This first kitchen is one of my favourites; classic and hip at the same time. The white units and wood floors are beyond pristine, and the marble subway tiled walls are a great finishing touch:

This next space is similar, using many of the same elements. I’m already seeing that white units with black pulls, glass-fronted cabinets and pops of colour are key in a Helgerson kitchen. This one has a more relaxed vibe, with the addition of those awesome vintage chairs:

This kitchen is much more modern, but the general idea (lots of white, streamlined design, a sense of elegance) remains the same:

Helgerson design, on a more modest scale. This sweet and compact kitchen allows the view to take centre stage:

This ranch house kitchen is a great example of adapting an aesthetic to fit your surroundings. The glass-fronted cabinets, subway tile backsplash and wood are all there, looking perfectly at home in their rural surroundings:

The inspiration for this last space was “a Swedish cottage by the sea”, and I can see it in the result. The red and retro accessories (love the 50′s stove- my parents used to have a similar one) add fun and colour to the otherwise white space:

That second distinction struck a chord with me. As a renter, I know that those of us not yet on the property ladder can be somewhat limited in our decorating abilities. We don’t necessarily have the countertops, cabinets or layout of our dreams, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have attractive kitchens! Here are my top five tips for adding style to a rental space, using the latest batch of small, cool kitchens as visuals.

1. A Lick of Paint (or Paper)
So, maybe your floor is ugly linoleum and your countertops are faux granite (mine are). You still have walls, right? Paint is one of the fastest ways to add colour and interest to a space, as this bright blue New York kitchen proves:

If you think your landlord would allow it, you could even paint the cabinets, as in this sunny San Francisco kitchen:

Wallpaper is another good option. It works especially well (and is less time-consuming to tackle) on one statement wall, as in this sweet space:

2. Look to the Lighting
As any kitchen designer will tell you, lighting is imperative not just to the practicality of your kitchen, but to its ambiance. Unless you have pot lighting in your rental, a simple change of fixture could be all your space needs. I like how the lights in Kate’s kitchen contribute to her colour scheme:

And the modern-retro pendant in this eclectic Philidelphia space works great, too:

3. Let Art Impart Style
We already know I’m a fan of art in the kitchen, so this tip should come as no surprise. Use what wall space you have to add colour, humour, or communicate who you are. The poster in this Portland Bungalow kitchen works perfectly with the tiled backsplash:

While Addie’s Cape Cod home features an oldie-but-goodie:

I especially like the sweet vintage-feel art in Alysia’s lake house:

4. Fun and Funky Accessories
If you don’t have the wall space for paintings and posters, you can still add colour in other ways. Pick your kitchen accessories carefully, and arrange them in an artful way. I love the turquoise dishes (and door knobs- how cute!) in this Las Vegas kitchen:

Alison has made storage work for her, with retro steel, blue-and-green touches and wicker baskets in her Burlington home:

5. Stand-Alones that Stand Alone
If you can’t move everything that you don’t like out, how about moving something else in? Megumi’s Brussels kitchen features vintage filing cabinets under a wooden worktop, which she uses as regular cabinets:

Ronna is a professional cook, and she added a big wooden island (for work space and storage) as well as an awesome metal equipment shelf to her Brooklyn kitchen:

1. Vintage charm. If you’ve got a spare wall or part thereof, don’t automatically jump to adding built-in units. A vintage dresser or armoire can store your plates just as well, and adds a bit of personality, too. I like this painted hutch from County Living.

2. Open it up. With that same wall, you could also try some open, industrial-style shelving. These blue-painted shelves, also from Country Living, look lovely, and the metal boxes keep things neat.

3. Pretty pegboard. Pegboard might not be a new idea, but it’s still a pretty good one. You can paint it any colour, and use as much or as little as you like. Go for a small square on the wall, a larger piece covering the back of a door, even a whole wall. This lovely teal board comes from Australian mag Inside Out, via Apartment Therapy.

4. Through the cupboard door. The slim space just inside a cupboard or pantry door can be a great find. Think of a magnetic strip for knives, a hook for spare tea towels, or a slim custom-built spice rack. In this image from Martha Stewart, pot lids are held up with towel racks.

5. Frame it. Got something pretty to show off? A storage frame, like this one I found via Living etc, is fantastic for showing off cups and smaller items. This is from Heal’s, but I bet an old frame, some plywood and a lick of paint would make a great DIY version, too.

6. Roll with it. A butcher block, trolly or other small unit on wheels can make a great occasional storage and work space. Choose something that fits in with your decor, and then simply roll it where and when you need it. Bonus points if there are shelves underneath, like in this example from Apartment Therapy.

7. Hanging out. Simply looking up can reveal several unexplored storage options. The classic over-island pot rack is a good example, but even mounting a single hanging rail can keep utensils out of the way and free up your countertop. The space under cupboards works well, as does a patch of bare wall, like in this kitchen from Marie Claire Maison.

8. Up, up and away. In some kitchens the cabinets go right up to the ceiling, but in others, there’s a bit of headspace. Make that work for you by tucking rarely-used but attractive (or simply decorative) items out of the way, as in this room from Domino (RIP) which I found at Little Green Notebook. Just make sure you’ve got a sturdy chair or stepladder at the ready, if and when you need to get them down again.

