Hello and welcome! Today, I am finally writing about our kitchen renovation at the Little Green Cottage. My design goal for this tiny kitchen was to create a welcoming space (it is a short-term rental property) that is also functional. I think the result turned out even better than I expected, and I am excited to share some of the small cottage kitchen ideas we used while renovating!

The Kitchen Before:

When we bought the cottage, it was in pretty rough shape. Just look at those vintage metal cabinets! I loved them so much; they had the perfect vintage look I wanted. But alas, the first heartbreak was learning that the rust was so deep that they couldn’t be saved.

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Planning the layout:

We were working with roughly 50 square feet, and it was a challenge! I was determined to find a way to squeeze a dishwasher (I couldn’t forget modern conveniences) into the space, so I decided to work with a kitchen designer to help with the layout and cabinet choices.

Final kitchen layout.

Once the kitchen layout was decided on, we installed LVP flooring throughout the cottage. It’s from DuraDecor and available from Home Depot. It was a breeze to install, and the color feels beachy and bright. The durability can’t be beaten for the guests!

The window towards the back would interfere with the upper cabinetry, so we replaced it with a smaller window. I chose an octagon shape, which allowed us to place the stove on the back wall and keep the kitchen’s airy feel.

Small Cottage Kitchen Ideas:

Now for the fun part—the cottagey details! To me, a small cottage kitchen is a mix of old and new elements with a side of quirk. Nothing too precious, and someplace you feel you can kick your shoes off and be comfortable. I knew this would be a balancing act since we couldn’t salvage many of this house’s original features.

Wood Ceilings:

I chose a wood tongue-and-groove ceiling for warmth. It also helps to draw the eyes up, which was important as we have low ceilings despite them being vaulted. I went with a light-washed color to keep everything on the light side. The natural light in this smaller space is luscious! That, combined with the wood texture, is lovely.

Walls:

Beadboard paneling:

The original walls were printed with a mix of printed floral patterns? Stamped?? Directly onto the wall paneling. We removed it and added beadboard paneling. Beadboard is an easy DIY and feels like it could have been one of the cottage’s original features when it was built a hundred years ago.

Paint Color

I am usually a fan of color on the walls. But this cottage is 650 square feet, and I wanted the light from the windows to bounce around. After staring at paint samples on the wall for weeks, I opted for a warm white. Adding a fresh coat of paint (SW Snowbound) to the walls and paneling allowed for a fresh, clean slate.

Cottage Kitchen Cabinetry:

Vintage furniture pieces would have been gorgeous for the base cabinets, but nothing I found would work size-wise. We recently remodeled a Modern Cottage Kitchen, and I went with Navy Cabinets in that space. <Insert heart emoji> I also flirted with green cabinets for this kitchen, but once I found the perfect fridge, I decided to design everything around it.

In the end, I chose a simple white shaker style perfect for a cottage style kitchen. We hung the upper cabinets as high as they would go. I may add some open shelving underneath the cabinets this summer to free up some counter space.

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Gold vintage-style drawer pulls are a great way to dress up the cabinets and the perfect place to add a touch of glam.

Butcher Block Countertops:

Butcher block counters are lovely when going for a cottage look. I found this chevron butcher block at Lowes and grabbed it as soon as I could. It was a returned special order (they sell them online). The pretty pattern adds a touch more character. Wooden countertops are also pretty inexpensive. For the sink, we went with a deep farmhouse sink and a vintage-inspired faucet.

Subway Tile:

Here, I needed to break up some of the white. I wanted to keep it classic so I opted for classic subway tile but gave it a slightly more modern cottage twist by using a glass tile in a light green in a stacked pattern.

Eating Area:

This little cottage may have the smallest eating area ever. I really wanted to squeeze in a space where guests could sit down for a meal (the cottage sleeps 4). Early on, I thought a small vintage kitchen table or piece of furniture might work in the space, but once the cabinets were installed, that plan flew out the window. Instead, I found a Murphy Table on Etsy, which folds out like a Murphy Bed and works perfectly in the small kitchen.

Add a Beautiful Fridge:

So, you see that pretty fridge?! The one I ended up building everything around? The minute I saw the blue, I knew it would be the perfect focal point. I love the pretty retro vibe and its small size. It’s perfect for a Cottage-Style Kitchen.

Wallpaper in a pretty Print:

I found this peel-and-stick wallpaper pattern that tied the fridge and backsplash together. A floral pattern would have been pretty, too.

Add a touch of Vintage.

Tucked next to the retro microwave is a collection of vintage Michigan cookbooks, as well as a couple of vintage wicker baskets to hold silverware and coffee. I love using vintage finds to add a touch of history to a space.

This kitchen may be small, but it is mighty! Small spaces aren’t always easy to design, but I think we were able to use every square inch.

That’s it for today; I hope you were able to find some cottage kitchen inspiration!

If you would like to shop some of the items in this post you can do that here.

Until next time,

-Libbie

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