Old World kitchens

Heavy oak doors with clavos, Mexican forged iron nails, look like they belong in a castle but disguise a modern refrigerator. Limestone and slate countertops and a beamed ceiling finish out the medieval theme.

A combination built-in island and table make great use of space. With two butcher-block counters at different heights, the kitchen has two large work surfaces and room for a family of five to dine.

Light stone floors and simple wood cabinetry with a golden-brown stain produce a Tuscan farmhouse feel in this kitchen. Open shelving and glass doors offer display space in the hutch; doors and drawers hide clutter in the desk area.

When remodeling a period home, follow the style of the architecture by choosing appropriate materials and colors. Here, stone floors and dark, rich shades of black and brown capture Tudor appeal.

A potfiller faucet over the range provides modern convenience—as does the side-by-side refrigerator, which is integrated into the cabinetry with custom panels and distinctive wrought-iron hardware. The custom concrete sink looks like a real artifact.

English Tudor meets Bavarian Renaissance, making for a splash of castle feel in this kitchen. A brick hearth with ceramic backsplash mural frames the Wolf range. Dark wood custom cabinets from Plato Woodwork with apothecary drawers and wicker baskets lend an air of age and authenticity.

The focus of this cooking corner is the Wolf gas cooktop with metallic backsplash and the custom range hood with wooden mantel, corbels, and rope and crown molding. Don't forget the fifth wall: a tin ceiling adds charm.

Glazed cabinets with hand-painted Italian ceramic knobs complement the stained concrete backsplash and honed travertine countertops. The natural colors and materials soften the stainless steel Viking range and ventilation hood.

Straight out of an Italian villa, this kitchen mixes brickwork, an apron sink, antique ironwork and aged pine cabinetry with terra cotta-colored tiles on the countertops, backsplash and floor. Aged pine paneling conceals the bottom-mount refrigerator.

The tumbled stone kitchen floor plays off the dramatic stone counter and mosaic tiled backsplash. The dark wood furniture-style kitchen island ties in with the mantle on the ventilation hood.

Country kitchens Decoration

A combined table and oversized butcher block with dark wood furniture-style legs doubles as a kitchen island. The sliding patio doors lead to an outdoor dining area.

As versatile as any island, this peninsula includes a six-burner Wolf rangetop, ample cabinetry storage and a prep sink. A powerful professional ventilation hood removes grease and smoke while allowing people in the adjacent eating area to converse with the cook.

White ceramic tile countertops, hardwood floors and oak cabinets create a traditional American style for a country kitchen. The white enamel pro-style range and hood add pizzazz and a splash of stainless steel.

A checkered tile backsplash and red, green and yellow roosters (perched on the hood mantel) embody country design. DuraSupreme cabinets in cherry and mahogany hues, earth-toned granite counters warm, and a Rohl farmhouse sink and faucet warm up the stone tile flooring.

A wooden cabinet hutch painted a rich rust color sets the warm, cozy tone for this classic country kitchen. The built-in bench, with cushions covered in a light floral print, provides a casual eating niche.

Terra cotta floors, knotty wood cabinets and blue and white tile are typical country kitchen touches. A mural, such as the one painted on this wooden range hood, helps to personalize your space.

The large hearth with embossed metal inlay embodies European country style. A double-decker plate rack over the sink and glass-front cabinets provide a display area and storage.

White cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances keep this U-shaped kitchen looking clean and contemporary, yet still country.

Botanical patterned ceramic tiles repeats across the countertop, backsplash and two of the walls of this U-shaped kitchen. The kitchen’s greenhouse window serves as the ideal location for growing herbs and spices and also ties into the color and design of the tilework.

The French farmhouse-style kitchen is replete with blue, terra cotta and gold colors and harvest themes. The plate rack and wine rack in this hutch offer storage as well as style.

Knotty pine cabinets in a Shaker style make for an eclectic country kitchen. Positioning the four-burner range directly across from the double-basin stainless steel sink, with the microwave and dishwasher within easy reach, makes the floor plan highly functional.

Modern Country kitchens

Lowering the counter to 33 inches on either side of the four-burner rangetop made it easier for the cook to stir and to fill pots. Made from gold-green granite, the lowered countertops pick up the colors from both the natural maple wall cabinets and the distressed green island.

For the gourmet cook or gourmet family, only a 60-inch range with modular cooktop and double ovens will do. That kind of power requires an oversize ventilation hood liner, which the designer topped off with a custom finish and border.

Beaded inset maple cabinetry with a distressed rub-through finish suits this historic home. A white tile backsplash with a black and white checkerboard pattern over the Wolf range adds character.

Bring the outdoors into your kitchen with an oversize archtop window. Natural stone countertops in shades of gray pick up the color of the floor accent tiles as well as the pro-size stainless steel refrigerator. Beaded wood kitchen cabinets and matching tall chairs in medium brown continue the earth-toned palette.

