Country kitchen design has a lot of potential. It is distinguished by the presence of a large amount of wood and light. Beautiful landscapes open from the windows. However, the arrangement has its own peculiarities. Be sure to take them into account to achieve a functional and attractive interior.
The design of a kitchen in a country house should be as ergonomic as possible.
The kitchen in a country house is one of the main rooms. Therefore, the choice of design should be approached carefully and seriously. One of the key tips to follow is to learn from others.
Country kitchen interior.
The room must be equipped in a modern, practical, but also as convenient as possible way for you. You should be comfortable moving around the kitchen and being there. Browse the designers' work. This will help you decide what exactly you like and what you can refuse. After choosing from thousands of ideas that suit you, read the reviews left by people who have already gone through the interior design of a kitchen in the country.
Country kitchen interior. Let's organize the space.
Be sure to add your own ideas to the interior to give it personality. Be sure to highlight several zones, combining a place for eating and a cooking area in one area.
The fewer free-standing elements in the kitchen, the more compact and functional it is.
Features of the kitchen in the country
The place where food is prepared and family members gather for meals and gatherings is, without exaggeration, the heart of the home. When arranging a kitchen in a country house, it is important to consider the following features:
- size and shape of the room;
- dimensions and number of windows;
- communication systems, which are often laid at the discretion of the owners.
In addition, the location of the private house should be taken into account. It is surrounded by picturesque nature, and therefore it is better to create an interior that will be a continuation of such a pleasant “neighborhood”.
Room design features
The kitchen is the main room in the house, and the cottage is no exception. A country house has its own characteristics:
- There is always more light here.
- There's a lot of wood here.
- Here you can take many design liberties that you wouldn’t dare to take in the city.
- Not all interior styles are suitable for a summer residence.
- To arrange a country kitchen, you can implement the most non-standard solutions: it can be placed in the attic, on the veranda, in the basement and even above the garage - as the owners wish.
We'll talk about styles still to come, but now let's focus on the fact that the unpretentiousness of the situation is fraught with many dangers: there is a great temptation to turn a country kitchen into a kind of barn and a chaotic warehouse of old furniture - everything that is no longer needed in the city is brought here. To avoid this, let’s approach the creation of the interior thoughtfully, then the old furniture will be in place and will give the atmosphere a special charm.
Communications for the dacha
The installation of utility networks is one of the first tasks that will need to be solved. The kitchen contains a large amount of equipment. When placing it, you should consider the following basic rules:
- First, a place is determined for the dishwasher and washing machine (if you plan to use them). They need to be supplied with water.
- Then the location of the stove is selected. If the country cottage is gasified, you will need to connect the equipment to communications.
- Furniture should not block the ventilation system. Otherwise, it will be impossible to be in the kitchen.
- It is better to place all technical devices in one part of the room. This allows you to shorten the wiring, and therefore save on laying utilities.
- Heating appliances are installed near ventilation. Thanks to this, fewer connections are required and the system becomes coherent.
- Calculation of the power of the electrical network is done based on the total energy consumption. It is better to create a project that indicates the location of all sockets and switches.
- The sink and hob should not be close together. Because of this, expensive equipment may be damaged.
When arranging communications, the main thing is to take into account security requirements.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
When creating a utility network, you should follow the installation instructions for the selected equipment. It is advisable to show the project to professionals who will check it for compliance with technical requirements.
Types of kitchen area
If the room is rectangular, then the kitchen will most likely occupy one of the walls. It is better to separate the kitchen and living area with a bar counter.
- If the kitchen is located in the corner, then a corner set is suitable.
- Both zones can be separated from each other by an island in which storage boxes can be placed, or the two rooms can be separated by finishing the floor or walls.
If the space is huge, then in addition to the two zones, you can also place a dining area, in which case the kitchen can be placed between the two.
Styles for the garden
The interior for the kitchen should be chosen taking into account the architecture of the house and its location. In this case, everything will look harmonious.
