Unique aspects of kitchen design in a wooden house

Kitchen finishing options

The interior of the kitchen in a wooden house depends on the style you choose, but any finishing must meet the following requirements:

• hygienic;
• easy to clean;
• durability;
• water resistance;
• resistance to temperature changes.

That is, the materials for the ceiling, walls and floor should not be afraid of dirt, water, high temperatures.

Walls. In a wooden house made of timber, they can be left “bare”, the only thing you will have to protect the apron with tiles, skinals or MDF boards. Any wooden finishing also looks good: for example, clapboard. It is used from floor to ceiling, or combined with wallpaper, tiles, paint, decorative plaster.

The clapboard should be protected with transparent varnish, wax or paint. You can refuse to use wood at all, for this you need to cover the rounded timber with plasterboard and use any finish: from painting to high-quality moisture-resistant wallpaper.

Important! Before finishing work, wait until the log house has completely shrunk.

Apron. It is worth noting separately that wood cannot be used in the area of the stove and sink – it is afraid of water, fire, and is difficult to clean. Do you want to preserve the appearance of the log house? Cover it along the countertop with transparent glass.

Natural stone, tiles (a boar, tiles with Moroccan motifs, plain porcelain stoneware), MDF panels in the color of the countertop are used as decorative finishes. It is better to refuse cheap plastic – it will spoil the overall look.

The photo shows a spacious room with two windows

Ceiling. Depending on the chosen style of the kitchen in a wooden house, there are two options: leave the ceiling in wood, add beams. Or order a stretch ceiling – all the imperfections and necessary communications (electrical wiring, pipes) will be hidden behind it. If the kitchen in a wooden house is small, order a glossy canvas. Large – matte or satin.

Floor. The most durable option for finishing a kitchen in a wooden house is tile. It is not afraid of moisture, has increased wear resistance, meets all the requirements of the kitchen.

The only downside is that stone is a cold material and in order to walk on it comfortably, you will have to take care of laying the “warm floor” system in advance. More comfortable floor coverings for the kitchen living room in a wooden house are laminate or linoleum. Buy waterproof laminate or treat the joints with wax yourself.

What furniture and appliances are suitable?

The choice of furniture, of course, begins with the kitchen set. In a kitchen in a wooden house, cabinet furniture will look good:

• white;
• with a natural wood texture (or imitation) – walnut, wenge, oak, pine;
• muted dark shades (turquoise, burgundy, blue, wet asphalt);
• in black tones (matte or glossy finish).

In a modern kitchen in a wooden house, avoid deliberately fashionable details – chrome and plastic, for example, will look out of place. But glossy smooth facades will suit wood well. However, it is best to turn to the classic direction with carved and glazed doors. In order to save money, for example, for a kitchen in the country, facades are abandoned altogether, replacing them with cute curtains at the bottom, and leaving open shelves at the top.

The photo shows a small corner set

The dining table and chairs (or a soft sofa) are selected to match the kitchen design. A round or rectangular table made of solid wood, for example, will fit perfectly into the American style. An airy one with a glass tabletop will suit minimalism. In a small area, you can do without a dining table altogether, decorating the kitchen with a bar counter in a wooden house. A slab counter that zones the space looks original.

Tip! A peninsula level with the countertop will be more functional than a high counter – it is also used during cooking.

If space allows, instead of chairs, put a comfortable sofa or a wooden bench with soft pillows. It will perfectly suit a rustic design, and inside you can store something necessary – food supplies, textiles, utensils.

As for the equipment, it does not necessarily have to be in a retro style (although for decorating a kitchen in a country or Provence style, this will be an excellent solution). But it is also better to avoid ultra-modern models in a high-tech style. Choose functional household appliances that will remain as unnoticeable as possible.

The photo shows a rustic-style hood

Choosing textiles and decor

Kitchen textiles are varied, they include:

• curtains;
• tablecloth or table runner;
• potholders;
• towels;
• aprons.

Fabric will add coziness to the kitchen interior. The appearance is selected according to the style: plain or with geometric patterns for Scandi, with flowers and plant motifs for Provence, painted in Khokhloma for Russian village.

Windows do not necessarily have to be decorated with curtains from floor to ceiling, light short tulle, cafe curtains, Roman or roller blinds will look no less impressive.

The photo shows a large kitchen-dining room

The following is used as decor:

• kitchen utensils: wooden spatulas, boards, frying pans;
• food: onions in a net, bunches of garlic, herbs in pots;
• houseplants;
• wall decorations: clocks, paintings, panels.

