You don't have to live in a cottage to achieve the cottage look and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's your choice what design you have inside your home even if you are restricted with the look on the outside. It also doesn't need to cost the earth.
Each "Style It Sunday" we will give you some ideas to create your own cottage style.
In the kitchen
Did you inherit someone else's kitchen or is yours looking a bit tired?
It might be you have a decent quality kitchen but it needs a little "something". Let's start with paint.
Paint is the simplest of way to transform near enough anything. It's not just for walls and ceilings either.
If you think that painting your kitchen cupboards sounds like hard work;having to sand and prep everything,do not worry. If you want to cheat,there are liquid sanding products on the market.you simply wipe the liquid onto the surface and it creates a "sanded" feel ready to paint.
If you are worried about painting your cupboard doors in a totally different colour,aim for a more neutral shade.An off white or cream is a good starting point.It may be neutral but you can always add a splash of colour by changing the handles or adding some pretty fabric behind the glass or by simply adding a hanging heart to one of the handles. A little goes a long way.
Are your appliances are looking shabby?
Well,now you have painted your kitchen cupboards,your appliances are screaming for attention.you can buy appliance paint in a spray form but this would probably mean removing them for safety reasons.Not practical. Why not try Fablon....a sticky backed vinyl type material which you cut to size and simply peel and stick.It comes in lots of different colours and patterns and although you may not get a shade to blend in with your kitchen cupboards,you can find one that will co-ordinate.some companies make designs specifically for appliances but make sure you check your measurements first.
Alternatively,cover them up with curtain.Add curtain wire into two hooks screwed into the underside of your work top and sew a simple curtain.Make sure it's double the width of the gap you want to cover so you can gather it for a fuller appearance. You can carry the pattern through the kitchen by making table top appliance covers,edge your plain tea towels and make other accessories.
Do you have eyesore tiles as a splash back?
This can make you think you are stuck with them unless you chip them off one by one,then re-tile with new tiles.It all sounds hard work and very costly.... There's no need.
Many hardware stores stock a tongue and groove "look-a-like" made from MDF.It comes in lightweight panels and can be stuck to tile or anything else using the appropriate adhesive. One fixed,you simply paint them in your colour choice.The great thing with the panelling is that when you fancy a change of colour,you can simply paint over the old colour.
Work tops?
Replacing work tops in the kitchen can be pricey but it does make a huge difference.Of course you have to factor in cutting around the sink and so on too. If you prefer not to replace your work tops,there are paint kits on the market to transform your kitchen worktops with simple steps. IF you have just one damaged area of your work top which is an eyesore,try searching for a pretty glass worktop saver to cover the area in question.
All these ideas really need is patience and good preparation.
We all need light to live in our homes and not just at night.We spend a lot of time in the kitchen at all different times of the day.
Task lighting and centre of the room light fittings like spot lights are not always the best to create the cosy cottage feel and you will be forgiven if you think that the kitchen isn't the place for a pretty lamp.However,if your kitchen has some dark areas,add a little lamp. Table lamps come in all shapes and sizes now and they'll fit anywhere plus they make a room look really cosy.
Kitchen Furniture
Do you have room for a dining table in your kitchen?
If you do but are on a budget,try collecting pieces separately.You can mix and match your chairs and use paint to decorate the pieces so they co-ordinate and look like they are meant to be together.
If the table looks like it's seen better days,try adding a pretty fabric or oil cloth table cloth. Oil cloth is very popular at the moment.There are masses of pretty designs,shapes and sizes on the market and they are practical as you just need to wipe them down.
If you don't have masses of floor space in your kitchen for a table with chairs,why not think about furniture for corners.Often,the corners of our home are neglected. This corner bench and table will free up centre floor space creating the illusion of space in your home.
Need extra storage? Look up!
The kitchen holds a lot of stuff..... lot of stuff that we don't always use every day but we need to keep it. Here's a way of keeping it all and keeping your kitchen look pretty at the same time.
If you have space on top of your kitchen cupboards,why not add some wicker baskets to keep things in. you can keep a multitude of boring bits and pieces in a basket but looking at eye level,all you'll see is a beautiful basket.
The ceiling is a perfect area to store hanging items...utensils,tea towels and other items. A laundry maid is an item that is very useful and decorative for this purpose. They are easy to install and they can hold a lot but don't make them look over loaded. Add some dried flowers in between your utensils and tea towels so it looks decorative as well as practical.
Alternatively,you can add a pan rack...
Another budget friendly storage idea is a peg rail. This can be used for hanging utensils,tea towels or pans. Again,integrate pretty things to make it look decorative.
For added storage space,add shelves over windows and doors.This is often wasted space but is great for storing and displaying.
The ultimate in the cottage kitchen.....
The dresser.
The dresser has been in use for hundreds of years to store and display. to many who own one,it is the pride of place in their kitchen.It scream cottage to many and indeed, a dresser can be made to look so pretty.
You can pick them up relatively cheaply in a basic condition,some are the original (dark) wood but you can paint them in your choice of colour,or there are people who will paint your dresser for you or there are people who have done all the work for you and are selling them already to go.
A dresser normally comes in two pieces; a top and a bottom. The bottom piece usually has cupboards;some also have drawers. The top has shelves or plate rack width shelves.It all depends on the style you have.
Like the kitchen cupboards,it's easy to paint your dresser. Once done,it'll be your pride and joy. You can show off all of your dinner set,tea set and more besides.Add hooks to the front of the shelves for cups or mugs. Double up the dinners plates with a side plate in front.Add BUNTING across the top. Hang dried flowers to each side,hearts from the handles.go all out for a full look with tea pots and pretty china. It'll look beautiful.
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