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English country kitchen decor


15 Best English Country Kitchen Decor Ideas

Looking for the best English country kitchen decor ideas? You’re not the only one! English culture has slowly made its way back into the minds of many Americans. With the success of television shows like Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and The Crown, people have become more fascinated with the English country style of decorating than ever before.

English country decor is charming and elegant at the same time. It’s a style that’s all about creating a practical home using traditional designs and modern sensibility. Older farmhouses in the English countryside may need some updating while newer renovations can incorporate modern updates into a home without losing its original character.

English Country Kitchens

So what do English country kitchens look like? Well, for starters they have all the traditional kitchen elements that you would imagine. The English farmhouses that are centuries old featured kitchens that were often located in the back of the house, far from where the family and guests would spend time. This is because cooking was something that was done by servants. The kitchen was not a place for home owners to spend time in!

Today, most families prefer their kitchen to be open and centered within the house. The room has turned into a family room of sorts and many modern English kitchen designs reflect that need.

We’re going to share with you a mix of both old and new English country kitchens. Some people prefer that really traditional look, while others like to have a modern English country kitchen with contemporary upgrades and conveniences.

I hope that these English country kitchen decor ideas will inspire you!

Wood Kitchen Island

The wood kitchen island is a common element of English style kitchens. Having a central place to work in the kitchen is necessary to prepare meals. Today you might serve light breakfasts at the kitchen island or pour your guests a glass of wine as they wait for dinner to be served. The kitchen island can be used for storage if it has lower cabinets. But many kitchen islands consist of a simple farmhouse wood table. Having an unattached kitchen island means you can adjust it if you want or remove it completely.

There is so much to love visually about this modern English country kitchen design! From the black and brass range to the marble butcher’s block on the kitchen island, there are lots of modern updates which make this kitchen so beautiful and practical. A navy cabinet against the wall holds many different sizes of plates, and they look very easy to reach. Aged brass touches are seen throughout. The wood beams have been painted a lovely white giving the ceiling height and interest. Finally, an old measuring scale has been placed on the center of the island to measure ingredients.

Artichoke LTD

Crystal Chandelier

A crystal chandelier is a common kitchen lighting choice in English kitchen decor. This elegant lighting fixture adds a touch of charm and beauty to any space, but it’s especially welcome in the kitchen where things can get messy fast! I particularly love how light reflects off the crystals on a crystal chandelier.

This English country kitchen is warm and friendly with a beautiful pale green and beige palette. The wooden bench and rustic dining table sit center stage in the space. A white cotton dishcloth and white pitcher rest on the table. In the back, pale green cabinets have been installed next to faded gray cabinets. It looks like the original white stone wall has been left in place along with the natural wood ceiling beams. This space exudes English rustic charm!

DeVol Kitchens

Open Shelving

I’ve noticed that English country kitchens often make use of open kitchen shelving to display their beautiful china collection. Many serving platters and kettles are on display for the world to see. They could have beautiful floral designs printed on them or depict scenes of the English countryside. Whatever your style is, you can show off your flatware and china collection by using open shelves.

Rita Konig

English Country Kitchen Furniture and Decor

Here are a few ideas for things you can buy to get the English farmhouse look you crave. Things like x-back dining chairs, canister sets, vintage style tables, wainscoting cabinetry, reclaimed wood cutting boards, fireclay farm sinks, English country design bridge faucets, gray chalk paint, freestanding rustic kitchen islands, wooden cooking spoons, striped kitchen towels, rustic farmhouse pendants, gingham and floral rugs, and waxed dough bowls can help set a cozy country atmosphere in your home.

 

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Hand-Painted Backsplash Tiling

Cottage style painted backsplash tiling is very popular in older traditional English kitchens. Finding beautiful vintage hand-painted tiles isn’t always easy but it can definitely give your kitchen a unique cottage look. The yellow kitchen cabinets in this kitchen look great with the blue and white backsplash tiling. Various cooking utensils hang from a rod attached to the wall above the tiles. Serving platters are displayed on a high shelf. This is a great example of a charming cottage blue and yellow kitchen!

The English Home

Brass Pot Filler & Kitchen Hardware

One of the most practical English country kitchen decor ideas is to install a pot filler above the stove in your home. This is one kitchen upgrade that requires some extra help but it’s a practical feature that many home buyers are looking for these days. Brass kitchen hardware is another popular modern English kitchen trend. You’ll notice the brass swing arm light and brass bar pulls in this country kitchen. Copper cookware adds warmth to the space, in contrast with the marble backsplash.