Some practical tips to help you make your choice:
- If the architecture of a country house is classical, the interior needs a corresponding one. Traditional options are suitable - Empire, Art Deco, English and American designs.
- For a kitchen in a cottage built of wood, rustic interiors - country and Provence - are best suited. You can stylize it as a Russian hut or a noble estate, and lovers of gentle romance will appreciate shabby chic.
- If the house has modern architecture and panoramic windows, minimalism or hi-tech would be the ideal option. A restrained Scandinavian style is also suitable.
- When a cottage is used primarily for winter recreation, this can be reflected in the design. The kitchen will take on a harmonious look if you choose the Swiss chalet style for decoration.
- Dachas located near water, be it a lake, river or sea, require appropriate design. The best option would be a Mediterranean interior.
These are just the basic and most obvious solutions. Any style is suitable for a country kitchen, if you play it correctly.
Choosing colors for the interior
While compact kitchens in city apartments are traditionally decorated in light colors, the palette for rooms in a private home is much more varied. There are practically no restrictions. It is enough to take into account the main nuances:
- The location of windows relative to the cardinal direction. If this is the south, you can choose a cold palette for the interior of a kitchen in a private house. Warm colors are suitable for northern rooms.
- Exterior features. Even if the room has large windows facing the sunny side, they can be covered with landscape design elements. In this case, it is better to choose a light color scheme.
- The palette used in the interior of other rooms. The kitchen can follow the style of the rest of the house or, on the contrary, stand out through the use of radically different shades.
If you are in doubt when choosing, you should go the traditional route - decorate the interior in light colors (white, cream, beige, milky, etc.). This palette is associated with cleanliness, and therefore is always appropriate in the kitchen.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
Dachas are intended for temporary residence only. Therefore, when choosing a color scheme, you can experiment and use those decorative techniques that will not fit into the interior of a city apartment.
Color palette in the design of a country kitchen
Closely related to style is the color scheme for your kitchen. All “rustic” styles love calm natural colors. No flashy or acidic shades. The color of green grass, blue sky, tree bark, autumn leaves - all this helps to be in harmony with nature, even at home. Here the interior must fully match the exterior. So, we give preference to muted neutral shades.
And here it is not so important whether they are dark or light. Of course, dark ones visually reduce the space, so in small rooms they can only be used as small accents. But what a joyful atmosphere will be created by light colors: light green, olive, pistachio, white. Since we are talking about the kitchen, special attention should be paid to the apron. It is also better to use light shades for it. A non-trivial move would be photo wallpaper on the apron. Let's say with the image of windows. Create the illusion of a large room.
How to decorate the floor, walls, ceiling
When designing a kitchen in a private home, you should use mainly natural materials. By subordinating the interior decoration to the idea of unity with nature, you can fully experience the benefits and atmosphere of country life.
In finishing, you should avoid using fashionable vinyl wallpaper, PVC cladding panels, double-glazed windows, linoleum, etc. It is better to use textured plasters, lay parquet, cork or solid wood on the floor, and decorate the walls with ceramic tiles or wood panels. Also appropriate would be paper and textile wallpaper, jute mats, and stone that can be used to decorate doorways and arches.
However, this rule does not need to be followed fanatically. Natural materials can be replaced with artificial ones. For example, nothing will prevent you from choosing a wood-look laminate or an acrylic countertop instead of a natural marble one. The main thing is to maintain a balance between practicality and appropriateness of materials in a country house, in close proximity to nature.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
It is necessary to consider not only compliance with style, but also safety. The finishing will be subject to greater stress than in a city kitchen, and therefore the materials must be durable and undemanding in maintenance.
Decoration Materials
Choosing materials for finishing the kitchen is more interesting than dealing with communications, but even here the dacha owner faces difficulties that require effort and time. When choosing finishing materials, you need to determine the purposes that they must cope with. It is best to start with the decoration of the walls, because they are the first to catch the eye of all those who enter the room. As you know, the most popular materials are wallpaper, but in the case of a kitchen, only vinyl can be used, since they are resistant to an aggressive external environment, high humidity and temperature changes.
