An English-style kitchen is a clear example of the luxury and sophistication of a royal apartment. The Victorian style dates back to the 19th century, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Today this direction has undergone many changes.
The term “English style” has no clear boundaries. For some it is an old-fashioned interior in the spirit of the Victorian era, for others it is a cozy room with a rustic atmosphere
Characteristic features of the English style in the kitchen
There are certain characteristic features that are characteristic of this style to this day.
- The kitchen set must certainly be antique.
- The presence of oriental notes in the decor and even in the decoration of the room.
- Use of natural materials.
- Solid wood furniture.
- Heavy curtains.
When developing a design project for a Victorian kitchen, it is worth considering that during the reign of the Queen, the kitchen was not intended for entertaining guests. Servants worked here, so the work area was very simple.
An aristocratic English interior invariably contains classical features - arches, columns and stucco.
There are two options for English style in the kitchen: country and classic. The first one is more cozy and homely, but at the same time solid and solid. Classic cuisine is more laconic and strict.
English country is a purely rustic interior with simple furniture, often artificially aged.
And finally...
English-style kitchens are always a classic and harmonious combination of luxury and nobility. Photos of the designers' finished works testify to the amazing beauty of the furniture, the restraint of the decor and the splendor of curtains and curtains. Here, every element is well thought out and takes pride of place, and decorative details create organic compositions and are pleasing to the eye. The kitchen design is more similar to the living room setting, but still retains the cozy charm of a home.
The English style is a timeless classic that gives you the opportunity to stop the passage of time and spend it with close friends and family.
1 of 66
English style kitchen: color palette and finishing options
Light, noble shades are most often used, but dark shades may also be present. The following combinations are considered the most appropriate:
- White and gold palette.
- Beige-sand shades. Can be supplemented with gold or platinum.
- Light gray palette.
- Brown tones.
In a white English kitchen, decorations include gold moldings, trims and bas-reliefs
Stone surfaces - natural or artificial - are often used in combination with beige facades
The light gray palette is used mainly in interiors with a colonial twist.
Brown tones are the priority of natural wood of expensive species
The countertop is made to match the floor, the sink is made of artificial stone in the same color. Ceramic tiles are used to finish the apron.
Finish options:
- in the form of a brick;
- cover with Moroccan pattern;
- white and gold tiles with ornate patterns.
Tiles with Moroccan patterns will make the kitchen interior elegant and original.
Materials for finishing work
To decorate a kitchen in the English style, you will need to use only the highest and most expensive quality materials. An interior using fakes and low-quality materials will never recreate the unique design that came from England.
Let's take a closer look at the finishing of each structure available in the premises:
- The kitchen floor is made of wooden planks. Parquet with a geometric pattern will look very good in such an interior. In the photo below you can see this option. Tiles or natural stone are sometimes also used for flooring. The most important thing is that they are muted light colors.
- The walls are covered with discreet wallpaper. You can also use paint and paint the walls in light colors.
Related article: 3D photo wallpaper on the kitchen wall: from A to Z
- The ceiling can be decorated with wooden beams. Caissons can be used for the same purposes. In order to reduce costs, you can paint the ceiling structure with light paint.
To bring the design of the room as close as possible to the English style, it is worth increasing the use of wood. There must be a lot of it. But this is not enough: the quality of the material must be the highest. The most commonly used types of wood are oak, walnut, yew, and beech.
Materials for finishing a kitchen in the English style
The British are very fond of wood. Almost all of their items are made from this material. So wood is chosen for kitchen furniture. In the center of the kitchen there is always a massive oak table. Basically, only natural materials with a “scuffed” effect are always used.
There is no excess wood in English interiors - this applies to both furniture and surface finishing
How to choose the right furniture for an English-style kitchen
Choosing the right furniture for a Victorian-style kitchen is already half the battle. The set and dining area must meet the following requirements:
- look reliable, sound and solid;
- the facade should be made of natural wood (pine, walnut, oak), the countertop should be made of natural or artificial stone (ceramic tiles can also be used);
- the colors are subdued and calm.
