8 Ways to Bring Farmhouse-Style Character to Your Kitchen

"It all started with a stove," says Courtney Clark of her Austin, Texas, kitchen makeover. "Every night on my way home from work, I would pass a kitchen shop with a blue range in the window," says Courtney. "I thought, 'Someday, I'll cook dinner on something that beautiful every night.'" That "someday" came sooner than Courtney expected, when she and her husband, Jamie, moved from Houston to Austin and bought a 1916 farmhouse in need of some serious attention, particularly the kitchen. So the couple decided to splurge on a range, then called in architect Cindy Black of Hello Kitchen and contractor Blue Horse Building to help them revive the rest of the space.

Layers of bad remodels (think yellow beadboard walls, vinyl flooring) had concealed the hodgepodge kitchen's historic charm. RELATED: A Basic Kitchen Gets Major Personality

1. Shiplap walls: A single wash of milk paint freshens up the original rough-sawn beams without completely covering their irregularities. 2. Swing-arm sconces: Replicas of turn-of-the-century fixtures serve up more authentic character than recessed cans or LED task lighting. 3. Weathered sink: Made of hammered zinc, this farmhouse fixture is just as durable as it is hardworking. Bonus: An extra-wide towel bar. (Zinc farmhouse sink by Austin Handcrafted Metal)4. Pressed-tin ceiling: To expose its entire perimeter, Cindy removed the crown molding and installed the new cabinets lower than the old ones.

5. Custom cabinetry: Tall, locker-style doors open to reveal a built-in pantry complete with a butcher-block counter for extra prep space. (Custom cabinets by United Custom Cabinets)6. Concealed appliances: Shaker-style panels that match the cabinetry prevent sleek appliances from being eyesores.

7. Built-in hutch: With arched doors and a navy-painted back, this built-in china cabinet is a striking focal point in the narrow space. 8. Heavy-duty hardware: From the cremone bolts (used as window and door locks in Europe) to the satin nickel pulls, the hutch's hefty handles add handcrafted charm.

Courtney poses in front of the glass-door cabinets in her remodeled kitchen. NEXT: The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Design