DeVol Kitchens

Armorial Chairs

These traditional armorial chairs gathered around the rustic kitchen island are reminiscent of 19th century English castles. The country style dining table has been turned into a kitchen island. It provides a comfortable place to enjoy breakfast and casual meals. Behind, there are open shelves where serving platters and pots can be displayed for easy reach. Large ceramic jars sit on the top shelf. The floor has black white checkered tiles.

William Yeoward / Vogue

Wood Accent Stool

Many English kitchens have at least one rustic wood accent stool in them. I recently bought a small wooden stool for my home and I must say that these pieces of furniture are so useful! I use one in my bathroom for storing towels and bath products. In the kitchen, you can use one to reach the higher upper cabinets. These are certainly handy pieces of furniture that you won’t regret buying as they are so versatile. Here are a few rustic stool recommendations:

 

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Wood Ceiling Beams

A rustic element of English architecture is the exposed wood ceiling beams found in so many English farmhouse homes. If your kitchen has original wood ceiling beams, then let these be as they naturally are. Rustic wood ceiling beams make the kitchen feel very cozy and warm. It’s a rustic cottage element that will give your home endless charm and character. I love the dark green cabinets and black AGA stove in this country kitchen. This kitchen has great modern updates while retaining its old-world charm.

plainenglishdesign.co.uk

Farmhouse Kitchen Sink

A farmhouse kitchen sink will give your kitchen a cozy cottage vibe. These types of sinks are noted by their thick edges that jut out from the cabinets about an inch. They are also called apron-front sinks.

This adorable English country kitchen looks like it belongs in a cute little cottage in the Cotswolds! From the wainscoting on the cabinets, to the pale green flatware cabinet, there are so many cute little elements to this space. The white curtain cabinet and the white dish towel add some inexpensive charm to the space. Wood countertops keep it warm and neutral.

Victoria Mag

Scullery

Sculleries were commonly installed in old English castles. Today you can find a few homes that still make use of them. Sculleries are basically small kitchens or washing rooms at the back of the house which are mainly used for washing dishes and performing dirty household work. It is kind of like an overflow kitchen or it could be used as a laundry room. The sink is typically smaller and the counter-space not as wide. It is sometimes adjacent to the main kitchen and thus can be used as a butler’s pantry.

This is an example of a modern English scullery. It has small white cabinets, a dark wood countertop, and a marble apron-front sink. Brass faucets have been installed along with brass knobs and drawer pulls. A wooden stool sits nearby with some white kitchen linens. Wood bowls and wood cutting boards sit on the counter for added warmth to the space. An upper shelf has been installed to hold different ceramics, jars, and vases.

DeVol

Tea Sets

If there’s one thing you must pay special attention to in your English kitchen, it’s your tea sets! Drinking tea is a big part of English culture and the English love to have many different tea cups, saucers and kettles to choose from when they serve their tea at home. This is one of the more affordable English country kitchen decor ideas we have. It’s simple and yet adds a lot of character to the home!

 

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Vintage Furniture

Vintage furniture is commonly found in English country homes and oftentimes in the kitchen. Just like the homes themselves, many pieces of furniture have been passed down through the generations, cherished as family heirlooms. You can find old tables, old chairs and even old stools inside many English country homes. These vintage furniture pieces have aged well over the years as they were originally built to last. Mixing old and new is a great idea for your English kitchen. Here an old side table and bench is paired with a modern AGA stove range.

Caroline Holdaway

AGA Stove

The AGA cast-iron cooking stove is a classic English country stove. This cooker oven relies on heat storage. It functions on the principle that a heavy cast iron frame can absorb heat from a low-intensity but continuous source of burning. The heat which has been building up inside is then used for cooking. Ironically AGA was founded in Sweden, but all manufacturing has occurred in the UK since 1957, which is why these English ranges are thought to truly be an English invention! Although it sometimes appears that there are four small ovens, there are actually only three and the fourth door is where the burner is stored. These are classic English country kitchen ranges! This white AGA stove looks beautiful in the English country home kitchen.

