If you’re looking to start a kitchen remodel but you haven’t a clue where to begin when it comes to design, let us suggest a different take on the traditional: a fun and welcoming kitchen with a classic Irish farmhouse feel.
Whether you’ve personally paid a visit to the Emerald Isle or the closest you’ve come is the pub up the street, there’s something undeniably friendly about an Irish kitchen. Just thinking about it conjures up thoughts of cozy braided area rugs, rich dark woods, and warming up from a blustery day next to a crackling fire while sharing a pint with friends. You can use these images to create a warm and welcoming kitchen, right in your own home. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite ideas to get you started.
(Sham)rock your colors
For the bones of your kitchen, think of the colors that most remind you of your favorite Irish pub. Green is a natural and somewhat obvious choice for wall color, but it’s best to avoid deep colors as they’ll shrink anything but the largest of rooms. Consider a soft olive or pistachio instead. Mustard yellow or khaki are also good choices. Hardwood flooring in a deep stain will help instantly infuse your room with an Irish farmhouse feel, but stone tiles are also a great choice. You can warm either up with a few woven area rugs – they’ll remind your guests of those fantastic wool sweaters that every Irish tourist seems to come home with!
Add detail with beautiful Celtic tiles
When it comes to wall tiles, think of your back splash as a great, blank canvas. You can stick with traditional tiles in ceramic or glass or go all out and feature specialty tiles with Celtic knots and symbols like St. Brigid’s Cross imprinted into them. Most of these handmade clay tiles are made to fit standard 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 tile patterns and work easily into another type of tile theme. For the best look, try to only feature one of these tiles every few feet or stagger them on a diagonal and choose a color that makes it stand out. For example, you could use a sandy colored tile for the majority of your back-splash and choose Celtic tiles with a green patina finish to help them truly stand out. You’re also not limited here by just one pattern – you could mix and match across your back-splash in one standard color that will add depth and interest to your kitchen.
Get to the hearth of the matter
What’s a good Irish kitchen without a stone hearth? This is a feature – sometimes called an inglenook — built into one wall where all of the cooking would have gone on back before the days of ovens and stove-tops. In many (very) older homes, these features have been retained and the oven kind of popped inside of them for show. If you’re drooling over this idea and want to make the commitment, a contractor can help your craft a stone archway over your existing range, perhaps even building your vent hood into it to keep the traditional look intact. Another, more cost effective option is to build a small archway over your “hearth” using wood or another sturdy material and paint it using a faux antique or stone finish technique. Secure your archway between two cabinets or to the wall behind your range. Decorate your hearth and provide a cushioned place to work with kitchen area rugs.
Cabinets, tops, and tables
Butcher block counter tops feels right at home with this look, especially if you have white cabinets. The contrast is a natural fit that would feel like a farmhouse kitchen even if you made no other changes. If you want something more dramatic, look for granite or quartz in a deep green or almost black. Mix with glass-fronted cabinets in a dark stain to truly pull off an Irish pub feel. Just be sure your kitchen has plenty of light to pull off the latter. For a kitchen table or breakfast bar, consider using a second type of raw wood top to add a sense earthiness and further the farmhouse feeling.
Decorate to welcome friends
In terms of décor and wall hangings, your imagination truly is the only limit. Photos of the Irish countryside, farms, homes and pubs are a natural choice. Classic pub signs and vintage advertisements featuring Guinness or your favorite Celtic beer are also a nice touch. If your tastes lie more with the ancient Celtic style, wall hangings and art work featuring Celtic symbols, crosses, or even Gaelic writing might be a better fit. Finally, don’t forget to greet guests by hanging a traditional Irish blessing (“May the road rise to meet you…”) at your entryway.