How to design a classic country kitchen

 The country kitchen offers a warm and inviting style custom made for creating hearty meals for family and friends. You can design a classic country kitchen using these country basics in materials, style and decorative detail.

Rustic Wood

Typical country kitchens depend on wood with grain and knots for texture and a rustic feeling. Your cabinets can have a rough hewn look with a natural finish to allow the wood grain to shine through. However, there are also many rural looks that use interesting paint finishes such as white wash. Other classic country looks add painted cabinets or islands using lovely milk paint blue or washed out greens and yellows. Wide plank wood floors carry the same rustic look heavily grained and knotted. Natural wood bead board, thick slabbed butcher block countertops on islands and open wood shelves add to the look of your country kitchen.

Charming tile

The classic country kitchen features tile prominently with Italian and French inspired painted ceramic or porcelain tile. These tiles have decorative detail for rustic, charming backsplashes which can be used on their own, or as accent tiles combined with a more subtle tile. You can also consider the Greek inspired look with cobalt blue and white tile or a Spanish influence with large terra cotta tiles on floors and smaller tiles on the counter and backsplash. If you are not a fan of cultural influences go for classic solid coloured square tile in muted greens, creams, yellows or blues.

Rural fixtures

Your fixtures include faucets, door pulls and handles and lights. Look for rustic patina finishes such as copper, brass and black cast iron. You want simplistic looks such as cup style pulls on drawers and an antique look for faucets such as faux pumps in dark metals. Rustic lighting in cast iron, bronze and wood work wonderfully in the country kitchen. However, if you want a more elegant look you can look for apothecary and retro school house lighting. White porcelain knobs also add a touch of sophistication as do glass knobs on cupboards and cabinets.

Creating country kitchens focuses on natural and rustic finishes, chunky stylings and a touch of sparkle and elegance with porcelain and glass. Accessories with country charm such as crockery collections or interesting tile designs for back splashes make for a customized look.