Ft. Worth Historical ResidenceEclectic Kitchen, Dallas

A logical choice for a farmhouse or a home looking to evoke that spirit, the high-back farmhouse sink can also work well in an otherwise traditional kitchen design to introduce a touch of farmhouse style.More ways to give your kitchen some farmhouse style

Try a salvaged sink. Whether in the kitchen, bath, laundry room, butler’s pantry or potting shed, a salvaged sink adds wonderful character and can save you quite a few bucks. See more salvaged sinks in action

2. Plan a functional layout. If you like to cook and enjoy making meals for family and friends, there is nothing more frustrating than a kitchen that doesn’t function well. Most designs today follow the basic kitchen work triangle of the sink, refrigerator and range to maximize functionality. But take your own needs into account too. Plenty of counter space for prep, especially next to appliances, like in this kitchen, can make your cooking routine go much more smoothly. Read more about kitchen layouts

Osborne & Little's Langdale fabric features a range of seaside colors and looks excellent as the cornice fabric alongside light oceanic walls here.

1. Update the valance. When we moved into our new house it was sporting a rather outdated valance that was quickly removed. I'm currently hunting for the perfect fabric to add some color and pattern to the window above the sink.

While the client mulls over a kitchen renovation, the kitchen currently offers a lot of vintage charm, if not a lot of storage space. The salvaged sink that the client professes "an irrational love for" is original to the house, as are the cabinets. An adjacent breakfast room provides a large seating area and more storage. The small swatch of fabric over the window packs a nice design punch (it is also used on some windows to the left, not shown in this picture). "I love to use a cotton-linen blend like this one," says Rosene. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue HC144Horse statue and vases: Global ViewsFabric: Osborne and Little

I have always admired this vintage sink and contacted interior designer Dona Rosene to find out more about it. Here is what she told me: "It's a funny story because the sink was original to the house, which was built in 1926. The client is about to update the kitchen ... and deciding if it stays or goes. It was in excellent shape when the owner took possession of the house and we were able to just use it as it was for the time being. The owner's love for it has overcome the sacrifices she has to make for it: a)No garbage disposal and multiple “experts” don’t think it can be fitted for one. She hasn't given up hope so we are still searching for options. b) She would love to have a sprayer but your options for faucets are very limited and expensive. c) The sink is not as deep as a typical one and requires custom cabinetry underneath and around it to look right. So, you have to sacrifice some cabinet space. It is definitely a piece people have strong feelings about – they usually either love it or hate it. When the client tells people she's looking at a kitchen remodel the first thing they ask is, 'What about the sink?'"

What is the kitchen work triangle?The concept for the kitchen work triangle was developed in the 1940s, a time when kitchens were very small and appliances were generally very large. The kitchen was looked at as a space where only cooking took place. 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.Why should you think about it? Even though it's a 70-year-old rule, the work triangle is still something to keep in mind when you're redesigning a kitchen. Keeping a certain amount of space between the main working areas makes cooking much easier and helps keep traffic in the workspace to a minimum.

A large vintage-style sink, a floral print valance, interesting accessories like pottery, figurines and copper pans as well as exposed brick are delightful elements in this kitchen.