I have a garden that is very water efficient, so it looks great in the warmer months, but it can become a little overgrown and wild in the colder months. I might not spend as much time out there in winter, but I still like it to look good. I have been working on the garden design to help it look good all year round, and I have found that with the right plant selection and preparation, the garden can look great throughout the year. This blog has tips for other homeowners who are looking to improve the appearance of their garden when the weather gets wet.
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Many people love the charming, 'lived-in' look of a farmhouse-style kitchen; this style is usually associated with rustic or vintage design features and wooden materials, and tends to have an inviting, warm appearance. If you'd like to incorporate this look into your own kitchen, here are a few suggestions on how you can do this.
Cabinets
Because cabinets often take up a lot of space within a kitchen, changing them is a great way to transform the space. Depending on their current condition and the materials they are made from, you have two options; you either can use a 'distressing' decor technique to give them that farmhouse look, or you can simply invest in some new, rustic-style ones.
The former typically involves using light-wash stains and some gentle sanding to create an aged appearance. It's a good option if you're on a budget and your existing cabinets are made from solid wood, as this material is very easy to distress. However, if your cabinets are made from a low-quality material, such as laminate or particleboard, then it may be best to splurge on some new ones, as materials of this kind aren't suitable for distressing.
Flooring
Wooden floors are a good option for a farmhouse kitchen; however, to ensure they add to the space's rustic theme, it's important to choose the right finish. A matte, textured appearance with a slightly weathered look is the ideal choice. Look online for flooring made from reclaimed wood, as this tends to have that naturally-aged appearance. If you can't find suitable reclaimed wooden floors, or they aren't within your budget, you can use the above-mentioned distressing technique to give new, pristine floorboards a more worn finish. Whilst this approach can be quite time-consuming if you have a kitchen with a large amount of floor space, it may be less expensive than purchasing reclaimed flooring, which tends to come with quite a high price-tag. It's worth noting that this technique works best on slightly softer types of wood, such as oak and pine.
The finer details
Whilst replacing the floors and the cabinetry will go a long ways towards helping you achieve the farmhouse look, it's the smaller details that will give your kitchen that authentically rustic feel. Using distressed brass or cast-iron hardware on the door knobs, cabinets and drawers for example, can dramatically alter the appearance of a room, as can installing crown moulding; the latter is an excellent option if you want the kitchen to look both traditional and a little upscale. To ensure the mouldings blend in with the new style of the room, opt for rustic timber rather than plasterboard. Lastly, as a finishing touch, consider investing in an extra large, deep, ceramic sink; this is widely considered to be a key component of any farmhouse kitchen.
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