Obviously, I’m loving the colour scheme here. White, soft green, natural wood and carrera marble make for a soothing and sophisticated combination. My current favourite detail, the tiled wall, looks great here in a subway tile with variation and depth. Some considered lighting, modern chairs and a few green accessories complete the look.

The kitchen is a slightly different space, though. Oh, it’s still elegant and quirky, but here is where the industrial warehouse aesthetic really shines. I love the (original!) metal door leading into the room, not to mention the vintage rolling ladder along the (cookbook?) wall. I also like the trio of retro pendant lights over the island, which together with some well-placed cast iron cookware, add colour to the room.

Overall, this is a room I’d love to cook in. It just seems so clean, bright, and user-friendly; exactly what a kitchen should be. Be sure to check out the rest of the home, too.

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:

I have a feeling I’ll be featuring a lot of Alvhem properties in the coming weeks, but I wanted to start with this modest, modern flat. The kitchen is small, but perfectly formed. Tiled walls are a recent obsession of mine, and this yellow-and-blue curved one really takes the cake.

The tiles continue to the wall from the backsplash, giving the impression of space and movement. I love how the kitchen accessories pick up on the shades in the tiles, and how the whole thing is reflected in the modern light fixture. Overall, this is a small, modest kitchen that really packs and modern punch.

Online design mag Lonny has been on the lips and screens of many design bloggers lately, having just released its fifth issue. I like Lonny for its individual approach, and for the fact that the products and interiors they feature are a little off the beaten track. While I love my mainstream design mags, I sometimes experience a sense of deja vu on opening one, and find that content gets passed around and resused.

While Lonny’s focus isn’t the kitchen, they do feature some nice ones in their gallery. I was particularly taken by this one, which struck me with its subtly elegant feeling:

This is a real “gown-up’s kitchen”, on a small scale. I think the gorgeous putty colour of the cabinets works so well with the stainless appliances and wooden floors. The art is framed and hung so beautifully- don’t the frames work well in the space?

The details here- rustic wooden chair, ethnic rug and glam mirrored backsplash all work to keep the space interesting. It’s not one style, but blends influences so seamlessly that on first glance, you think it is. Isn’t that what good design is all about, anyway?

No offense intended- I like a bit of country myself, especially when it’s paired with clean, modern lines or a rustic, vintage sensibility. But chintz, silk flowers and a cluttered-up countertop aren’t my thing. This kitchen, found via Hus & Hem magazine, is a perfect example of modern country. Charming yes, but twee? Not at all!

The country elements here are obvious- farmhouse sink, wooden units, touches of soft colour and wicker storage. What keeps it modern are the clean lines, abundance of white, open shelving and eclectic mix of accessories. I love the homey feel of this space, and can imagine whiling away hours cooking, reading or just hanging out here. Talk about a perfect country home.

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:

When Inés bought her home, there was neither kitchen nor bathroom nor layout to speak of, so she was free to let her imagination run wild. I love the space that emerged, for its practical yet stylish nature. The white units, steel appliances and wooden countertops contrast so deliciously with the ornate mirror on the wall, and the cowhide rug in the adjoining living area.

But what I really love is the scale of this space. This isn’t a someday home, cavernous, it’ll-be-years-until-I-can-live-like-that kitchen. It’s real, approachable urban living. That just happens to resemble a design magazine.

Also, check out the space-saving, extendable island; normally accommodating three people, an extra section can flip out to seat two more! Genius, no?

Not this space, though. Kingswood House from 1st Option has a great kitchen: modern and retro and strong and feminine, all at the same time. The first things I noticed were those fab industrial stools, and how well they go with the retro pistachio-coloured fridge.

I love the two striped rugs in this space, too. Bold and unexpected, they keep all the pastel touches from looking too sweet. The floating units also work well. The whole feeling of this space would be somehow different if they were built-in, don’t you think?

Of course, these photos are styled to perfection- right down to the gumball machine and retro tea towel. Still, I’d have to consider this space if I do in fact win the lottery this week.

What do you think of Kingswood House?

There are few words which, when combined, delight me so instantly and completely as the words “Paris” and “apartment”. The idea of a bijoux Parisienne dwelling, under the eaves of a centuries-old building, perhaps looking down on a bustling street or a tranquil courtyard, fills me with a romantic nostalgia so pure I can almost taste it. I’m not even all that bothered about Paris itself, to be honest. Just the apartments.

So I was always going to fall for this space, which was featured on Design*Sponge last week. The slanted ceiling, exposed beams, utilitarian surfaces and rustic feel combine to create an atmosphere so utterly charming that my heart’s all aflutter. It would be easy to channel Julia Child here, non?