9. Under covers. We don’t often see tablecloths in a kitchen anymore, but consider this: a floor-sweeping fabric can hid a multitude of sins- er, stuff. Choose a beautiful colour or print, as in this photo from Canadian House & Home, and it’ll add a whiff of French country glamour, too.

10. Skirting the issue. Similar to the last tip, I’ve got a total weakness for skirted work tops and tables. It doesn’t matter how messy the junk behind is- if you can hide it with a pretty fabric, who cares?! I like the skirted corner in this room from Marie Claire Maison.

Have you got any kitchen storage tips you’d  like to share?

For the past four weeks, I’ve been taking an online course by the name of Blogging Your Way. Run by the wonderful Holly Becker of Decor8 and assisted by the multi-talented (and Canadian!) Leslie Shewring of a creative mint, this course is a seven-week informational extravaganza, covering everything from photography and styling to overcoming writers block and setting your blog apart. I’ve been thrilled with the quality of instruction so far, and I’d encourage anyone who takes blogging seriously to give it a go, the next time Holly decides to run this course.

After several weeks of homework which involved soul-searching, list-making and idea-finding, this week’s assignment was a bit different: step away from the computer and make an inspiration board for your blog. I’m used to the theory behind this (I made them all the time in my former, fashion life) but putting a blog to paper is a little different.

I tried to include a bit of everything that my sites cover: delicious food, a beautiful kitchen, great products. I also wanted to inject a little of “me” into the design, and attempted this with a little sketching, sewing (those are vintage floral fabrics on there!) and  home decor ideas. There’s even a vintage globe, as a cheeky nod to the one that sits on my kitchen table.

Obviously, this room is a step away from the modern kitchens I like to feature here- it’s an art space and not a home, after all. I certainly couldn’t live with this kitchen as-is, but I think that’s partly due to the cluttered counters and piles of “stuff”. But that recipe-card wall (postcards would work well, too) as the only dash of chaos in a clean, minimalist kitchen? Love.

The look needn’t be limited to the wall, however. There are lots of options for using this cheap DIY design idea- check out some of my favourites here.

The whole wall works well in a loft-style space, like in this image from the photostream of chutes and ladders:

From the photostream of ooh_food, I love this charming eating area. The section of blackboard wall behind the table adds the perfect touch of whimsy:

If painting the walls isn’t an option, how about a piece of furniture? No.8′s Vintage Blackboard Cabinet (found via Ohdeedoh) comes ready-painted, and has the added bonus of being movable to another room:

For just a touch of the trend, I like this blackboard-painted range hood from This Old House:

I like this idea from Living etc: use a section of wall as a calendar/organizer! Pretty and practical:

From the same source, the pantry door option might be my favourite. It keeps the trend limited to a small space, but still has impact:

Very rustic and country in style, this space from Living etc makes me think of a French country house. The repurposed shop counter is perfect for an island with storage:

From the same source, this salvage-yard look is an eclectic mix of styles, and perfectly now:

Nothing in this bright green kitchen looks old, but take another look at that awesome art-school sink. Found on Pure Green:

I like how an old shipping pallet has been used for display and storage here, from Remodelista. I bet several of these would look great together, in a big bright kitchen:

These repurposed stools are made of old truck springs! Found via Apartment Therapy and originally published by House Beautiful, I like the whole kitchen- it looks like the wood and lights are reclaimed, too:

Finally, this kitchen from lorigami‘s photostream is my favourite. Modern and rustic, I love the crates used as drawers, and all the beautiful old wood:

Now that that’s out of the way, a second note: Please forgive the poor quality of the images in today’s post. It’s hell finding good screenshots, isn’t it?

Yes, Gossip Girl. The CW show about the lives of Manhattan’s young, wealthy elite, full of twisted love triangles, buried secrets, sexual tension and scandals-a-plenty. But please believe me, I don’t watch it for that stuff. Well maybe a tiny part of me does, but mainly I watch for the eye candy. Beautiful people, New York City, incredible fashion and inspiring interiors. It’s true; after the MCM gorgossity of Mad Men, this show has some of the best set design around (see this portfolio for some examples). While it’s all covetable, I’m going to stay somewhat on track here, and show you around the show’s kitchens.

The Bass/van der Woodsen penthouse is chic, modern and pure Upper East Side luxe. The kitchen in this apartment is a surprisingly modest size (I can’t imagine that anybody living here would do much cooking, after all), and has a clean, minimalist feel. I especially like the sliding blue panels and the open wood shelving (photos from this post at Apartment Therapy):

The dining area has a similar look, with a clean, mid-century feeling. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Upper East Side without a lush rug and an ornate chandelier:

The Waldorf home is more classic New York, all satin drapes and marble entrance halls. While that isn’t usually my style, I love the kitchen in this place. This image from Hooked on Houses shows off the white subway tile, marble countertops and industrial-looking appliances:

While no one can argue with the beauty of those spaces, it’s the trendy Brooklyn loft of the “underprivileged” Humphreys that gets the most love from me. Sure the exposed brick, random colours and retro paraphernalia might be cliché, but they’re good ones. I love the wall colour, open storage and cool pendant lamps in the kitchen:

The dining area is just as cool, relying on what looks like old diner booths for seating:

Until next time,
xoxo

(Sorry.)