Ideabook 911: Giving a Kitchen a Farmhouse Feel
Judy B. hit The Buzz Board up this morning with a kitchen dilemma:
I have what I guess is a traditional kitchen. 24 cherry cabinets and drawers that I just can not paint although I love painted cabinets. Any suggestions on how to get more of a farmhouse look... It looks somewhat like this...cabinets are a bit lighter . Oak floors. Looks similar to this picture. Thanks! judy b
Judy B. I'm not having the best luck finding cherry cabinets in some of our iconic farmhouse kitchen files, but that doesn't mean it cannot be done! My parents have cherry cabinets with bin pulls and granite counters in our Maine cottage and it still has a rustic feel. You can keep your permanent features and will be adding the farmhouse feel via accessories and styling.
It sounds like you have a very crisp traditional kitchen, and I am not advocating filling it up with too much "kountry klutter" here! If you edit carefully you can make your kitchen comfortable and streamlined at the same time. The purpose of this ideabook is to give you a bunch of options so that you can pick and choose what works for you.
Try to see beyond all of the white and off white cabinets in the photos below. As for your counters, you should bring a sample of the cherry to the stone warehouse to try and pick up on the warm colors you have going on. Here are a few suggestions on how to get that farmhouse look - please pick and choose whatever works for you:
1) Lighten the floors. Consider a painted wood floor or a light colored tile.
2) If number one is not possible, add a few small rugs. A rag rug below the kitchen sink can add a good dash of farmhouse charm.
3) Switch out your hardware. Rustic hardware can transform your cabinets to a farmhouse feel - consider bin pulls or something in a black iron.
4) Add folk art accessories. I've seen a lot of charming farmhouse kitchens that have a well-placed wood carved cow or a horse weathervane serving as art pieces.
5) Try removing a cabinet door or two and replacing it with a clear glass door. You can show off your plates, glasses, or perhaps rows of mason jars in these cabinets.
5) Here's a larger commitment: Replace your kitchen island with a more rustic one. You can use a different counter on these - perhaps it's a piece with lighter colored planks, tile or stainless steel on top.
6) Speaking of islands, find stools that seem like they are from the farm. I'd go with very simple round stools or some Marais-style metal French cafe stools.
7) Add a potrack. Martha Stewart's original kitchen with the miles of copper pots and pans will always be stuck in my head when I think of a farmhouse kitchen!
8) If it's an eat-in kitchen, add a farmhouse table and some rustic chairs. These chairs can be a total mix of inexpensive antiques you'll have fun finding. Again, I really like the Marais chair. You can introduce color via these chairs and their seat cushions.
9) Bring in texture with table top accessories and organizing elements. Metal buckets, woven baskets, antique glass vases - you get the idea (and I'll show you some below).
10) Pick out some new lighting fixtures that have a more rustic look. Schoolhouse vintage fixtures, metal fixtures, lanterns, perhaps even a small table lamp on a counter.
Alright, enough list-making from me, let's take a look at the goods in the images below.
I have what I guess is a traditional kitchen. 24 cherry cabinets and drawers that I just can not paint although I love painted cabinets. Any suggestions on how to get more of a farmhouse look... It looks somewhat like this...cabinets are a bit lighter . Oak floors. Looks similar to this picture. Thanks! judy b
Judy B. I'm not having the best luck finding cherry cabinets in some of our iconic farmhouse kitchen files, but that doesn't mean it cannot be done! My parents have cherry cabinets with bin pulls and granite counters in our Maine cottage and it still has a rustic feel. You can keep your permanent features and will be adding the farmhouse feel via accessories and styling.
It sounds like you have a very crisp traditional kitchen, and I am not advocating filling it up with too much "kountry klutter" here! If you edit carefully you can make your kitchen comfortable and streamlined at the same time. The purpose of this ideabook is to give you a bunch of options so that you can pick and choose what works for you.
Try to see beyond all of the white and off white cabinets in the photos below. As for your counters, you should bring a sample of the cherry to the stone warehouse to try and pick up on the warm colors you have going on. Here are a few suggestions on how to get that farmhouse look - please pick and choose whatever works for you:
1) Lighten the floors. Consider a painted wood floor or a light colored tile.
