Decorating the Kitchen

The thought that goes into decorating the kitchen is much like the same process for a living room, bedroom, and the rest of the house. You have more options when it comes to decorating the kitchen, though, because you have to consider your floor tile, cabinets, window treatments, counter tops, and the rest of the items in your kitchen such as your fridge and stove.

When thinking of decorating a kitchen, you may wish to get ideas from the Internet, friends' homes, and perhaps track homes. What really brings your home alive is filling it with items that express your uniqueness. You home is your haven. It's the one place that's truly yours to get away from it all. Why not celebrate your house as if you were on a vacation in an exotic place? Taking small steps can accomplish the same feel in your house.

With decorating the kitchen, go with the colors that bring you alive. Kitchen colors should reflect your innermost being. This is the place you cook your meals, where you let your creativity flow, and where everyone mingles. Making it you will help make this your most favorite part of the house. Reds add flair; blues bring tranquility; greens reveal freshness and playfulness. What color best suits you? What color will encourage your creativity in cooking?

In addition, the color you choose for decorating a kitchen can vary somewhat from the rest of your home, but they should not be a stark contrast to the rest of the home. Mustard yellow enhances chili red and although the two are different, they are both warm colors and enhance one another. In choosing colors, if you wish to go with a different color in your kitchen than the rest of the house, make sure it compliments the rooms it is around.

Choose a theme when decorating the kitchen. Do you like the feel of a coffee shop? Then you can paint one wall with a type of paint that turns the wall into a chalkboard. Write the "today's special" on the board, i.e. what's for dinner that night. Or perhaps you want your kitchen to resemble a French countryside. Hang fake grape vines along the edging of the ceiling. Feature wine cups hung underneath cabinets. Instead of tile, use actual cobblestone like flooring. Use a French streetlight designed sconce. There are so many unique ways to decorate your kitchen according to themes. It makes you feel as if you're far away on a vacation and it will be truly unique to your taste.

Don't be afraid to explore. Some people are not visual and have a hard time perceiving what the outcome will look like. What you can do is to create a small scale of your kitchen by drawing it out on paper. Use different colors together on the page to see which colors compliment each other. Drawings are also helpful for drawing in the shapes of furniture to gather whether everything would fit together. Look at other home designs with a similar theme of what you want to create to see what works best.

Kitchen Bull for those of You who have hobbies are Reading and Cooking

If you have a hobby cook, maybe your time will be spent in the kitchen. And if you have a hobby of reading, maybe your time will be spent in the library instead? But perhaps you have a hobby of both, so maybe you will spend time in both places. It does not matter if you have a long time, but it would be a problem if you have not enough time to run both your hobby as well. Well, we will try to provide a solution. Here is an ingenious way to turn that time into useful or fun reading.  Kitchen Bull comes from Toro Legno and acts like a miniature bookcase. Sure, the product is actually intended for cook books, but we know most of you out there would probably use it to store all kinds of magazines, novels, design articles and so on. Its design is witty and contemporary, making it easy to be integrated in a large variety of modern kitchens. The product also features a place where users can place knifes for easy access. Now for those of you who actually cook, it will be obvious that the ranging kitchen bull should be moved out of the cooking arena during the actual process, because otherwise the books would get all messy. So, Freshome readers with an appetite for experimenting in the kitchen, what do you think?

 

Provocative Mixture of Styles in Capital Kitchen Dining Cafe and Bar

Capital Kitchen is a modern dining cafe and bar, located in Melbourne, Australia. With a striking combination of clean, contemporary lines and rustic charm, Capital Kitchen waits for its clients in a well-balanced space, with a lot of pleasant objects and a strong combination of good food, good coffee and great ambiance. It was designed by Australian company Mim Design, who express their attention to details in creating the Capital Kitchen interior and exterior design: “Described as the 2010 trend “Rurban Revolution”, Capital Kitchen provides shoppers with an escape from the urban environment of the Chadstone Shopping Centre by delivering a space reminiscent of a modern ‘home-style’ country farmhouse. Timber floors and joinery with a strong use of Carrara marble add a lofty natural feel, paired with the surrounding textural brick walls. Attention to detail through furniture and display echo an old style and natural feel.”

