If the home is where the heart is, then the kitchen is our modern day heart is located. The kitchen is much more than the place where you store your food, it truly is the center of the home. It is where all the family, no matter how big or small, come together and connect. Classic farm house kitchens are often associated with, and invoke feelings of, warmth and welcome. They give off a rustic, homely ambience, which in recent years has seen a rise in popularity.
The ‘modern farm house’ style is a look that works in all property types from real country properties to modern townhouses. It is a look that is both traditional and contemporary, simply put, it is a timeless aesthetic. We at The Galleria of Tile have put together our tips on how you can transform your kitchen today.
Think Natural
The contemporary country look is all about making use of natural materials. Think wooden beams and cabinets, exposed brick walls and natural stone flooring. Unfortunately, natural materials can not only break the bank account, but also require constant upkeep – like the sealing and resealing of natural stone tiles to prevent staining. Luckily, we at The Galleria of Tile has the next best thing, realistic tiles that mimic natural materials. From brick to wood to natural stone, we have porcelain tiles that come with none of the costs of natural materials but still give your kitchen that same rustic feeling.
Brick walls: Beautiful brick feature walls will give any kitchen a country feel. At The Galleria of Tile, we have the realistic Cortina brick effect range. Available in traditional red, fresh white and cool grey these bricks will look great and transform any kitchen interior into a modern country aesthetic.
Wood: Wooden beams and cabinets clearly signal a country kitchen. It brings the outdoors inside with a cultivated elegance that echoes through the ages. However, wooden beams can be an expensive style choice. So, why not have wood effect floors, which give all the appearance of natural wood with the delightful ease of porcelain tiles? Our Reclaimed range is designed to look like distressed wooden floorboards to help you create that traditional feeling.
Stone flooring: A country kitchen isn’t complete without beautiful stone flooring. Our Flint range of porcelain wall and floor tiles have a riven slate effect, available in the multicolored mix, striking black, and more subtle sand & grey. What tiles like this do is help summon images of pastoral settings, even if you are living in the city, making your kitchen an idyllic escape from every-day life.
The Importance of Color
When designing a country kitchen, homeowners will often opt for white as a focus color. Whilst this can make the room look more spacious, don’t be afraid to mix things up. Country styles often favor more muted color palettes, think nature-inspired shades and playful pastels. However, bold pops of color can really liven up your kitchen and give it a distinctive character that is unique to you. Why not paint your cabinets in a different color to the rest of your kitchen space to add further depth and variation to your kitchen.
Embrace Patterns
Whilst natural materials and subtle colors can often seem to dominate most country styles, patterns play a crucial role as well. A patterned tiled floor is a great and simple way of creating that modern country feeling in your kitchen. If you are thinking of a patterned tiled floor, we have many great choices to choose from. When we say embrace patterns this doesn’t have to be an all or nothing experience. The amount and level to which you integrate patterns into your kitchen is entirely dependent on you. If you aren’t sure a patterned floor is for you, there are other ways to use patterns. Think pillows, throws, rugs, crookery, blinds, kitchen towels, the options to add pattern and character to your kitchen really are endless.
Keep it Traditional
To help create an authentic country look switch out your modern appliances for those with a more traditional feel. Brass Victorian taps, and rustic looking appliances like your lighting and kettle are just some of the items you can invest in for that traditional look.
Get Display Happy
Farm house kitchens are not supposed to be pristine and completely clutter-free in fact, to help create that rustic ambiance, which is vital for a modern country aesthetic, it is better to get display happy. It helps give a space that lived-in feel and can make a kitchen seem much homelier. There are a number of ways in which you can display things in your kitchen. Consider adding glass doors to your cupboards so your beautiful collection of plates, bowls, and mugs will be on display. You may also want to put up hooks where you can hang your oven gloves, tea towels and apron.
There you have it, all our tips and suggestions to help you achieve the modern farm house look in your home. So, get ready to transform your kitchen into the welcoming, warm heart it is.