8. Using Too Many Different Materials — or Not Enough Finding the right balance for the types and number of materials in an open-plan room is tricky, and it’s something a lot of people get wrong, says Anna-Carin McNamara, interior architect and principal at Anna.Carin Design. They’ll often use too many different materials and finishes in an open-plan space, making the area look busy; or they may not use enough, which can leave the room feeling dull and flat. You want an open-plan space to feel simple and cohesive in its aesthetic, but interesting too. Solution: Space planning is the key. Spend time getting the setup right and visualizing how the room will work and look before you decorate, McNamara says. Start with a plan, then an elevation or a three-dimensional model. When it comes to the right number of finishes for an open-plan room, it’s generally wise to use no fewer than three and no more than five. And remember, when choosing finishes it’s important to create a balanced look. If, for example, you have a lot of hard materials, such as stone, in the kitchen, balance them out with curves and warm materials, such as wood, in the dining and living areas. Tip: Don’t plan for ...
“As much as we love natural marble, it simply wasn’t a good fit for this family, who worried about stains and maintenance,” Ayres says. “We chose Neolith [a porcelain material from Spain] for the island and perimeter countertops, and everyone is pleased.” Designer secret. “This room has a nice ceiling height, so we divided the hanging upper cabinets into two rows,” Ayres says. “I used the golden ratio to work out door heights in order to create a perfect proportion.” Cabinet pulls: Bar series, Lew’s Hardware; pendant lights: Schoolhouse; bar stools: CB2; sconces: Circa Lighting; cabinets: custom, Kenwood Cabinetry; countertops: Neolith in Calacatta, silk finish
After. The family gets the same function from the bar space, but it feels more connected to the rest of the room thanks to the blue paint. Pro tip. Caan says a bar area in the den or living room isn’t for everyone. “It’s definitely a personality thing,” she says. “They entertain a lot, so it makes sense for them.” Caan says if a bar area doesn’t match your needs or personality, you could remove it from your design.
7. Wood floors. I’ve been encouraging clients to use their wood flooring in both the living areas and the kitchen for years because it gives a home a beautiful sense of consistency. Yes, it is true that a wood floor will not handle major water spills or leaks in the same way as hard tile, but with a little care and upkeep, the beautiful, inviting look (and subtle softness underfoot) is more than worth it, so you can expect this trend to last and last. LOOK at how the cabinets turn the corner. I can't remember seeing this and I like it.
Picture this: You spent months choosing the perfect white kitchen countertops, tile and cabinetry. You switch on the lights and everything looks … well, yellow. The celebration or dilution of your design choices lies in your lightbulbs. The kitchen seen here features high-definition LED bulbs that filter out yellow tones, making colors and fixtures pop. “They allow us to see better contrast: brighter whites, more vivid colors and clearer details,” Vick says. Use this clean, white light to elevate your design. Try it over paintings and accent shelves or in a dining room with a dimmer. “You can use it in candelabra bulbs over your table; it will make marinara sauce redder and vegetables appear more vibrant,” Vick says. Today’s LEDs aren’t the clinical, blue-toned bulbs of the past; new technology allows them to emit soft white light. “We’re able to get rid of the blue feel and make the light clear and refreshing without compromising color,” Vick says.
7. Vacuum friendly. This broom closet solves a common storage problem: the unwieldy bulk of a vacuum with an extension wand. These machines can be powerful tools, but they tend to explode over a large surface area when at rest, taking up a lot of storage space. This closet is just under 2 feet wide, but its door contains a handy wire bracket that corrals the vacuum extension wand. Ah, space. Houzz readers seem to be impressed: About 230,000 people have saved this photo to an ideabook.
It’s usually recommended to choose appliances from the same manufacturer, if possible, especially if they’re situated very close together, because differing product lines can have subtly different finishes that become more apparent once paired together. Tip: Take one sample of a handle you’re considering (or other metallic element) to an appliance showroom to get an idea for how the different finishes will interact. If the pairing seems off, you can exchange the handle for a different finish.
Add interest without chaos. Varied widths of wall boards and two-tone paint add interest to this open and airy kitchen. Rather than breaking up the flow with a tile or stainless backsplash, a clear shield covers the wood behind the stove to protect it. Open shelves over the windows and simple pendant lights keep the space bright
Detail: Open Shelves Although they may feel like a modern trend, open shelves are actually a classic staple that is both beautiful and functional. Simple floating shelves, or a hutch or island with an open cabinet, give you a spot to display beautiful everyday essentials like pitchers, glassware or storage jars, along with collectibles or the “guest china,” so you can still enjoy these items every day even when they aren’t in direct use.
