Country & Farmhouse Kitchens

What makes a kitchen a ‘farmhouse kitchen’?

You don’t have to live in the country to enjoy the rustic farmhouse kitchen you’ve been dreaming of. This style can be achieved in any kitchen with the right design elements and direction. 

A farmhouse kitchen usually has hardwood floors, open shelving, and vintage decor. These sustainable kitchens generally make use of reclaimed or repurposed wood to add to the rustic charm. Farmhouse kitchens are built to last, so consider large basin sinks and well-made appliances to accommodate meal preparation.

Considerations and design tips for your farmhouse kitchen remodel

A kitchen renovation is a major undertaking that requires precise planning and effective budgeting. When you choose to work with Refresh, you’ll have a local Renovation Consultant to manage your project manager advise you on every step of the design-and-build process. 

Planning and Layout

• Assess available space and dimensions: Firstly, you’ll need to evaluate the space and scale. How much room do you have to work with? How much of your existing kitchen do you want to change? Early on in the planning process, your Renovation Consultant will ask you to define your budget so that they can suggest the best ways of allocating funds to the project. 
• Identify key elements and focal points: Think about your sources of natural light. Can you increase those? Will you have a farmhouse kitchen island? If so, this will generally become the main focal point in your space.
• Determine your desired kitchen workflow: To wrap up the planning stage, consider your current kitchen’s layout and whether the flow makes sense. If there are any sticking points, perhaps you adjust the location of appliances to make workflow more efficient. Your Renovation Consultant can provide working drawings to help you visualize the possibilities for your kitchen’s flow. 

Color Scheme and Materials

• Choosing a farmhouse-inspired color palette:  Once your layout is configured, it’s time to focus on the design details. Farmhouse kitchen color ideas are inspired by nature and prioritize warm, neutral shades that complement the rustic materials in your kitchen. Think wooden floors and shelving, stone or timber benchtops, and clay accent pieces.
• Selecting durable and easy-to-maintain materials: Your Renovation Consultant will help you choose materials that will wear well over time. Think hardwood flooring, easy-to-clean benchtops and backsplashes, sturdy wooden cabinetry. Our team at Refresh have connections with trusted suppliers to provide you with the best materials for your remodel.
• Incorporating natural elements for a rustic feel: Mixed, earthy materials like hardwood floors and shelving, exposed timber beams, and stone benchtops give warmth and character to your farmhouse kitchen.

Cabinetry and Storage

• Optimal cabinet layout and organization: Farmhouse kitchens, much like Shaker kitchens, prioritize efficient storage solutions in the form of exceptionally crafted cabinetry. Your Renovation Consultant will help you plan a cabinet layout that best suits your kitchen’s blueprint. Custom cabinetry is a great way to tailor your cabinets to your personal storage needs, with dimensions that fit your specific kitchen wares.
• Choosing the right materials and finishes: Farmhouse natural wood kitchen cabinets are a classic choice, and often use reclaimed or repurposed timber. Choose a simple wood stain for a cozy, cabin-like feel. If you prefer a pop of color or clean, white look, you might opt for a coat of paint on your wooden cabinetry.
• Open shelving: Open shelving has stylistic and practical purposes in a farmhouse kitchen. Display your curated collection of glasses and dishware while keeping these items within easy reach. 

Lighting

• Hanging pendant lights: Modern farmhouse kitchen lighting ideas usually include creative sculptural pendant lights. For a more traditional look, you might consider antique pendant lights over your rustic farmhouse kitchen island.
• Wall lights: Wall sconces create warm, atmospheric lighting for a soft ambience in your farmhouse kitchen.
• Table lamps: If you’re going for a traditional or country style kitchen, antique lamps are a great way to add more light in a casual, playful way.

Other considerations

• Range hoods: Consider whether or not you’d like your range hood to be a focal point in your farmhouse kitchen. Choose a slim wall range hood to hide your vent and make room for more cabinetry on top of the hood. For a more traditional farmhouse look, you might consider a custom range hood that is high-pitched and tapered in the front. These range hoods can be finished with a variety of materials including wood, stainless steel, stone, or stucco.
• Sink type: Typical farmhouse kitchens feature large, deep basin sinks with an exposed front panel. Stainless steel and porcelain are the most common materials, but if you’re after a modern, industrial look, you might choose concrete. Your Renovation Consultant can help you choose the best sink for your kitchen, complete with stylish tapware.  
• Backsplashes: A rustic farmhouse kitchen backsplash comes in a variety of styles, including white tiles with dark grout, honeycomb-shaped tiles, red brick, or stone. For a black and white modern farmhouse kitchen, a glossy black backsplash looks stunning with clean, white cabinetry.

