Rustic + Traditional + Modern = Fun Eclectic Combo, or a Mess?
Angelique
2 years ago
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Angelique
2 years agoAngelique
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Eclectic or Jumbled
Comments (124)I haven't read any of the replies because I did not want to be influenced :-) That said, I would call the kitchen an eclectic jumble. Each element taken separately Is wonderful-- an outstanding example of whatever it is, be it flooring, vintage style appliances, seating, etc. I think the colors of gray and light yellow (floor) do not really "go" with the wood tones, and the navy chairs do not go with anything. I appreciate that you want to leave the wood in its original state and love the table you have chosen rather than some overdone RH version of an old farmhouse table. If there is one thing to change it would be the flooring, as a little gray paint on some of the unfitted elements does not define the room as the floor will. In the interest of time I would have the floor painted a blue and white checkerboard or plaid, sealed well, and use your wallpaper and all the other elements planned. If you paint you can control the colors rather than be at the mercy of a flooring mfg and you can always floor over it when you find something you like better. I'd use Blue and white mattress ticking for the sink skirt (which was my first choice when you were looking for fabric). It's not a bad thing for a few of your choices to be ordinary enough to give some space around the more distinctive bits. This post was edited by kswl on Thu, May 22, 14 at 8:56...See MoreModern or Transi-Traditional Cabinets in an 1886 Space?
Comments (33)What are your kitchen storage needs? You mention that there is a small installation of cabinetry. Have you considered an unfitted kitchen since you like the English kitchens? Finding a painted hutch may give you sufficient storage? Finding a butcherblock table with shelves underneath may give you sufficient prep space? Hanging pots on a wall rack or placing dishes on open shelves can let your architecture still show up well. You may find a sink base that you like. The advantages of unfitted is that it will be less expensive and easily changed later if you like (or if you sell). BTW, I like your choices of appliances. We didn't put upper cabinets around our range. We use hutches (although made by our cabinetmaker) for dish storage on one side of the sink and another one as a food pantry. You can accomplish the same thing with individual ready-made pieces. We were inspired by English cottage kitchens. I would have loved to have used soapstone but it wasn't available locally at the time we built. For example, this glass front Crate and Barrel bookcase (see link) can hold a lot of dishes and/or food. You can paint the back walls a different color or put wallpaper inside, etc. if you want to personalize it. I have an antique bookcase that belonged to my grandfather that we use in our kitchen for cookbooks and a few dishes and serving items. Also, take a look at Martha Stewart's kitchen. The tables and cabinets have clean, modern lines, yet the color scheme and open shelving work in an historic setting. Just a few thoughts. You have a beautiful parlor that you show in the photo. Cameron Here is a link that might be useful: think outside traditional cabinets...See MoreI'm a design mess...
Comments (9)I love all the suggestions above. I have a friend who (as the majority of people) had very limited funds but a big desire to make her home cozy and beautiful. She had a lot a second hand furniture and other decor old and found, and when talking to me she expressed her concern everything in her home is different, second hand, etc, etc. Next time I met her, I brought her a book as a gift. The book was called "Flea Market Style" Later she told me it was amazing how calling things just a different name can be emboldening, empowering, and freeing. She totally stopped worrying about herself being a design mess)) and instead of worrying things were old and found started enjoying the process of discovering and mixing and putting it all together. Don't call yourself a design mess; there is a beautiful even though overused word "eclectic"..)) Or other words you can describe your unique style with. Maybe several words, not one. Style reflects us; we're multi-faceted beings...it's normal to love many different things. Of course one still should be mindful in what he's doing because the house should be like you: multi-faceted but still recognizable as one unique person..I mean house)) It should also make sense with its architecture, surroundings, have cohesiveness, especially in fixed materials, etc, etc. Not everything is easy to pull off. Eclectic style is especially not always easy to pull of. But it's so much fun. It's like in Andersen's fairy tales: remember how things and toys would have conversations and parties at night when people were sleeping? Imagine things in your house talking to each other. Like guests at a party lol. Guest with different characters and personalities as guests usually are. What will make for a good conversation? It will become much easier to see what works with what. And it will be fun to figure it all out. Looking forward to seeing the pics!...See MoreJust for fun, what do you love but would never have in your own home?
Comments (78)In my new home, I have a housekeeper come every other week. I like clean homes. I do NOT like the actual job of cleaning them. I'd rather work in the garden, or do some cooking, or deal with the chickens, or keep up with physical maintenance and house painting/staining, or do graphic arts or anything else. I'm fine with doing laundry, too. I clean up after myself in the kitchen, but the housekeeper does floors, bathrooms and general dusting/windows and such. And I now have a robot vacuum who is pretty decent at what he does. He even has a name: Sharkey. I'm not crazy about cleaning his filter, but it comes with the territory and lasts five minutes... I didn't have a housekeeper back at my old CT home. One reason my getting out of there and getting the place on the market is taking so long... especially since I then had a full time job that lasted well over the standard 40 hour work week. THIS one will be clean! But it doesn't need to be anally-House Beautiful clean. Simply lived in and tidy. My reasons for not wanting a fully white kitchen or other rooms are not about appearing clean, but about my just only wanting white as an accent. Aesthetically. That's what works for my sense of eye appeal....See MoreAngelique
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