A country cottage inspired kitchen boasting lots of white for a bright and airy aesthetic. Elements of vintage inspired tile, beadboard, butcher block countertops, open shelves, and a farmhouse sink give the old world feel of a cozy cottage situated in the country. Styled with antiques and retro inspired appliances
Wow, so this had been a long time coming. A year after the very first act of demolition and I can finally say the kitchen renovation is complete. I am so exited to be sharing it with you guys today!
This space was previously decked out in cheap linoleum, cabinetry from the 1950s, forest green countertops, and a not so charming stainless sink. It really needed a little TLC. Considering that 80% of the time I spend in my home is in the kitchen, I really wanted a bright and airy space to be in while cooking and baking.
The Before
The before of this kitchen was very plain with no character. The cabinetry was original to the house hence the niches beside the sink. Countertops were split between formica and epoxy.
Although the kitchen was ugly, it did hold the potential to be beautiful. Natural lighting was abundant and there was plenty of space to work with.
Luckily the appliances were in good standing. The fridge did go out during the renovation and I saw it as the perfect opportunity to purchase a more aesthetic fridge for the look.
Sharing a little “during the process” shot here. It’s always so neat to watch a renovation progress. This was the room about 70% done.
The After
I actually like that this kitchen wasn’t “picture perfect” or newly renovated. I saw it as the perfect opportunity to curate something a little more custom to my likes. The end result of taking a bland space and making it new and fresh was so gratifying.
The Elements
Mosaic Tile Flooring
The tile was a piece of this project that I almost didn’t go through with. After ripping up the linoleum and realizing the original subfloors were unlevel, my first thought was how expensive this could get trying to level out these floors. The contractor I chose suggested going with the natural contour of the floor, so that is what was done here. I chose a vintage inspired hex tile that replicates that unique look you find in older homes typically around the early 1900s era.
Simple Quaker Style Cabinets
Cabinetry was something I was originally not willing to invest any money in, but after ripping down the upper cabinets, I realized just how necessary it was. The wood was soft and the design of the base cabinets was not compatible with the countertops or sink I envisioned. Doing a modification was discussed, but looking into it, all of the knick knack fixes that were needed would end up costing a good bit. I would rather spend the money on getting brand new cabinets to have a fresh slate to lay countertops on.
I chose a quaker style in white by Lowes’ Roth + Allen line. The look here is simple and clean. The ordering process of these was very straightforward. I sat down with someone in the cabinetry department of Lowes to discuss options. She was able to design a layout very similar to the original with all new cabinets for under $2,500.
Butcher Block Countertops
These I knew I wanted from the get go. I must say though, Quartz did cross my mind at the beginning. But after looking the design over, I decided against the Quartz when I realized every piece of this room would be white.
The wood was the perfect option to add that warmth the space needed to break up all of the white. Butcher block was also the most budget friendly option for countertops. I was able to get the all of the materials I needed for under $700. And friend let me tell you, my countertop square footage is not small by any means. It was a total win, win!
Farmhouse Apron Sink
We’ve seen these all over IG and Pinterest, but for good reason. They’re beautiful and functional. They really tie that “cottage kitchen” feel together. I would even go as far to say that farmhouse sinks have a furniture type of feel in the kitchen. They’re large and perfect for cleaning large cookware.
I always picture these types of sinks in quaint little homesteading cottages where baby farm animals can receive a bath and large quantities of fruits and vegetables can be soaked. Seeing this sink in my kitchen every time I walk in is like taking a little peek back in time. I added a chrome vintage inspired faucet with the classic “hot” and “cold” handles to complete the look.
Beadboard
My first plan was for tile to be laid up to the ceiling. Subway tile specifically, but after getting the quote back for the floor and thinking over having two tiled parts of this room, I decided against it. Beadboard was the next adored choice.
I got the idea from an authentic section of beadboard that was lining the back of the original cabinetry. It was beautiful and timeless. It was a very common style used for walls and even ceilings in older homes. Shiplap, dare I say, was a little too trendy for me. So, beadboard it was. At $20 a sheet, it was a done deal.
Open Shelving
Last is open shelving and this is where I believe you can have the most fun. Decor can be switched up for different seasons of the year. The options for layering and styling various favorite pieces are endless! Tie the look together with beautiful corbels. It adds that finished dainty touch on the space.
Appliances & Antiques
So I had this newly renovated cottage style kitchen and I couldn’t wait to add all of my antique and vintage pieces in to make it complete. I purchased some smaller Smeg appliances to fix the look. An unanticipated fridge breakdown mid renovation also left me looking for a new fridge.
Smeg was out of the question for this. I did want something that replicated the Smeg fridge. I found this much cheaper retro inspired fridge from wayfair for under $1,000. Although small, it is very impactful in the look of this Kitchen. It’s one of the first things people notice. Owning a small fridge isn’t a concern for me though and I’m happy with the choice.
Overall, I’d say I’m fairly happy with how this little cottage inspired kitchen turned out. I did end up going over my budget, but do feel that was due to my lack of experience in renovations. I hope somewhere in this post you have found inspiration to add a little love to a room in your home. It doesn’t always have to be a complete remodel. Sometimes it can be as simple as choosing a new paint color. I have also written about 10 ways to make your home more homey, for those situations where a renovation is out of the question.
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and reading about my cottage kitchen renovation. I have added sources below for items from my kitchen in case something caught your eye.
