Our Favorite Farmhouse Kitchen Designs From 'Farmhouse Fixer'

HGTV host Jonathan Knight and designer Kristina Crestin know a thing or two about creating of-the-moment farmhouse kitchens that still reflect the history of New England.

By: Chelsey Bowen

Show: Farmhouse Fixer

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Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images, Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images, Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images, Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images, Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Photo By: Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images, Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images, Shawn G. Henry/Getty Images

Keeping Farmhouse History Alive

Restoration expert and host of Farmhouse Fixer, Jon Knight, along with designer Kristina Crestin breathe new life into old farmhouses all throughout the New England area. With their combo of top-notch renovating and gorgeous design ideas, they create unforgettable farmhouse kitchens — bringing out the best of the old and the new.

see more: Farmhouse Fixer

Involve Your Loved Ones

When Jon decided to renovate the Knight's old farmhouse, he made it a family affair with design input from his mother, sister, nephew and brother — yes, that brother, New Kids on the Block's Jordan Knight. Out of the entire reno, the kitchen took on the biggest transformation. Forest green cabinetry clad in soapstone is sandwiched between rustic ceiling beams overhead and distressed wood flooring underfoot. Mounted wood boxes act as open shelving for everyday essentials, while vintage-inspired appliances echo the history of the home without sacrificing practicality.

see more: Jonathan Knight Moves His Family Farmhouse

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Find the Right Sink

Originally, the Knight family wanted a white cast-iron sink to reflect the old farmhouse aesthetic. However, Jon made a tiny change without their knowledge: a nine-foot double soapstone sink to match the countertops. His family’s reaction? Pure love. Centering the space is an 11-foot-long island topped in patterned white marble. Industrial lighting, brass hardware and rustic ceiling beams meld together to create farmhouse elegance.

see more: Here's How Jonathan Knight Went From NKOTB Member to 'Farmhouse Fixer'

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Play With Color

Jon’s family was a little unsure about the infusion of color into their neutral family farmhouse, but now they fully appreciate the rich, timeless green Jon and Kristina layered onto the beadboard cabinets. Brass hardware is a chic juxtaposition with the earthy palette.

see more: Cool Paint Shade Ideas We Love: Blue, Green, Purple and More

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Think Outside a Space’s Original Purpose

Jon had one more surprise for his family. Once upon a time, this space housed an awkward staircase. Now, it's a usable pantry. Jon carried the same blue-gray color from the kitchen island onto the pantry's cabinets and backsplash. Marble countertops add luxury, while the glass upper cabinets boast ample space to display pretty dishes.

see more: 10 Design Tricks to Re-Create Jonathan Knight's 'Farmhouse Fixer' Style at Home

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Blend Modern and Historic

Most older kitchens in historic homes don’t suit modern needs, therefore they require a complete overhaul. In these cases, seamlessly blending the old with the new is key. Jon and Kristina’s trick is to “sneak" age into the kitchens they renovate. Here, the far wall features built-in pantries that echo the wood paneling in other parts of the home. Old wood floors from the attic ground the kitchen, while dark soapstone countertops pair with Shaker cabinetry. Sconces and pendant lights with patina tie it all together.

see more: 10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Farmhouse Fixer' Designer Kristina Crestin

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Make It Work for You

As times change, so do our needs for our homes. Once only needed as a utilitarian room, kitchens are now true gathering spaces. A massive island surrounded by comfy bar stools is the perfect centerpiece for this heart of the home. The oversized pendant lights are rimmed with copper to add a vintage patina to the space.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Use Kitchens for Community

Lee’s Farm Market was part of a family-run farm for more than 50 years, as well as an integral part of the community. The new owners wanted to bring the building back to life, so Jon created a commercial space complete with a retail area, coffee bar and kitchen (for chef demonstrations). As for the design, blue cabinets and reclaimed light wood create an industrial-farmhouse ambiance. Simple wooden bar stools pull up to a natural-concrete island, while classic subway tile flows from floor to ceiling. Chic garage doors stay open during the summer to bring in the fresh air. In the winter, the doors keep out New England’s winter chill, so the space stays operational year-round.