A pot rack keeps pots and pans accessible for the cook but out of reach of children. Two sinks, multiple trash and recycling areas and a large refrigerator also make this kitchen family friendly. A large island with a blue counter adds workspace and a splash of color.

The fifth wall—aka the ceiling—offers additional design opportunities. An alcove with decorative border and a skylight brings in natural light and continues the themes and colors of the kitchen below. The blond wood cabinets and floors and blue and white walls combine in a classic country color scheme.

With its polka-dot black and white ceramic tile and stainless steel backsplash, this L-shaped kitchen has a touch of retro flair. White kitchen countertops and white recessed beadboard panel cabinets with cup pulls make a bright contrast to the dark hardwood floors and black range and vent hood.

A built-in banquette with drawers under the bench helps to maximize storage space. Butter-cream yellow cabinets and large windows make this small space feel light and airy.

Painted blue-green and yellow cabinetry features beaded inset doors with sanded corners, dish and cup racks and pullout wicker baskets. A pocket door hides a microwave; panels disguise a refrigerator and dishwasher. A porcelain farm sink, butcher-block counters, wrought-iron light fixture, knotty flooring and hand-planed ceiling beams complete the look.

Everything old is new again in this antique-inspired kitchen. The kitchen island, purchased in finished form, consists of the bottom of an upright piano with a wooden countertop. Brand-new: the stainless-steel wine chiller, side-by-side refrigerator and built-in microwave.

Country kitchens Designs

Chicken-wire door inserts and woven baskets lend authentic country flair to this kitchen. Base cabinets in charcoal green are paired with upper cabinetry in white maple with a light brown glaze. The rangetop and range hood with decorative corbels and mantel make the cooking zone beautiful and functional.

Oak kitchen cabinets and black appliances provide a neutral backdrop for butter yellow and dark green walls. A white subway tile backsplash pulls the farmhouse look together.

Once a dark, small space, the remodeled kitchen is light and airy with its white beadboard kitchen cabinets and floral motif. The focal point of the kitchen is its white six-burner range with its white knobs and schoolhouse red ceramic tile backsplash.

Shaker-style cabinet doors in natural maple, terra cotta floors and granite counters offer a contemporary twist on country. A large skylight window provides an abundance of natural light.

A combination plate rack/display shelf and discreet built-in desk offer streamlined storage. Ceiling beams and textured white walls add subtle style without distracting from the artwork.

Between the nearby dining table and the peninsula, this kitchen offers both formal and casual seating. Painted yellow kitchen stools echo the yellow kitchen walls.

Light wood flooring and beaded inset maple cabinetry, custom stained and glazed, create a warm, monochromatic look. The blues and greens of the backsplash murals and fresh flowers provide lively accents and a natural, woodsy fee

Two small landscape murals flank a larger mural that serves as the centerpiece of the tiled backsplash. The windows on other side help to connect the outdoors with the nature theme of the kitchen.

A black finish, combined with bottom drawers and glass-front upper doors, makes the storage cabinets at left look like a furniture hutch. The curved-spout faucets and barrel-shaped range hood create country kitchen charm.

A two-toned dry bar includes undercounter wine storage and mullioned doors that display glassware. The beaded inset upper cabinetry is in stained and glazed maple with fly specs; the lower cabinets are painted black, with a distressed rub-through.

New Idea Country kitchens

The Viking range is the epicenter of this kitchen’s workspace. A pullout cutting board and appliance garage keep counters free of clutter. Details such as the angels carved into the corbels add handcrafted charm.

Light wood cabinetry and blue-and-white ceramic tiles make for classic country. Putting a gooseneck faucet and prep sink in this kitchen island allows the cook to fill up large pots with water without going far from the island cooktop.

A built-in butcher block prep area near the kitchen sink and bay window gives the chef a lovely view between tasks. The retro-style range and blue and white ceramic tile countertops, backsplash and hood complete the farmhouse theme.

A red, yellow and green tile mural stands out from the cream-colored cabinets and light stone flooring. Exposed ceiling beams and a hanging pot rack convey farmhouse charm.

Glass-front maple cabinets with a warm autumn stain host colorful dishware, while Botticino tumbled stone and hand-painted terra cotta are used for the backsplash and mural. The hearth is made of painted plaster and supported by painted corbels.

French blue ceramic tiles make a beautiful backsplash and range hood border in this French country kitchen. Clever cabinet panels with cathedral arches, topped with a matching pediment, disguise the refrigerator as an armoire.

Less is more in a predominantly white kitchen. A white ceramic subway tile backsplash and white kitchen cabinets with recessed panel doors offer a pristine canvas for colorful collections, and the wood flooring and granite counters pop.

A sage-green distressed island lends a historic air to this cottage kitchen. Knotty wood panels on the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets lend a rustic country touch.

Country elements of this kitchen include brass faucets, hardwood floors, beadboard paneling and the apron-front primary sink. Cabinet panels conceal the dishwasher and built-in side-by-side refrigerator.