How To Get The Look Of HGTV Star Erin Napier's Dreamy Cottage Kitchen

You don't have to be a cottagecore devotee to enjoy the cottage aesthetic. One of the best rooms in your house to incorporate this homey design trend is the kitchen, and HGTV star Erin Napier seems to agree if her layout in one episode of Home Town Season Seven was any indication. Her dreamy cottage kitchen combines soft florals and calming blue tones with creamy neutrals and crisp hardware for the ultimate country retreat feel. The color combinations and gentle patterns work together to produce a truly cozy effect, and it's easy to copy Napier's style for your own kitchen just by incorporating some updates like floral backsplashes and soothing shades reminiscent of a rural getaway.

Napier built up the kitchen's backsplash with a floral motif, which instantly brings the countryside indoors. She also opted for a soft slate blue, which is ideal for a cottage or farmhouse aesthetic. The key here is to avoid overdoing it, as the finished result should feel homey, relaxing, welcoming, and soothing. While Napier and her husband Ben have had some controversial design choices, this cottage kitchen certainly isn't one, and you can recreate it with a few changes or upgrades.

When it comes to choosing a backsplash, the design you select can have a major impact on the feel of the space. The floral design Erin Napier used can be found on the Marazzi website, but you can find other prints and patterns online, too. Floral backsplashes all create an instant cottage/countryside aesthetic. You don't have to opt for a printed backsplash, though. Why not use white or cream stones, tiles, or mosaics, even adding subtle hints of color into this last option to match the cabinets? 

Neutrals are very cottage-esque, as are stone features and tile, which gives you options to choose from when planning your backsplash. The key here is texture: Cottages are rarely monochromatic and completely smooth: rougher materials create dimension and a rugged aspect that nods to the outdoors.

Once you've settled on a backsplash, it's time to focus on your cabinetry. Erin Napier opted for the Sherwin Williams Morning at Sea slate blue for bottom cabinets, and Benjamin Moore White Dove for the upper cabinets, but you can stray from this if you choose. Blue and green paint colors are great for a cottage kitchen since they both are known to create a calming vibe and are easy to match items to, like Home Depot's PPG Farm Fresh Eggshell, which is neutral enough but still brings that pop of color. Just make sure to match your floral backsplash to your cabinets so they flow and complement one another.

If you opt to stain your cabinets or go with wood coloring, stick to warm tones to evoke the rich, lived-in feeling of old country cottages. The natural tone of your wood stain will instantly ground the space and introduce an inviting ambiance, as well as a starting point on which to base the rest of your color palette. Outside of the color of your woodwork, styles like beadboard cabinets are ideal for cottage kitchens thanks to the subtle texture and antique vibes. 

With the larger projects covered, it's important to consider the smaller details. While your appliances may not need a full swap out, your fixtures, accessories, and even lighting can make or break your cottage design. Your fixtures and hardware can be simple, which is ideal if your cabinets are ornate or textured. You can use stainless steel or silver, both of which are soft to match the cozy vibes of your cottage aesthetic. Brass or matte black can work depending on your appliances, but avoid anything too bold that might take your kitchen from countryside vibes to industrial unless you want to combine the two. Wood accessories, copper pots which you can hang on the walls, and pendant lights will make the space feel inviting and finish off your Erin Napier-style cottage kitchen.