8 Elements of a Cottage Kitchen

Cottage kitchens can be a sunny, cheerful hub to anchor your home. Is this easy, breezy style for you?

Lisa Frederick March 6, 2012

Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.

Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately... More

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Cottage isn’t just a decorating style — it’s an attitude. Cozy, happy and unpretentious, it harks back to simpler times and evokes a sense of easy, carefree living. And since the kitchen is usually among the busiest spots in the house, it makes sense to translate that mindset to your cabinetry, fixtures, appliances and more. If you’re planning a kitchen facelift or remodel, consider these ways to infuse your kitchen with cottage comfort.

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1. Soft colors. The cottage palette is usually light and airy, and kitchens follow suit. It's hard to go wrong with crisp, classic white, but soft yellow, pale turquoise or light khaki all look fresh and appropriate as well. Or try a mix of cabinetry colors: one shade on the island with a contrasting hue on the cabinets.

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2. Open shelving. Installed in place of traditional upper cabinetry, open shelving recalls the days when kitchens were more utilitarian than decorative. Not only was cabinetry expensive, but open shelves allowed cooks to retrieve dishes and tools quickly. Today open shelves are as much about aesthetics as about practicality: Their openness helps make a space feel larger, and they often house accessories in addition to kitchen implements.

You don't have to be obsessively neat and organized for open shelving to look attractive, but you'll want to make an effort not to let clutter build. Keeping dishware to a single color, as shown here, creates a striking effect.

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3. Beadboard. Nothing says cottage kitchen more clearly than beadboard. This grooved style of paneling warms walls and cabinetry and adds architectural interest with a minimum of fuss. Because it has so much visual impact, you don't need much to create a cottage effect. Go the classic route and paint it a creamy color, choose the same hue as your cabinetry or sand it slightly for an aged, distressed look.

4. Farmhouse sinks. Also called apron-front sinks, these beauties have made a comeback in recent years. They feature a broad, shallow face and an extra-deep bowl that can accommodate large pots or stacks of plates. Farmhouse sinks create a sense of country living, yet they're unfussy enough to work with cleaner-lined spaces. Although some versions on the market have raised or decorative detailing, streamlined styles like the one shown here are the most classic.

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5. Furniture-style cabinet details. Years ago, before cabinets as we know them came into vogue, freestanding armoires, pie safes and presses were the rule. Evoke that time period by adding furniture features to built-ins. Tuck bun feet beneath lower cabinets and corbels beneath upper ones, or paint a built-in hutch a contrasting color to give the illusion that it isn't fixed.

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6. Cup pulls. Cup-style drawer pulls, such as those that might have been found in an old-fashioned general store, lend an extra dash of period flavor to cottage kitchens. Choose a finish with patina, such as oil-rubbed bronze or brushed nickel.

Shabby-chic Style Kitchen Canadian Cottage

7. Hardwood flooring. Before carpet became de rigeur, hardwood floors were the norm, and they complement cottage kitchen style. You can either leave the planks bare to show the natural beauty of their grain or paint them in a solid color or a pattern such as checkerboard. However, hardwoods aren't the only choice for cottage kitchen floors — linoleum, vintage-look tile or even slate could work as well.

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8. Pendant lights. Low-hanging pendants help a kitchen feel cozy and also provide all-important task lighting. Select models that have a retro feel, with shades of seeded or frosted glass or brushed nickel. If you like, mix the pendants with vintage-inspired sconces and perhaps even a lamp or two to create a collected feel.

In this series: How to Find Your Kitchen Style | How to Remodel Your Kitchen

More:
So Your Style Is: Cottage
10 Reasons to Bring Back the Kitchen Table
How to Add Cottage Charm to Your Kitchen