Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Are You Still There?

I know I've been away for a greater length of time than I usually am, and I hope that you all are still around looking for inspiration to take from Color Outside the Lines. I found another fabulous kitchen to share with you all today.

And pantry ... with it's mirrored walls and copper counters, rough hewn floors, and chalk white cabinetry this room is rustic but elegant, casual but beautiful, interesting but useful! Oooo, my favorite!

And the sitting room off of the kitchen, perfect for reading the morning paper and starting that day-long affair with the crossword. The Shumacher fabric really is such a compliment to those beautiful blue walls. I really love how they've played with the negative space when accessorizing with the rugs. Instead of having the furniture groupings on rugs, they have the furniture groupings on the floor, and the rugs in the walk space. Perfection.

Another view of the kitchen, styled differently, and with a better look at the gorgeous beams that frame out that beautiful ceiling. This kitchen is custom through and through, but there are so many great ideas to take from this kitchen if you're thinking about changing around your own, or if you're starting from scratch on less than a 100K budget:
  • Don't be afraid to use lighting that is unconventional, that is - not found in the kitchen section of Home Depot. Notice the fabric covered pendants hanging over the island.
  • Paint! It's the cheapest and quite possibly the most significant thing you can do when transforming a space. Especially kitchens and bathrooms. Paint those old cabinets, play with faux finishes, and don't worry about a color other than yellow or white making your kitchen look dirty: blue is a calming color perfect for the kitchen, red is a firey color that will really appeal to those with booming appetites, and muted shades of warm gray are the perfect backdrop to any pattered china you can display on plate racks, open shelving, or glassfront cabinetry.
  • GO BIG! Accessories in a kitchen can overpower and clutter the space in no time flat. Invest in a couple of large accessories, (like the medallion used in the range backsplash) and a great fruit and vegetable caddy - leave the silk ivy and wicker baskets for another room in the house.
  • Let the light in. The single easiest thing you can do to transform a room, is open the shades to a window. The light will make your room look lighter, brighter, and happier; as seen here with just the valance above the two windows on the back wall. Open the blinds - and if you can, remove them completely. Enjoy the light!
And the family room, which is open to the kitchen. Now you can start to see all of these rooms flowing together beautifully and harmoniously, hmm? Again perfectly edited, you can see that this room is a cozy place to watch a movie, read the paper or a good design book, entertain company while food is being prepared in the kitchen, or just take a long nap with a cozy throw.

20 comments:

  1. inspirational as always, what a kitchen! missed your posts!

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  2. Oh man, that kitchen is to die for. I don't like the valances, but that's the only negative thing I can say. That table and chairs and benches? Oh myyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

    Justine :o )

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  3. Love, love, love the pale blue walls with the black and white fabric! I need to do that somewhere.

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  4. Well, I am just beside myself over this kitchen...it is TO.DIE.FOR.
    I love every single thing about it and I am on my way to the fabric store to get some Buffalo Check..black/white, OF COURSE..and make some little toppers for MY kitchen..yes..I am!!

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  5. Wonderful kitchen...beautiful post!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by earlier and leaving your sweet comments!!! I am becoming a huge fan of your blog!!!

    Stop by again soon!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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  6. This is a great kitchen! The table in the third picture is actually an antique dough box on legs!

    This room is the same light blue as my kitchen. I don't have any fabric but stainless steel appliances, dark grey concrete countertops, medium brown wood cabinets to the ceiling and modern light pump up the volume. The stone floor and backsplash have hints of the blue, grey and brown tying it all together. The play of modern and old materials excite. It definitely has a masculine quality to it, not for everyone, but I'm very pleased.
    Great post as always!

    G in CT

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  7. Everything seen through your eyes and shaped by your emotions seems bigger, better and beautiful.

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  8. missed you, man!

    a great find - this is all soo you!
    bring it down from the heavens
    and make it your own!

    peace~
    Chuck

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  9. You've hit a home run once again. I adore that kitchen and the rest of the rooms as well.
    Nice to see you posting again!

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  10. I had a whole white thing (decor) going on, but it got oh so exhausting that I quit! So now I just play with me ole bloggie of what I can safely post and put out there, but feel free to link to my all white world and pinch any pics u want! I still have a very great affection for the white on white world, maybe one day when the kiddi winkies (finally) move out!

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  11. Welcome back my little pull apart. <3
    I'm loving that huge table and the use of unexpected seating for dining - I would never have thought to use wingbacks but I lurve it and want it! ..and the copper countertops! Deeeelicious.
    I want the bench too... lol.
    xo Isa

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  12. Hi,
    I found you from Cathy her Mille Fleur site, so stopped in to say hi. Nice blog, it is great to meet new friends, drop by my place sometime...~Cathy~

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  13. You always have such great photos. Especially for me looking forward to getting our house done. We totally share the same style. Now if only you could come and help me decorate! ;)

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  14. I love the tiled mirror walls in that kitchen!

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  15. Oooooooo, what a gorgeous kitchen!
    Like so many others, just LUV every detail about it. Thanks for sharing it Artie.
    HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND. Hug hugs
    -Brenda-

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  16. the antiqued - mirrored walls are fab !

    xx

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