How to Style Kitchen Counters Like a Designer: Modern Farmhouse Meets Coastal Charm

If you’ve ever wondered how to style kitchen counters so they look beautiful and stay functional—this is for you. Whether your style leans modern farmhouse, transitional, or coastal, a few thoughtful choices can transform your counters from blank and boring to styled and stunning.

This week’s Peggy’s Picks features styling inspiration from one of my favorite recent spaces: the Party of Seven kitchen. It’s the perfect example of how to style kitchen counters with pieces that are practical, pretty, and personal.

If you missed the full reveal, take a peek here—you’ll see how even the outlet was disguised with a charming art piece.

My Go-To Kitchen Styling Tips

Here’s how to style your kitchen counters in a way that feels curated, not chaotic:

1. Start with Function

Choose pieces you actually use—like your go-to olive oil, salt and pepper mills, or wooden spoons—and group them in a tray or cutting board for an intentional, layered look.

2. Lean into Texture

Mix materials like marble, wood, ceramic, and brass. A chunky board or a footed tray instantly adds dimension.

3. Add Light + Softness

Prop a piece of art behind a vignette or tuck in a vase of fresh (or faux!) stems. It breaks up the horizontal lines of a kitchen and makes the space feel alive.

4. Don’t Forget the Floors

A vintage-style runner or washable rug adds charm, warmth, and a soft landing while you cook.

5. Edit Ruthlessly

This might be the hardest part. Only keep what serves a purpose—whether that’s functionality or beauty. The rest? Drawer it.

Trays & Charcuterie Boards

Just like art, charcuterie boards, trays, and cutting boards are all fantastic ways to cover outlets and add warmth to your hard finishes! This charcuterie board comes in both natural wood and black, as well three different sizes.

We love trays for collecting disparate items (we recommend salt and pepper grinders, oils, and a vase of florals/greenery). This reduces visual clutter without having to hide away every day items. We used this carved wood tray is in Project Reserve Ridge, as featured below!

Ceramics

Incorporating jars, vases, and cannisters are another multi-purpose décor item for a kitchen. Consider using them for storing food or adding a plant for greenery. We recommend a large vase to anchor an island countertop.

Utensils

We are absolutely obsessed with these salt and pepper mills! They’re the perfect way to add an elegance to a basic kitchen item.

Art

When looking for kitchen art work, you can’t go wrong with a canvas still life!

Rugs

Never underestimate the ability of a rug to add color and softness to a kitchen! A runner along the island or range wall is always a kitchen must-have in our book.

Design Boards & Sources
– Use code PEGGYSAYSMIX for any PHI Home items
– Contact us for the best deals on Rugs and Lighting

Everything you see in the photos—and then some—is available to shop below. I’ve included links to my favorite trays, mills, ceramics, and art sources so you can start styling with confidence.

Keep scrolling in the window to find all of the items in the design board!

Shop Kitchen Décor at PHI Home

More Kitchen Décor

Shop Peggy’s Favorite Kitchen Décor on LTK

Thank you for joining us for another Peggy’s Picks of the Week!

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WE HAVE MORE SHOPPING AND DESIGN STYLE RESOURCES FOR YOU!

• Want to explore more shoppable design boards? Go to our blog home page and click on your favorite style category!
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We know interior design can feel overwhelming—there are so many choices and so little time (especially if you’re balancing work, family, and life!). That’s why we’ve made our services simple if you want more design support:

✓ Full-Service Interior Design (Denver locals) → Perfect for busy professionals who want a turnkey design experience from concept to completion.
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✓ Video Consultation → A one-hour virtual session where I answer all your design questions & help you make decisions fast!

A note about PHI Home: Some of the products linked in this post are to-the-trade pieces from our shop, PHI Home. Typically to-the-trade pieces are purchased exclusively by trade professionals (i.e. interior designers) at wholesale, and then resold to their clients at a markup. We’re delighted to extend access to our favorite trade furniture and décor to everyone, regardless of whether you’re our client or not. Should you require a different size or color variation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Prices at PHI Home are never above the internet minimum advertised price “IMAP” (set by the manufacturer) plus shipping. By using the coupon code PEGGYSAYSMIX, you can enjoy a discount off the IMAP pricing. Moreover, if you come across a lower price from another online retailer, kindly drop us an email at info@peggyhaddadinteriors.com, and we’ll gladly match that price (remember, our pricing includes threshold shipping).

When you choose to shop with us for your premium furniture and décor needs, you’re not only supporting our small business but also the entire interior design industry, rather than a large retail corporation. Your support is greatly appreciated! For further inquiries about our shop, including details
about our return policy, please click here.

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