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Tag: Kitchens

Home Inspiration: Country Kitchens

From the modern loft kitchens of last week, to their distant relative: this week, it’s the country kitchen’s turn. My dream one has a huge Aga, a solid oak table and some twee checked curtains. It just makes you want to bake a pie, doesn’t it? 

I figured Country Living magazine was a good place to start, and I wasn’t wrong. I love the calming colours in this space, not to mention all the cute retro touches:

home inspiration: country kitchens

From the same source, this kitchen is pure American country. I like how the mismatched colours and textures look so authentic in the space:

home inspiration: country kitchens

From country to Coastal Living, a gorgeous beach house kitchen. I’m especially loving the gingham ceiling and the lovely copper pans:

home inspiration: country kitchens

I like this space, from the photostream of thekitchendesigner, for its moody minimalism. It’s country, but modern at the same time: 

home inspiration: country kitchens

From the same source but on the other end of the scale, this country kitchen is pure elegance. The marble-topped counter, blue units and huge fireplace make me think of a French villa:

home inspiration: country kitchens

Ahh… a checked floor, a wooden island and a blue Aga. This kitchen is country at its best, from house to home:

home inspiration: country kitchens

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchens on August 27th, 2009 by Ele | 3 comments
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Home Inspiration: Loft Kitchens

Though I love traditional, period buildings, a little part of me has always wanted to live in a loft. A huge, light-flooded open space with exposed brick and industrial fixtures- what’s not to love about that? Especially when you consider how great some of these loft kitchens are…

From the photostream of ooh_food, I like the colourful, slap-dash feeling of this space. The units look reclaimed to me, and the bright touches are so fun:

home inspiration: loft kitchens

The feeling of this space from Living etc is traditional, but the brick and stainless steel keeps it from looking stuffy:

home inspiration: loft kitchens

I like how this modern kitchen, found via Apartment Therapy, has been tucked into the corner. The stainless steel and yellow units work well together, giving just the right mix of industrial and fun:

home inspiration: loft kitchens

This kitchen isn’t my favourite, but that wall of windows is to die for. From the same source, this space is a good example of how a traditional kitchen can work in an untraditional space:

home inspiration: loft kitchens

From Marie Claire Maison, this light-flooded space is pretty close to perfect in my book. I like the white, the wood and the modest, Scandinavian feel: 

home inspiration: loft kitchens

Via the same source and just as authentic, this loft has a completely different feel, with lots of black touches and a chic, industrial look:

home inspiration: loft kitchens

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchens on August 20th, 2009 by Ele | 5 comments
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Kitchen Inspiration: At the cottage

I’m giving the modern, colourful kitchens a bit of a rest today. August is nearly upon us and that means I’m craving Ontario/Quebec cottage country. Reading on the dock, barbecues on the porch, campfires on the beach- it’s what summer should be about, no? 

Obviously, food and cooking is an important part of any cottage experience. So what makes a successful cottage kitchen? Lots of light, warm wood, a dose of vintage charm and a healthy appreciation of clutter sets these spaces apart from their city counterparts.

In this space from thekitchendesigner, an old wood table is made modern by the addition of a practical range:

cottage kitchen

From the same source, this space has a great mix. The patterned wall is modern and funky, but the wainscotting and fabric valence are pure county cool:

cottage kitchen

Perhaps a bit too “finished” to be a real cottage, this space from Canadian House and Home nonetheless does a great job of bringing the outside in with the use of stone and wood. After all, that’s what cottage living is all about: 

cottage kitchen

Now, this kitchen, found via Coastal Living, is pure cabin in the woods. I love how the white units pop in the rustic space:

cottage kitchen

I found this Copenhagen Cottage on my favourite design blog, Decor8. Originally from Swedish mag Hus & Hem, it’s got style and cottage charm in spades:

cottage kitchen

I love the candy colours in this Long Island bungalow kitchen, found on Martha Stewart. Definitely cottage-y, but oh-so-fun, too:

cottage kitchen

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchens on July 30th, 2009 by Ele | 3 comments
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Colour in the Kitchen: Pink

Ok, I just want to clear one thing up: I am emphatically not a pink person. This is more my sister‘s kind of thing, not mine. What can I say, though? I’m running out of colours and I’m having so much fun with this series! 

While these kitchens might not be to everyone’s tastes (or, I venture to guess, very many people’s at all), there is something to be said for throwing caution to the wind and decorating with your favourite colour, re-sale value be damned.

From Apartment Therapy, I came across this space just yesterday. The countertops lend the only touch of pink, which works well in the retro space: 

pink kitchen

The units lend the colour in this kitchen from Living etc, but it’s in the subtlest of ways. With a modern white countertop and grey backsplash, the result is surprisingly chic: 

pink kitchen

Also from Living etc, this is a sweeter, more retro pink. The backsplash isn’t my thing, but I love me a coloured Smeg: 

pink kitchen

This super-modern home, from sarahleeab‘s photostream, uses pink boldly; a wall of colour to define the kitchen in an open plan space:

pink kitchen

I’m surprised by how well this space, via House to Home, works. I think the bold colour and black worktop really bring the wooden cabinets up-to-date: 

pink kitchen

Old-world and modern at the same time, bubblegum units pop in a pristine white space, from Lulu Carter: 

pink kitchen

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchens on July 23rd, 2009 by Ele | 6 comments
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Colour in the Kitchen: White

Ahh, the white kitchen. Love it or hate it, it’s a classic. White (like black) can go from modern to mod and rustic to retro. In terms of longevity and resale value, white is always a safe bet. (If you can keep it clean, that is.) I’ve always claimed to hate an all-white look, but seeing these photos, I admit I’m loving some of these.

