Traditional farmhouse kitchens capture the essence of pastoral childhood wonder.
Whether you grew up in the countryside or not, stepping into a farmhouse kitchen immediately evokes some kind of unplaceable memory - as though we’ve been here before, but we can’t quite tell when. This is all because the farmhouse aesthetic immediately transforms any house into a real home.
Suspended somewhere within our collective consciousness is this image of an instantly comforting space, perpetually surrounded by bustling greenery and ever shrouded in a summer sunset light. It’s something so many of us strive to recreate within our own abodes, all the while taking inspiration from old, illustrated bedtime stories and fairy tales.
Coastal, lakeside, surrounded by acres of farmland or somewhere quaint in the countryside, the iterations of traditional farmhouse kitchen aesthetics are surprisingly wide-ranging.
According to Interior Designer Nicola Harding, one of the hallmarks of a traditional English farmhouse kitchen, however, is “not too much matching joinery”. Harding continues, “A hallmark of a farmhouse kitchen is a peppering of free-standing furniture, such as an antique dresser, sideboard or plate rack.”
When it comes to adding flare to a farmhouse kitchen while retaining a traditional aesthetic, Harding says, “I love including interesting lighting, such as a table lamp or an unexpected wall light. This immediately warms up the look and feel and stops a kitchen from feeling clinical, which can be the case when everything is predictable and matching.
The designer goes on to suggest, “A table lamp base and its shade are useful tools for personality and punctuation. They could be witty, colourful or simply very beautiful.”
Harding references “the kitchen of Robert Kimes’ French home – La Gonette,” as one of her favourite examples of a farmhouse kitchen. “It includes all the things I love most about a farmhouse kitchen – free-standing antique furniture, a table lamp and most importantly, an open fire.”
For those concerned about recreating authentic, vintage-inspired farmhouse styles in their own homes, Harding offers us a top tip – “one of the best places to find antique kitchenwares is charity shops, you can nearly always find good, great value treasures, such as mixing bowls and glassware.”
Nevertheless, we suggest heading Harding’s warning with regard to classic farmhouse kitchen no-nos, “Undercounter LED strip lighting in farmhouse kitchens is an absolute no-no! To me, a farmhouse kitchen should feel as if it has evolved organically out of the history of the house and anything obviously contemporary jars with that magical feel. That’s not to say there isn’t a place for clever, contemporary comforts, such as a brilliant fridge or super coffee machine, it’s just that they need to be handled with care; a farmhouse kitchen is a place for quiet luxury.”
On that astute note, keep scrolling for a round-up of antique and vintage-inspired pieces to adorn your quietly luxurious farmhouse kitchen.
Idler 2 Seater Sofa
Inspired by an Edwardian sofa that Nicola Harding has in her own kitchen, this gorgeous loveseat is made in the UK from solid timber FSC-certified frames. At 92cm deep with a low-slung design, the Idler offers sumptuously sink-worthy comfort and is available in a whopping 45 different fabrics (and that’s before playing with cushion combinations) – though the Regatta cotton stripes just so happen to be our personal favourite. Its cushions are additionally made from a 50:50 mix of eco-friendly fibres and feathers, which means that they’ll remain plump for longer.
Buy now £4695.00, Nicola Harding & Co.
Apothecary Cabinet, 1800s, Antique
No vintage-inspired farmhouse kitchen is complete without a higgledy-piggledy apothecary cabinet. This one can be traced back to the 19th century and features unique gilded lettering, mahogany drawer fronts, as well as pine wood on the top and sides.
Buy now £3110.00, Vinterior
Blue and White Dinner Plates Mismatched China
The beauty of the farmhouse aesthetic is its ability to make seemingly mismatched items blend seamlessly together – from the upholstery and large furnishings right down to the dinnerware. This wonderful small business from Etsy will help you to achieve that effortless eclecticism by providing a set of mismatched blue porcelain dinner plates from £17.90 for six.
Buy now £17.90, Etsy
Leach Pottery Mixing Bowls
Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, handmade Leach earthenware instantly elevates any kitchen space. These nesting mixing bowls were hand-thrown in Cornwall at The Leach Pottery studio, reduction fired and finished with a dolomite glaze.
