What Makes A Kitchen Country?

At some point (and it may be soon) you will probably want to remodel your kitchen, and you might be leaning toward a "country" kitchen. No doubt you can already visualize it with the latest appliances, however, you may be wondering how to make it all come together. One of your biggest concerns might be choosing cabinetry that fits the country concept.

According to Dan O’Connor, director of training for Wood-Mode Cabinetry, the largest custom cabinetry manufacturer in the nation, "country" is a manner of detailing rather than a style, so you’re not committed to using just one style of cabinetry. In fact, cabinet manufacturers usually offer several door styles that can be done in a country version as well as a more formal one. Therefore, it’s possible to use a formal door style and have the accessories carry through the country look.

Many of the cabinet styles used in country themes include doors with panels (both raised and recessed as well as square or curved). Another style often associated with country schemes is "V-Joint." The solid wood pieces of the door are held together by authentic tongue-and groove joints. You can also choose from several woods—oak, maple, cherry, and pine being the most common. Your selection of finishes ranges form natural and light to medium and dark. There are many ways to do a country kitchen," says O’Connor, "but all of them should have three common factors. They should be casual in their mood, natural in their use of materials, and rugged in their detailing."

To achieve a casual feeling O’Connor advises to use open planning. He also cautions not to use heavy decorative baseboard, which tends to formalize a layout. In suggesting natural materials, O’Connor means those in their unrefined state, or material normally used outdoors. "A natural wood door is an obvious example," he explains. "Others include brick, slate, stone, or terra-cotta but you don’t have to use the material itself. A convincing imitation would still be considered a natural."

The detailing or items that add the finishing touches to your country theme, should be rugged, such as antiqued or hammered hardware, leather-textured laminates, earthenware accessories, and gingham or homespun textured fabrics. Because your cabinetry will probably be the most important single item of you kitchen remodeling and you’ll want it to last for years, choose it with care. Select a style, wood, and finish that will provide the starting place for your country theme and then add the details according to the particular theme you’ve chosen. The beauty of a country design’" says O’Connor, "is that if it’s well done, it never gets old-fashioned. It has already been set in time and therefore has a natural integrity."