Looking for the finest English country kitchen decor ideas? You’re not the only one! English culture has slowly made its way back into the minds of many Americans. With the success of television shows like Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and The Crown, people have become more fascinated with the English country style of decorating than ever before.
English country decor is charming and elegant at the same time. It’s a style that’s all about creating a practical home using traditional designs and modern sensibility. Older farmhouses in the English countryside may need some updating while newer renovations can incorporate modern updates into a home without losing its original character.
English Country Kitchens
So what do English country kitchens look like? Well, for starters they have all the traditional kitchen elements that you would imagine. The English farmhouses that are centuries old featured kitchens that were often located in the back of the house, far from where the family and guests would spend time. This is because cooking was something that was done by servants. The kitchen was not a place for homeowners to spend time in!
Today, most families prefer their kitchen to be open and centered within the house. The room has turned into a family room of sorts and many modern English kitchen designs reflect that need.
We’re going to share with you a mix of both old and new English country kitchens. Some people prefer that really traditional look, while others like to have a modern English country kitchen with contemporary upgrades and conveniences.
I hope that these English country kitchen decor ideas will inspire you!
Wood Kitchen Island
The wood kitchen island is a common element of English style kitchens. Having a central place to work in the kitchen is necessary to prepare meals. Today you might serve light breakfasts at the kitchen island or pour your guests a glass of wine as they wait for dinner to be served. The kitchen island can be used for storage if it has lower cabinets. But many kitchen islands consist of a simple farmhouse wood table. Having an unattached kitchen island means you can adjust it if you want or remove it completely.
There is so much to love visually about this modern English country kitchen design! From the black and brass range to the marble butcher’s block on the kitchen island, there are lots of modern updates which make this kitchen so beautiful and practical. A navy cabinet against the wall holds many different sizes of plates, and they look very easy to reach. Aged brass touches are seen throughout. The wood beams have been painted a lovely white giving the ceiling height and interest. Finally, an old measuring scale has been placed on the center of the island to measure ingredients.
Crystal Chandelier
A crystal chandelier is a common kitchen lighting choice in English kitchen decor. This elegant lighting fixture adds a touch of charm and beauty to any space, but it’s especially welcome in the kitchen where things can get messy fast! I particularly love how light reflects off the crystals on a crystal chandelier.
This English country kitchen is warm and friendly with a beautiful pale green and beige palette. The wooden bench and rustic dining table sit center stage in the space. A white cotton dishcloth and white pitcher rest on the table. In the back, pale green cabinets have been installed next to faded gray cabinets. It looks like the original white stone wall has been left in place along with the natural wood ceiling beams. This space exudes English rustic charm!
Open Shelving
I’ve noticed that English country kitchens often make use of open kitchen shelving to display their beautiful china collection. Many serving platters and kettles are on display for the world to see. They could have beautiful floral designs printed on them or depict scenes of the English countryside. Whatever your style is, you can show off your flatware and china collection by using open shelves.
English Country Kitchen Furniture and Decor
Here are a few ideas for things you can buy to get the English farmhouse look you crave. Things like x-back dining chairs, canister sets, vintage style tables, wainscoting cabinetry, reclaimed wood cutting boards, fireclay farm sinks, English country design bridge faucets, gray chalk paint, freestanding rustic kitchen islands, wooden cooking spoons, striped kitchen towels, rustic farmhouse pendants, gingham and floral rugs, and waxed dough bowls can help set a cozy country atmosphere in your home.
Hand-Painted Backsplash Tiling
Cottage style painted backsplash tiling is very popular in older traditional English kitchens. Finding beautiful vintage hand-painted tiles isn’t always easy but it can result in a unique cottage look. The yellow kitchen cabinets in this kitchen look great with the blue and white backsplash tiling. Various cooking utensils hang from a rod attached to the wall above the tiles. Serving platters are displayed on a high shelf. This is a great example of a charming cottage blue and yellow kitchen!
Brass Pot Filler & Kitchen Hardware
One of the most practical English country kitchen decor ideas is to install a pot filler above the stove in your home. This is one kitchen upgrade that requires some extra help but it’s a practical feature that many home buyers are looking for these days. Brass kitchen hardware is another popular modern English kitchen trend. You’ll notice the brass swing arm light and brass bar pulls in this country kitchen. Copper cookware adds warmth to the space, in contrast with the marble backsplash.
Armorial Chairs
These traditional armorial chairs gathered around the rustic kitchen island are reminiscent of 19th century English castles. The country style dining table has been turned into a kitchen island. It provides a comfortable place to enjoy breakfast and casual meals. Behind, there are open shelves where serving platters and pots can be displayed for easy reach. Large ceramic jars sit on the top shelf. The floor has black white checkered tiles.
