Unintended accents

Just lovely, don’t you think? There’s really no possible excuse for this, let me refer you to this informative post at the wonderful Paul Anater’s Kitchen and Residential Design for just a few better ideas. Which is a little like saying I’m too lazy to write anything myself, isn’t it – but my excuse is, Paul always does it so well and so entertainingly, repetition would just be superfluous…

Actually, I’m not sure, but it looks as if they may have forgotten to put the cooktop in, too – what do you think?

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The perpetrators shall remain anonymous

They’re fine, aren’t they, in a kitchen where there’s no room for a real window, as a way to let light in between upper cabinets and the counter. But why would you  use one behind the sink like this, where there are no uppers? A great way to become closely acquainted with your mosaic tile, unless you are very petite indeed?

What worries me even more, especially after yesterday’s post on the comforting qualities of symmetry, is the off-center placement of the window relative to the cabinets.  It’s nice that the doors of the uppers are all approximately the same width – but that good work is all undone by the unequal spacing around that window. And no, sorry, the plant doesn’t disguise anything.

I won’t mention the microwave (really), you already know what I think about that. I do like the dramatic mosaic tile – I’ve just completed a kitchen that uses something very similar, and it’s yummy. But, please, that little bit of granite above the range?  I’ve never been fond of the matching 3 or 4 inch granite splash, either, especially with tile, and this is one backsplash that doesn’t need any more chopping up, after those windows.

Nice barstools, though – and those apples look good!

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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.

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