Kirsten & Joerg

Copper Cookware

Copper is the cookware material of choice when it comes to pots, pans, kettles and more! Here you can see a copper urn for storing utensils and a copper pot for boiling water on the stovetop. A large copper pot with a lid is stored on the bottom shelf near the floor. Copper can be somewhat expensive but it does provide the finest quality of cookware. It looks great with the black range here and the marble topped wood storage cabinet.

The Glam Pad

If you are in the market to renovate your kitchen and want to go with the English country style, I recommend checking out these UK interior designers, which I come across often in my research for modern English interior design:

So what did you think of our best English country kitchen decor ideas? I hope you found at least one or two ideas that were new to you and inspired you to make a change in your kitchen. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

More English Country Home Decor Ideas

If you would like more inspiration for decorating in the English country style, then you may be interested in reading these related articles on our site. We love sharing guides to furniture and decorations that will help you curate the home of your dreams in a particular style. Check out these related posts on English decor!

Happy curating!

Follow The Yellow Brick Home

 

Quintessentially English, the humble country kitchen is a look many aspire to. Whether you dream of the classic English country farmhouse with stone flags, wooden beams, and Hunter wellies warming by the stove, an Edwardian terrace with ornate tiled flooring and high ceilings with intricate cornicing, or perhaps a modest new build with the pre-requisite French doors opening to an English garden, a perfect kitchen with English country vibes is a look that can be achieved in any property, old or new.*This post contains affiliate links and/or collaborative content.

 

 

 

Victoria Mag

I have always adored English Cottage and English Country style. My home is a mix of French Country, English Country, and Farmhouse styles, all unifed by vintage collectibles. I love adding little English touches to our kitchen such as drying herbs on the pot rack and old crockery on the counters. Here are some other easy ways to achieve the English country kitchen look.

How to Achieve the English Country Kitchen Look

 

Choose your Colors

The traditional country kitchen color palette features warm neutrals that create a spacious feel, even in a small space. For a modern twist, the use of pastel hues in blues, greens, and pinks is a great way to create an English country feel that is a bit lighter and brighter.

 

The Glam Pad

 

Using softer versions of colors found in the lush English countrysides is the perfect place to start, (think Farrow and Ball’s cabbage white, or parma gray). These wall colors can easily be contrasted by warmer wood tones on cupboards and accessories if you choose.   

 

Hello Lovely Studio

 

Invest in Wooden Tables and Chairs

Nothing is quite as charming as an English country kitchen with a worn pine table, old wooden chairs, or bench seating. You can also lighten up the dining area furnishings with chalk paint to create a more modern or eclectic feel. Remember, the key to a successful English country kitchen is to make it look like generations of the same family have lived, loved, and cooked in the same kitchen. 

 

From Britian with Love

Use patterns throughout

Designing an English country kitchen is all about creating a cozy and comforting heart of the home. Use patterned textiles such as window treatments and seat cushions to soften the space. Choose traditional patterns such as chintz florals, botanical prints, or plaid and tweed – but remember to keep color palettes in harmony to avoid creating too much of a mish-mash of styles. 

 

Southern Lady Magazine

Add Antique and Vintage Details

English country kitchens are popular because of their “collected over the years” eclectic style, and a nod to a more idyllic time. To help make your country kitchen look aged instead of brand spanking new, add some antique details like an distressed bronze or gold antique faucet, well loved copper pots and English transferware.

 

The Inspired Hive

Modern cabinet hardware can be changed out for vintage or vintage reproduction hardware.  Adding an antique style chandelier can also create a bit of old world romance. 

 

source

Display Your Wares

Traditionally,  the English country kitchen was a hive of activity— the place where fresh bread was made, hearty home-cooked meals prepared, hot tea was served, and delicious cakes baked. As a result, beloved cookware was proudly on display. This look can be achieved without your workspace feeling cluttered as long as you keep just a few choice (and chic) items within easy reach.

 

Amoretti Brothers

A pot rack that displays beautiful and antique copper pans and dried herbs is a work of art in and of itself – and who can forget the Le Creuset cookware that no English country kitchen would be complete without?

 

source

 

 

Honeycomb Creative Co.

Use vintage antique advertising ironstone crockery for storing utensils, and don’t forget to always have fresh flowers on the countertops or table!

