The word “rustic” gets thrown around quite a bit. It is used to describe anything from farmhouse decorations to a Tuscan-style villa. But what does it really mean? Does your house need to resemble a vintage log cabin in order to be considered truly rustic, or can that one little word be applied to a variety of different design styles and elements?
Professional Interior Designers and Decorators will tell us it’s the latter, for sure, but keep in mind that various factors need to be present in order for a space’s design to be considered rustic. And we thought that we’d use the kitchen to present the rustic design style visually, since it’s considered the heart of every home!
Think of the rustic kitchen as a homely, quaint little country cooking space with large cabinets, warm hues, and various wooden surfaces with lots of detail. While a modern kitchen, for instance, will give off an open and clean vibe, the rustic kitchen opts for a more casual and inviting feel. And rustic kitchens are always made to be used, not only admired. That is why durable lasting materials like wood and iron feature quite strongly in rustic-styled cooking spaces.
Colour is another vital factor to get right if you want your kitchen to be considered rustic. Your colour palette should be warm and natural, with tints that enhance those wood cabinets. Leave the glossy stain finishes for more contemporary spaces and opt for rugged or matte to accentuate the authentic look of the wood.
Wide-planked wood floors are also quite common, yet tiled surfaces can also be used in rustic kitchens as long as their colours are earthy / neutral. To further accentuate the natural wood feel of your cabinets, try adding a ceramic sink, butcher block countertops, honed granite, and hammered copper.
Don’t forget about the little details, like your cabinets’ hardware. Ditch the sleek stainless steel or silver finishes and instead opt for rubbed brass, wrought iron, distressed gold, or bronze knobs and pulls to fit in with that old-yet-charming look.
Let’s see how the rustic style is achieved perfectly in these 9 small kitchens.
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