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Kitchen Tour: Country Farmhouse Style in a New-build Home
Reclaimed beams, stone, brick, oak and oil-rubbed bronze have given this kitchen cosy, rustic vibes
Because of its reclaimed-wood beams, stone range cooker surround, vintage-style lighting, brick floor and antique accessories, you might think this kitchen was at least 100 years old, and that was indeed the design goal. But the truth is it’s part of a new home and was designed to look like a historic farmhouse kitchen.
“The husband was in the tree industry for years, so he was all about different wood species, and the wife is from Italy, so she wanted to incorporate masonry into the project,” interior designer Katie Ceplawskes says. The result is a kitchen that feels cosy while functioning well for the way the couple like to cook and entertain.
“The husband was in the tree industry for years, so he was all about different wood species, and the wife is from Italy, so she wanted to incorporate masonry into the project,” interior designer Katie Ceplawskes says. The result is a kitchen that feels cosy while functioning well for the way the couple like to cook and entertain.
The house sits amid 14 acres of a former a tree farm. DeBaker Design Group completed the architecture of the home and placed the kitchen along the front of the house, with wide views across the bucolic setting. Great Rooms Building Group then handled the kitchen layout.
“The windows helped to determine the layout,” Katie says. “Our clients knew they wanted a large island with seating for entertaining and wanted to be able to look out of the windows while working at it. From there, we centred the range on the island.”
Another factor that influenced the layout was the large pantry behind the kitchen. This meant there was no need to plan for food storage within the kitchen itself.
“The windows helped to determine the layout,” Katie says. “Our clients knew they wanted a large island with seating for entertaining and wanted to be able to look out of the windows while working at it. From there, we centred the range on the island.”
Another factor that influenced the layout was the large pantry behind the kitchen. This meant there was no need to plan for food storage within the kitchen itself.
“A lot of our layouts also start with appliance sizes. This is a 48in range [cooker],” Katie says. The range alcove is a massive element in the room, but its proportions fit the scale of the space in a pleasing way. The reclaimed beam Katie used for the alcove mantel ties in with the architecture of the home. The range splashback is quartz with a mottled look like concrete.
Cabinet features include cutlery dividers, tray slats, rollout shelves, deep drawers and hidden rubbish and recycling bins.
Cabinet features include cutlery dividers, tray slats, rollout shelves, deep drawers and hidden rubbish and recycling bins.
Katie also used the concrete-look quartz for all the worktops.
This view from the hallway shows how the wooden kitchen ties in with the exposed wooden frames used in the home. “Because the husband was so into wood, we used a lot of reclaimed beams,” Katie says.
The wood appears in the kitchen around door frames, in the ceiling beams and in the mantel over the range cooker.
See more photos of this home.
The wood appears in the kitchen around door frames, in the ceiling beams and in the mantel over the range cooker.
See more photos of this home.
The oak island pleased the husband and helped bring his style into the design. It pleased the wife because Katie made sure it coordinated with the wood of a family dresser she wanted to use in the space.
But it’s the Italian-inspired stonework that makes the biggest impact. “Our tile setter had worked as a mason for years, so he was perfect for this project,” Katie says. The stone, which came from Colorado, reminded the homeowner of Italy. Each piece is 7.6cm thick. The stone continues as the splashback beyond the range.
But it’s the Italian-inspired stonework that makes the biggest impact. “Our tile setter had worked as a mason for years, so he was perfect for this project,” Katie says. The stone, which came from Colorado, reminded the homeowner of Italy. Each piece is 7.6cm thick. The stone continues as the splashback beyond the range.
“My client called the house ‘my party house’ and wanted to have room for people to gather around the island,” Katie says. And by placing the sink and dishwasher in the island, she made sure her clients could enjoy the view out of the windows when prepping food and doing dishes.
The tap, dishwasher and fridge are all matt black. This finish suits the vintage feel of the kitchen. Stainless steel would have felt too contemporary.
The homeowner found the vintage pendant lights at a local second-hand shop. They have a lot of patina and add to the vintage vibe.
The homeowner found the vintage pendant lights at a local second-hand shop. They have a lot of patina and add to the vintage vibe.
The hardware is oil-rubbed bronze, which works well with the matt black finishes and worktops. “These have floral impressions and tie in to the other vintage elements,” Katie says.
The homeowner had a nice collection of vintage items, such as the iron farm animals seen here. “She’s picked up a lot of things like this over the years,” Katie says.
This is the view through the entrance area towards the light-filled breakfast room. The home also has a formal dining room.
For the flooring, the homeowner was set on brick. But she also wanted something low-maintenance. “They have big dogs and needed something more durable and easier to maintain than brick,” Katie says. “So this is a porcelain tile that looks like brick.” The flooring lends a vintage country feel to the space.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
For the flooring, the homeowner was set on brick. But she also wanted something low-maintenance. “They have big dogs and needed something more durable and easier to maintain than brick,” Katie says. “So this is a porcelain tile that looks like brick.” The flooring lends a vintage country feel to the space.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple
Location Wisconsin, USA
Size 27 sq m
Designer Katie Ceplawskes of Great Rooms Building Group
Photos by Michael Alan Kaskel Photography
“We always have our clients begin by collecting inspiration photos in a Houzz ideabook and following each other, so we’ll know when the other adds things,” Katie says. “The wife, who is from Italy, found an inspiration photo of a fireplace that reminded her of one from her family home there and wanted to find a way to incorporate something like it in the kitchen.”
She was also set on using Benjamin Moore’s Adirondack Green paint. The stone surround for the range and the cabinet colour served as jumping-off points for the design.
“My goal is always to make a kitchen functional and proportionately pleasing,” Katie says. “This is a big house, but the kitchen feels cosy and fits in really well.”
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