The subtleties of kitchen design in the English style

Kitchens decorated in the English style are an example of classics, chic, sophistication and laconicism. Nowadays, design can be anything: austere classic, colonial eclectic, delicate and luxurious. It closely intertwines Gothic, Baroque and even oriental motifs that were once brought to the country by the colonialists.

The Victorian era is considered a classic of the English style - that is, the design that became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. This trend in design became widespread in the first half of the 19th century.., and today has undergone many changes. In any case, there are still characteristic features that distinguish this style from all the others:

Basic principles of room design: comfort, adherence to family values, some intimacy (to some extent turning into crampedness), as well as stiffness, conservatism and "habitability" (which some may compare to a light form of clutter).

The materials here are exclusively natural, of the highest quality, sound quality and certainly artificially aged. In prints, stripes, checks, florals and heraldry are preferred. The decor assumes an abundance of textiles (vintage furniture with upholstery, tablecloths, curtains). All decorative elements are used in significant quantities and give the impression of being antique or handicraft.

It should not be forgotten that during the reign of Queen Victoria, kitchens were never a dining area and a place of communication for members of aristocratic families. There was a servant, and the owners hardly looked here. The premises have never been particularly luxurious; nevertheless, high cost and chic have become the priorities of modern designers in this style.

The shade range in the decor of the kitchen decorated in the Old English style should be restrained and noble - there is no place for any defiant shades. However, this does not mean at all that the use of dark paints is unacceptable, but the following options are still considered preferable.

• Golden and white palette. The details are decorated in the traditional gold color. In English cuisine, you can always see gilded bas-reliefs, headsets with decorative overlays, as well as moldings. As a rule, when using a tandem of white and gold, there are no other colors, although the design of the countertop from dark materials is allowed. As a rule, it is stone (natural or artificial), ceramics and expensive wood.

• Sandy beige tones. Such a duet looks very impressive and stylish; usually it is complemented with patina and gilding.

• Rich browns. The color of expensive wood gives the room luxury, chic and at the same time, real English primness. Usually the floor, furniture and partly the walls are made of one type of wood, and the apron is made of stone or tiles, while using harmonious brown shades.

• Light gray color scheme. Mostly used in colonial designs or in combination with gold trim.

For finishing the floors in the English kitchen, wood panels are used - a laminate decorated with bevels and an unusual texture looks best. However, you can make it more practical, for example, from porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles of necessarily natural colors. When finishing the floor, special attention should be paid to the baseboards - they must certainly be slightly inflated.

For decorative wall cladding, matte paints will be the best option. Given the specifics of this place, we can say that they will be the most functional. However, those who want to recreate real English traditions in their kitchen can also paste wallpaper, and if the footage permits, the wall panels and lining will look harmoniously.

If you are designing a small kitchen, then preference should be given to light materials with an unobtrusive print. But a large one can be made more chamber and majestic with the help of dark green or burgundy shades. In the conditions of typical apartments, striped wallpaper will be the optimal solution. - they will visually raise the ceiling and make the room brighter and more spacious.

By the way, when finishing the ceiling, you need to pay special attention to the material. First of all, you need to proceed from the dimensions of the room, for example, for a small space it is best to use whitewash or plaster, to save time and money, you can stop at special paints for the ceiling. If you are the proud owner of a kitchen with high ceilings, then you can use stucco, multi-stage decoration or wood beams. Regardless of your choice, the surface in any case should be matte, the gloss goes against the classic English traditions.

Recreation of real English decor in the kitchen is impossible without a competent selection of furniture and household appliances. Designers recommend adhering to the following requirements.

• Furniture sets should be made of the most expensive types of wood: pine, walnut and oak. A solid array is the best choice.

• Furniture must by all means retain its natural texture, it is covered with varnish or light translucent enamel.

• For a greater immersion in the era, it will be useful to use glass or stained glass inserts.

• English cuisine requires the use of open shelves. As a rule, an expensive and stylish service is placed there.

• Furniture handles should be made of copper or bronze, it is advisable to use gilding. Of course, do not forget about such an important detail as regular polishing of all decorative elements.

• It will look spectacular if the furniture is artificially aged, creating the effect of scuffs and slight cracking. In this case, the headset will look truly vintage and will become the highlight of your kitchen. However, do not overdo it - excessive zeal will easily turn the noble material into an ordinary old piece of wood.

• Classic English furniture should look expensive and respectable. Style assumes laconic geometry and correct lines. If you do not have the opportunity to purchase an expensive headset, then you can resort to imitation, although remember that cheap substitutes cannot give the desired impression and are unlikely to create the desired impression.

• A classic sideboard with lots of small drawers is the perfect fit. These details will perfectly convey the whole atmosphere of England of past centuries. Tables and chairs should harmoniously fit into the stylistic concept. Usually they are also made of precious woods and decorated with carvings.

• If the kitchen is small, then using a transforming tabletop in tandem with wicker chairs would be a good option. In a large space, it is advisable to give preference to massive countertops.

When decorating a functional area in the English style, special attention should be paid to the chandelier, since it is this lighting device that allows you to give the room the very intimacy, which is considered the main feature of that era. The chandelier becomes the real center of the dining area, and in colonial interiors, rougher products are usually used, and in classic decor, more openwork ones.

Anyway the chandelier should have floral ornaments and a large number of bulbs... Keep in mind that no curtains, aprons, or tiles should draw attention away from the lights. In the English style, an exceptionally warm color spectrum is allowed, as close as possible to natural.

English design is characterized by the rational use of every meter of space, so here you can see pots with fresh flowers and indoor plants, as well as stands with a wide variety of useful little things. This is not the whole list of what can be found in English cuisine. Please be aware that decor elements should reflect all the traditions and cultural preferences of the inhabitants of foggy Albion, which are famous for their love of dogs, as well as horses and real English tea.

Even though the kitchen has a dining area, there should always be books on the shelves, such as cooking literature. They are elegantly complemented by jars of cereals and spices and small flowerpots. It will be useful to hang a stylized clock on the walls, as well as landscape paintings depicting a hunting - they usually use gilded frames. Brass and copper accessories will harmoniously complement the English style, and oriental motifs, for example, ceramic floor vases and figurines, will bring special charm.Embroidery lovers can decorate the walls with their own works.

To make the interior look complete, you should choose the right curtains. For drapery, only heavy fabrics are used, always with lambrequins. Usually curtains are made in two versions - transparent and made of heavy textiles are decorated with fringes with tassels, velvet, tapestry and jacquard should be preferred.

Details will help give the kitchen a true English style. So, if the kitchen has enough space, you can focus on a large hob with a hood, and an oven fixed a little lower will help to make the composition complete, unfortunately, in small apartments such an ensemble is unlikely to be used. Don't combine Queen Victoria style with stainless steel sinks, since this will bring a tangible dissonance to the overall picture of the decor. The best solution would be a deep ceramic sink lined with tiles or stone.

We offer you a photo selection of ideas for decorating a kitchen and a kitchen-living room in a classic English style. Without a doubt, you can choose the option that will fully meet both your preferences and the possibilities of the room.

How to create an English style in the kitchen, see the video below.