Splurge: Timeless Appliances If you’re going to splurge in your farmhouse kitchen, one of the best places to do so is on the oven and other large appliances. If you choose too many typical contemporary models, they may seriously interrupt the timeless look. A generously sized and traditional-looking stove like this one suits such a space beautifully.
Focus on your sink when deciding on your workflow. "The linchpin of the kitchen is the sink," says architect Heather McKinney. "That's where you spend the most time, and where it is most likely that you will want either a good view to the outside or a good connection to the social spaces in the house — or both." Aim to have at least 18 inches of counter space on either side before putting in other appliances — with the exception of an undercounter dishwasher, of course, which works perfectly right next to the sink.
At first glance this home looks more like a set from Hansel and Gretel than a guesthouse in Minnesota. Houzzers loved the inspiration the designer took from cottages in France and England, integrating old-world materials and styles into a timeless and fresh-feeling home. See fire place and mantel, kitchen counter top windows, floors and ceilings, lighting fixtures and furniture. Look close at all in this space.
Store extra supplies. From bulk household goods to supplies from home improvement projects, we all have those odds and ends that can be hard to organize. Make it easier on yourself by installing a shelving system that fits your space. Beside being easier to access, this will keep everything off the floor where moisture can cause damage.
Up Lighting The most common use of up lighting is in a recessed cove around the top perimeter of a room.To maximize light output, use a T5 fluorescent or LED light source that will wash the ceiling with light. This helps to create a brighter ceiling that bounces and reflects light throughout the space without glare.Combine this with lots of natural daylight to increase the overall light levels in a room.
While increasing light levels is important, it is equally important to minimize glare. Use matte finishes to reduce light flares and glare.
Consider soapstone or concrete as well. Concrete countertops in particular are becoming more and more popular for all kinds of areas in the house, and there is no shine to them at all.
Downlighting is just that: lighting that shines down to illuminate a space. Down lighting can sometimes be referred to as general lighting. Once it was simply the only light source in a room — that single fixture in the middle of the ceiling. If this is your only option, placement and quantity of fixtures are the keys to attaining a balanced lighting level while reducing dark corners. Pot lights are also considered downlighting.
Task lighting, including undercabinet lghting, is one of the single most important lighting specifications for any project, in my opinion. It puts the light where you need it most. In a kitchen it would be under the cabinet, where the light is in front of you, illuminating the surface and its objects, and not behind you, creating shadows. Pendants can also be considered task lighting.
Beadboard. Beadboard adds cottage charm to any room. It looks especially great in kitchens and in attic bedrooms with sloped ceilings.
Touch Look around your room and see if there is any small area that can be textured. Adding wallpaper or a painted faux finish will enhance the textural experience of a room. Use materials that are curious and make you think, "I wonder what that feels like."
Plywood floor - stained and 3 coats of polyurethane” “love the dark stained plywood floor”
Plywood floor coated with concrete paint” “Plywood floor painted with concrete paint”
“Plywood Floor - painted and polyurethaned. Beautiful red”
the strips between plywood pieces looks nice
plywood floor
Design Icon: The Aga. A beauty without a doubt, the classic Aga stove is a Swedish design that gained enormous popularity in Great Britain as the range of choice. Tell us: Have you had a vintage appliance restored? Found a retro stove you love? Share your favorite sources in the Comments. More: How to Find the Right Range for Your Kitchen
Built-in storage is also a great way to cut down on countertop clutter. With space at a premium, these hidden spots are space savers and a great way to stay organized. I would love to be able to hide my mismatched spoons and spatulas in a drawer like this one.
The kitchen work triangle connects the three main work areas in the kitchen — the sink, the range, and the refrigerator. As a general guideline, the distance between these areas should be no less than 4 feet and no larger than 9 feet. The sum of all three sides of the triangle should be between 13 feet and 26 feet. If the distance is too small, it can make a kitchen feel cramped and blocked. If it's too large, it makes cooking a hassle.
This looks good to me.
Workstation. Create an out-of-the-way workstation in your kitchen by adding a niche for your second sink. The layout of this kitchen allows for a second person in the kitchen to have water access while staying out of the chef's way. What a great idea!
look at pantry. like the doors
I like the idea of having the kitchen utensils and everyday usable items easy to get to.