 

Real Homes

 

Better Homes and Gardens

 

I hope this post has given you some ideas on how to achieve the English country kitchen look. I am sure I will be covering this topic again in more detail, as I gather more inspiration for on Pinterest our kitchen. I am looking forward to adding some quaint English country kitchen style accessories, along with some French ones too. Now that our kitchen makeover is complete, I have been working on designing a dreamy European kitchen potager garden just outside our kitchen side door. This will ensure that I always have fresh or dried herbs and flowers on hand in my cottage kitchen!

 

 

source

Are you are fan of the traditional English country kitchen, or do you prefer a more streamlined, modern kitchen or ornate French kitchen? I love hearing from you, dear readers! Thanks for visiting today.

Amber

 

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interior design and other features + photo

England is a country of traditions. Guards at the Tower, judges' robes and wigs, a London taxi and, of course, the world-famous five o'clock tea party. Since the latter can be attributed to one of the most "traditional" features, it is not surprising that the place in which the English tea ceremony takes place must fully comply with the spirit of "good old England". And although some English people drink their evening tea in dining rooms or living rooms, the vast majority of the inhabitants of "foggy Albion" do it in the kitchen. Thus, English cuisine has become one of the national symbols, to which the British are no less zealous than, say, Big Ben or Tower Bridge.

Despite the emergence of various fashion trends and design trends, the English style of kitchen design has not changed much over the past couple of hundred years. Nevertheless, even today it remains very popular, not only in England, but also far beyond its borders, combining comfort, functionality and, of course, commitment to family values ​​and English traditions.

So, we are decorating the kitchen in the English style.

The main features and features of the English style of kitchen design

Classical traditions, time-tested

English cuisine has a number of characteristic features, without which it will simply not be possible to bring the "English spirit" to life.

This does not mean that it is impossible to recreate an English atmosphere in a small kitchen in a city apartment. But, however, in this case, it will turn out to “create an atmosphere”, and not real English cuisine, which is supposed to be large and spacious.

English cuisine is unthinkable without a massive dining table. Large multifunctional plate also serves as a decorative element

In addition to the handles, cast-iron grates on the stove and decorative forging on the oven doors are characteristic elements.

English cuisine can be decorated not only with objects, but also with food Work area in the center of the kitchen with a hanging rack for dishes - a distinctive feature of the English kitchen

The working area in English kitchens is very often located not against the wall, as is customary with us, but in the center of the room. In this case, the suspended shelf is also attached not to the wall, but to the ceiling above the "working island".

Two versions: classic and country

The English style of kitchen design has two “subtypes”: classic and country. Consider their main differences:

Color range

Classic English style involves the use of only white, soft cream shades, and as a contrast, the dark color of natural wood. In the country style, “liberties” are allowed in the form of brighter colors, for example, red, green and blue. However, these colors should be as soft and natural as possible.

Classic English style involves the use of light pastel colors

The use of "acid" colors in English cuisine is strictly unacceptable.

Country style gives you the opportunity to 'play' with brighter colors

Wall, floor and ceiling decoration

English style gives little to no "fancy" when decorating walls, ceiling and floor.

The walls are mostly smooth white or light cream. The only decoration that not only allows, but strongly recommends the English style, are wall moldings. True, they belong mainly to the classics, and when designing an English country style kitchen, even this decorative element will have to be sacrificed.

Smooth plain walls will be an excellent backdrop for an interior in the English style

English style also allows wall decoration with wallpaper. They can be either smooth or have a floral pattern or stripes.

Speaking of walls, we should also mention the work apron. It is to be tiled with classic blue and white English patterned ceramic tiles. This tile is suitable for both country-style and classic style kitchens.

Tiles with traditional blue and white patterns are an integral part of decor in English cuisine

On the other hand, the ceiling, which in the classic version should be smooth, can be decorated with dark wooden beams in country style.

English country style allows the ceiling to be decorated with wooden beams

The floor in the English kitchen is as conservative as possible, but nevertheless, when it is finished, the choice of options is somewhat wider. It can be either parquet or floor tiles (in the classic version), or natural or artificial stone or rough floorboard (country style).

One of the classic options for floor design is "chess" of black and white tiles.

Layout

England is an island state, so English cuisine must have its own small “island”. In the classic design, this is, as a rule, a massive dining table, in a country-style kitchen it is a work area, which is located in the center of the kitchen.