source: freshome

How to Reinvent your Kitchen or Bath with Subway Tile

The original subway tile was so called because of its white, and glossy glazed finish and very thin grout lines used as the wall surface standard in New York City, New York subway train stations in the early 20^th century. Used because of their economical offset pattern and sanitary surface, early homes utilized this in their bathrooms as well. Today, utilizing subway tiles are a trend that is resurfacing in bathrooms, to kitchens backsplashes in every color possible. Here are ways to reinvent your kitchen or bath with subway tile.

 

• Bring out the classics: The traditional white subway tile is nostalgic as it is gorgeous. Whether you use it in your bathroom to evoke clean and crisp interiors or it outshines your stainless steel appliances in your kitchen, subway tile can do it beautifully. While the classic style is run the tile pattern horizontally in more modern interiors, designers are running the pattern vertically to give a sense of height and a twist on tradition. Either orientation subway tile makes your home feel like it has a piece of historical flair to it.
• Colors galore: Just like any part of design, architectural or fashion history, when the style comes back it usually reinvents itself in some way. Subway tile is no exception; it now is available in every color of the rainbow to compliment any decor. In kitchens, use colored subway tile backsplashes to coordinate or contrast your countertops, kitchen cabinetry and flooring. In bathrooms, use colored subway tile in the shower, or use a wall wainscot tile from the floor up to a desired height. Be creative with color, as subway tile has opened up a new world of options!

Designer subway tiles: With the more recent popularity of subway tiles, the offset pattern is also a trend that we now see in more homes. Choosing a designer tile that may have a raised section, or that has an integral pattern can reinvent the traditional subway tile and give your kitchen or bathroom a whole new look. If you are curious to see how a single tile will look set into a subway tile pattern, visit online tile showrooms or visit a showroom in your geographic area. You will be pleasingly surprised how one single tile will look in a subway pattern, repeatedly.

Start your own trend: The beautiful part about tradition is your ability to change out parts and make them your own. While traditional subway tile used pencil thin white grout lines that matched the tile, how about using a contrasting colored grout to make the grout become the focal point? Also try varying your size and variation of your subway tiles. While traditionally they were all uniform and precise, try using smaller sized tiles and even try using varying colors that resemble natural stone! The tile world has come a long way; discover the right new style for your home!

 

 

 

 What a gorgeous and timely material finish subway tiles are. There is something to be said about residential architectural and interior traditional elements that have withstood the test of time, and have come back and reinvented themselves to surpass past generations in beauty and in function. If you’re trying to think of a way to transform your kitchen or bath, try subway tiles in your backsplashes or shower enclosures. The look is amazing, and you never know you may create a new twist on an historical favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

source: freshome

 

 

Functional Kitchen for Small Space

For an urban home, space saving furniture can be very useful. Swedish designer, Frederick Ohlén has designed this stylish kitchen that is ideal for small space. This modular kitchen can be modified and used to suit your needs and space. Made of recycled materials, this green kitchen allows to comfortably cooking for the whole family member. The kitchen can be used to help separating trash and reducing the amount of wasted food. The worktop is large enough and allows you to have enough space for both cooking and preparing meals. Visit Cargo Collective for more information.

source : homedug

10 Minimalist Kitchen Design Ideas

Here are some contemporary kitchen design inspirations to help you change your old kitchen style. Having an ideal kitchen will make you enjoy cooking and preparing meal for the whole family. For most of you who appreciate black and white as your color, I am sure that you will love this one. Black is used for the kitchen island, while the pure wall is chosen for wall cabinets that could make the kitchen look elegant yet stylish. Steel is usually utilized to complement the cabinet doors and you can also choose glass to complement the kitchen cabinet. In order to make the kitchen look complete, you can install pendant lighting or built in LED lights. Those elements could perfectly brighten up your cooking space. Black and white may look a bit sober but it is an ideal color for creating a minimalist or modern kitchen design. Besides that it is suitable for both small and large kitchen space. You will only need to concern the size of the cabinet, storage or kitchen island that you are going to use. So, you won’t make the kitchen overwhelmed. These glossy black and white kitchens may be suitable with your style and we hope it will inspire you. Check them out.

