12 Steps to a Cute Vintage Farmhouse Kitchen

Today, I’m sharing 12 Steps to a Cute Kitchen. 

Why, you might ask?

Because people are always looking for cute kitchens on the internet.

Wait, what’s that you say? Cute kittens?

Oh.

Well, if you like cute kittens, then I think you’ll like this post too.

A Modern Farmhouse with Color AND Vintage Charm

The Modern Farmhouse look is totally having a moment right now. White shiplap walls. Floating wood shelves. Farmhouse sink.

We can’t get enough of it.

But is there a way to get this coveted look that isn’t white on white on white?

Because I hear that people are actually getting tired of the whole white kitchen trend.

So, I’ve got some ideas that you can steal that works great for a farmhouse, craftsman, or cottage-style home.

These ideas are from a 75-square-foot kitchen in a farmhouse that I designed and I think it’s pretty stinkin’ cute.

And it’s not all white.

Let’s take a look at the elements that take this kitchen from drab to fab, shall we?

12 Steps to a Cute Kitchen

1. Bright Colors. Color is probably the most important thing to think about if you want to create a delightful kitchen. Places to easily apply color include: doors, trim, and cabinets. Try Sherwin Williams Quite Coral and Sherwin Williams Deep Sea Dive like I used in this kitchen.
2. Floral Patterns. Definitely consider adding wallpaper to give your kitchens a vintage, yet modern, look. I love Peonies in Yellow by Rifle Paper Co., available at Hygge and West.
3. Small Appliances. Since cute and tiny go hand-in-hand, consider using small appliances. It just makes sense if you have a small space to begin with. Use a 24″wide refrigerator like this Smeg, an 18″ dishwasher, and a 24″ range, like this one from Summit. Go with white appliances instead of stainless.
4. Wall Shelves. Wall Shelves work great where there isn’t enough wall space for a cabinet; a great opportunity to display cookbooks, ceramics, and anything, well, cute.
5. Vintage Style Lighting. Hang a pendant light or mount a wall sconce above the kitchen sink if you can. For whatever reason, I find that my images of kitchen sinks in Apartment Therapy house tours perform really well on social media. Maybe it’s because the sink is the central part of the kitchen, so make sure it’s well lit with a great fixture.
6. Vintage Style Plumbing. Speaking of fixtures, use a 30″ farmhouse style sink like this and a two-handle bridge faucet like this to complete the farmhouse look and make this the focal point in the kitchen. Bonus points if your sink is in front of a window.
7. Detailed Trim. For a really charming kitchen, make sure your door and window casing and baseboard trim has some relief to it like you would expect from an old house. Corner blocks around windows and doors with rosettes are a great way to add some extra vintage charm. Painted trim is preferable to keep things bright. Also consider capping off tile backsplashes with some tile mouldings, and wrap windows with it too!
8. Corners. Since corners are space suckers in a kitchen, use a wall cabinet that goes down to the counter here. Not really a “cute” trick, but definitely a small space trick.
9. Cabinetry. Use an inset, shaker-style door profile with painted wood knobs. Add a few bin pulls on longer drawers in a metal finish.
10. Glazed Ceramic Tile. Instead of the ever-popular subway tile, consider a 4×4 tile for your backsplashes. If you use it in an offset pattern, it helps to make it feel a bit more modern. My design features these two colors from Fireclay: Tusk and Prussian Blue. Checkerboard patterns in a 12″ tile on the floor are a good option, or use an Eastern White Pine plank wood flooring, like shown in my mood board.
11. Size. I’m sure you could pull of this look in a large kitchen, but if you want a truly cute kitchen, then smaller is better! Be sure to tile wall surfaces that are prone to splatter and dirt in a tight space.
12. Built-ins. Last but not least: built-ins, built-ins, built-ins! Wherever you can squeeze a built-in, do it. Here I have a built-in hutch (which, in this house, is taking advantage of the empty space under the stairs).

Note: In the list above, I’ve linked or mentioned the products shown in the mood board so you can shop the look!

The Ohara Modern Farmhouse House Plan

This kitchen is from The Ohara house plan, so you can either steal these ideas for your space OR if you’re building new, you can buy this house plan and get this exact kitchen. This is the design that comes with it, but if you’re interested in modifications, just let me know.

Related posts you might like:

Whitney House. The Kitchen.

Design Ideas for Small Kitchens on a Budget.

Inspiration for the Built-In Kitchen Details.

If you still just can’t quite figure out what to do with your existing space, I can help with that too. Check out my online design services. I’d love to help solve your room challenges.

What do you think about this kitchen design? Leave a comment below!