Buy now £99.00, TOAST
Queensbury Large Dining Table with Oak Top – Bottle Green
An extra-large oak dining table is the heart of any farmhouse kitchen, and this option from Furniture.co.uk with bottle green accents makes for a beautiful statement piece. You can also scoop up a matching set of Queensbury chairs with or without armrests to ensure you’re ready for your next farm-to-table dinner party.
Buy now £459.99, Furniture.co.uk
Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Round Casserole, Volcanic, 22cm
Le Creuset cast iron casserole dishes aren’t just lovely to look at. Fantastically functional and known to last a lifetime, they’ll look good atop your Aga for decades before you hand them over to your kids.
Buy now £255.00, John Lewis
Enamel Bakeware Set
Superior quality and designed to last, these hand-dipped enamel baking trays truly encompass the farmhouse kitchen aesthetic. With a base made from thick, carbon steel and three layers of enamel coating on top, this value-for-money five-piece set is a no-brainer.
Buy now £43.00, ProCook
MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Tea Kettle, Eau de Nil, 2L
Just like a Le Creuset casserole dish, you’ll always see an old-school kettle atop the Aga in a farmhouse kitchen. Exclusive to Fortnum’s, this breathtaking MacKenzie-Childs kettle looks like it’s been plucked straight from Wonderland.
Buy now £180.00, F&M
1970's Iconic Globe Drinks Cabinet
This globe-shaped drinks cabinet may have been a must-have in the 70s, but we simply must have it now. Whether kept open to signal cocktail hour or kept closed to serve as a piece of functional décor during the day, this immaculate vintage treasure will accentuate any old-school English countryside interior.
Buy now £720.00, Vinterior
Mushrooms Large 300x150cm Linen Tablecloth
Perfect for lovers of all things cottage core, this linen tablecloth by Avenida Home is adorned with an intricate mushroom design filled to the brim with discrete details – from bumblebees buzzing around flora and fauna to the delicate posey border. We’d drape this over a chest of drawers to ensure it remains a permanent fixture in our interior design scheme.
Buy now £184.00, Liberty
Large antique grey chest of drawers
The art of creating a true farmhouse aesthetic lies in finding those perfectly worn items of vintage furniture, which gracefully age your space. This beautiful grey chest of drawers from Peal Lowe is sure to do just that. You could even adorn the top with some vintage lace curated by Pearl Lowe.
Buy now £595.00, Pearl Lowe
Wooden Chopping Board Set with Stand
The aesthetic power and sheer functionality of large wooden chopping boards are simply unmatched. This set of three high-quality boards comes with a handy stand, which you can customise to feature an engraving of your family name, street name, or even the name of your home.
Buy now £369.00, NOTHS
Set of 3 Mabel Tea Towels
Never underestimate the power of an eclectic mix of tea towels to accentuate your kitchen. Whether draped between the oven door handle or hung by the entrance, these vintage-inspired tea towels are sure to do the trick.
Buy now £6.00, Dunelm
Bobbin Blue Wooden Floor Light
Height: 155cm
A cute and quirky classic, you could take this lamp to a whole new level by adding a stained-glass light bulb to the mix. It’ll illuminate the white cotton lampshade with a kaleidoscopic array of colours, making it a dreamy addition to an eclectic, maximalist home.
Buy now £195.00, Oliver Bonas
Extra Large Gluggle Jug
Beloved for that characteristic, fishy ‘gluggle’ that you hear when pouring water from this kooky vessel, these versatile ceramic jugs are inspired by late 19th-century Staffordshire pottery. Though available in a range of colourways, we think this deep ultramarine blue is the most versatile. Use it as a water jug for the dinner table, a vase for flowers, or even a utensil pot.
Buy now £39.00, Graham & Green
Smeg Bean To Cup Coffee Machine
Allow your coffee machine to blend seamlessly into your perfectly curated farmhouse kitchen with this beautiful bean-to-cup option by Smeg.
Buy now £699.00, Harrods
