How to Design a Country Kitchen

If you're looking to change your kitchen decor and paint colors, but want something more cozy than modern, going country might be the choice for you. The traditional country kitchen develops its authentic patina over the course of several generations of near-constant use. However, you can achieve this look with a little imagination and technique. Much like in Tuscan design, decorative painting and faux finishing applications allow you to replicate "antique" surfaces like aged plaster, distressed furniture and hand painted tiles. Painting over wood or laminate cabinets can help complete your new look.

Things You'll Need

• Magazines
• Journal & Pen
• Sketch Pad

Instructions

Country Beautiful

1. Search through magazines that specialize in country kitchen design. Country kitchens are defined by the cabinet style. Look for cabinet doors with raised panels. Flat front cabinets are more contemporary. Country kitchen design will also have many traditional elements such as crown molding. Create a journal with all your favorites and sketch details.

2. 

   Select cabinet styles and color. Medium tone wood colors are seen more in country kitchens, such as a natural pine or oak. But what you will see most in a country kitchen is white cabinetry. Choose a raised panel front in a white or creamy white finish. The cabinet hardware should be a little ornate, or even whimsical. While handles are seen, single knobs on cabinet drawers and doors are more common. If you have an island, choose a different cabinet color for it than the wall cabinets.

3. 

   Choose a sink for your country kitchen. A signature country accent is a farmhouse sink. It has an apron front which is not covered by the cabinet. It is essentially a cutout. A farmhouse sink can be porcelain, steel, or copper. The apron can be smooth or have an ornately decorative front.

4. Select a counter top that will go with the decor. There is not a standard counter that goes with country design. Modern countertop options have many patterns and styles that will coordinate with most design styles. If you have an island, in addition to it having a different cabinet color, it can also have a different counter top. A butcher block island would be a perfect country accent, and eliminate the need for cutting boards.

5. 

   Include a pot rack over the island. Hang pots for ease of use and baskets for decorative accents.

6. Begin selecting the appliances. A great touch to keep your kitchen country is to have panel front appliances. When choosing appliances get those that can have a front that will take a cabinet panel. This will look like the cabinets you are choosing, thus allowing the appliances to blend in.

7. 

   Choose accessories that will bring the country look together. Paint colors are normally yellows, blues and red. No country kitchen would be complete without a rooster. This fella will be a focal point so choose him wisely. Use ceramic or glass canisters for decoration. Country kitchens are not modern and steel accents are very modern. Copper can be used.