see more: 100 Bright and Beautiful Colorful Kitchen Ideas

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Lean Into Contrast

This 1880s farmhouse was full of charm — it just needed a little help from the Farmhouse Fixer team to unearth it. Now, the wow factor is beyond evident: Dark blue cabinets, white countertops and a marble farmhouse sink create striking contrast. A trio of windows provides a beautiful view of the working horse farm and brings in all the natural light.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Choose to Make a Statement

The star of this kitchen is a toss-up: is it the impressive stove cove or the long, leggy island? We love both equally. These homeowners never used their small dining table, so Jon and Kristina nixed the breakfast area and created an extra-long island with plenty of seating. At the end of the island, an antique butcher block adds rustic charm, as do the beams overhead.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Never Doubt Marble

Built in the 1970s, this replica farmhouse is much newer than the ones Jon usually works on — but it was in terrible condition. Jon and Kristina started the renovation by removing the walls to create enough space for an open floor plan. Then they added white cabinets and a blue-green island with tons of storage. The marble countertops add a timeless touch.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Make Kitchens Family-Friendly

In order to move closer to their family, these homeowners bought their 1790s farmhouse without ever stepping foot into it. The wide plank floors were original to the house, but Jon refinished them to add rich color and character. Though Kristina opted for an all-white color palette, she established depth with black hardware and barstools, as well as rustic ceiling beams. The ten-foot island houses a large sink, dishwasher, cabinets and seating for four.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Look for Unusual Storage Options

Behind an antique door off the kitchen is a pretty (and practical!) pantry. Vintage pickle baskets fit inside each cubby for clever storage that nods to the past. Open shelving provides additional display opportunities.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Look for Inspiration in the Unexpected

With its apron-front sink and Dutch door, this kitchen has elements of farmhouse style — but with an edge. Drawing inspiration from antique cars, Kristina used British Racing Green on the oven and range hood and incorporated chrome accents. The Carrara marble island is on a crank so it can be raised or lowered depending on whether the homeowners need it for cooking or need to use it as a worktable. Black hexagon tile grounds the entire space in bold style.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Keep the Pieces You Love

For this avid baker, a functional kitchen was a necessity. Her one request: Keep the original cast-iron sink and drainboard. As expected, it fits perfectly into the new, bright design. Jon and Kristina topped French blue cabinets with simple white countertops for a can’t-go-wrong color palette. The wall once separating the dining room from the kitchen is gone, leaving one seamless space.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Go Ahead, Embellish!

The 1910 exterior of this home has beautiful scalloped detailing, so Kristina wanted to duplicate the look in the kitchen by adding a scalloped range hood. Off the kitchen is an entire room (check out the next slide) built for baking. Bright white upper cabinets blend with the glossy white subway tile backsplash.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Design for Your Interests

The blue-and-white color scheme continues into the baking pantry, which pairs butcher block countertops with the pretty-in-blue cabinets. Open shelving not only adds major style, but also provides ample storage for all the homeowner’s serveware. Blossom-and-bunny-ornamented wallpaper delivers delicate and delightful pattern.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Don’t Be Afraid to Take Out a Wall

For this 1840s coastal colonial home, the homeowners’ main priority was redoing the kitchen — which was not only tiny and disjointed, but also served as their cooking space and mudroom. Once Jon and Kristina removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room, the space instantly changed. Now, white cabinets crowned with black countertops have a never-goes-out-of-style aesthetic. The retro refrigerator is an unexpected, but oh-so-colorful touch.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Reflect the Style You Want

Elegant but casual enough to walk through with muddy boots, this horse farm kitchen draws inspiration from the English countryside. The key to a true English farmhouse design is a worktable, so Jon and Kristina included an enormous soapstone-clad one in the middle of the space — complete with industrial-style bar stools.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Leather Your Countertops

Yep, you read that right. Jon’s the farmhouse expert and instead of a glossy or plain matte finish, he leathered these countertops for a rustic aesthetic. A leather finish creates a soft sheen that includes a textured, dimple-like appearance — a cool, unexpected finish for this 1730s farmhouse.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

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