Renovating a Country Kitchen

Swap out older appliances for more modern, sleek ones to give your kitchen a more contemporary feel. As an added benefit, modern appliances can save you money on power and gas bills since they're generally more efficient than older appliances. If you still want your kitchen to have a country look, buy new or updated appliances that are made in a vintage style.

Replace curtains with Roman shades or blinds for a more contemporary appearance. Roman shades and blinds are much easier to clean, as well, which is important in a kitchen because grease and food stains naturally appear over time. If you're trying to keep a country feel in your kitchen, look for a patterned Roman shade with a print. Using Roman shades also allows you to roll them up during the day to receive the maximum amount of light possible in your kitchen.

Put a new coat of paint on the walls. When painting walls in a kitchen, it's necessary to use semi-gloss or high gloss paint so you can easily clean the walls with a sponge and a diluted mixture of dish soap and water. Bright white or off-white work well with multiple styles of décor, particularly if you're going for a more modern look. Softer colors such as light yellow or cream will give the kitchen a more rustic feel.

Replace the countertops to give your kitchen a new look. Natural stone such as marble, granite and travertine can be used with both modern and traditional design motifs, and treated stone can be fairly easy to take care of on a daily basis. For a cheaper alternative to the more expensive types of natural stone, consider natural quartz and Silestone, a natural stone product made of quartz and composite materials. Silestone is also heat and scratch resistant, making it ideal for busy kitchens.