Cozy Cottage Kitchens

Color With Confidence

Homeowner Sally Craven took what she calls the "cheap-and-cheerful route," painting over the woodwork in the kitchen, replacing poor-quality tile with butcher block countertops, and adding bright checked linoleum to the floor. What pulls the color-happy kitchen together are complementary colors on the cabinets, windows, and door trim.

More Cottage Details
Mix of old and new: Instead of buying new, the cottage owners reconditioned a 1940s original Wedgewood stove.

Checkerboard floor: Lay two colors of square tiles on the diagonal to add style and visual expanse to the room.