Three country kitchens we love

Elegant style
A crystal chandelier is often the crowning glory of the dining room, but lately it has been showing up in less likely places, its very unexpectedness adding a quirky charm that's particularly amenable to country kitchens. Its outsized beauty appeals to Josie Bertrand, so when she built this English-style kitchen, she hung two sparkling chandeliers over her 8' by 5' central island. “They're elegant, and unusual,” she says, “and the prettier you make a kitchen, the more you'll enjoy it. We spend a lot of time here.”

For the transplanted New Zealander, this comfortable space makes the perfect family kitchen. Moulded cabinetry is the most formal feature, but instead of classic white, the cabinets are a soft green, giving it a more relaxed, organic look. Mottled brown travertine tile on the backsplash and a pink marble countertop on the island add additional colour, so the look is less pristine, more lived-in.

What Josie describes as a “typical triangle kitchen” is, at 20' by 15', open and spacious enough to accommodate the comings and goings of three children under the age of 10. The big island has become the focal point of the action, and the family. “We eat breakfast there; I read the paper there; the kids use it. It's the centre of everything.”

Fluted columns and detailed mouldings on the cabinetry create the impression of elegant, stand-alone furnishings. Cork flooring is also a clean, modern counterpoint to the many traditional elements of the kitchen.

Inspiration
The crystal chandeliers were the crowning element of this kitchen, creating a sense of formality with their sparkle and drama, while the amber beads and fluted candle-bulb holders are pure country charm. And here, more really is more: Hanging two chandeliers side by side provides a focal point that balances the large island below and the mirrored effect magnifies their impact.

Sources
Cabinetry, chandeliers and kitchen design, Clive Christian; windows, MQ Windows; microwave oven, GE Advantium; travertine tile backsplash, Ciot; decorative painting, Mavis Martin and Nancy Farnham; cork flooring, TransCanada Carpets; wall ovens, dishwasher, Fisher & Paykel; cooktop, Viking; fridge, Sub-Zero.