The same applies to the choice of paint, because many mixtures will quickly crack, ruining the interior of the room. You can avoid this by purchasing special waterproof paints that can withstand use in difficult conditions. For example, rubber paints are now popular. Another good solution is to use ceramic tiles mounted on a silicate adhesive base. Also, to decorate the walls in the kitchen, wooden lining is used, which before starting work must be treated with special antiseptics and impregnations that protect the material from moisture and open fire. The last interesting and original option is a kitchen with bare brick walls, decorated in a loft style.
The next stage is the selection of finishing materials for the floor. Everything here is simple, but at the same time complicated, because the choice of material depends on the foundation and its availability. It is important that the material is strong and reliable and can withstand loads; for example, for rooms with difficult conditions it is best to use concrete, which is almost impossible to “ditch.” If wood and its derivatives (laminate, parquet) are used for finishing, then you need to arrange a waterproofing layer, reliably sanding it.
Ceramic tiles are an excellent solution for creating a beautiful floor. The only drawback of the coating is that it is cold, which means you need to wear shoes in the kitchen or you will have to buy carpets. Linoleum is a material that is not afraid of moisture and easily imitates more expensive materials. Carpet and cork, marble or natural stone are materials that are not used for finishing the floor in the kitchen.
The final stage of finishing is the ceiling, the design of which begins with antiparasitic treatment. As for finishing materials, profiled boards or lining are usually used for these purposes. An alternative solution is foam plastic boards and blocks that are resistant to moisture and temperature changes. Simple options also include paint, MDF panels and plasterboard sheets, but if your budget allows, you can choose stretch ceilings that have excellent characteristics and an attractive appearance.
Necessary furniture and equipment for a summer residence
Here everything will primarily depend on the size and layout of the room. In the design of a large kitchen there are almost no restrictions on the choice of furniture. However, such a room may have a complex shape. Every nuance will influence the choice of furniture and equipment.
A universal option is a corner kitchen set. It takes up a minimum of usable space, while allowing the use of maximum convenient storage systems. In addition, there are other advantages:
- the working triangle can be positioned perpendicularly, i.e. the refrigerator, sink and hob;
- corner sets are suitable for kitchens of all shapes and sizes;
- After installing the furniture, there is enough free space.
Linear layout is a good choice for standard rooms. It should be preferred if you plan to create a full-fledged dining area in the kitchen.
A parallel layout is a good option for a walk-through room. Along two free walls there is a kitchen set and household appliances. If the room is wide, you can also install a dining group, which will allow the whole family to gather around the table.
U-shaped sets are appropriate when a large number of storage systems and household appliances are required. For example, this option should be preferred if, when decorating a kitchen in a country house, you plan to install an oven, dishwasher, washing machine, and extractor hood.
If the room is located on the attic floor, you will have to abandon standard sets. Wall cabinets are replaced with shelves. This will help engage the roof slopes. You can also use lower cabinets - they can be much more spacious than ordinary kitchen cabinets.
A room combined with a dining room or living room is more difficult to decorate than a standard one. First of all, you will need a powerful hood that will protect against odors. Its minimum productivity is 1000 m3/h. It is also worth zoning the space, which will be helped by furniture - bar counters, sofas, storage systems in the form of partitions.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
For kitchens in private homes, it is worth choosing custom-made furniture. This is due to the fact that the premises in dachas are not standardized, and therefore you may not be able to guess the size when purchasing.
Advantages and disadvantages of a combined kitchen
One way to expand the space is to create a combined kitchen-living room. But if in small apartments it is not always possible to realize your plans, then in your own home you can easily design any layout.
But any project has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the significant drawbacks is the smell of food. Even if you have a fairly good hood, odors will still penetrate the living room.
For the first time, living rooms and kitchens began to be combined in the United States. But in the USA it is not usually customary to cook at home, therefore, for them, smells are not an obstacle to such a layout.
