As far as everyone's kitchens go...what's your preference? I like my kitchen to wake me up, so I decided to go with quite an eclectic decision when I transformed it. Not the normal kitchen colors by any stretch of the imagination. Some of you may even cringe. It's eclectic and I'm sure if the day came we wanted to sell the right person would have to come through the door to appreciate what we've done. My wife is a massage therapist and I'm a local contractor, so chances of us moving are slim to none.
I dropped off our tired painted poplar cabs that were original to the house to the Restore and picked up some salvaged solid oak cabs, stripped and stained them...not your normal oak colors mind you. I think it brought a freshness to them they never had. I updated the hardware with brushed nickel repros from Look in the Attic. I also had a friend of mine bring in a salvaged Urban Lumber Cherry counter top for the breakfast bar.
(EDIT) Some of you interior designers tell me what you think. I've already been raked by most of my friends...some like it a lot, some hate it a lot. I'm not a designer, obviously, but I wanted different, I wanted to use recycled and salvaged materials and be cost effective also since we were working on a VERY limited budget. I'm also an old hippy at heart, so weird sometimes plays into any equation I'm associated with.
Honest opinion
I can always appreciate the idea of incorporating recycled elements in a design but this just doesn't work for me. It looks pieced together and every element is fighting the next, including the color palette. I like the stainless range and hood, but they look out of place because of the cabinets, counters and back splash. The stain really looks more like a first coat of paint that is begging for more. I'm only a fan of open shelving when everything is organized and pleasing to the eye. The mixer only adds to the "Easter" look.
Sorry to sound harsh but you did ask. If I were going to redesign this kitchen, I'd keep the stainless appliances and possibly the breakfast bar. Everything else would have to go.
I understand your take...
I understand your take there. It does have a patchwork presence about it, but like I said it's salvaged and recycled to the tune of about 80% of the materials.
1. Open cabs are for the items we use constantly. I like to cook and I prefer to be able to access something quickly like in a professional kitchen. Also, with our size constraints I felt having the open cabs at the bottom rather than doors made it easier to use. The lower cab has stainless and cast iron pots and pans in it now.
2. I made my wife put the mixer in the pantry, as well as the green and pink bowls. Easter did get brought up. She bought those items a while ago and we weren't about to drop another $300 on a mixer just because she bought a Hot Pink one.
3. I prefer the stained look over paint. It allows me to see the wood's character...even though it's only oak. The stain was chosen over paint for durability issues as well.
4. The Corian counter and the tile I would've liked different colors, but I found them at an "exceptional" price point...just above free. Only colors available.
If the day comes we need to sell. I can easily spray a ceramic paint enamel on the cabs to neutralize them.
Anyone care to share the pics of their kitchens?
I applaud...
your use of salvaged and recycled materials. I find a lot of satisfaction in the challenge of designing within a tight budget.
Personally, I would revisit the color choices. The colors (too many) compete and detract from the good stuff - the breakfast bar, appliances and the counter tops. I would want to show off the breakfast bar. The colors kill it.
I'd suggest going darker, neutral, and matching the cabinets to the front of the breakfast bar.
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When you're discovering something new it's always good to have a look at the foundation and history of a thing, I think maybe you should read up on what modernism is, what the principles are, what the bauhaus did, why and how.
Dieter says...
Good design is innovative.
Good design makes a product useful.
Good design is aesthetic.
Good design helps us to understand a product.
Good design is unobtrusive.
Good design is honest.
Good design is durable.
Good design is consequent to the last detail.
Good design is concerned with the environment
Good design is as little design as possible
I like cooks kitchens that are like workshops, everything hanging out, so easy to work in, won't post mine though you guys would laugh and point, so FP you are one up on me 🙂
I prefer this set of commandments from Dieter, circa 1987
"To me, good design means as little design as possible.
Simple is better than complicated.
Quiet is better than confusion.
Quiet is better than loud.
Unobtrusive is better than exciting.
Small is better than large.
Light is better than heavy.
Plain is better than colored.
Harmony is better than divergency.
Being well balanced is better than being exalted.
Continuity is better than change.
Sparse is better than profuse.
Neutral is better than aggressive.
The obvious is better than that which must be sought.
Few elements are better than many.
A system is better than single elements.
(Dieter's a bit dogmatic, but I LIKE that quality in my German industrial designers!)
My fugly Florida kitchen
I'll be brave. My 1980's tired traditional kitchen needs an update, but it is basically still like new. Could the cabinets be refaced/counters replaced? I hate to waste a decent kitchen, but have a look and throw me an idea and I'll mail you a canned ham.
and pour yourself a highball, I'm sending 5 or 6 pics...
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