Rustic farmhouse kitchens recall days when people cooked, when families sat around the table and shared a meal, when the air that was full of the smells of good things in the oven. These days, many people have had to return to this style of life as they work from home, supervise the schooling of their children and re-learn the art of cooking, canning and other culinary arts. Moreover, they have time on their hands to design the farmhouse kitchen of their dreams. Here are 10 design tips for creating a farmhouse rustic kitchen:
Use a farmhouse sink
Farmhouse sinks are also called apron sinks because they are deep roomy and have an “apron” in the front. The apron may project a bit beyond the floor cabinet the sink is built into, and since farmhouse sinks don’t have decks, they may need wall-mounted plumbing. They’re just the thing if a homeowner likes to cook meals that require filling stockpots or Dutch ovens with water. Farmhouse sinks can be made of a variety of materials, including stainless steel, enameled iron and soapstone, but a classic farmhouse sink is made of pure white porcelain.
Install wooden countertops
Wooden countertops make a farmhouse kitchen especially rustic. One type of wood to choose is rock maple, which is strong, durable and beautiful. There are still rock maple butcher blocks that have been in use for over a century. Unlike other types of counters, wooden counters grow more attractive as they age. They’re not as expensive as counters made of stone or tile and are easy to clean and maintain, Contrary to rumor, they don’t hold on to smells or encourage bacteria.
Display Antiques
Antiques can range from Edwardian era carpet beaters hung on a wall to a wood-burning stove from the same period. Other antiques that can be displayed around the kitchen are ceramics, including decorative plates and old fashioned jugs, old posters, baskets woven of willow or sea grass and copper cookware. By the way, just because they are antiques doesn’t mean they can’t be used. They still haven’t invented a tool that gets a rug cleaner than a carpet beater.
Use Natural Materials
Though engineered stone is trending in 2020, the rustic farmhouse kitchen prefers natural materials. This can include not just the above mentioned wooden countertop, but counters made of natural stone such as granite and hardwood floors protected by rag rugs woven out of fabrics such as cotton or wool. Curtains, whether over the windows or beneath the apron sink, are also made of the same types of fabrics. Tables, chairs and cabinets are made of wood. They often have a light stain or varnish, though homeowners can get away with painting them soft pastels.
Use Open Shelves
Open shelves are not only a storage solution, and most kitchens come up short when it comes to storage, but are esthetically pleasing. Open shelves can be hung in the same area as wall cabinets, and because they have a lighter feel they can be hung on both sides of the window, over the kitchen island or at the wall at the end of a peninsula. They’re not only good for storing kitchenware but can hold houseplants, photos and knick-knacks. The one thing about open shelves is that they need to be kept neat and clean, but this shouldn’t be too burdensome if it’s simply part of the cleaning up of the kitchen at the end of the day. If a homeowner still thinks that open shelving is not for them, they might consider the halfway solution of cabinets with glass-fronted doors. The glass can be clear, frosted or rippled.
Add Vintage Lighting
Few homeowners are going to go back to a kitchen lit with hurricane lamps fueled with kerosene, but the appeal of antique and vintage lighting can still be obtained. Replace the Sputnik style hanging lamps with lamps with shades made of milk or opal glass, plain or fluted glass lanterns with polished brass hardware or unfussy chandeliers made of wrought iron or brass lit with electric bulbs that only resemble candles. Yard sales are great places to find the perfect vintage light fixture for the kitchen.
Consider Softer Colors
There are trends of both neutrals in the kitchen and bold primary colors such as fire engine red and ocean blue. The neutrals that are popular are not quite the same as softer colors in the farmhouse kitchen, though they’re related. Besides shades of white, the farmhouse kitchen attracts the eye with shades of earth colors such as green, brown and yellows. One color that’s become popular in farmhouse kitchens is a soft, periwinkle blue used for wall and floor cabinets. This color contrasts well with wooden countertops and bright, somewhat showy hardware such as brass cup pulls.
Paint/Whitewash/Pickle the Floor
Rustic farmhouse kitchens often have floors made of planks of hardwood, but there’s no rule that says that the floor can’t be painted. The homeowner can go for muted colors that complement the colors found in the rest of the kitchen. Floors can even be whitewashed, which gives them a look that’s both rustic and light. Pickling the floor brings out the beauty of the pores and the grain of the wood.
Build a Fireplace
Few things let a visitor know they’re in a rustic farmhouse kitchen than a fireplace. This kitchen fireplace is for more than just show but is actually used to cook food. Because of this, the homeowner can go a step further and add cooking utensils as well as the traditional grate, andirons and other accessories. This can include an adjustable fireplace crane, hanging pots and pans, trivets and open-hearth broilers. Of course, the best way to have a fireplace is to have it built at the same time as the rest of the house.
Don’t Forget the Ceiling
Many rustic kitchen farmhouse have ceilings with exposed beams which can be decorative or actually weight-bearing. Other ceilings are made of beadboard, and the beadboard can also be installed on the walls.