The furniture may be simple, but obviously of good quality. Decorative overlays, forged handles and other elaborate details are welcome
The decor and fittings must correspond to the English style: have scuffs (an “antique” effect), metal handles, intricate carvings, and carved cornices installed on top.
Features when decorating a kitchen-living room in English style
One of the most important conditions for embodying the English style in the interior is the presence of space. This is extremely difficult to do in a small kitchen. But with an open floor plan, you can achieve a very attractive and functional environment. It is not necessary to use partitions as zoning elements; you can only get by with suitable lighting.
Example of kitchen-living room design
The Charleston style sofa, as well as ottomans, suit this project very well.
Household appliances and plumbing
Large household appliances are always hidden behind wooden facades; small items are also stored in drawers and cabinets. Today you can buy kitchen appliances in vintage style.
Modern household appliances, which you simply cannot do without in the kitchen, should be hidden away from view or disguised
Instead of a modern stove, a special oven or equivalent is installed, which is used not only for cooking, but also for heating the room.
The hood is usually hidden, sometimes together with the stove it can be designed as a home.
An originally designed fireplace hood is a distinctive feature of the style.
It is better to choose stylized plumbing fixtures. The sink is ceramic, the faucet is brass or bronze.
A vintage copper or bronze faucet is a suitable accessory for an English kitchen.
Furniture and household appliances
The material for the kitchen set and dining room furniture is solid noble wood. You should forget about cheap plastic and glass. Wooden cabinets decorated with beautiful carvings are what you need for an English-style kitchen.
Carefully! Decorations on cabinets and cabinets in the form of stucco and carvings are best placed in a kitchen with a large area. In a small space, such a set will look bulky.
Typical elements for English cuisine are wooden chairs with patterned fabric upholstery or leather upholstery. The corner sofa beloved by many in the dining area is completely unsuitable. It should be replaced with a beautiful velvet couch or wooden bench.
It is better to choose a round or oval table. The streamlined shape will give the interior even more nobility and grace.
Another distinctive feature to add ambiance is the fireplace. It is installed in the dining area of the house and is complemented by a pair of armchairs, which are also a traditional detail of the English interior.
Everything should be antique-style, even household appliances. Modern kitchen equipment, which you cannot do without, must be carefully camouflaged. This also applies to hoods. It can be disguised as an antique chimney, hidden with wooden panels or brickwork.
Small household appliances should be hidden in kitchen cabinets, and large appliances, such as a dishwasher, should be hidden behind the façade of the unit. English classics love scope. The main decoration will be a luxurious hob and oven. To fully comply with the English surroundings, this area can be decorated with tiles with floral patterns and a hood under the fireplace chimney.
Plumbing must fit into the overall concept, so an ordinary stainless steel sink will not suit an English kitchen. A ceramic sink with a tall brass-look faucet is what you need. Colors matter a lot, so it's best not to experiment. The white sink and bronze faucet will fit perfectly into the interior.
A more modern design in English allows for the use of small household appliances in a retro style. You can safely decorate open shelves with it or place it on the work surface.
Curtains and table textiles
In a kitchen in an English interior, curtains are an important attribute. They can be different, heavy or multi-layered (consist of curtains, lambrequin, Roman blinds). It is not necessary to use natural fabrics; in a modern kitchen, curtains from more practical mixed materials can be chosen.
An example of successful window design in the dining area of an English kitchen
Option for everyday decor of a dining group in an English-style kitchen
Table textiles and curtains should be in harmony with the furniture and decor chosen for the kitchen, and match the color and pattern.
Layout
The basis of the English interior is symmetry. Every thing should be in its place.
There should be a large, solid wooden table in the center of the room. It can be divided into an area where the hostess will work and a bar. Kitchen utensils and household appliances are hidden in wooden cabinets, but they should always be at hand.
- Control panel in the refrigerator: features of use and nuances of choice
- Acrylic kitchens: advantages and types of acrylic facades, 55+ best design photos
Design of a small kitchen 4 square meters: choice of style, layout, color palette, lighting, 95+ best photos
But despite this, the British love space and practicality and never skimp on it. If there is a table, then it is large, for at least several people. If there are buffets and sideboards, then they are large and roomy.
