Kitchen Clarity Adventures in Kitchen and Bath Design

I know I’ve often said that there’s nothing like a bold paint color to transform a boring or dated kitchen until you can afford your real remodel. Well, here’s proof that you can have too much of a good thing:

Laurent Karst via Marie Claire Maison

The sad thing here is there appears to be an interesting design hiding behind the horrible paint job.  There’s an asymmetric hood trying to get out, cute lighting, and the open shelves and angles create interesting spaces for storage and display.  The island sink with the partial wall for plumbing and separation from the eating area might be bit cramped, and I’ll admit a raised vessel sink is rather unusual in a kitchen, but it’s at least a half baked solution to the problems of this small space. As in many small European kitchens, there is the ugly and utilitarian instant water heater slap bang in the middle – I know there are better solutions for that.  About twenty five years ago I owned one  – it lived behind a louvered door, didn’t give me any trouble, and I didn’t have to look at it unless I wanted to.  I don’t think painting it to match the wall is improving its appearance at all.

No, there’s something about all that glossy red paint that tells me someone was very angry here. They even painted the backsplash tile and the counter – I’m frankly surprised the microwave escaped.  I’m all for bold paint on a wall, or even on the cabinets, but on both at once, it’s closer to a crime scene than a makeover.  A demonstration, should you need one, of the importance of knowing when to stop.

Related Posts:

• Red for danger?
• How not to do task lighting
• Red and Blue Collection
• What’s black and white and red all over?
• A tilesetter’s revenge?