Ideas for Creating a Stylish Kitchen
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Bring the rich flavor of Italy's region of Tuscany into your kitchen. For your flooring, choose a durable material like tile or tumbled stone. Tuscan walls are characterized with faux finishes and sun-drenched colors in shades of terra cotta, orange and yellow. Aged wood and open cabinets create an unstructured look, so complement the woodwork with rustic, handcrafted hardware.
Tropical
The French country kitchen serves up a warm, comfortable gathering place for family and friends. A color palette of blues, reds, greens and yellows echo nature, and walls and cabinets often feature a distressed, Old World look. Antique furniture, colorful fabrics and interesting textures (think hand-blown glass bottles and oversized baskets) add the perfect touches.
Casual and cozy, the English country kitchen combines traditional style with some farmhouse flair. A crisp, clean color palette and vintage furniture are simple ways to add the style to your kitchen. If you're making major changes, stick with easy-to-care-for surfaces, like subway tile and stone countertops.
A Mediterranean kitchen is vibrant, but combined with aged texture and warmth. The style is characterized by architectural details, such as arches and recessed nooks, and uses a color palette of soft yellows, wheats, oranges and reds. A big family table is a must for gatherings, so be thoughtful about food prep and seating areas. Add Old World character to the walls, and use rustic hardware on distressed cabinet doors.
If you're looking for a style that brings harmony and balance to your kitchen, consider a serene Asian interior. Natural elements, like bamboo flooring, are combined with clean architectural lines. Keep the color palette simple, and add appliances that blend into the overall design.
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