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The Well-Concealed Kitchen
Cozy Up Your Kitchen With Elements From the Living Room
Kitchens don't have to be all cabinetry, islands and typical barstools. Some of my favorites bring furniture more often used in other parts of the house into the kitchen, making them warmer, cozier and altogether less "kitchen-y." Whether it's a sofa, chest of drawers or a unique chair in the kitchen — or something as simple as painting cabinets so they look more like furniture — adding living room elements to a kitchen changes the whole experience of cooking and eating.
by Jeanette Lunde
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The wall-mounted dish rack says "kitchen," but the white painted Danish shelf below implies "just another well-furnished room."
by Olga Adler
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Hosts and hostesses everywhere complain that guests tend to congregate in the kitchen, getting in their way as they prepare for parties. Give guests a reason to stay out of the way with a cozy settee and a side table for drinks nearby. That way, guests can still chat without crowding the party-thrower.
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by Natalie Du Bois
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| Break up the hard edges and sleek horizontals of a modernist kitchen with an unexpected traditional chandelier. |
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| A French chest in lieu of a traditional island is an unexpected — and fun! — element in a kitchen. |
by Tara Seawright
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You don't often see a lot of books in the kitchen. The low bookcase gives this space a library feel.
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Even though we're only looking at one corner, it's clear this small kitchen packs a punch. The reproduction of a modern table paired with a vintage-style pendant, traditional dining chairs, dramatic drapes and a Hollywood glam paint treatment on the cabinets make this kitchen come alive and blend in with the rest of the house.
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| Kitchen mats and rugs are essential; the softness keeps you comfortable as you stand for long stretches of time cooking or cleaning. They also absorb excess moisture, preventing slips. There is no shortage of basic kitchen rugs on the market, but bringing in a unexpected traditional runner adds interest and contrasts beautifully with the rest of the kitchen. |
by Sandy Koepke
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The rustic furnishings (tall cabinet, stool and table) along with the vintage accessories (Morton's Salt sign, clock and jars) in this kitchen give it a farmhouse feel, but if the sink and counter on the right-hand side of the photo were omitted, this might look like any other industrial-chic room.
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| The refrigerator leaves no room for guesswork: This is a kitchen. But the Asian-inspired cabinetry — especially the armoire-eque piece — and the Kilim area rug ground the room and make the whole space feel more homey. |
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We've looked at banquettes in the kitchen before, but this lovely antique sofa with the softest of patterns is extra cozy, especially coordinated with mismatched dining chairs.
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We know this is a kitchen, but only because of the hint of stove. This is a phenomenally well-concealed kitchen, with dark-stained cabinets and an intricate custom hood treatment. The over-scaled dining room in the kitchen tells me lots of fun parties happen here!
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| The island looks like a piece of furniture and the fact that it doesn't match the wood finish of the oak armoire-cabinet, along with the woven stools and globe light fixtures makes it look all the more collected and less kitchen-y. |
by Kaylovesvintage
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Upholstered chairs near mid-century classics make this small kitchen-dining area feel loved and lived-in.
by Vintage Renewal
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The bright, colorful furniture in this room work together to obscure the kitchen, in the upper left corner of the image. A mirror placed on the refrigerator, artwork and strategically placed vases add to the vintage charm and make the kitchen and living room read as one.
| A suzani rug, white chandelier and amazing vintage range oven add to the charm and warmth of this kitchen. |
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A suggestion of a sofa in the lower left corner of this image tells us this is a kitchen we'd want to sit in for a while.
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Pedimented recessed cabinets, a Venetian mirror, complex crown molding and a wildly textured ceiling medallion catapult this modern kitchen way out of the (white) box.
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A vintage sewing table-as-island, mismatched but perfectly charming consoles, a quilt and retro signage make use of all kinds of odds and ends, resulting in a cozy, functioning kitchen.
Next: More guides to kitchen design
Next: More guides to kitchen design
Ideabook published on April 2, 2011.
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Kitchenlab, I love new takes on standards like backplashes - a vintage mirror is a great idea!
Ecascio, Love your kitchen - the upholstered window seat and garden stool are especially fun!
Rhsnh05, sounds like the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen! Good luck with your project - share that banquette when it's done!
no so good but the wood great