Fact-checked by When North Carolina homeowner Ronnie Thompson saved his family’s circa-1930 farmhouse from demolition, he called in designer Trinity Holmes of Circa 34 Design to give the home layers of timeless country charm through old school finishes and clever renovation. Below are 10 ways Trinity brought timeless farmhouse style to the kitchen.
1. Double Duty “Island”
Trinity sourced the dining table, which also serves as the kitchen island, from a local antiques picker. She didn’t touch its old barn door top but painted the legs a creamy greige to match the beadboard behind the stove. An antique workbench and pressed-back chairs complete the setting.
Get the Look:
Island Leg Paint Color: Fairview Taupe by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: The Best Kitchen Island Ideas for Kitchens Large and Small
2. Statement Wall
Relocating the kitchen from a small back room to its current spot just off the main living area made the layout of Ronnie’s old farmhouse more livable for today. Trinity anchored the open space with an eye-drawing bank of 12-pane windows that lets in tons of natural light and overlooks the 11-acre farm.
3. Shapely Backsplash
Below the window, a custom ledge, and its adjoining shapely Carrara quartz backsplash, make a charming display spot for potted herbs and collected finds. Installing quartz, which is non-porous and won’t absorb stains as quickly as marble, on the backsplash and counter makes clean up a breeze, while also protecting the wallpaper from stains.
RELATED: 40 Pretty and Practical Kitchen Backsplash Ideas
4. Concrete Sink
Hardworking concrete sinks lend kitchens a rustic-meets-refined feel. To get the look with added durability, Trinity installed a handcrafted apron-front sink made from a mix of natural jute and cement, which is significantly lighter than most standard concrete models. A protective seal preserves the concrete’s color variation and keeps it safe from everyday scratches and stains.
Get the Look:
Sink: Farmhouse NativeStone Sink from Rejuvenation
5. Step-Back-Style Cupboard
Trinity took inspiration from the antique cupboard style, which dates back to the Middle Ages, when designing the built-in, glass-front cabinet. Its bright white beadboard interior adds to the piece’s timeworn charm and provides a crisp backdrop for the family’s heirloom collections of brown-and-white transferware, aged copper, crusty ceramics, vintage tea tins, and framed oil paintings. Below, a trio of drawers houses utensils and linens for grab-and-go entertaining. “I love the antique feel [the cupboard] brings to the kitchen,” Trinity says. Another bonus: The step-back design leaves plenty of prep space on the wraparound quartz countertops.
6. Shaker-Style Cabinetry
For a primitive look, Trinity accented the dark green Shaker-style cabinets with simple, hand-carved wood knobs. Hard woods such as walnut, maple, oak, and cherry are preferred for knob-making, as they handle daily use better than softer woods like pine and cedar.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Enchanted Forest by Benjamin Moore
Walnut Knob: Turned Wood Knob from Schoolhouse
RELATED: Our 15 Favorite Green Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
7. Industrial Lighting
A trio of steel factory-style RLM pendants offsets the sweeter elements of this farmhouse kitchen. Used in workshops across America during the early 20th century, the novel flare of the shades created the bright, direct light crucial to America’s burgeoning factory industry.
Get the Look:
Pendant Light: RLM 1 Pendant Light from Ferguson
RELATED: Our Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas to Brighten Your Cooking Space
8. Gingham Wallpaper
“Gingham is my favorite color,” jokes Trinity about the kitchen’s signature wallpaper. Also known as Vichy check, gingham was popularized by the French and English at the turn of the 19th century. The graphic two-color pattern, traditionally made of woven cotton, quickly became a staple of early American design, and its popularity has never waned.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: For similar, Large Tan and White Gingham Wallpaper from Spoonflower
RELATED: 20+ Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Kitchen With Wallpaper
9. Style-Me-Up Shelves
Beside the stove nook, a pair of wood shelves serves as the perfect spot for styled up antique finds. Collected copper and crusty cutting boards add rustic flair, while quick-grab kitchen essentials like flour and coffee find a home in glass canisters below.
RELATED: 15 Tricks Stylists Use to Make Any Room Look Camera-Ready
10. Cook’s Nook
Outfitted with a convenient, time-saving pot filler and handy, tucked-in spice cubbies, the beadboard-wrapped range nook maximizes every inch of its small footprint. The warm brass finishes of the pot filler and range hardware complement the kitchen’s rich palette. A gold framed reproduction of a Van Gogh painting adds a sophisticated spin.
Get the Look:
Range: GE Cafe Collection Range from Home Depot
Pot Filler: Wall-Mounted Pot Filler Faucet with Double-Handle from Home Depot
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
Stephanie Gibson Lepore is the Copy/Research Editor of Country Living. She enjoys writing about a range of topics and making sure the facts are accurate. When she's not checking out the latest Instagram post from Merriam-Webster, you can find her hunting home decor at an antiques shop, reading WWII fiction in a sunny spot, cheering (loudly) for her football team, or planning her daughter's next birthday party (themes forever!).
