What’s new in kitchen design?
The latest trend for kitchens isn’t in fact that new! It’s more rejuvenated, reimagined whilst retaining the romantic notion of a country kitchen. Called contemporary country this latest updated rustic style brings increased light and a subtle shift to dressing the kitchen with functional objects that have a narrative of honest craftsmanship. It’s quality well-chosen items that do not need to be expensive but do need to be beautiful. A less is more ethos should be adopted if you wish to create your own modern country kitchen.
You may just want to update your kitchen cheaply, if so, we’ll offer a few ideas to lift your dilapidated eyesore of a kitchen into a dream space with some stylish touches and a re-vamp you’ll have your kitchen morph to the loveliest ‘Contemporary Country’ kitchen.
As with any culinary delight you’ll need the right ingredients.
- Good Lighting, is essential. The addition of some pendant lights above the table and or worktops
- Cabinetry, repair, clean, paint, re-configure or replace.
- Worktops, natural is best even if you fake it, faux marble, wood effect even concrete if sealed well can add to the look. Go for the best you can afford. The worktop needs to be durable.
- Flooring, serviceable again natural, clay tiles, even miss matched can work providing the are all the same colour and type of tile.
- Cooker, it doesn’t have to be an Aga though it’s often the dream there are many range style cookers that do the same job.
- Fridge if it doesn’t look good, hide it best you can.
- Lighting; did I say that?! I certainly did!
The look is enlivened with lighting. Perfectly positioned pendant lights become a focal point. Clean clutter free simplicity is the order of the day where materials are used they have to be quality be that a heritage item such as the farmhouse table or a slab or luxury marble you’ll find a hanging lamp above. Whilst it’s essential to have a well- lit kitchen feature lighting is as much about elevating the décor as it is about providing a modern brightly lit space.
As a lighting retailer we very much hope you’ll be inspired by our range with upwards of 1800 pendant light fittings there certainly plenty of choice, you can dive straight in and look at the entire range of lights for kitchens by visiting our website shop or peruse a few handpicked pendant light fittings shown in kitchen settings.
We are all familiar with the traditional, country kitchen look in homes. Farmhouse style kitchens with aged butcher’s block worktops and table tops, warm vanilla and wood tones with rich reds, blacks and creams. It’s an idyllic scene, befitting childhood memories of Enid Blyton stories, steeped in history with a charm all of its own.
Traditionally, these kitchens were dark, so lighting them was key to achieve the cosy warmth required. Choosing lighting with the tones of the kitchen in mind adds a charm worthy of your style.
The BESO ceiling pendant is inspired by 1960 Scandinavian designs featuring sleek, simple lines offered in three sizes. This is finished in a dark bronze with a white shade inner for maximising the light output. A timeless classic that looks as good in retro settings as it does in contemporary and modern ones. Suspended on black flex which can be adjusted at the point of installation to suit most ceiling heights. We love this in kitchens and over dining tables.
Contemporary Country style takes the comfort of the conventional design and teams it with progressive materials, making it an excellent choice for busy homes. Wood kitchens in pale creams, with traditional moulded panels and handles provide the familiarity of the design which balances impeccably with the clean contemporary characteristics of the room.
Amalgamating historic and rustic styles of lighting in a modern home will really set the scene for the contemporary country look. Where traditionally you may have seen horse brasses and dried hops adorning the walls, the contemporary edge sees these being replaced by simple works of art or walls painted in a bold colour.
3 light ceiling pendant ‘Urban Renewal’ takes inspiration from electrical pioneers such as Faraday. Early lighting made much of using reflectors to provide extra light but using highly reflective shades or mirror to bounce more light into the room. The Urban renewal pendant does much of the same. An antiqued mirror glass sun ray disc, edged with bronze, holds the bronze bulb holders in front of the reflector. This ceiling pendant looks best with vintage style bulbs (optional extra) but can be used with any screw in bulb you feel is most suitable up to 100w max. It’s an industrial look, perfect for lighting in restaurants, cafe’s, bars or kitchen, dining room, living room, well most places around the home; it’s truly beautiful and a joy to own.
Using traditional materials of stone, slate and wood sets the scene perfectly and provide a durability that pays homage to the longevity of the country look. To add a modern edge, you can consider using reflective materials such as brass, steel and copper to elevate and accentuate the design. Along with adding a modern poise, they elude to decadence and reflect light around the room for added vivacity.
A small retro ceiling pendant with an industrial edge in an antique pewter finish. Supplied with a variety of suspension rods to allow you to adjust the hanging height from 32.1cm to 122.1cm when installing. This is perfect over kitchen islands in retro and country styles.
The Stanley range of ceiling pendants are hand made in the UK. Using the best quality metals, they offer an interesting impact to any setting. The copper offers a warm accent to any room whilst the hammered effect gives a rippled reflection which adds a great texture to the room. Suspended on a metre and a half of black flex which can be shortened at the point of installation to suit most ceiling heights. Available in 3 sizes in either a hammered or smooth finish in polished copper, black nickel, nickel (nickel plated brass) and brass, you are sure to get the ideal light for your home. This is the middle size with a larger and smaller version available. We also love these grouped together – when different materials are hung in the same room, they offer a relaxed, eclectic effect.
Allowing natural materials and plants into the space will help bring the country atmosphere inside. Windowsills are an ideal place for these and when teamed with a window box outside, they flow through the glass as one, contravening the boundaries between inside and outside space.
Vintage styled pendant jar light ‘Brinley’ brings a quirky personal touch to home décor, though perfect for contract markets too such as bars, restaurants or café lighting. We’d recommend using vintage style bulbs (optional extra) to ramp up the look. These eclectic glass jars are held in place with a old bronze metal finish retaining ring top and suspended by a long cord making this great for high or lower ceiling heights. Consider using it above a bar, table or kitchen island. One of our favourites; this will be much admired, should you invest in the vintage charms of ‘Brinley’ for your home.
Adding sleek, understated modern lighting to your very traditional room can really help to bring some well deserved and current relevance to this trend. Instead of being tempted to add some statement pieces, choose to match in the colours, but choose modern and sleek shapes – this will be a statement enough to bring modernity to the setting.
Modern ceiling pendant made in white glass. The shade acts as a diffuser and offers a warm, atmospheric glow to any setting. Suspended on wire and cable which can be adjusted at the point of installation to suit most ceiling heights. These look great used on their own, or used in a row. Hanging a group at varying heights as a cluster is also really effective and adds an eclectic look to any room. They are also dimmable when teamed with a suitable bulb and switch to further enhance the ambience control. We love these in living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.
You can really have fun with this look – adding a multitude of items from a range of different era inspirations can really work. Using traditional materials in modern forms teamed with a variety of textures can work to bring together an eclectic country look that’s all your own!
The ORGANIQUE is an eye-catching and unusual designed nest inspired ceiling pendant in an olde bronze finish. The intricate design involves meticulously placed wires which is reminiscent of a pretty pile of twigs on a country amble – this really brings nature to your home! Suspended on cable and chain which can adjusted at the point of installation to suit most ceiling heights. We love this in rustic and organic interiors. It’s a modern take on a more traditional chandelier.
So, now you can choose the best lights for the contemporary country look; Yee-Hah!