Keeping the country style in the kitchen

DESPITE a design world frenzied by terraces of blocky base units, pumping with colour and sharply edged in flashes of streamlined steel, the classic country-themed kitchen still retains its hold on our hearts.

With Christmas rudely approaching, nostalgia written large lends itself beautifully to the scents, sights, colour and atmosphere of the season. So — what makes a kitchen a traditional choice?

What elements should you include if you’re tearing out cabinetry completely, re-facing units or are lucky enough to be enjoying an entirely new room in the coming months?