The photo shows blue aged furniture

Lighting nuances

A kitchen in a log house should be light so that cooking is comfortable. However, dark wooden chopped walls (if you left them in a natural shade) steal the light, so there should be more of it than usual.

Above the work area with open narrow shelves, ceiling spotlights or directional lights on tracks are enough. If there are cabinets or wide shelves hanging above the countertop, add additional lighting under them.

An island, peninsula or bar counter need additional lighting – a ceiling pendant will cope with this best. The same applies to a separate table for eating.

It is good to separate the light sources, making the cooking area brighter and the dining area more subdued.

The photo shows the lighting of the work area

What style is better to decorate?

The arrangement of the kitchen in a wooden house is carried out in various directions:

• American style. It is distinguished by a natural color palette – white, beige, gray, green, blue. Usually the surfaces are monochromatic, sometimes the decor includes a floral print. A small number of accessories are used (mostly framed photos).
• Country style. Classic rustic style with a lot of wood – in decoration, furniture, accessories. It is relevant to use not new furniture, but restored old samples.
• Provence style. It is also called French country. The wood is usually painted white or colored pastel shades (lavender, green, blue, yellow). There should be a lot of decor: flowers in pots, bouquets in vases, paintings, beautiful dishes.

The photo shows a dining table in the center of the kitchen

• Scandinavian. The main difference is the love of white. Walls and ceiling, furniture, decor – everything can be snow-white. Therefore, it is perfect even for small kitchens.
• Minimalism. Despite the lack of decor and apparent coldness, this direction is ideal for a modern interior. The main requirement is no details in sight. To do this, order a set with two or three rows of closed cabinets.

The photo shows white furniture without handles in a country house

How to design a kitchen-living room?

A combined kitchen with or without a stove, fireplace is found both in large estates and in small summer cottages. The main task in the design is to zone the space. In order to preserve the visual volume, do not erect partitions, it is better to use one of these options:

1. Bar counter. Or a peninsula occupying part of the passage. It performs both a dividing and a strictly defined function: it is convenient to eat or cook on the stove behind it.
2. Island. A free-standing cabinet, if necessary, put it on wheels and make it mobile. The advantage over the first option is that the island can be walked around from both sides. A compact hob and sink are placed on it, or the countertop is left empty. A refrigerator is placed nearby so that the hostess has everything at hand.
3. Sofa. With its back to the kitchen, facing the living room. A great option for a functional divider.
4. Finish. You can visually separate the zones from each other using different colors and materials. For example, make the walls different colors or use a combination of tiles and laminate on the floor.
5. Level. Make a decorative podium in one of the parts by changing the floor level. The only downside is that the resulting step is not always convenient, especially in families with small children.

The photo shows a walk-through kitchen with a peninsula

If the kitchen is in a niche, and you moved the dining room into the living room, place the cupboard near the table – this will free up space in the work area and make the serving process easier.

Often the dining room is left on the border of the kitchen-living room, then the sideboard is moved into the living room, or used as a divider.

The photo shows the zoning of space using different floors

Examples of small kitchen designs

We have already mentioned that in a small kitchen in a wooden house it is better to avoid an abundance of natural wood, painting or tinting the logs white. Other life hacks for visually enlarging the room:

• Glossy surfaces. Stretch ceiling, film facades, glass and mirrors.
• White bright light. The more, the better. Give up curtains so that sunlight can freely penetrate the room.
• Furniture in the tone of the walls. White on white, gray on gray, etc. This technique dissolves the cabinets in space.
• Changing the depth. If the area is very small, order cabinets 10-15 cm narrower than usual.
• Straight, but three-row kitchen, instead of a corner two-row. Occupy the walls up to the ceiling, leaving as much free space on the floor as possible.
• Minimalism. The fewer accessories that are visible, the more spacious the room seems.

The photo shows a closed kitchen layout

If the kitchen is separate, the location and layout allow it, demolish the partition between it and the next room: there will be more space, you will be able to place the kitchen set in a niche, and move the table to the next living room. Or install a bar counter on the border.

Advice! When decorating the walls of a log house, avoid using massive natural materials.

Instead of rough timber – thin clapboard, instead of large porcelain tiles – small tiles. In general, reducing the size is advisable in everything: for example, it is better to replace one huge painting with 2-3 small ones.

The photo shows country style furniture and appliances