Casual, rustic and filled with country charm, these farmhouse-style kitchens are my latest obsession. I’ve rounded up four features you should consider when trying to achieve this look in your own home.

1 ENCAUSTIC TILES

Encaustic (pressed cement) tiles with intricate, bold patterns, often feature in a farmhouse kitchen floor. They’re probably not to everyone’s taste, but in a farmhouse-style kitchen they just work beautifully, as evidenced in the kitchen above by Studio McGee, and in the one pictured below designed by Emily Henderson.

Designed by Emily Henderson  /  Photography Zeke Ruelas — Designed by Emily Henderson / Photography Zeke Ruelas

2 OPEN SHELVING

Designed by Studio McGee  /  Photography Travis J — Designed by Studio McGee / Photography Travis J

Open shelving seems to appear in almost every single farmhouse-style ktichen we’ve featured here. And for good reason! This style of kitchen is much more decorative (and probably why I’m a huge fan) – you’ll often find beautiful ceramics, rustic chopping boards, cookbooks, heck – even art, styled perfectly on open shelves. Usually timber shelves work best for this style, like these pictured above and below, both designed by Studio McGee.

Designed by Studio McGee  /  Photography Jessica White — Designed by Studio McGee / Photography Jessica White

3 BRASS DETAILS

Whether it’s your light fixtures, tapware, or kitchen handles, brass is the metal of choice in today’s farmhouse kitchens. It certainly lends a more contemporary edge and a healthy dose of glamour. I’m currently lusting over this strap brass bracket from US based company Rejuvenation pictured above.

I know from personal experience that it can be hard finding brass handles in Australia so you may be interested in this one pictured opposite by Kethy. It would easily fit in a contemporary kitchen too – but I think its simplicity would also make it ideal for a contemporary twist on farmhouse style. However black, and silver are also great options for all those little details that make your kitchen sing.

4 COLOUR

Designed by Emily Henderson  /  Photography Tessa Neustadt — Designed by Emily Henderson / Photography Tessa Neustadt

Sure black, white and natural timber are an obvious choice for a farmhouse style kitchen, but creating something more homely, and unique requires a little bit of bravery – yep we’re talking colour.

Consider coloured cabinetry or painting the island bench when designing your country-style kitchen – just as Emily Henderson has done in her own kitchen (pictured above) and in this other one she designed for a client (pictured left). Muddy greens, blues and greys work a treat in these areas – the key is to keep these colours more natural – sickly bright colours aren’t going to work. The key to making colour in the kitchen work, is balancing with plenty of white as proven in this kitchen below designed by Amber Interiors. It will keep the whole look clean and fresh.