Search This Blog

Monday, June 10, 2013

Keys to Elegant Farmhouse Style

Somewhere between Country French and industrial chic lives an eclectic style that mixes timeworn patinas with polished metals and glossy slabs of stone- a style that can be described as "elegant farmhouse".

These warm, welcoming kitchens are casual enough to encourage lingering conversations over coffee and pie. But they're also packed with enough state-of-the-art technology to make cooking a breeze and the requisite cleaning up afterward incredibly convenient. There's no set recipe for such a kitchen, but in the end, this particular style should look as though is has evolved over time- with a mixture of traditional architectural features, heirloom-quality finishes, contemporary appliances and fixtures, and maybe even a mirror finish material or two. Some components will suggest the simple charms of country farmhouses, other elements will be as vibrant and exciting as a high-end restaurant. Mix and match at will: The elegant farmhouse kitchen displays personal style at its very best.


Blur the boundaries between past and present by mixing warm farmhouse basic with cool contemporary accents.

FARMHOUSE BASICS:

  • Traditional architectural features such as muntin-divided windows and hewn ceiling beams
  • Furniture-style cabinets with full-inset doors and drawer fronts, crown molding caps, carved feet, and recessed toe-kicks
  • Cabinet hardware or weathered metals 
  • Subtle paint colors
  •  Heirloom finishes: honed, hand-painted, distressed, and glazed
  • Reclaimed materials: soapstone counters, subway tile backsplashes, beaded-board wall details and seeded glass
  • Handcrafted light fixtures
  • Plumbing fixtures with vintage profiles: bridge faucets and apron-front sinks
  • Farm table or island with rustic detailing
  • Pot rack

CONTEMPORARY ACCENTS: 
  • Commercial-style stainless steel appliances
  • Sculptural, industrial-style range hood
  • Luxurious marble slabs used as backsplashes
  • Extra-thick, crisp edges of slab countertops
  • Pull-down chef's style faucet
  • Unexpected use of bright paint colors
  • Contemporary light fixtures in shiny metal or glass
  •  Concrete countertops

No comments:

Post a Comment