Apple-Themed Decor Touches That Bring Vermont Kitchens To Life
Vermont kitchens have a special charm that combines rustic warmth with practical functionality. Apple themes fit perfectly with this Green Mountain aesthetic, adding pops of color and countryside character.
I’ve gathered delightful apple-themed decorations that will transform your kitchen into a cozy Vermont haven, whether you live in New England or just love its distinctive style.
1. Orchard Ladder Pot Rack
Remember those wooden ladders used for apple picking? They make stunning pot racks when hung horizontally from the ceiling! My sister-in-law transformed her kitchen by suspending an authentic orchard ladder above her island.
The weathered rungs provide perfect hanging spots for copper pots and cast iron skillets. S-hooks work beautifully for attaching your cookware. This conversation piece brings authentic orchard history indoors while solving storage problems in smaller Vermont kitchens where cabinet space comes at a premium.
2. Apple Branch Wreath with Cinnamon Accents
For my kitchen door, I crafted a wreath using twisted apple tree branches collected after spring pruning. The gnarly, character-filled twigs form a perfect rustic base that celebrates Vermont’s orchard heritage.
Woven with dried apple slices, cinnamon sticks, and tiny pine cones, these wreaths smell heavenly throughout fall and winter. You can refresh the scent with a few drops of apple-cinnamon essential oil. Unlike mass-produced decorations, this handmade touch connects your home to Vermont’s apple-growing traditions in an authentic way.
3. Framed Heirloom Apple Variety Prints
When I renovated my kitchen last year, I found botanical prints of heirloom apple varieties grown in Vermont since the 1800s. Framed in simple barnwood, these illustrations showcase the beautiful diversity of apples with their scientific names and origins.
The vintage-style artwork features varieties like Blue Pearmain and Sheep’s Nose – apples rarely seen in supermarkets but treasured by Vermont orchardists. A gallery wall of these prints creates an educational focal point that honors the state’s agricultural heritage while adding sophisticated color to white kitchen walls.
4. Apple-Shaped Cutting Board Collection
My favorite housewarming gift for friends is a Vermont-made maple cutting board shaped like an apple. Local woodworkers craft these functional art pieces, often finishing them with food-safe oils that highlight the wood’s natural grain patterns.
Displayed on a simple stand or leaning against a backsplash, these cutting boards double as daily-use tools and charming decor. Some artisans even incorporate different woods to represent the stem and leaf. The varying honey-to-amber tones of maple wood warm up any kitchen space while celebrating Vermont’s dual heritage of forestry and orchards.
5. Antique Apple Peeler Display
While antiquing in Woodstock, I discovered a cast-iron apple peeler from the 1890s that now serves as functional sculpture on my countertop. These ingenious machines – once a necessity in every Vermont farmhouse – peel, core, and slice apples in one continuous motion.
The weathered metal and hand-cranked mechanism tell stories of autumn evenings spent preparing apples for pies and preserves. Mounted on a wooden base, vintage peelers become conversation pieces that bridge past and present. Guests always want to try them out, creating memorable kitchen moments while preparing desserts from your orchard haul.