Wood Accent Stool
Many English kitchens have at least one rustic wood accent stool in them. I recently bought a small wooden stool for my home and I must say that these pieces of furniture are so useful! I use one in my bathroom for storing towels and bath products. In the kitchen, you can use one to reach the higher upper cabinets. These are certainly handy pieces of furniture that you won’t regret buying as they are so versatile. Here are a few rustic stool recommendations:
Wood Ceiling Beams
A rustic element of English architecture is the exposed wood ceiling beams found in so many English farmhouse homes. If your kitchen has original wooden ceiling beams, then let these be as they naturally are. Rustic ceiling beams make the kitchen feel very cozy and warm. It’s a rural cottage element that will give your home endless charm and character. I love the dark green cabinets and black AGA stove in this country kitchen. This kitchen has great modern updates while retaining its old-world charm.
Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
A farmhouse kitchen sink will give your kitchen a cozy cottage vibe. These types of sinks are noted by their thick edges that jut out from the cabinets about an inch. They are also called apron-front sinks.
This adorable English country kitchen looks like it belongs in a cute little cottage in the Cotswolds! From the wainscoting on the cabinets, to the pale green flatware cabinet, there are so many cute little elements to this space. The white curtain cabinet and the white dish towel add some inexpensive charm to the space. Wood countertops keep it warm and neutral.
Scullery
Sculleries were commonly installed in old English castles. Today you can find a few homes that still make use of them. Sculleries are basically small kitchens or washing rooms away from the main area of the house. They’re mostly used for washing dishes and performing dirty household work. It is kind of like an overflow kitchen or it could serve as a laundry room. The sink is typically smaller and the counter-space not as wide. It is sometimes adjacent to the main kitchen and thus can be a butler’s pantry.
This is an example of a modern English scullery. It has small white cabinets, a dark wood countertop, and a marble apron-front sink. Brass faucets are present along with brass knobs and drawer pulls. A wooden stool sits nearby with some white kitchen linens. Wood bowls and wood cutting boards sit on the counter for easy utility. An upper shelf has been installed to hold different ceramics, jars, and vases.
Tea Sets
If there’s one thing you must pay special attention to in your English kitchen, it’s your tea sets! Drinking tea is a big part of English culture and the English love to have many different tea cups, saucers and kettles to choose from when they serve their tea at home. This is one of the more affordable English country kitchen decor ideas we have. It’s simple and yet adds a lot of character to the home!
Vintage Furniture
Vintage furniture is commonly found in English country homes and oftentimes in the kitchen. Just like the homes themselves, many pieces of furniture have been passed down through the generations, cherished as family heirlooms. You can find old tables, old chairs and even old stools inside many English country homes. These vintage furniture pieces have aged well over the years as they were originally built to last. Mixing old and new is a great idea for your English kitchen. Here an old side table and bench is paired with a modern AGA stove range.
AGA Stove
The AGA cast-iron cooking stove is a classic English country stove. This cooker oven relies on heat storage. It functions on the principle that a heavy cast iron frame can absorb heat from a low-intensity but continuous source of burning. The heat which has been building up inside is then used for cooking. Ironically AGA was founded in Sweden, but all manufacturing has occurred in the UK since 1957, which is why these English ranges are thought to truly be an English invention! Although it sometimes appears that there are four small ovens, there are actually only three and the fourth door is where the burner is stored. These are classic English country kitchen ranges! This white AGA stove looks beautiful in the English country home kitchen.
Copper Cookware
Copper is the cookware material of choice when it comes to pots, pans, kettles and more! Here you can see a copper urn for storing utensils and a copper pot for boiling water on the stovetop. A large copper pot with a lid is stored on the bottom shelf near the floor. Copper can be somewhat expensive but it does provide the finest quality of cookware. It looks great with the black range here and the marble topped wood storage cabinet.
English Country Kitchen Designers & Specialists
If you are in the market to renovate your kitchen and want to go with the English country style, I recommend checking out these UK interior designers, which I come across often in my research for modern English interior design:
- DeVol – DeVol specializes in bespoke kitchens, interior accessories and antiques. You can work with them to design your dream shaker kitchen, classic English kitchen, Sebastian Cox kitchen, or Haberdasher’s kitchen, for example. They have access to top British manufacturers to get the look you have in mind straight from the source! Their design services don’t come cheap but it’s clear that DeVol pays attention to detail and creates stunning kitchens time and time again. DeVol is based in the UK but has a showroom in New York City.
- Plain English – The Plain English designers describe themselves as cupboard makers and traditionalists. They make kitchens the old fashioned way – by hand! Bespoke designs, rooms arranged for utility, and materials of the best quality are all part of the Plain English mantra. I love the simplicity in their designs and their references to traditional English design.
- Artichoke LTD – I came across this Somerset design firm recently during my research. Artichoke specializes in joinery-led interiors which fit modern life while holding on to the historic charm and value. I love the minimalist vibes in their kitchen designs!
So what did you think of our dreamy English country kitchen decor ideas? I hope you found at least one or two ideas that were new to you and inspired you to make a change in your kitchen. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Happy curating!
I loved all the cozy and charming ideas in this post! The mix of rustic elements and modern touches really captures the essence of a classic English country kitchen. I especially adored the use of vintage tableware and the floral patterns. Can’t wait to incorporate some of these ideas into my own space!