This kitchen, in a Manhatten loft space and found via Martha Stewart Living, is a great example of blurred design lines. The vertical wainscotting, whitewashed floor and striped rug say welcoming country kitchen, but the ceiling-height shelving (complete with library ladder) is pure elegance. There’s even a hint of retro- check out that cute vintage stove in the corner!

Other great details include the small framed pieces of art (I love the one over the sink) and the dining chairs. All in the same style, each one is a different colour; if you look closely, you’ll see that those colours repeated elsewhere in the kitchen’s accessories, too. A great way to tie these seemingly disparate looks together.

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.

It’s no mystery why; this space is wonderful! The rich colours are subtly atmospheric, and all the galvanized steel makes for a refreshing change from stainless. I especially like the mesh cupboard fronts and the quirky details- like the lamp next to the stove and the ornate picture frames. I think taking items outside their normal context creates a sense of fun, and gives a room character.

Don’t forget to check out The Kitchn’s post on this room, and the whole house at Loft Life.

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:

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

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:

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:

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: 

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:

I love how the stainless steel shelves and white stove look against the grey walls- restrained but impactful at the same time. With this subdued colour scheme, even the open shelving and knickknacks on the stove don’t look like clutter. The addition of few red items here and there ends up looking like a purposeful design decision. Lovely, no?

Check out all the photos and read the article here.