Today’s kitchen collection is all about comfortable, rustic style. Maybe we can’t all live in a converted farm building, but we can certainly pretend we do. I just love this combination of well-used copper, weathered wood, and functional stainless steel:
via atticmag.com
Then we have the beams, and the island, to die for – nothing matches? It’s just not meant to. And hanging a Murano glass chandelier in a barn is too perfect (via BrookeGiannetti):
Photo Architectural Digest
This Johnny Grey Studios kitchen echoes the barn aesthetic without actually being a barn at all – nobody does an unfitted kitchen like Johnny Grey. I don’t think anybody can do circles like Johnny Grey, either: (via)
Johny Grey Studios via housetohome
Now we have a contemporary kitchen, tucked into an all-cleaned-up rustic space – a nice combination, it becomes more loft than barn:
via style-files
The big trash can is handsome, but it might be just a little in the way here!
via style-files
This kitchen is a nice mixture of old and new – I’m loving the flagstones, and I’m always a sucker for a kitchen table:
photo Ray Main
This is the exterior of a refurbished stone barn in Galway, Ireland
Mark Guard Architects
and this is the kitchen it contains, apparently making no concessions at all to its rustic setting – this might as well be in a city condo, don’t you think?
Mark Guard Architects
I’ll admit, it is possible to have too much genuine rustic character, as in this candid shot from The Selby. But if you are lucky enough to live in a barn, why not enjoy it just a little bit?
I’m sure you know how important it is to select your flooring material carefully if you are a dog owner – you have to consider the damage your floors can sustain when the pooches dance, jump and spin with excitement, and you have to consider the damage your dog can sustain from floors that are hard and too slippery, or from claws caught in carpeting with just the wrong loop size. But then there are other considerations – as a floor owner, you have to select your dog carefully. Do you want him to blend in?
White dog on white floor via Design Therapy
Or stand out, like a living, breathing, accent piece?
Black dog for emphasis in white kitchen
Or you could go even further – as in these serious attempts at complete camouflage:
Black and white on black and white - via CupofJoePowell
All he needs is a red nose - photo Martin Bogren
The practicality of the flooring is important, but as you can see, the aesthetics are really the thing. Not sure what floor matches your pet’s personality the best? You need a professional dog designer – I’m thinking of specializing in it, as there is obviously an unmet need out there!
Aah, touring caravans – those boxy behemoths, the bane of British bank holidays. But I do have such a soft spot for a daintily decorated one, (for example) – just as long as I’m not behind it on a B road on a Saturday morning. So behold, this bonanza of beauties brought to my attention by the bounteous Bedlam of Beefy blog. Lovelane Caravans in Cornwall have a carefully curated collection of caravans each adorned with appropriate accoutrements. And you don’t have to tangle with the tedious towing – your hip holiday hang-out will be set up for you on the site you select, all you need is your towel, your togs and your toothbrush, and your retreat will be ready and waiting.
Tea under the awning
Tea inside
A sophisticated vibe
Location, location. location
For traditionalists too
Just don’t do what those crazy Top Gear kids did on their caravan holiday – these beauties do not deserve this fate!
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Happy Friday (and please accept my abject apologies for all the asinine alliteration – I’ll try not to do it again)
A single wall sconce in the kitchen can be a charming way to add a little pizazz, light a dark corner, not to mention creating a little asymmetrical balance, whether it is a traditional touch:
via Cote Maison "Visite Privee"
or a contemporary accent, like this diminutive member of Artemide’s Tolomeo family.
One sconce - via Plain English
OK, I admit, the one above might well be half of a pair, simply not shown in the photograph. Pairs of sconces are great too – take these two, lighting the counter and providing a little accent at the same time in this calm contemporary space:
by From the Desk of Lola via Remodelista
Or these, perfectly framing the hood in this delightfully fresh kitchen by Cheryl Kees Clendenon of Kitchen Details and Design:
Perfectly framed - Kitchen Details and Design
Or how about pairs of pairs of sconces – they are quite a feature in this grand kitchen. With no down-lights at all in the ceiling, they must be very necessary. In fact, it’s hard to imagine the lighting is anywhere near adequate in this space, unless there’s something I can’t see?
Grand, and shadowy? (photo Woodmode)
So let’s not limit accent lighting to a chandelier over the island, or some pretty pendants over the peninsula. I’m definitely in favor of liberating decorative wall sconces from your powder rooms, and making space for them in the kitchen. Let’s just make sure they’re not the only lighting for your workspace.
I’m so excited to be invited to a Fashion Week Event in New York City as a guest of Brizo, the fashion forward faucet people. Late next week I’ll be meeting up with some fellow designers and design bloggers, learning about the Brizo products, and attending the Jason Wu fashion show. Wow – I’m still kinda hoping they don’t find out who I really am before the event is over (just joking)!
Kitchen by fashion designer Jason Wu, featuring Brizo Pascal
I came across this Georgia kitchen by Todd Pritchett Design Studio some time ago (here) – it is a lovely fresh kitchen of the white inset, stainless steel, and carrara variety. What I can’t get my head around is that support for the eating counter:
Fresh and white
Painted Chimney Pot
Now I hate to be rude, and it’s probably somebody’s beloved family heirloom – but where in the world do people paint chimney pots? Is it an accepted art-form that I have just missed out on? And once you’ve painted your chimney pot, do you really want it taking up nearly a third of the available knee-space at your kitchen island?
The article describes it as a Wyatt Childs painted chimney pot; perhaps I am the only person in the world who has never heard of such a thing, and after today you will all be guffawing at my hopeless ignorance. It certainly stands out in this dreamy white environment and is doubtless a great conversation starter – what do you think?
When I tripped over this kitchen in my web perambulations last week, I really thought I was looking at a country villa in Sweden or Denmark. I was surprised to find that this is actually a home near Kansas City, MO, restored and remodeled by owners Annie Roest and Bill Boyd (via).
Sundborn cones to Kansas City?
I’m just loving those Starglass pendants from Luceplan over the island – with its stainless steel refrigeration and professional range, this kitchen seamlessly blends the hand made country look with contemporary function.
Country villa with a twist
There’s definitely more than a passing resemblance to the work of Swedish painter Carl Larsson:
Piano Perfect
Carl Larsson - Skalorna
The pedigree is hard to miss:
A painting everywhere you look
Carl Larsson - Mellan Jul Och Nyar
Definitely a case of life imitating art – and it looks like a good life to me!
Nicely Placed Microwave
Dream kitchens in Italy
You say Carrera, I say Carrara