Cottage Style Kitchens. What Are The Details Of Cottage Kitchens?

Cottage style kitchens are a combination of rustic architecture mixed with modern refinements. A feeling of openness with lots of light is the cottage style.

I remember a cottage kitchen from my childhood. It was a mix of re-purposed furniture for the base cabinets and naturally crackled bead board cabinets. None of it matched but it all worked together because it was all painted the same color, off white.

The cottage style kitchen is simplicity at it's best. Non ornamental and highly functional is the theme of this kitchen. With an emphasis on natural materials, and an overabundance of natural light.

Expect to see light to medium colored woods of maple, white oak, poplar, and alder. Cottage kitchens are often painted or glazed to give it an aged look. Unpainted wood is common as well with emphasis on lighter colors, but can be stained a warmer tone.

Freestanding base cabinets and few upper cabinets, often only over the sink, and pantries define this style. Open plate racks are popular as well. Cottage kitchens often look like a hodge podge of different styles of cabinets. Bringing the whole look together is color or type of wood used.

Colors used in cottage kitchens are white, off white, robin's egg blue, and any neutral tones. Base cabinets can be painted different colors from the upper cabinets in a complementary tone.

Islands that look like old furniture, like an old dresser perhaps? Like it was taken from another part of the house and put in the kitchen.

Lighting is plain and are often hanging fixtures such as pendants and simple chandeliers. A great idea for lighting is to re-purpose an old pan rack and hang it over the island or in the center of the room.

Sinks used are cast iron, copper, or fire clay. Farmhouse and aproned sinks are perfect for cottage kitchen style. Free standing farmhouse sinks exceeding 5 ft in length look absolutely great in a cottage kitchen. To cover up the underside of a farmhouse sink, a great tip is to hang a country style curtain around the bottom.

If you would like to add a contemporary feel to your kitchen, stainless steel sinks and appliances will accomplish this. Metal is one of those great materials that goes with just about everything; if left in it's natural finish.

Range hoods are often substantial is size, not only to draw away smoke but to create a focal point in the kitchen. Cultured stone or real stone is well placed in this kitchen. Especially around the range. The photo below is a perfect example of the use of stone in this style kitchen.

A freestanding range of vintage design is right at home here. You can get all the benefits of a modern stove with the look of a vintage range with new replica appliances. This goes for refrigerators as well.

Counters made of wood, stone, or ceramic tile are well placed in the cottage style kitchen. Soapstone and maple butcher block being the most popular.

Paneling of beaded or v-groove pine painted a light color in a semi gloss for easy cleaning is a great touch. Natural wood expands and contracts with humidity to give even more character to the walls.

The main theme of this kitchen is simplicity and natural materials in a informal setting. Different country styles combined into the same kitchen go very well together in this style.

Similar styles are country, and farmhouse.

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