your rubbish, like this compartmentalised recycling bin from our new Country Living Whitstable kitchen in Thyme at Homebase (homebase.co.uk)
KITCHENALIA Batterie de cuisine hung from stainlesssteel hanging rails means everything’s to hand. This always-ondisplay style works best with attractive tools (visit catering suppliers for top-quality ones), mixing old with new
TABLE TOPS A bespoke-made table is a good alternative to an island and has a lighter outline, so isn’t as dominant. An antique or vintage table could also work well. Haddon kitchen by Burbidge & Son (burbidgekitchen makers.co.uk)
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WALL OF IDEAS Fewer wall cabinets make a kitchen appear brighter and airier, but if you need the storage space, glazed cabinets, such as those in our Whitstable range at Homebase (homebase.co.uk), give a lighter appearance
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STANDOUT STYLE An antique or vintage piece – such as the butcher’s block shown here – can make a strong statement, so you can plan the style of the whole room around it
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MIX & MATCH Team old and new or a vintage piece of furniture with a built-in kitchen. The owners of this house partnered an old glazed wall cabinet with a pale beech-topped run of fitted cupboards
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COLOUR THERAPY Unexpected and eyecatching, ointment pink (with its sugariness offset with a hint of brown in its make-up), is the latest on-trend shade for country kitchens (devolkitchens.co.uk)
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WINDOW DRESSING Keep window treatments simple and practical. Roman blinds, shown here, can be lowered for privacy and work to soften the frame when raised; roller blinds with a contrasting fabric lining look good, too. Make sure they are removable (attached by a Velcro heading) for cleaning. Suffolk kitchen by Neptune (neptune.com)
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BRUSH UP The quickest and least-expensive way to make over a kitchen is to repaint the door fronts. The planked doors here have been painted a deep charcoal for a crisp look that chimes with the industrial heritage of the building
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HEARTH & HOME A large range cooker looks best when recessed slightly into an alcove. Create a similar effect with a practical tiled splashback and a shelf that mimics a mantel design
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A TOUCH OF GLASS Another way of making a focal point in a kitchen is to place a decorative splashback above a cooker. From our range with Splashback (splashback. co.uk), it features a collage of silhouettes of meadow grasses and umbellifers
GO RETRO Vintage accessories are an affordable way to bring instant charm along with some playful pattern and colour. Vintage fairs and markets are good hunting grounds along with ebay and Etsy for individual sellers
DISAPPEARING ACT Cabinets in one colour make for a calm space, but wooden units are cleverly teamed with white wall cupboards that ‘disappear’. Even the island has a lighter silhouette. Henley kitchen by Neptune (neptune.com)
HOME ZONE
In an open-plan room, ‘zone’ the space with wall colours or rugs to define different areas. At The Outbuilding (theoutbuildingapple dore.com), a colourful kilim separates the dining table and chairs from the galley kitchen
GET A GRIP Changing handles has a surprising impact. The wooden Whitstable kitchen in Pewter, our design with Homebase (homebase.co.uk), has metal ‘D’ handles with an aged appearance. Tea towel by Rowen & Wren (rowenandwren.co.uk)
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THE ART OF DISPLAY Keep on show what is beautiful and, ideally, in regular use. Glazed cupboards can be a stylish way to display favourite pieces. Our Whitstable kitchen in Deep Blue with Homebase (homebase.co.uk) has elegant reeded metal bar handles. Mugs by Emma Lacey (emmalacey.com). Napkins by Rowen & Wren (rowenandwren.co.uk)
ROUGH & SMOOTH In this kitchen by Blakes London (blakeslondon. com), whitewashed sawn timber cupboard fronts and porcelain planks (which mimic limed floorboards) contrast with whiteveined marble and sage green paint
DIVIDE & RULE Try to devise clever storage at the planning stages. Drawers below waist height are always a better option, allowing you to access contents more easily. Here, moveable pegs stop plates sliding around
HIDE & SEEK Conceal appliances unless they make a statement (fitted doors are ideal) but you can improvise a disguise, too. The owner of this cottage has run a piece of linen on wire to hide a fridge (gunwalloe cottages.co.uk)
COLOUR & CONTRAST Exposed brick presents a warm and interesting backdrop to units. You could colourwash it with diluted emulsion or paint it a solid colour; alternatively, simply leave it raw and unadorned