Country Cottage

Traditional florals, charmingly mismatched china and lots of natural wood make this welcoming look.

Fresh Spring green teamed with white walls and wood provides a simple canvas ready to dress up with pretty country details.

Wood worktops are first choice for a country kitchen. Choose laminate for practically, but if you go for real wood, make sure it's naturallly moisture resistant wood like Teak or Iroko. Keep it well oiled and it will last for years. The deep sink with swan-knecked tap is a lovely period detail but with a practical purpose - it's great or washing up huge pots and grill trays. The swathe of floral fabric at the window is an easy way to disguise the fact that the window is modern.

Little details make the difference in a kitchen like this, like the old-fashioned drying rack, useful where there is little space, and the topiary tree on the windowsill that picks up the stencilled doors.