Whether a Scandinavian, British, or traditional American design, a country kitchen is multifaceted and versatile, welcoming and durable. Here, small blemishes and some wear-and-tear are desirable. Flea market finds and cherished heirlooms come together to create a perfectly worn-in look. Perfection is unnecessary and comfort is valued above all else. Sound inviting? If you’re eager to nail the country kitchen aesthetic but need a little inspiration, look no further than these seven inspiring designs. Though they offer different takes on the style, you’ll notice one important common thread: each has an undeniable, utmost sense of coziness.
A Spanish kitchen built around light materials
For her new house on the outskirts of Madrid, Beatriz Aznar wanted a peaceful and harmonious oasis where family life and her passion for art could play an equal role. The Spanish artist, who had been living in the United States, enlisted the help of her good friend and product and interior designer Marta Labrador to help remake the home, giving it an elegant and timeless Mediterranean style. In Beatriz’s house, she wanted to “say a lot with just a few elements” while breathing personality and a narrative into the spaces. In the kitchen, she achieved this primarily through the use of natural materials such as oak, white stone, glass, and rattan. The palette of light, warm tones is further accentuated by the abundance of daylight that floods the interior of the first floor through four balconies.
A romantic country kitchen
Floral, romantic, and a bit playful: that’s the vibe of this country kitchen near England’s southern coast. Designer Pearl Lowe, who creates fashion and home textiles under her eponymous label, wanted her summer home’s kitchen to exude warmth and coziness. The bright colors and natural materials such as marble and wood do this, but it’s the small accents—many of which were vintage finds—that define the personal hideaway.
Mediterranean style goes down under
In an old building in Armadale, Australia, Studio Ezra created a cozy getaway. By using natural colors and materials such as marble, ceramics, and oak, designer Georgia Ezra effortlessly extended the Mediterranean flair of the building through Spanish Colonial style interiors. The slightly uneven wall tiles above the stovetop perfectly fit the eclectic concept and exude an “always been there” sentimentality.
A country kitchen with rounded corners
The country house look is purposefully relaxed. In this kitchen, that idea is artfully expressed in the lack of sharp edges or loud colors. Instead, the spaces takes full advantage of curves, arches, and gradations, both physically and in terms of color. Linen curtains and the opening to the terrace perfectly complete the airy concept.
Nordic restraint meets vibrant colors
Sometimes, you actually can go home again. The owner of this 1868 yellow brick villa grew up in the home with her parents, and later returned to it with her husband, two children, and mother. Today, as it was when she was a child, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Traditional craftsmanship is combined with a simple and timeless aesthetic, but thanks to an effective use of color, it doesn’t look austere. The wood used is not only sustainable, but also durable, so that the kitchen, just like the rest of the house, can eventually be passed on to the next generation.
A vintage design for a New York apartment
The owners of this apartment know a thing or two about kitchens—Rita Sodi and Jody Williams run several very successful restaurants in New York. In their private lives, the couple loves functionality, but they didn't want it in the form of the cool, steely atmosphere of industrial kitchens. Instead they wanted to combine vintage finds and heirlooms with lots of marble (Rita comes from Tuscany) and their professional equipment—a seamless match.
A green oasis in the urban jungle
“Minimal, but warm.” That’s how a young Brooklyn family described the kitchen they wanted at the heart of their traditional brownstone duplex. Open shelving provides plenty of storage, various seating options invite family members and guests to linger, and light wood and powdery grays create a relaxed backdrop for lots of plants. It’s evidence that a kitchen can be for more than just cooking.