However, to implement the English layout, a lot of space is required, which not all apartments have.
But if the plans include an English-style kitchen, and there is little space, then you can use a trick - demolish the wall between the kitchen and the living room. Then there will be plenty of space to fulfill all your desires and create an unusual interior.
Accessories for English cuisine
A London style kitchen requires a large number of decorative elements. The British love for tea drinking, dogs and horses, gardening - everything was reflected in the interior of the room.
In any interior, the finishing touch is placed with the help of decor; in the English style it can be everywhere - from trinkets to furniture details
For example, there are a large number of cookbooks on the shelves, plates on the walls are always with roses, and there are tea and porcelain surprises in the windows. Engravings, clocks, paintings, and herbariums are also hung on the walls.
Vases, figurines, wooden or stone figurines - everything will be appropriate here
Accessories that display London's tourist brands, such as a red telephone booth, a double-decker bus, Big Ben, and the Union Jack, will help highlight the English style. In an English-style kitchen, the design of which can be seen in the photo, Russian motifs are often found. This is a stove with a samovar, Pavlovo Posad painting, etc.
Decorative elements can be decorated with images of famous musicians, such as Freddie Mercury or the Rolling Stones, the British flag, etc.
Kitchen furniture
Furniture in the English style should be massive. Choose models decorated with large and relief elements. Modern designers have learned to artificially “add age” to the surface, creating the appearance of an antique item. Rubbing and imitation of old wood are what you need for your kitchen interior.
Lighting
Properly selected lighting will help highlight a British-style kitchen. Cold artificial light will not work. The ideal option would be to use sconces and floor lamps.
Modern high-tech lamps definitely won’t fit into an English interior.
It is necessary to select lamps with glass shades that provide diffused and warm light
Lamps can be shaped like lanterns, candelabra, etc. Tiffany-style chandeliers with forged or glass parts are perfect.
Kitchen floor
Floors, as a rule, are made of wood (using parquet boards or other coverings that imitate wood).
A natural wood floor will highlight the overall structure of the interior and will be warm at any time of the year.
Speaking of practicality, you can choose stone-like or checkerboard ceramic tiles for the floor. Skirting boards are made high.
Ceramic tiles in light natural tones like stone, or a two- or even three-color coating would be appropriate.
Walls
For wall decoration, choose matte or wallpaper (paper or textile). If the room area is large, you can highlight the lower part of the wall with wooden panels - clapboard or boiserie.
Wallpaper or fabric are traditional materials for wall decoration in English interiors
To finish the apron in the kitchen, use square tiles or in the “hog” format. In England it is also called the “Metro” because it lines the London Underground.
White ceramic tiles are often chosen for finishing the backsplash.
The classic version of the English style involves wallpaper with a checkered pattern, stripes or a flower, specifically a rose. The color of the wallpaper should not be flashy and provocative; the shades should be muted with a print that will not be too noticeable.
Checkered wallpaper can effectively highlight the dining area
When you decide to implement the English style in the kitchen, you should carefully consider every detail. To recreate the era and style, all interior items must be antique. If even one detail does not match the style, it can ruin the whole picture. By following all the rules, you can always please your loved ones and friends with a homely and cozy atmosphere.
Selection of furniture
When choosing furniture for an English-style kitchen, you need to pay attention to some features:
- Design in an English interior requires furniture made from natural expensive wood. The most commonly used color is white (cream). An example of design in this color scheme can be viewed in the photo. Now other colors are also acceptable, the main thing is that the shade is calm and not too conspicuous.
- The surface of the tables and the facades of the kitchen units are made of natural materials: natural stone or wood. The kitchen apron is finished with ceramic or stone tiles.
- For dishes, open shelves are made so that the plates are on public display and create a cozy atmosphere with their appearance. You can complement the entire interior with copper utensils in an antique style.
- The floor is sometimes tiled with stone, white or a similar color. The interior with such a floor covering can be seen in the photo below.
Important! This style is characterized by furniture made with decorations that contribute to the creation of a luxurious appearance with architectural delights.
