What does a modern kitchen need?
3 months ago
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What does my kitchen need (pic included)
Comments (33)I think that what happened during the building is that the original builder's design was tweaked to open up the kitchen wall so that you could walk through past the fridge. That looks like an archway that was an addendum added to the work contract. Maybe there was even a wall separating the kitchen from the dining area too that was removed to really 'open the space up'. The island looks like it was just the original cabinets that were to be installed along a wall that they then added a larger countertop to. That is why the island looks so plain from the LR view. A cheap solution is maybe put some large, square, decorative wicker baskets with lids, under the counter overhang. They would become "part of" the pole and island by eliminating the empty space under the overhang. And they could be useful too for tossing recyclables or storing pet food! I am wondering if extra lighting is really needed over the island? I might put a large, flat, wrought iron rack up there to hang pots. It would help define the area and help the pole not look so obvious. If lighting is really needed in the area, I would NOT do little itty-bitty, pendant lights. Having long hanging strings of tiny pendant lighting on such a vast expanse of ceiling would not look right. I would get something large and substantial with the smaller lights as part of it. This style is called 'billiard lighting' or 'island lighting' sometimes. Something like this maybe: Here is a link that might be useful: Island Lighting...See MoreModern Kitchens - What do I need to know?
Comments (27)One of the first thing you need to do is to be honest about your house. Can you carry modern (not contemporary) in your house? Design elements are such that it sinks to the lowest common denominator unless you are careful. For example, if you have cheap paneled fiberglass doors through out the house, no matter what you do, it feels as if the rest of the house is at that level of quality. Window, doors and trim work determine the level of 'quality' of the interior of the house. It is hard to do justice to modern design (or justify the cost of remodel) when all your vinyl windows have snap on muntins. It can look too jarring and out of place, IMHO.... The siding material, windows, trim determines the exterior quality of the house. If is hard to upgrade/update the house without paying attention to these types of things that have such impact on the level of quality of work. Modern design is hard to accomplish unless the workmanship is perfect. There is big difference when the gap between the doors are 1/8 inch versus 1/2 inche when you look at it. Often, older houses work well with modern design because the inherent quality of the workmanship in the well built older houses complement the quality of workmanship and design in modern design. Suburban tract homes often lack the high level of quality work, and that is why they age so quickly.... Modern design works best when materials show off its intrinsich qualities at its best. This means that you use expensive quality material and let the material and workmanship shine without detractors. Sometimes, it is safer to go with contemporary if you are not willing to spend a lot of money replacing doors etc on the rest of the house. Palimpest, Henrybuilt (my cabinet company) carves out a small groove in the backside of cabinet doors. You slip your fingers under it and open the upper doors. When the door is closed you see nothing on the upper....See MoreKitchen Reno, need major advice on how to modernize this kitchen
Comments (9)I just bought and will be moving in at the end of the month and was hoping to move from warm beige/brown tones to more modern cool white/grey tones. I had a feeling you just bought the house : ) . Now that you've confirmed that, here's my advice. And I'm giving you the advice as someone who has moved into new-to-me houses several times -- not as the wife of a builder who could make a lot of money with a project like yours lol. Don't do anything now. Not even hardware. You have a nice, virtually new kitchen. It may not be entirely to your taste, but that's fine. What you need to do know is live in, and use, the kitchen for at least a year. Cook, for yourself, your family, your friends. Have people over. Enjoy your new home. See how the space functions first. You may well decide to make other changes, so rather than spending money now on some cosmetic things, see what you think after a year, which will give you a full chance to see how the kitchen and adjoining areas work for you. The problem with moving away from warm beige/brown tones is that, as Sina mentioned above, your kitchen flooring is warm beige/brown tones. So is the dining room flooring adjacent to the kitchen, the living room which is open to the dining room has warm beige/brown tones, and the staircase in the living room. And then in your original post you mention brass, which is definitely a warm tone. Whatever changes you make in the kitchen are going to affect the rest of the main floor, much like the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" lol. So live in the house, enjoy it, and don't make decisions at least until the new year : ) . And congratulations on your new house!...See Moreneed help modernizing the wall of our brown kitchen cabinets!
Comments (23)The darker color on the bottom for sure, but I would stay away from gray, unless this room is separate from everything else. Your kitchen, the floors, and all your furniture would look better with warmer colors, or at least neutral colors imo. You could use the White Dove in your kitchen and continue it into the top of this room. But putting gray on all your walls is going to look instantly outdated and out of sync with everything else imo....See MoreRelated Professionals
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