<font size="3" color="#990000"><strong>Re-creating the Look of a Country-Style Kitchen</strong></font> <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">The kitchen has long been considered the heart of the home. It is the nerve center where most family gatherings occur. It is where family members talk about their daily lives, exchange stories, and generally bond while eating delicious food cooked in the very same room. Given this important role of the kitchen, it is therefore not a surprise that most homeowners want to establish a cheerful, friendly, and inviting atmosphere in this room.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Among others, the country-style kitchen is one of the most sought after design inspirations in this area. Practically speaking, the reason behind its popularity is that it incorporates inexpensive materials and furnishings that evoke the simplicity of country living. The entire design concept is simple, typically featuring crockery, wooden wall plaques as well as bright and cheerful colors reflected in the walls, the tables and the curtains, among others. Moreover, homeowners prefer this design style because of the warm and friendly atmosphere it generates. Given our highly stressful lifestyles, we all need to have a refuge where we can retreat after a day’s work. If you would like to try out this simple design concept but have no idea where to begin, read on and take inspiration from the simple tips we have compiled.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"></span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"></span><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The very first thing you have to consider is the color scheme. Certainly, industrial steel and black will not help you achieve that look. Country-style kitchens are usually decked out in shades of red, white, brown, and yellow. The same color scheme should therefore appear in different areas such as the cabinets, the backsplash, the walls, etc. In terms of patterns and designs, gingham and floral patterns are both quite common. However, feel free to use plain textile or any other pattern as long as it is not too busy and has the exact same colors as those mentioned above.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">In terms of furnishings, country-style kitchens usually feature wooden tables and chairs, cabinets, hutch, etc. There is no specific type of wood used and any variant can be incorporated into the décor. Wicker is also a dominant theme so you may add wicker furniture, baskets, and other implements. If you have a tight budget and cannot afford to buy new furniture, simply use slipcovers whose colors and design match the other elements of your kitchen.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Finally, a country-style kitchen will not be complete without the right set of accessories that will complement the major elements of the room. One of the typical ways to create coherence and consistency among these elements is to use a running theme. For example, farm animals can appear in random parts of the kitchen through the tiles, cabinet doors, curtains, and the like. You may also hang carved wood wall art in the form of wooden wall plaques that echo the same farm animal theme. Aside from these, you may also display crockery, ceramic plates, cookie jars, and any other accent that matches the theme. To create a truly warm and inviting country-style kitchen, remember that the entire look should be consistent and not overpowering.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> <strong>About the Author</strong>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For more informational articles about home decorating and interior design, check out <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Ackerman" target="_blank">http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Ackerman</a>  .</p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/recreating-the-look-of-a-countrystyle-kitchen-1030397.html" target="_blank">http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/recreating-the-look-of-a-countrystyle-kitchen-1030397.html</a> </span></p></span>