British design houses deVOL and Plain English have always dazzled Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones with their practical whimsy approach to design. So, when it came time to update her 180-square-foot 100-year-old Birmingham, Alabama, kitchen, she knew exactly where to turn for style inspiration. Here are the 11 ways she renovated her small kitchen with a bit of that English charm.
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1. Go for High-Impact Wood Work
After making tweaks to the room's footprint (including removing a bulky unused chimney in the corner), Maribeth maximized charm with vibrant Shaker-style cabinets and a tall 6-foot-8-inch wood-paneled backsplash. The chimney removal allowed for custom cabinetry, complete with plate racks and open shelves, flanking both sides of the window.
Get the Look:
Cabinet Paint: Sudbury Yellow by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: 30+ Best Kitchen Color Ideas for Your Kitchen Remodel
2. Add In Touches of William Morris
Best known as the father of the Arts and Crafts Movement, British artist William Morris used woodblock printing to capture the patterns of nature during a time of industrialization in England. The kitchen's botanical wall covering depicts citrus and pomegranates and was one of his earliest designs, first printed in 1864.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: Fruit by Morris & Co.
3. Install Pretty Task Lighting
A pair of porcelain pendant lights from deVOL adds a period-appropriate touch to the English-inspired kitchen, courtesy of their ruffled shades, which were popular in the early 20th century.
Get the Look:
Pendant Light: Vintage Industrial Light from Amazon
4. Include Furniture-Style Details
Pairs of scalloped brackets dot the vent hood (above) and wall-cabinets, white pedestal foot brackets set the bumped-out sink apart from the rest of the lower cabinetry. A shapely marble backsplash and complementing unlacquered brass hardware from Armac Martin complete the “antique cabinet” look.
Get the Look:
Brackets: “Olympic” Wood Bracket
Hardware: “Cotswold Bun” Knob and “Cotswold Cup” Pull
Flush Mount: Visual Comfort Edmund Flush Mount
5. Opt for Living Room-Worthy Accessories
“Early on, I decided to throw out all the kitchen rules and make this room feel like every other room in the house,” says Maribeth. Enter: a pair of antique engravings flanking the window, a moody oil painting hung atop the vent hood, and an antique tole lamp sweetly tucked in the corner.
Get the Look:
Oil Painting: Fruitful Art Print by Pottery Barn
6. Paint a Checkered Floor
Maribeth worked with decorative painter Daniel Whitsett to give her kitchen a touch of timeworn charm. The distressed checks, which are finished by hand with a small sander, give the room a been-around-forever feel. Design Tip: To DIY a distressed finish, opt for a fine-grit sandpaper in spaces that need a more delicate touch. Wait at least three days for unsealed paint to dry before distressing, then finish with your preferred sealant.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint: New White by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: Our 15+ Best Ideas for Painted Floors
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7. Pick White Appliances
Introduced in the 1920s as a response to the influenza outbreak (light-colored enamel surfaces were believed to be easier to clean), white appliances are making a stylish comeback. Matte finishes, like the one Maribeth chose for her Café Collection appliances, easily hide fingerprints and smudges.
Get the Look:
Dishwasher: 24-inch Matte White Dishwasher by Café Collection
Oven: Matte White Electric Oven by Café Collection
Refrigerator: Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator
8. Integrate Your Appliances
With help from her Birmingham-based architect Heather Knowles, Maribeth recessed her refrigerator to free up space a create a seamless flow between the two hallways that flank the kitchen. Craftsman-style moulding on both doorways adds a period-appropriate touch.
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9. Make Room for an Eat-In Kitchen
Despite the room's small footprint, Maribeth wanted a spot for her young family to enjoy breakfast. She and Heather removed a bank of built-in cabinetry to make space for an antique pedestal table and a scalloped banquette upholstered in performance fabric.
Get the Look:
Banquette: “Regina Banquette” by One Kings Lane
Lighting: Visual Comfort Vendome Sconce
RELATED: Our Best Breakfast Nook Ideas That Will Start Your Day Off Right
10. Pick Small-Scale Prints
The sconces’ gathered shades and breezy cafe curtains at the sink window were both fabricated of smaller designs that complement the vibrant botanical pattern used throughout the kitchen.
Get the Look:
Sconce Fabric: “Cupid” in Pink by Chelsea Textiles
Café Curtain Fabric: “Small Check” in Seabreeze by Chelsea Textiles
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11. Hang a Peg Rail
Popularized by the American Shakers, simplistic peg rails keep all types of clutter under control. Screw-in pegs, like the ones Maribeth used, allow for easy customization and helped her turn the kitchen's back entry dumping ground into a makeshift mudroom.
Design Tip: Space pegs at least six inches apart to maximize their pile-it-on capacity.
Get the Look:
Peg Rail: Screw-In Pegs on Amazon
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
