Kitchen accents need to be simple and few

Welcome to the kitchen.  One of the most important rooms in the home the kitchen must be functional and beautiful enough to entertain at the same time.

I always enjoy a nice streamlined kitchen.  This kitchen has beautiful painted (and hand antiqued) cabinets, a stained island provides a central spot to work and eat.  The African granite counter tops have hand "roughed up" edges.  The most useful island must be at least 4 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide with a clearance of at least 3 feet all around.

 

I like the stacked rock back splash.  This industrial range looks fresh and all the liquids to cook with look nice along the back of the stove.  Knives in the knife block and wooden spoons and spatulas all have a place right next to the stove.  You might notice there is collection of Fiesta dishes in the top shelf with glass doors.  These pieces can be use everyday as they have easy access this way.

 

 

 

In this photo you can see the bookshelves in front of the sink that is used to display some favorite dishes, accent pewter pieces and cookbooks.  Those Rooster plates are in wonderful colors and the perfect snack size for entertaining.  These shelves also hold seasonal decorations and are changed out and rotated with new accents regularly.

 

 

There is a second set of shelves that is used to display a cookie cutter collection,  artichokes in a basket, more over sized cookbooks, some small antique iron animals and a decoupaged recipe box.

 

I feel customizing your storage is important.  Here you see I have added an extra shelf to the "plates" cupboard and hooks for the cups in the cups cupboard.  Yes that is 20 years of accumulated fiesta dishes. Notice the glass door fronts on the upper shelves.  I wanted storage that felt like furniture, not cabinetry so glass fronts were added.  You see my fiesta serving pieces there.

 

 

A simple arrangement made by gathering sticks from outside and a few fruits and flowers from Michael's craft store.  I especially like the cute bird, dried artichokes from the yard and hydrangeas.

 

 

These two wooden chairs add just enough space for "two" to enjoy an intimate breakfast. 

So that's my story on styling the kitchen.  Richard really focuses on the lighting for the kitchen and made sure there was good task lighting as well as under cabinet or under shelf lighting to brighten those areas. Dimmers on fixtures let you control the amount of light and increase energy efficiency and mood, like the chandelier over the island is beautiful and functional.