Cottage Kitchen Cabinets Refinishing Ideas

Cottage-style kitchens have made a made a comeback in recent years. With their laid-back, uncomplicated style and cozy, casual feel, it's no wonder many are trading modern kitchens for something reminiscent of simpler times. Often using modest fabrics like burlap and duck cloth, cottage style can encompass beachfront style, farmhouse comfort or vintage chic. Whatever your individual style, one thing remains the same: Simplicity is the key to creating a cottage-style home.

Bead Board

Originally created from scrap wood, bead board became associated with spaces such as beach cottages and old farmhouses because of its low cost. Its historical use in such casual environments makes it a perfect detail to create cottage style. In today's modern kitchen, bead board can be used just about anywhere. Cabinet doors, back splashes and even entire walls can be covered in bead board, adding depth, texture and interest in an otherwise simple space.

Paint

To enhance the uncomplicated feel of a cottage, white is a natural choice for cottage-style cabinets. It can be a challenge to find the perfect cottage white, but thankfully home improvement stores now offer samples of mixed paints. Trying out a few colors in your kitchen light will ensure you get the right white. Having white cabinets allows for a variety of wall color, but white is not the only choice to create a cottage-style setting. Traditional colors, such as robin's egg blue can be used to create beach style, while more traditional country colors such as barn red can create a cozy kitchen.

Molding

Since the key to cottage style is simplicity, interest must be added to the room without adding clutter. Crown or rope moldings are often associated with cottage style. Molding added to kitchen cabinets will bring the eye up to the top of the room, making it seem more spacious. Reminiscent of craftsman-style homes, these architectural details can give even the newest home a vintage atmosphere.

Distressed Finish

A distressed finish is often created in a cottage kitchen to replicate vintage or antique cabinet pieces. To gain a distressed look, cabinets are first painted, then sanded around the edges and corners where they would receive the most wear over time. A mixture of paint and glaze is used for the topcoat, creating an aged patina on the cabinets. Like bead board and molding, a distressed finish can add interest and depth to a cottage kitchen.

Make It Home

Whether your style is beach cottage or vintage farmhouse, the elements of cottage style remain the same: casual, cozy, simple. Cleaning off countertops and replacing busy curtains with simple burlap are great first steps to creating a space you love. Above all, your kitchen should be a beautiful and functional haven that your family and friends can enjoy together.

References

• The Cottage Kitchen
• Glazing Cabinets
• Bead Board