One or two ‘islands’ are required in English cuisine

The English style implies the presence of a large free space, so the presence in the kitchen of one "island" in the form of a working area does not at all exclude the presence of a second one in the form of a dining table.

Lighting

The main source of light in an English kitchen should be a massive chandelier. A chandelier with a large number of crystal pendants is suitable for a classic style, and a chandelier on a heavy metal base with plafonds stylized as candles is suitable for a country-style kitchen.

Main light source - massive chandelier

Floor lamps and wall sconces with fabric shades can be used as additional light sources.

Household appliances

The British love a variety of kitchen appliances, but prefer to hide them behind furniture fronts. Thus, most kitchen appliances are hidden from prying eyes. The only exception is the cooker.

In addition to its direct purpose, it is also one of the key elements of kitchen decor. A large, with large copper or bronze handles and oven doors decorated with forging, an English stove, like a massive dining table, creates a unique atmosphere of comfort and warmth in an English kitchen.

The classic English stove-oven serves not only for cooking, but also for heating the room.

Above the large stove there must be a large dome hood, which also serves as a kind of decorative element.

Dome hood and large stove are a must for

Separately, it is worth mentioning the sink in the English kitchen. When choosing it, you should definitely refuse stainless steel models, and give preference to ceramic or, in extreme cases, enameled sinks.

Furniture

Naturally, in a traditional kitchen, the furniture should be traditional. Here you will not find "newfangled" tables made of glass and metal or wall cabinets with tinted doors. All furniture must be classic and made exclusively from natural materials.

In a traditional kitchen, traditional furniture

Wall cabinets and tables for dishes should have paneled doors, and tables and chairs should have massive legs and backs.

Both solid wood and stone slab can be used as a tabletop. The latter is especially true for work surfaces.

As for the color, the furniture can be either light - to match the walls and ceiling - or dark in contrast. For a classic kitchen, it is better to choose furniture with a “smooth” painting or polishing, but for a country kitchen, furniture “antique” or with raw wood surfaces is suitable.

Decor and accessories

There are never too many accessories in English cuisine! As a decor, you can use dishes, handicrafts, figurines and paintings. In a word, almost any item can become an ornament of English cuisine.

English cuisine - 'paradise' for lovers of accessories

Naturally, “noble objects” are more suitable for a classic-style kitchen, while for a country-style kitchen it is better to give preference to things “from a grandmother’s chest”.

Plants occupy a special place in the English-style kitchen. Both flowers in pots, located on window sills, cabinets, or hung in flowerpots, as well as large plants in outdoor tubs, will be appropriate.

Video: English style kitchen

In conclusion, we bring to your attention a short video showing various interior design options for an English kitchen.

Whatever type - classic or country - you choose when designing an English-style kitchen, you can be sure that it will turn out to be truly homely and cozy. Of course, if you are an active person living in the rhythm of a modern metropolis, such a cuisine may seem too "sugary" to you. But if you have a large family that likes to gather on holidays or just like that, for no reason, at a large common table, then English cuisine is exactly what you need. And yes, you definitely won’t find a better place for tea drinking at five o’clock in the evening!

Sergey Kolosov

Born in 1977 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Graduated from the Donetsk Polytechnic Institute (now DonGTU) with a degree in Automated Control Systems. He worked at the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant. In 1997 he moved to Moscow, where for 8 years he worked in several construction teams. Upon returning to Donetsk, he opened his own small enterprise for the manufacture of metal-plastic windows. Today, due to the political and economic situation in the region, unfortunately, production had to be curtailed. But, as they say, "there is no evil without good." But now I can share my experience with the readers of this site. I hope it will be useful to you.
Why can I be considered an "expert" in the field of repair?
Well, firstly, I graduated from one of the best specialized universities in the country and in some respects I am a certified specialist.
And, secondly, and this is the main thing, during my work at the Moscow "shabashki" I had to do almost all types of repair work - from bricklaying to artistic wall painting. And almost always there were real masters of this or that business next to me, so there was someone to learn from.
Of course, I did not become a "super-master" in all areas of repair. But, nevertheless, all my advice is based mostly on personal experience. Although, of course, it cannot do without the support of the "omniscient" Google and Yandex. But from them I choose for you only the freshest and best facts, carefully process them, separate all nonsense and husks, and only after that I give them to you.
Considering that the last phrase is very reminiscent of a ketchup advertisement, I will end my "literary attempts.

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