What are farmhouse style countertops?

Incorporate natural elements into your kitchen with your choice of countertop material. Some common options include:

• Wood
• Concrete
• Quartz
• Solid surface

What is the difference between farmhouse and country decor?

Farmhouse decor tends to be carefully curated to ensure the kitchen remains free of clutter. Paint colors also tend to be white or light neutrals to create an open, airy feel to the space.

Country decor relies heavily on accessories as the main focal points of the kitchen. Paint colors are still neutral, but tend to be darker shades, like sage green or deep red.

When remodeling a farmhouse kitchen, is it necessary to have a kitchen island?

In any kitchen, an island creates extra workspace, storage, and a breakfast bar. Kitchen islands can create flow and efficiency in a kitchen, but they’re not necessary. Consider the layout of your current kitchen and assess if you have the space for a kitchen island. 

Your Renovation Consultant can help you determine if a kitchen island is the best addition to your farmhouse kitchen in terms of space and functionality.

What is a modern farmhouse kitchen compared to a traditional farmhouse kitchen?

Modern farmhouse kitchens combine the clean lines and clutter-free characteristics of a modern kitchen with the natural elements and earth tones of a farmhouse kitchen. These kitchens often feature industrial materials and modern finishes.

Meanwhile, traditional farmhouse kitchens are characterized by a ‘shabby-chic’ aesthetic with a stronger emphasis on accessories and decor for an inviting, homely look.

Modern farmhouse kitchen remodel ideas

Play around with different colors and materials to achieve a curated aesthetic for your modern farmhouse kitchen. Some ideas include:

• White Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with white paint, tiles, and finishes.
• Rustic Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with reclaimed wood cabinetry, stone countertops, and hardwood floors.
• Bold Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with interesting tile accents, open shelving, and oversized pendant lighting.
• Coastal Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with a light, sea-inspired color palette, rattan pendant lighting, and reclaimed wood accents.

Simple European Farmhouse Kitchen design inspiration

A European farmhouse kitchen design often features a blend of rustic and modern design elements. In this case, open shelving mixed with cabinetry and a place to hang pots and pans gives this modern farmhouse kitchen a warm, lived-in feel that’s common in the European style.

How much does it cost to build a farmhouse kitchen?

The cost of remodeling your kitchen depends on several factors, including the size and scope of your project. Another consideration would be the types of materials you choose. Your Renovation Consultant will provide initial guidelines for discussion and then a detailed budget for sign-off showing the cost of renovating your specific kitchen.

Converting your old kitchen to a farmhouse style kitchen

Challenge: inappropriate layout

The flow of a farmhouse kitchen is meant to be seamless, with ample room between workspaces and dedicated storage solutions. Is it time to rethink your layout?

Solution: working drawings 

Your Renovation consultant will provide you with working drawings to map out potential blueprints of your kitchen. This visualization tool can help when it comes to planning your new farmhouse kitchen. 

Challenge: costly new cabinetry

Cabinets are one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen renovation. And farmhouse kitchens place a large emphasis on well-crafted, custom cabinetry.

Solution: repurposed materials

Use reclaimed or repurposed timber to build your farmhouse kitchen cabinetry. It’s a cost effective and sustainable way to approach your cabinetry needs.

Challenge: poor lighting

Proper lighting sets the tone for your kitchen. If it’s not possible to rely on much natural light for your space, you’ll want to make sure you have another solution.

Solution: bespoke lighting design

Your Renovation Consultant will have access to suppliers and contractors who can light up your kitchen. Whether via strips of LED lights under your cabinets, hanging pendant lights, or wall sconces, you’ll have access to a wide range of options to best suit your kitchen.

FAQ

Do I need council approval to remodel my farmhouse kitchen?

Council approval depends on your property and local guidelines. Your Renovation Consultant is responsible for handling permits to ensure your kitchen renovation is code-compliant.

Why should I hire a farmhouse renovation specialist instead of doing it myself?

When you choose to work with a team like Refresh, you are choosing a route that means fewer headaches and less stress during your renovation. Your dedicated Renovation Consultant is your single point of contact for the duration of the project, and has experience managing a team of contractors and scheduling suppliers. All that you need to do is sit back, relax, and watch your dream farmhouse kitchen come to life!

Ready to remodel?

Get in touch with us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to start planning your farmhouse kitchen renovation! We look forward to hearing from you.