Another disadvantage of combined spaces is that a lot of garbage from the kitchen area will enter the living area. Therefore, cleaning will need to be done as often as possible.
But of course, in combined premises, the pros outweigh the cons.
- Combined rooms visually expand the space, especially suitable for small rooms.
- Thanks to the increased space, massive furniture and various kitchen appliances can be placed in the combined area.
- The combined area is perfect for receiving guests. Housewives can simultaneously prepare food and communicate with family and friends.
- The dining area makes it possible to place a large table.
- A combined kitchen-living room will look modern and stylish.
Closed: veranda and terrace
It must be said right away that such a summer kitchen will require a project and documentary permission from regulatory government authorities. The premises will be classified as a full-fledged building, and non-approval will result in penalties and the inability to sell the property.
Among the advantages of closed kitchens, the following should be noted:
- Protection from adverse influences. You don’t have to be afraid of wind, rain or snow, summer heat, or insects. Cooking won't turn into a challenge.
- In the closed kitchen you can place functional modern appliances. This allows you not to change your diet while staying at the dacha and prepare your usual dishes.
At the same time, there are also many shortcomings. Not everyone has enough time and energy to create and approve a design for a closed kitchen, and then arrange it. Equally important is the fact that this is an expensive construction. This option is suitable only if you have financial resources and enough time.
Selecting decor
Whatever style you choose for your country kitchen, its design will be incomplete without decor. Since kitchens usually do not have much free space, it is better to give preference to functional decorations:
- Dishes - they can be used not only for their intended purpose, but also as decoration. Buy a beautiful place setting with patterns or cute designs and display it on open shelves.
- Pots and boxes of fresh herbs look great in the kitchen.
- You can also store things in style. Beautiful napkin stands, trays, baskets and chests for storing small items will help you with this.
- Don't forget about textiles. A colored tablecloth, kitchen towels, oven mitts, aprons - all these little things help create an atmosphere.
This is how different options for decorating small and large kitchens in the country look in the photos of summer residents.
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Open: gazebo and light veranda
This type of layout is budget-friendly and easier to implement. An outdoor kitchen is called an open kitchen, which is most often installed in a gazebo, sometimes on a summer veranda. It is intended for cooking - barbecue, kebabs, etc.
You can arrange your kitchen space with your own hands. For this purpose, a site of a predetermined size is concreted. Supports are installed along the perimeter on which the roof is laid. For cooking you can use:
- stone oven;
- barbecue or similar devices;
- gas stove with a separate cylinder.
The main advantages of an open kitchen:
- The cost of the project and construction is low, and the arrangement is completed in the shortest possible time. If there are no plans to install communications and there is no documentation, the house can still be sold if necessary by dismantling the kitchen.
- It is more than possible to carry out construction work yourself. This does not require special skills or specialized equipment.
There are also disadvantages. In particular, the kitchen equipment will be primitive. It will not be possible to install modern equipment and arrange a full-fledged work area.
In the summer, insects can be very annoying, and the possibility of staying in the kitchen will completely depend on the weather. Thus, this is an option exclusively for those who relax in the country during the warm season.
Photo gallery of kitchens for a country house
Below are images with examples of the interior of country premises. Ready-made solutions developed by professional designers will inspire you to implement your own ideas and help you decide on a kitchen design option.
Arranging a comfortable private home has many features. However, if you take into account all the nuances of choosing the interior style, finishing materials, furniture and household appliances, you can create a country kitchen that is in no way inferior to a city kitchen in functionality and beauty.
Where to install the sink
A convenient option for placing the sink is near a window, where there is natural light during the day. This option is suitable for those who have a country kitchen in their home.
If the work area is located outdoors, it is logical to install the sink here, on the veranda.
Some owners of country houses prefer to move the kitchen onto the site, but from the point of view of ergonomics and preserving the working triangle (refrigerator-hob-sink) this is not the most convenient option.
