In the UK, we are a bit sentimental about bygone days. We like our history and the way things were, and we’ve definitely got an idea that if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. One of the popular looks in our homes is the traditional country or rustic kitchen, with its homely but practical setting that makes us feel like we’re back in the days when life was simple and you had all the time in the world to cook. As it’s a popular look, of course, there can be a premium attached to purchasing a country style kitchen, but with a bit of thought you can turn your current kitchen into your desired style without spending a fortune or replacing the whole thing. It’s done by replacing your kitchen cabinet doors and their accessories.

Your first task is to decide on a style of kitchen doors. In the old days, you’d have been restricted by the type and availability of wood that could be found nearby, and the chances are that you’d have ended up with a fairly plain Shaker style regardless of the type of wood used. Now, you’ve got a much wider choice of wood and finishes so you can stick with the very traditional Shaker or go for the much more ornate and eye catching Oxford, York or Milano style doors.

Once you’ve chosen a style, you need to decide what colour you are going to go for, and this will usually be dictated by the type of wood used to make the door. Once again most kitchen doors in the UK would have been made from English oak, but that’s rare to find now and expensive when you can locate it. French oak is the usual alternative and gives a light but warm colour which is fairly neutral and therefore matches other accessories easily. Canadian maple and beech are also light, and if you want a dark wood effect go for rosewood or walnut if you are sure it won’t make the kitchen too dark. If you’d rather not have wooden doors, or the ones you want are a bit outside your budget, then wood effect doors are available and give you a bit more choice in terms of colour and texture, but bear in mind that most country kitchens retain the white or cream colouring for the traditional look.

Kitchen cabinet doors always need a finishing touch though, whichever style or colour you choose in the end, so it’s important to make sure you choose the right accessories. Wood should be the first on your list – anything else just won’t sit well alongside the wood panels, it will just stand out, cheapening the look and undoing all the good work. If your budget runs to it, you should also consider buying some wood worktops that match the colour and style of your doors, as it will set off the whole kitchen nicely and, to be honest, will make the whole thing look like it was just installed.

About the Author

Biljana is a writer and a blogger interested in home improvement and interior design, currently exploring and writing about kitchen cabinet doors.