source : homedug

How to Add Functional Space to your Kitchen Pantry

Depending on your size of kitchen, storage may or may not be an issue. Although, there are not too many people who would say they wouldn’t mind adding more functional space to their kitchen pantry.  In many homes the pantry is an afterthought by the home builder, and a minimal amount of shelving and storage is provided. For you apartment owners as well that have small pantries, here are tips to help you add more functional space.

• Remove items that can find a home in other places: in many kitchen pantries the storage is adequate, but the pantry is being used for a catchall of other items too. The kitchen trash can, recycle bins, and storage of large items like pet food, and bulk beverages can find a new place in your home. Consider installing under counter/sink trash cans and recycle bins to free up space in the pantry. Bulk items may be able to be housed in the garage in an air tight bin, or in a laundry room or utility closet that has more space than the kitchen pantry.
• Assess your current storage options: If your shelves do not hold enough items, consider getting new shelving installed that is deeper or wider to accommodate more. Instead of only using one type of shelving, vary the storage throughout the pantry. Spices and condiments may be able to be stored on an organization shelf on the back of the doors to free up shelf space. Pullout drawers for and varying height shelves can give flexibility for housing small kitchen appliances and varying sized boxed goods.

Remove the doors: For many kitchens, especially in older homes, a swinging door to a pantry can be the culprit of unusable space. Especially doors that are inward swinging, getting behind the door with full hands may be a hassle and storage becomes cumbersome. Consider removing the doors, or if pocket doors or accordion doors are an option, install these. If you are a person who keeps a tidy pantry, a well organized pantry, can be beautiful décor in a kitchen!

Utilize vertical wall space: Instead of using shelving on every wall, leave some areas free for hanging wire storage from ceiling to floor for pots and pans, aprons, and large utensils. If you don’t have a free vertical wall, than consider using ceiling hanging pot racks that can maximize vertical storage. Remember, as long as you can see all the contents of your pantry at one time, all space is fair game for adding functional space!

Kitchen pantry organization can be the sole reason you enjoy cooking or not! If you can’t find what you need quickly, and you spend more time searching than creating delicious dishes, these pantry storage tips should help. If you are puzzled as to how to use the space more efficiently, visit organization stores for inspiration or hire a kitchen designer or consultant. Every pantry has the ability to be used more efficient, it may take some creativity and shuffling of existing contents, but there is a light to the end of the pantry.

 

 

 

 

source : freshome

How to Creatively Display Interior Decor in your Kitchen

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home and its main purpose was for preparing food. As the years have gone on, the kitchen has become a place for guests to gather, and in turn a show piece of the home. Decorative accessories, shelving and lighting to accommodate kitchen decor, and bookshelves in kitchen islands are commonplace. If you’re looking for a way to expand your kitchen into a decorative show place for your creative style, here are a few tips for displaying all you hold dear.

• Make your kitchen all about the display: If you have a great collection of books, or an unbelievable collection of wines, why not make your kitchen the perfect place to show them off? Creative wood cabinetry and display can utilize bookshelves, custom shelving and unique storage areas to display your most prized collectibles. If your kitchen is adjacent to your living room, bar, or dining room, consider using display to serve both areas. Glasses, spices, and home collectibles can find a home in creative display in your kitchen.
• Glass cabinets make for great display: Remember when cabinets used to be closed off and dinnerware and glasses would hide behind closed doors? Glass front cabinets enable you to use your dishes as display. Creative glass applications can range from frosted glass, etched or pebbled glass, or completely transparent to allow personal collections to shine through. Ensure lighting is installed inside your cabinets for highlighting displays at night.

