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Cool Kitchen: Modern Scandinavian Country

Scandinavians, man- they even make country style look good.

No offense intended- I like a bit of country myself, especially when it’s paired with clean, modern lines or a rustic, vintage sensibility. But chintz, silk flowers and a cluttered-up countertop aren’t my thing. This kitchen, found via Hus & Hem magazine, is a perfect example of modern country. Charming yes, but twee? Not at all!

Modern Scandinavian Country

Modern Scandinavian Country

Modern Scandinavian Country

The country elements here are obvious- farmhouse sink, wooden units, touches of soft colour and wicker storage. What keeps it modern are the clean lines, abundance of white, open shelving and eclectic mix of accessories. I love the homey feel of this space, and can imagine whiling away hours cooking, reading or just hanging out here. Talk about a perfect country home.

Look: Toast Products

Last Friday, I featured some photos from Toast‘s Autumn ’09 catalogue, and promised to share some of my product picks this week. True to my word, here are some of my favourite finds from this beloved UK mail-order company.

Pam’s Recipe Book was written by the cook on the Toast Autumn/Winter ’09 photoshoot. Full of traditional Irish recipes, all profits go toward a medical charity:

Toast Products

I adore these handblown Moroccan tea glasses. They come in a set of six, each a different colour:

Toast Products

This old-fashioned apple rack is useful for storing fruit (obviously), but would also make wonderful under-sink storage, stacked to collect odds and ends:

Toast Products

This Greek pot jumped out at me in the catalogue images. I love the colours- it would certainly make a chic cookie jar:

Toast Products

I love all of Toast’s rustic tableware, but this large salad bowl, with its yellow inside, is particularly nice:

Toast Products

The French bistro cutlery is traditional and timeless, and the resin handles come in two different colours:

Toast Products

Home Inspiration: Ode to Aga

Though it might surprise you, my dream kitchen doesn’t have a modern, shiny induction worktop, or even a stainless steel gas range. No, my cooking contraption of choice would be a classic British Aga (white or bottle green, please). While actually cooking with it might take some getting used to, I’m already adapted to the look- traditional, cosy country living.

Not that all Aga-bedecked kitchens are cutesy and twee, though. This country classic is also at home in a more modern setting, as some of these photos show.

I love the simplicity and retro feel of this kitchen from Living etc. The massive school clock on the wall is the icing on the cake:

Ode to Aga

In this room from the same source, the Aga is set into a more traditional nook, though the overall look is still modern. The blue contrast tile and mustard stools add some pops of colour:

Ode to Aga

This Shaker kitchen, found on house to home, is pure country cute. I like the green tiles, and think that the black range looks modern next to them:

Ode to Aga

House to home also offers up this space, which at first glance is so not my style. But if you cleared the mantle and subbed another colour tile, I’d be all over this:

Ode to Aga

The black range doesn’t dominate too harshly in this room, from Coastal Living. Instead, it looks right at home in the modest, rustic space:

Ode to Aga

There isn’t much not to love in this kitchen from Plain English. The big oak table, farmhouse sink, hanging pot rack- the cream Aga blends in perfectly:

Ode to Aga

Cool Kitchen: Mexican Cheer

I’m well aware that this isn’t the kind of slick, modern kitchen that I usually feature here. But when I saw this room on The Kitchn last month it grabbed me immediately, and hasn’t let go since.

Mexican Cheer

Mexican Cheer

A rental kitchen in central Mexico, this space looks like a bright, functional and cheerful place to work. I love the open shelving, the practical wooden work surface and the lovely blue floor. I think it’s refreshingly honest to see stuff in a kitchen, rather than hidden away behind cupboard doors. Best of all, it looks as though the skirt below the sink can be changed for a whole new look- genius!

Be sure to check out the original post at The Kitchn for the “before” photos, too.

Home Inspiration: Country Kitchens

From the modern loft kitchens of last week, to their distant relative: this week, it’s the country kitchen’s turn. My dream one has a huge Aga, a solid oak table and some twee checked curtains. It just makes you want to bake a pie, doesn’t it? 

I figured Country Living magazine was a good place to start, and I wasn’t wrong. I love the calming colours in this space, not to mention all the cute retro touches:

home inspiration: country kitchens

From the same source, this kitchen is pure American country. I like how the mismatched colours and textures look so authentic in the space:

home inspiration: country kitchens

From country to Coastal Living, a gorgeous beach house kitchen. I’m especially loving the gingham ceiling and the lovely copper pans:

home inspiration: country kitchens

I like this space, from the photostream of thekitchendesigner, for its moody minimalism. It’s country, but modern at the same time: 

home inspiration: country kitchens

From the same source but on the other end of the scale, this country kitchen is pure elegance. The marble-topped counter, blue units and huge fireplace make me think of a French villa:

home inspiration: country kitchens

Ahh… a checked floor, a wooden island and a blue Aga. This kitchen is country at its best, from house to home:

home inspiration: country kitchens

Flickr finds: Green Cottage

Happy Friday! Check out this lovely pair of pics from Catskills Grrl‘s Green Cottage set. I must still be in the cottage mood, because I’m seriously loving these. 

flickr finds: green cottage

flickr finds: green cottage

Cool Kitchen: Martha’s Cantitoe Corners

I know Martha isn’t the first person who comes to mind when you think “cool”, but stay with me. The Kitchn‘s post on grey kitchens earlier this month had me thinking about this versatile shade, and I think few do it better than Martha did at her Cantitoe Corners farm in Bedford, NY.

martha one

martha two

martha three

I think the warm shade she chose works especially well, as do all the accents of white, beige and stainless steel. The immaculate open shelving doesn’t hurt, either.

Recently on Kitchenist

Recently on Kitchlit