he best home style is the one that refl ects
you. When designer Elena Eskandari and
project manager Elle Hunter of Case
Design helped renovate this kitchen in
Alexandria, Virginia, they mixed both farm-
house and cottage styles for the perfect end result.
The home was built in the 1950s, so they wanted to
keep some of the historic charm while also adding
modern elements.MIXING MATERIALS
Much of the brick wall in the kitchen is the backside
of the original fi replace, and Elena and Elle added new
brick as well to cover the whole space. The brick wall
also has a section of tile that adds to the farmhouse
charm. “Don’t be afraid of mixing materials or leaving
brick exposed,” says Elena. Mixing materials can give an
eclectic yet cohesive look. The team also extended the
island using table legs instead of more cabinetry. “The
table legs, especially the color blue, really add to the
country look,” says Elena.ROUGH EDGES
“Distressed islands and cabinets add to the older feel,
and the blue color is very cottagey,” says Elle. Diff er-
ent shades of blue adorn the kitchen, from the walls
and island to the table legs. The island countertop is
live-edge English elm, meaning that the natural edge
of the wood is part of the fi nished look. Elm is a softer
wood, so it will get nicks and scratches over time for
a beautiful patina. “Our client was all right with that,”
says Elle. “She has a young daughter and thought any
scratches or drawings that might end up on the elm
would just add to the memories.”SEE SOURCES, PAGE 128.T
THE LOOK
Get this farm-cottage look in your own
kitchen with these 5 essential elements.
- Butcher block countertops. You can either get a single solid piece of wood as your
countertop or true butcher block, which consists of strips of wood bonded together.
Not all of your countertops have to be butcher block—you could just stick with the island
for convenience. - Pops of color. You can incorporate color anywhere—from the island and table legs, as
Elena and Elle did, to painted cabinetry or even colorful dishes displayed on open shelving. - Distressed accents. A rustic element, such has a vintage table, chippy painted bar
stools or even a countertop with the patina of age, can add to the vintage charm of
your kitchen. - Patterned tiles. These will add both color and texture to the room. Use them as a
backsplash or on the fl oor, alongside other textural elements such as exposed brick or
subway tile. - Shaker-style cabinets. This simple
design has a center recessed panel in the
cabinet door and is a classic cottage look.
The name comes from the craftsmen of
the Shaker communities in America’s
colonial days.
GET
Mixing
materials
can
give an eclectic yet
cohesive look.