Kitchens decorated in the English style are an example of classics, chic, sophistication and conciseness. Nowadays, design can be anything: strict classic, colonial eclectic, delicate lace. It is closely intertwined with Gothic, Baroque and even oriental motifs that the colonialists had once brought to the country.
Distinctive features
The classic of the English style is the Victorian era - that is, the design that became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. This direction in design became widespread in the first half of the 19th century.., and today has undergone many changes. In any case, there are characteristic features that distinguish this style from all the others:
Basic principles of room design: comfort, following family values, a certain chamber (to some extent turning into cramped quarters), as well as stiffness, conservatism and “habitability” (which some can compare with a mild form of clutter).
The color palette is deep muted tones of warm colors (white, beige, wood, light terracotta, rich burgundy, as well as mustard and some other tones).
The materials here are exclusively natural, of the highest quality, solid, and certainly artificially aged. In prints, preference is given to a strip, a cage, floral and heraldry. The decor involves an abundance of textiles (vintage furniture with upholstery, tablecloths, curtains). All decorative elements are used in significant quantities and give the impression of antique or handmade.
Do not forget that during the reign of Queen Victoria, cuisines 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, however, the high cost and chic have become the priorities of modern designers in this style.
Color spectrum
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 provocative shades. However, this does not mean that the use of dark colors is unacceptable, but still the following options are considered preferred.
- Golden white palette. The traditional gold color details are decorated. In English cuisine you can always see gilded bas-reliefs, headsets with decorative overlays, as well as moldings. As a rule, when using the tandem of white and gold, other colors are absent, although the design of the tabletop from dark materials is allowed. As a rule, it is stone (natural or artificial), ceramics and wood of expensive species.
In a dark brown version, curtains on windows can also be sewn.
- Sandy beige tones. Such a duet looks very impressive and stylish, usually complemented by patina and gilding.
- Saturated brown shades. The color of expensive wood gives the room luxury, chic and at the same time a real English stiffness. Usually the floor, furniture and partially the walls are made of one type of wood, and the apron is made of stone or tile, while using harmonious brown shades.
- Light gray color. Mainly used in colonial designs or in combination with gold trim.
Finish options
Floor
To finish the floors in the English kitchen using wooden panels - the best look is a laminate, decorated with chamfers and an unusual texture. 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 skirting boards - they must certainly be slightly overpriced.
Walls
For decorative wall cladding, matt 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 wallpapers, and if the footage allows for metering, wall panels and wall paneling will look harmonious.
The classics of the genre are wallpaper in a cage, a vertical strip or in a flower (note that this should be only a rose).
If you are designing a small kitchen, then preference should be given to light materials with an unobtrusive print. But the big one can be made more chamber and majestic with the help of dark green or burgundy shades. In typical apartment conditions, striped wallpaper will be the best solution. - they visually raise the ceiling and make the room brighter and more spacious.
Ceiling
By the way, when decorating 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 focus on special paints for the ceiling. If you are a happy owner of a kitchen with high ceilings, then you can use stucco molding, multi-stage design or wooden beams. Regardless of your choice, the surface in any case should be matte, the gloss is contrary to the classic English traditions.
The choice of furniture and appliances
It is impossible to recreate a real English decor in the kitchen without a competent selection of furniture and household appliances. Designers recommend adhering to the following requirements.
- The furniture set should be made of the most expensive types of wood: pine, walnut and oak. The best choice would be a solid array.
- Furniture must certainly preserve its natural texture; it is coated with varnish or light translucent enamel.
- For 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, they put an expensive and stylish service there.
- Furniture handles should be made of copper or bronze, preferably 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, to create the effect of scuffs and light cracking. In this case, the headset will look truly vintage and will be the highlight of your kitchen. However, do not overdo it - excessive zeal will easily turn a noble material into an ordinary old piece of wood.
- Classic English furniture should look expensive and respectable. Style implies laconic geometry and the right lines. If you do not have the opportunity to purchase an expensive headset, then you can resort to imitation, although remember that cheap substitutes can not give the proper impression and are unlikely to create the right impression.
- The classic style with a large number 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 wood and decorated with carvings.
- If the kitchen is small, then a good option would be to use a transformer worktop in tandem with wicker chairs. In a large space, it is desirable to give preference to massive countertops.
Lighting organization
When designing a functional area in the English style, special attention should be paid to the chandelier, since it is this lighting fixture that allows you to give the room the very chambers that are considered the main feature of that era. The chandelier becomes the real center of the dining area, and in the colonial interiors are usually used more coarse products, and in the classic decor - rather openwork.
Anyway the chandelier should have floral ornaments and a large number of light bulbs. Keep in mind that neither curtains, nor aprons, nor tiles should attract attention from the fixtures. In the English style, an exceptionally warm color spectrum is allowed, as close as possible to the natural one.
Nowadays, more and more homeowners are using built-in lights, but their replacement with linen lampshades and wall sconces will be more effective.
Decor and Textile
The English design is characterized by the rational use of each meter of space, so here you can see a flower pot with fresh flowers and houseplants, as well as coasters with a wide variety of useful little things. This is not the whole list of what can be found in English cuisine. Keep in mind 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.
Despite the fact that the kitchen involves a dining area, bookshelves, such as cookery literature, should always be present on the shelves. They are elegantly complemented by jars of cereals and spices and small flowerpots. It will be useful to hang stylized clocks on the walls, as well as landscape paintings depicting 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 figures, will bring special charm.Embroidery lovers can decorate the walls with their work.
To make the interior look finished, you should choose the right curtains. For drapery use only heavy fabrics, always with lambrequins. Typically, curtains are made in two versions - transparent and made of heavy textile, decorated with a fringe with tassels, preference should be given to velvet, tapestry and jacquard.
Keep in mind that the style of old England does not accept contrast, so curtains should be combined in color with other elements of the kitchen design.
Give the kitchen a real English style with details. So, if the kitchen has sufficient space, you can focus on a large hob with an extractor hood, and an oven fixed just below will help make the composition finished, unfortunately, in small-sized apartments such an ensemble is unlikely to be involved. You should not combine the style of England since Queen Victoria with stainless steel sinks, as this will add tangible dissonance to the overall picture of the decor. The best solution is a deep ceramic sink, tiled or stone.
Good examples
We offer you a photo selection of design ideas for the kitchen and kitchen-living room in the classic English style. Without a doubt, you can choose the option that will fully meet both your preferences and the capabilities of the room.
How to create an English style in the kitchen, see the video below.