2) If number one is not possible, add a few small rugs. A rag rug below the kitchen sink can add a good dash of farmhouse charm.
3) Switch out your hardware. Rustic hardware can transform your cabinets to a farmhouse feel - consider bin pulls or something in a black iron.
4) Add folk art accessories. I've seen a lot of charming farmhouse kitchens that have a well-placed wood carved cow or a horse weathervane serving as art pieces.
5) Try removing a cabinet door or two and replacing it with a clear glass door. You can show off your plates, glasses, or perhaps rows of mason jars in these cabinets.
5) Here's a larger commitment: Replace your kitchen island with a more rustic one. You can use a different counter on these - perhaps it's a piece with lighter colored planks, tile or stainless steel on top.
6) Speaking of islands, find stools that seem like they are from the farm. I'd go with very simple round stools or some Marais-style metal French cafe stools.
7) Add a potrack. Martha Stewart's original kitchen with the miles of copper pots and pans will always be stuck in my head when I think of a farmhouse kitchen!
8) If it's an eat-in kitchen, add a farmhouse table and some rustic chairs. These chairs can be a total mix of inexpensive antiques you'll have fun finding. Again, I really like the Marais chair. You can introduce color via these chairs and their seat cushions.
9) Bring in texture with table top accessories and organizing elements. Metal buckets, woven baskets, antique glass vases - you get the idea (and I'll show you some below).
10) Pick out some new lighting fixtures that have a more rustic look. Schoolhouse vintage fixtures, metal fixtures, lanterns, perhaps even a small table lamp on a counter.
Alright, enough list-making from me, let's take a look at the goods in the images below.
Photos & Products
Removing a cabinet door or two and adding glass doors can help you show off your farmhouse accessories.
Dear Daisy is a master at adding charming details. Fresh flowers, antique frames, painted chairs and a checkercloth tablecloth all add to the feeling of country comfort.
A handsome rooster is good luck in a kitchen. I like this one because the way it is displayed is not too kitschy.
Here are the Marais chairs I spoke of earlier. Seat cushions are another way to bring in print, pattern, and color.
When it comes to islands, anything goes - this is an example of adding a unique piece to a small space.
These light fixtures are perfect for a modern farmhouse feel. Also, check out the pot rack.
A farmhouse sink and appropriate hardware will help you get that feel. Also, these counters look like they might work for you.
The shelves fashioned from antique cornices show a clever way to put a unique stamp on the kitchen. It keeps it from looking like it came out of a box.
These cafe chairs are a fun option (though I admit, they are not the most comfortable). Antique bottles are a good way to bring in style with accessories.
This looks closer to the color palette you are working with, and the bottles and table are all the farmhouse statement this room needs.
Consider an antique mirror.
This is not a kitchen, but if you have any doors into the kitchen, you may want to replace one with a salvaged one, or paint it a fun color. Also, this type of rug would be good for you.
This kitchen has a lot of elements that can inspire you - light fixtures, island, wire baskets for storage and simple stools.
Maybe a tin ceiling would work for you.
This kitchen has the perfect accessories - the cow weathervane, the enamel containers on the counters, the oven vent, the lovely flowers.
Here's a great example of a painted island that stands out yet works well with the rest of the kitchen decor.
Check out the accessories (rugs, basket of apples, etc.) and light fixtures here, including the small table lamp on the left.
Speaking of accessories, pieces like these can be placed under an open island to store seat cushions, table linens, and other kitchen items.
Comments (12)
sarah4444lag
upstaging, I love, love, love how you inserted that painted furniture piece with the display shelves into your run of cabinets, and how you carried over your crown molding above with the puck lights!
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sarah4444lag
here's a painted hutch I did with a stained wood interior, wood top, and wood knobs. I think this had seeded glass in the doors.
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Georgina Obeid
Very nice kitchens, the wood gives a cozy feeling and its easier to clean :)
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