Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas for a Rustic yet Refined Look

Looking to add a contemporary edge to your farmhouse kitchen? This modern country home kitchen, designed by Jenna Chused, features unexpected color that brings a youthful energy to the rustic space. A green painted floor became “one of the best things in the house,” Chused admits.

Sometimes a statement wall is all you need to transform a room. Designer power couple Eric Hughes and Nathan Turner gave their Los Angeles ranch house kitchen a dash of country charm in the form of a peg rack that holds a collection of cast-iron cookware by Staub. A vintage table and chairs atop the reclaimed brick flooring is the final touch that merges the farmhouse style with the home’s classic California vibe.

“We really wanted to let the house tell us what to do,” says photographer William Waldron, who leaned into the less-is-more aesthetic in his Hudson Valley farmhouse kitchen. “Brand-new appliances would look ridiculous,” Waldron explains, noting that the stove that now stands in the kitchen was discovered in a junk pile on the property. At mealtime, he sets the table with mismatched china and glassware.

Who says you have to follow the typically neutral farmhouse style palette? This barnlike structure in New York is a perfect fusion of modernism and rustic, with cabinets painted in Farrow & Ball’s Railings. Farmhouse chic at its best.

This dreamy cottage in Amagansett, New York, is a lovely confluence of gentle colors and tasteful patterns—especially in the kitchen, where a cabinet skirt gives a rustic, gentle touch alongside modern stainless-steel appliances. Decor items like a copper kettle and cutting board complete the look.

Why merge just two styles? In this eclectic cottage in Essex, U.K., white painted ceiling beams are paired with colorful cabinets, vintage lighting fixtures, modern appliances, and eye-catching checkerboard floors. Proof that the right layering can make for charming design symmetry that both surprises and delights—not to mention a chef’s dream when it comes to counter space.

To break up the rooms of this cozy Long Island abode, a zinc-topped kitchen island doubles as a countertop and dinner table, complete with a set of Arthur Umanoff stools. Because farmhouse style is nothing if not hospitable. (Bonus points for the rooster figurine!)

Nothing garners the charm of country design in a kitchen quite like exposed wood. In this cozy kitchen, the countertops and rough oak flooring anchor the two-story room, while balancing out the exposed wooden beams. We especially love the bespoke hanging shelf that displays the hardy wood material so typical of farmhouse decor—and gives off a casual “serve yourself” vibe.

When designing the space just off the kitchen of this modern country home, designer Jenna Chused brought in a calico floral Lisa Fine print from John Rosselli, which covers the laundry units. This classic farmhouse trope would look equally as lovely beneath a large kitchen sink.

This Minnesota home renovated by Anne McDonald balances rustic and Scandinavian vibes to perfection. The soft and traditional kitchen features dark countertops and pale floors and walls, as well as tons of natural light. The key to making it rustic? A set of adorable vintage wooden chairs and a custom island that cleverly features the same detailing.

Transform your guesthouse—or barn house if you’re lucky—into a stylish escape. This 100-year-old barn in the Hudson River Valley was renovated with the help of ELLE DECOR A-List design team Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill. The dining area features timeless pieces like a vintage table and chairs, along with a charming kitchenette painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dead Salmon.

Vanessa Branson reimagined this property on Eilean Shona, a remote Scottish island, as a dream destination for guests. The cozy kitchen is the perfect rustic space, a feeling heightened with the vintage table and chairs. The blue gives it a pop of color and the white backsplash, a classic touch.

For restaurateur Rosa Bonura, it was fitting that the kitchen be the star of her 18th-century Connecticut home. Renovated by New York–based interior designer Ryan Lawson, the revamped kitchen includes Shaker-style paneled cabinet and Demon wall shelving designed by Mathieu Mategot. The rustic feel is completed by the use of natural materials throughout.

Sometimes all you need to evoke a country-fresh look is a rustic island. In the case of this Southern California home by Studio Shamshiri, a custom kitchen island was designed by John Williams and is accompanied by BDDW stools. The island’s warm, earthy tone pairs perfectly with the leaf-green Dyrehaven paint from Farrow & Ball.

Sherrill Farmhouse, located in East Hampton, New York, was built in the 1700s and rebuilt in 1858. Originally functioning as a working dairy farm, the property was the perfect venue for a rustic kitchen. The bright space exudes a casual summer feel, thanks to the bright white tile and the salvaged wood island.

This laid-back Lake Tahoe home combines luxury and simplicity. Designed by Palmer Weiss, the kitchen has backsplash tiles by Exquisite Surfaces and a Caesarstone countertop. The reclaimed barn wood ceiling beams and stained white oak floor complete the look.

Michael Carey, a fashion consultant who worked for Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, wanted to create the country house of his dreams. This Claverack, New York, home features an original 19th-century kitchen with an old-fashioned hearth and beehive oven. You can’t get more original than that!

Between the coastal town of José Ignacio and the interior village of Garzón in Uruguay lies this rustic sanctuary. The kitchen is all about timeless simplicity, from the leather pendant to the ceiling beams created from an old railroad track found in a nearby field.

In this kitchen, designer Heidi Caillier let the home’s 18th-century charm steal the show. She left the original beams exposed, incorporated country-style cabinetry (painted in an ultrafresh cream color), and added wainscoting to lend a period feel. Wood counter stools from Summer Studio surround the Carrara marble–topped island.

This Victorian farmhouse in the English countryside radiates rustic charm from the inside out. Rita Konig designed her own home and decorated her kitchen with a star pendant from Pooky and a classic, white-enamel Aga stove. Timber statement pieces such as the dining table and chairs give the room extra rural appeal.