If you’re planning on a kitchen remodel in the near future, you may want to consider a cottage kitchen design. This style focuses on a happy, unpretentious feel that evokes simplicity and carefree living. Before you decide, read the list of key features that a cottage kitchen can bring to your home.
Soft Colors and Pendant Lights – The cottage palette is usually light and airy. Soft yellow, pale turquoise or light khaki all look fresh. You can also try a mix of cabinetry colors: one shade on the island with a contrasting hue on the cabinets. Low-hanging pendant lights help a kitchen feel cozy, but they also give much needed task lighting. Select models have a retro feel with shades of seeded or frosted glass or brushed nickel.
Open Shelving and Cup Pulls- As a contrast to traditional upper cabinetry, open shelving recalls a simpler time when kitchens were more utilitarian.. Open shelves allow cooks to retrieve dishes and tools quickly, but they are as much about aesthetics as about practicality. They open up the kitchen and allow for the storage of many household items. 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.
Beadboard and Hardwood Flooring – Nothing says cottage kitchen more clearly than beadboard. This grooved style of paneling warms walls and cabinetry and adds architectural interest. You don’t need much to create a cottage effect with so much visual impact. You can paint it a creamy color, choose the same hue as your cabinetry or sand it slightly for an aged, distressed look. Hardwood floors are great at complimenting cottage kitchen remodels. You can construct bare planks to show the natural beauty of their grain or paint them in a solid color or a pattern such as checkerboard. Hardwoods aren’t the only choice for cottage kitchen floors, however, linoleum, vintage-look tile or even slate could work as well.