An ultra-modern, minimalist kitchen might look beautiful on a brochure – and it can also look great in real life if you’re disciplined enough to keep an all-white room tidy. But if you’re craving something a little friendly to the chaos of everyday life, you may already have a soft spot for the quintessential English country kitchen.
The familiar painted cabinetry, wooden countertops, and slate of this style create a relaxed, livable atmosphere that exudes irresistible warmth and charm, but also room for gentle updates.
So, take advantage of these 10 rustic kitchen essentials and make the most of a rustic look that makes it fit for a 21st-century home.
1. Large Ceramic Sink
The main ingredient in every English country kitchen is a large, beautiful ceramic sink. Whether it’s Belfast, housekeeper or farmhouse, these sturdy, practical workhorses are perfect for washing cauldrons, pans and trays, as well as scrubbing vegetables.
The large double-bowl design in this clean kitchen shows how this classic unit can look fresh and stylish in a more modern rural setting.
2. Freestanding Furniture
Who can resist the allure of this delightful and inviting space, a mix of freestanding furniture, quirky industrial lighting, and rows of gleaming copper pots and pans (the backbone of the rustic style)?
Add to that the slouchy leather armchair and I’ll find me here all day long – whether it’s preparing a light lunch or sitting down to read a good book.
3. Paneled Walls
Tongue and groove plates have a simple aesthetic. Perhaps it’s because this classic cladding style is reminiscent of a whimsical, bygone era when the pace of life was more modest.
Regardless of its appeal, tongue and groove paneling is the most striking wall treatment in a classic country kitchen, and when paired with a painted nail holder, it turns into a practical feature.
4. Island style
The island’s hunk is the star of this rustic kitchen, and you might not be surprised to learn that it belongs to a professional chef. It has all the ingredients for a kitchen ready to cook masterpieces, from custom units (tables, workstations, and storage units) made from solid English oak to beautiful copper stove cookware and velvety smooth Italian black basalt. Surface. It’s the perfect combination of beauty and functionality in the kitchen.
5. Heritage Appliance
This is perhaps the classic Aga cooktop, succinctly embodying the essence of a typical English country kitchen.
This traditional British-made appliance has a legion of fans, but has also kept pace with the times, and is now available in a range of enamel shades to suit all kitchens – from glossy black and cream to pretty rose, pistachio and lemon. There are also compact, electric, and even app-controlled Agas, so you can combine modern and traditional cooking techniques into one aesthetically pleasing device.
6. Weathered Finish
I never get tired of the weathered materials and rustic finishes in the kitchen, and that’s luckily because both are the main elements of a classic country look.
The patina of a worn-out wooden table has an irresistible personality and beauty that only gets better with time and regular use (let’s face it, we can’t say that about a lot of things in life).
Look for old oak tables that have been scrubbed and a mix of chairs (painted, distressed, bare or even metal), and dive into the scrapyard in search of vintage floors, stone tiles, old sinks, and fixtures for the look and personality of a rural space that has it all.
7. Shaker Type
A simple shaker-style kitchen is a beautiful thing that should stand the test of time. This effortless yet sophisticated style is perfect for country kitchens, especially when the cabinets are painted in chalky vintage tones (from dove grey to oatmeal and buttermilk) and complete with tin knobs or handles.
The beautiful handcrafted version of the Shaker cabinet has a sturdy in-frame structure, which means the door is set within the frame. Or look for a more convenient off-the-shelf alternative to a wallet that has a shaker-style door that attaches directly to the cabinet box.
8. Mix and Match
There is an incredible charm to the kitchen without renovation. Historically, country kitchens consisted of individual pieces of furniture, such as vanities, linen presses, thick cooking utensils, and pantry cabinets.
Assembling individual pieces into a complete kitchen can be tricky and often requires a lot of space. However, you can still create the same bespoke, laid-back vibe by emphasizing the built-in design with freestanding kitchen cabinets painted in contrasting colors.
9. Open and Closed Storage
In a country kitchen, you never find everything hidden behind a closed door, so mixing cabinets with open shelving is the ideal compromise for someone like me who isn’t the most tidy person in the world.
Sure, we all need plenty of cupboard space to store food and equipment, but equally, country kitchens love to display and display their belongings, whether it’s rows of shiny pans, stacks of pure white crockery, or vases ready to fill the garden with flowers.
10. Stone Flooring
A textural feast of weathered stone paving stones is the finishing touch to a rustic kitchen. With the cabinets light and neutral, the designers of this kitchen can go all out with a patchwork of bronze, sea green, and charcoal stone tiles to create a signature floor that is both durable and design-impacted.