  
Casual meets function: If you prefer a more laid back style in your kitchen display, consider open shelving made from rustic wood, metal or natural surfaces. Open shelving is ideal for casual decorative styles, and allows your dishes and display to be visually showcased easier. Consider using empty wall space around kitchen windows or vacant space between upper kitchen cabinets to truly maximize on space and display your artisan artifacts beautifully.

Keep the family organized: Creative display can also mean a place for organization and updating the family quickly and easily. Bulletin, chalk, and creative wall paint solutions are a great place to display to-do lists, grocery lists, and notes to the kids. Consider installing simple organizing shelves adjacent to your kitchen and dining room area for quick access to dinner table items, or kitchen gadgets that are close at hand. Another great place for organization is the refrigerator. Instead of using dozens of magnets and papers, opt for open shelving or custom memo boards around the refrigerator area. It will look organized and keep your family connected.

 Kitchen display can be creative and unique with the help of these suggestions. If you have a kitchen island, use cabinet area for display too. Storage area that once served as cabinetry can be removed and replaced with shelves, wine storage, dish racks, or creative collectible display. Custom millwork designers can customize your kitchen to suit your needs, or visit an organization store for do it yourself options. Regardless of your style, display areas in your kitchen make the room become a livable space, and an expression of your family, not just a place to boil some water!

source : freshome

How to Choose the Perfect Countertop for your Family

Your kitchen is the heart of the home and how it performs and how it looks are the most important factors to most families.  The countertop material you choose will be based on your budget, your style preference and how durable it is for your lifestyle. When considering countertop materials do your research ahead of time. While some are more beautiful than others, some have to be maintained to keep their beauty and durability. Read on to see how to choose the perfect countertop for your family and lifestyle.

• Assess your family and lifestyle: For busy families on the go the wear and tear of everyday life can take a beating on countertop surfaces. If your family only uses the kitchen occasionally higher end granite may be perfect.  While if you are constantly cooking, kids are using the countertop for science projects, and you don’t want to keep up with maintenance a plastic laminate low cost countertop may be a better choice.
• Durability & Price: When choosing a countertop you should consider the durability before the price.  The reason being, just because you can afford it, doesn’t mean it will hold up in your home. Here are tips for durability:

o   Plastic Laminate: Durable for moderate wear, comes in a multitude of colors, low end in price, can chip at the edges and shouldn’t be cut directly on.

o   Solid Surface: Man made material with color throughout, scratches easily but can be buffed or polished out by professional. Mid range price and has a wide range of colors.

o   Butcher Block: Wood product, best used for islands away from water sources/sinks. Medium durability – can absorb stains because wood is porous. Color is chosen by different wood stains, moderate to high in price. 

o   Tile: Durable if taken care of properly. Porcelain tiles can chip, crack or break if items are dropped on the counter.  Grouting can also chip and discolor. Price is based on how expensive the individual tiles are. Can get expensive with hand painted and imported tile.

o   Granite: Very durable because it is stone. Since it’s porous will need to be sealed periodically. Granite is in the high price bracket.

o   Concrete: Very durable although it is possible to crack. It can be molded into shapes and stained different colors.  It too, should be sealed and is in the med range price bracket.

Heat resistance: One of the considerations when choosing a countertop material is the heat resistance when you are cooking.  You shouldn’t put hot pans directly on countertops.  Using a trivet between the pan and the countertop surface is a good idea.  Natural stone materials and concrete can endure heat better than plastic laminate that can leave a scorch mark. Ceramic tile countertops can take heat, but may crack due to rapid temperature changes.  To be certain, do not place heated pans on countertops, stainless steel is one of the few countertops that can endure heat.

Choosing a kitchen countertop should be considered thoroughly. Lifestyle, budget and durability are the main determining factors. Use these tips to help guide you and then check with local countertop suppliers and get their opinion on the different materials.  New materials and countertop varieties emerge on the market every day.  You never know, the countertop for your family is probably waiting for you to discover it!

source : freshome