This simple, classic space is warmed by schoolhouse chairs and a checkerboard floor, from the photostream of ooh_food: 

white kitchen

I adore this space from Living etc, in which white takes on a natural, rustic look: 

white kitchen

This kitchen from Ideal Home is a great example of how to incorporate colour into an otherwise white space. I love the barely-there hint of blue: 

white kitchen

Via Marie Claire Maison, this small space has a wonderful mix of styles, brought together by the neutral colour scheme: 

white kitchen

Not everyone has an ornate fireplace to work with, but this room (from the dearly departed Domino and found on Dear Jac) shows what dark floors and vintage styling can do with white: 

white kitchen

Another Domino pic (via Desire to Inspire), this kitchen is a favourite of mine. I love how the wallpaper brings a pop of colour to the modern white cabinets:

white kitchen

Posted in Kitchens on July 16th, 2009 by Ele | 4 comments
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Colour in the Kitchen: Black

Ok, spare me the whole “black isn’t a colour” spiel. It might not be, but it sure does look great in these modern kitchens. Cooler  and edgier than white, black is dramatic and timeless. Here are some of my favourite kitchens in this dark non-colour.

From sarahleeab‘s photostream, this kitchen is minimalist and surprisingly light: 

black one

I like the mix of industrial and country going on in this scan, from the now-defunct Domino mag, via Tammy Manet‘s photostream:

black two

From another magazine no-long-with-us (House and Garden) and found on Farmhouse Modern, I adore this elegant space: 

black three

Black floor and walls are made fun with the addition of bright yellow accents, in this space from Living etc: 

black four

Not just black, but a mix of dark shades, this kitchen from Canadian House & Home manages to mix elegant, funky, retro and modern into one neat package: 

black five

From the same source, this space is slightly more traditional, with a classic mix of black, white and stainless steel: 

black six

Posted in Kitchens on July 8th, 2009 by Ele | 7 comments
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Colour in the kitchen: Yellow

Yellow seems a natural choice for a kitchen- it’s cheerful, calm and soothing, and like other citrus shades, is said to stimulate the appetite. Depending on the shade and application, yellow can be soft and vintage, as in a country kitchen, or bright and bold in an urban setting. 

These super-bright cabinets look at home in this fun, modern kitchen, from the photostream of ooh_food: 

yellow one

From Living etc, a modern galley kitchen looks sweet and charming with pale yellow units and paint: 

yellow two

I love the strong shade used on the wall in this kitchen, from Marie Claire Maison:

yellow three

It’s all in the backsplash in this modern kitchen, via xJavierx‘s photostream: 

yellow four

Instead of hitting you over the head with it, the cream tones and yellow chairs in this space from Coastal Living use yellow in a subtle way: 

yellow five

This space from kitchenideas.com.au manages to look both modern and sweet at the same time, thanks to simple white legged units and a cheerful accent wall: 

yellow six

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchens on July 2nd, 2009 by Ele | 2 comments
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House & Home’s Canadian Kitchens

Canadian House & Home is a great interiors magazine back home. As a self-deprecating Canadian, I admit that it constantly surprises me just how nice some of the images in this publication are. But browsing the galleries on their site, it can’t really be denied. For a bit of patriotic eye-candy, check out these gorgeous Canadian kitchens: 

one

two

three

four

five

six

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchens on July 1st, 2009 by Ele | 1 comment so far
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Cool (part of a) Kitchen: Industrial Cheer

I’m not sure if this qualifies as a complete Cool Kitchen as we can’t see the entire room, but I love this photo of Flickr user linsmika‘s kitchen wall. The super-organized setup looks pleasingly industrial, thanks to all the stainless steel and glass storage jars. The touches of red take away any chance of it feeling sterile, and make the whole place seem cheery and bright. 

red and stainless steel

Posted in Flickr, Kitchens on June 30th, 2009 by Ele | Comments Off
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Colour in the kitchen: Blue

While purple and red aren’t exactly my cup of tea, blue is a colour I can definitely get on board with. Meant to inspire creativity (always a good thing in the kitchen), it can be bright, modern and cheerful or calm, cool and sophisticated. Also, blue is decidedly non-polarizing. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t think these kitchens were gorgeous, wouldn’t you?

I love how the cabinets and walls work together in this scan from sarahleeab‘s photostream. The contrasting orange accessories are the icing on the cake: 

blue one

A super-bright shade in a cheery retro space, from Lara604: 

blue two

Originally from the now-defunct Domino magazine, and found on Laissezfaire, I like the colour used in this space. Light blue can be very elegant, as demonstrated by the marble-and-chandelier style here: 

blue three

A bright, modern backsplash in an otherwise white kitchen, from house to home:

blue four

Pale and modern, by Paul Raeside and found via Apartment Therapy: 

blue five

Navy is an unusual choice, more modern and subdued than the brighter shades. I like this Miele kitchen from 03interiors: 

blue six

Posted in Flickr, Inspiration, Kitchens on June 25th, 2009 by Ele | 1 comment so far
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