Keep in mind what can you build to make the kitchen as easy on the wallet as possible. You don't need to buy expensive stuff to make things work well and to look good.
This new pass-through and breakfast bar connects the kitchen with the patio. The owners liked the idea of whipping up food at the stove and serving it to visitors outside. A bifold window over a continuous marble slab bar allows them to serve and eat meals while enjoying the view.
Screen doors for the pantry.................. Using color on your pantry doors is a great way to go. Since it's just paint on a small surface, you can change it as often as you'd like. The turquoise on this vintage screened pantry door feels fresh but still ties in to the kitchen's reclaimed, vintage look.
Replace upper cabinetry. Consider forgoing upper cabinets on all or part of an exterior wall to increase the number and size of windows in your kitchen. This is an especially smart move if it affords you a nice view. Losing storage tends to be the biggest concern homeowners have about swapping upper cabinets out for windows. One way to resolve this is to install floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets on an interior wall. This maximizes storage space on a wall where you can't have windows to the outside. It's also an ideal area for the refrigerator.
Eliminate clutter. Here's a kitchen with a long bank of windows and absolutely no upper wall cabinets. If you have a good-size kitchen and can give yourself a large island and plenty of base cabinets, perhaps you can get by with windows instead of upper cabinets. Frankly, I'd willingly downsize the number of kitchen gadgets I own to gain such a gloriously light-filled space.
Combine with floating shelves. Give yourself windows and wall-mounted storage by installing floating shelves right over the windows. Just be sure to limit the items you place on the shelves to things that are worthy of being on display.
Opposite the island. Your guests deserve a nice view as well, so place a large section of windows opposite your island if you can.
Get creative with window treatments. If you are sold on having a bank of windows at eye level in your kitchen but are concerned about less-than-desirable views, lack of privacy or glaring sun, install some simple window treatments such as pleated or roller shades. Just be sure the shade material is 100 percent polyester — or another nonabsorbent, easy-to-clean material.
Salute the sun. Orientation to the sun is one oft-overlooked factor when placing windows. East-facing windows will get strong light and heat gain in the morning, and you won't have sun streaming into your eyes in the early evening when you are preparing dinner. North-facing windows bring in the least amount of light and are most susceptible to heat loss in colder climates. South-facing windows get the most sun and heat gain throughout the day — something to keep in mind if you live in a hot climate. West-facing windows mean intense afternoon sun, which could be annoying when you are attempting to prepare the evening meal.
I tend to feel that you cannot have too many windows in the kitchen, but the reality is that you'll want to weigh factors such as kitchen storage space, energy efficiency and quality of the views when determining the quantity and location of your kitchen windows.
1. Minimize uppers. Wall cabinets can be a stretch for many to access — or altogether out of reach for some — so consider removing wall cabinets and putting in a bank of windows instead. This is an especially smart move if doing this will give you a nice view.
2. Be shallow. Instead of wall cabinets, I like to install shallow floor-to-ceiling pantries. They're an efficient use of an interior wall, where you can't have a window anyway. By limiting the depth to just 6 to 9 inches, you are forced to line up your dry goods in a single row, making everything easier to find.
5. Install drawers. When it comes to base cabinets, I can't recommend drawers over doors strongly enough. Deep drawers can hold almost anything you need to store in a base cabinet. Plus, it's much more efficient to just pull the drawer out and have all the contents on view right in front of you than having to open two doors and root around for what you need.
7. Or make the best of your corners. If you can't avoid corner cabinets, then at least make them as functional and easy to use as possible with fully rotating lazy Susans or clever corner drawers.
8. Upgrade cabinetry. Soft-close door hinges and drawer glides are more must-haves. It is totally worth the small extra charge for these features, which allow you to shut doors and drawers with one efficient push and no slamming.
9. Vary countertop heights. While the standard kitchen countertop height is 36 inches, there are many tasks that are more comfortably performed on a lower or higher surface. This is especially true for those who are taller or shorter than average. Typically you want your forearms to be at or near level when you're working at the countertop. But for us tall folks, that'd require a surface height of 42 inches or more — a difficult height for kids or shorter members of the household to use. The solution is to set up areas with differing countertop heights to accommodate the various statures of the users and their tasks. Extra storage room in the cabinet underneath is an additional upside to taller work surfaces.
Cleaning Stainless Steel
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