Thursday, 27 October 2011

Creating A Country Kitchen

Creating A Country Kitchen - Jessica Ackerman

If you have ever wished that you could recreate the tradition and warmth of your grandmother's kitchen, you'll be happy to know that it is possible to fill your kitchen with country charm along with the modern features you value.

One feature which can distinguish a country kitchen from other styles is the cabinets. Instead of looking for the traditional maple or oak cabinets, consider painted white cabinets. Glass cabinet doors are another nice touch. You could also add period cabinet hinges and accessories. You may find originals at an antique or second hand store. Also, many companies produce replicas that can be ordered throughimprovement stores.

Furniture can be used in unusual ways to give a kitchen country charm. An armoire can be used for storing linens, dishes or even for concealing a television. Look around in antique stores for an old milk chest or wooden ice box to use for storage.

A few changes in accessories can make a w home orld of difference. A different wall paper border, country curtains or a display of old fashioned cooking utensils can help pull your look together. Farmhouse sinks are also very popular, and look great in a country style kitchen.

More and more families are choosing to eat their meals in the kitchen, leaving the dining room for special occasions. If that is the case in your home, you'll want the table and chairs to maintain the country charm. Of course, they also need to be comfortable and practical.

A table and chairs made from cherry or oak is ideal for the small family setting. Buy cushions for the seat and back of the chairs to mix and match with the kitchen curtains. If you are handy with a sewing machine you can make your own, and have your pick of fabrics. Shop around for hand embroidered cotton clothes, napkins and a wicker basket for storing bread and other items.

When choosing a floor for your country kitchen you may want to consider hard wood. For an extra touch of authenticity, check with your local lumber yards to see if they can tell you where to purchase reclaimed wooden flooring from old houses and barns.

When creating the country kitchen you've always dreamed of, it may not be possible to purchase high end appliances. If it is within your budget, a few companies produce replicas of vintage appliances. While these appliances have the look of your great-grandmother's appliances, they have all the modern features you'd expect in new appliances.

There are several websites and magazines that can help you achieve the exact look you want. Don't be afraid to mix fabrics and accessories. Experiment until you find the look that is perfect for you and your home. While some people don't like change, others grow bored with their decorating. This is an economical way to get the most mileage out of your decor.You don't need a lot of time to make changes that will brighten up your home. In just one day you can make small changes that will make a big impact.

Good Kitchen Design - Gunaseelan

Good Kitchen Design - Gunaseelan

Good kitchen design is a skill that is very much in demand. Modern homes need to have kitchens that are both spacious and practical, and fitting this in around kitchen layouts and the other rooms in new build homes is a difficult process. Yet it is the kitchen, more than any other room, that sells a property. Likewise in your own home, good kitchen design can improve the resale value of your property by several thousands, simply as a result of layout and interior design. As such an important feature of your home, what makes kitchen design 'good', and how can you improve the appearance and organisation of your kitchen space?

An effectively designed kitchen is one that makes the most of the space available whilst also providing a well coordinated decor theme - be it contemporary, farmhouse or retro. This includes matching up the designs on the cabinets and shelves with the colours of the walls and flooring, and indeed the materials that are used for the construction of each, and can often be achieved by buying a full kitchen suite complete with tiling or vinyl for the floorspace.

Unfortunately kitchen suites are rarely good value for money, and can often run in to the thousands if you're looking to buy a precoordinated, predesigned room from a furniture retailer. Of course that doesn't stop less savvy people from buying their kitchens and labour from the retailer, and ending up paying off what they're due over the next ten years. What that means is that for the buyer on a budget, style, fashion and a little bit of hard graft are going to play more of a part in getting the right kitchen design for your space, and achieving good kitchen design overall.

An alternative way to buy a kitchen that doesn't cost the earth is to buy flatpack and install yourself. Of course this takes time and a bit of work on your part, but by opting for this rather than pre-built and installed units, you could be saving yourself an absolute fortune on your next kitchen purchase.

Whatever kitchen you opt for it's important to make sure you choose matching or complimentary accessories to highlight the colouration in the room. Of course this will vary depending on the style you have chosen, but make sure that the colours work and the shapes and textures fit. Also, make sure you push cabinets flush against the walls and that there is as little as possible to clutter the floorspace. Floorspace is a premium in any kitchen, and good kitchen design will maximise the room available in order to allow greater movement and enhance usability.

Good kitchen design is, in essence about common sense. Think about what you use your kitchen for and how busy it can get to work out the space requirements, whilst stylistic features are very much down to individual taste - just don't make the wallpaper too garish as to put-off any prospective buyers later down the line!

Your Own Rustic Kitchen

Your Own Rustic Kitchen

When you hear the term rustic, your imagination may conjure up log cabin style decor with bear rugs and dark paneling on the walls. Or, you may think of a more country style rustic, with copper pans hanging from a pot rack and rooster on the countertops. The truth is, there are a few different ways you can do rustic. The most important thing is that you have a room you love to spend time in. Because most people spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this article will show you two different ways to do rustic in that room.

One form of rustic leans toward all things natural. To get started with rustic in your kitchen, you want to make sure your cabinets are in line with the style you want. If new cabinets are part of the plan, you can save a large chunk of change by finding some natural wood discount kitchen cabinets.

Discount kitchen cabinets aren't meant to be cheap. Essentially, RTA kitchen cabinets fit into the category of discount kitchen cabinets; and they are usually made quite well. RTA kitchen cabinets come ready to assemble. This is what saves you money. Because you are doing the assembly and installation, RTA kitchen cabinets can be a great way to start your rustic kitchen.

To bring the natural rustic design into your kitchen, you want cabinets, counters and floors to be made of natural looking materials as much as possible. Perhaps you live in a home that already features granite countertops. If this is the case, you can build off of that natural material by placing hues into the room that coordinate with the shade of granite on your counters.

In a nature inspired rustic kitchen, floors can be stone or wood. Stone tends to do very well in the kitchen because it can hold up to getting wet better than wood. On the counters, you want to eliminate as much clutter as possible. The naturally rustic kitchen will have a minimalist feel, because the main point of this type of decor is to bring natural substances in.

Another way you can feel rustic in your kitchen is through a country style rustic. The country rustic kitchen exudes warmth that calls you to come in and stay awhile. Think light and bright. Think white kitchen cabinets and wood floors. While stone can also fit into a country rustic kitchen, you want to think of a farmhouse when considering what to add; and most farmhouses won't feature slate tile floors.

If you have enough in your budget, you could consider changing countertops to the big butcher block style wood counters. If this is not possible but you have some room in your kitchen, you could build a small cart with butcher block top to place as a center island.

On the counters of the country rustic kitchen, you can place wicker baskets with fruit or faux eggs. The table in a country kitchen could be wood, wicker or white wrought iron.

A rustic kitchen should never be cluttered. The feel should be warm and inviting regardless of the style of rustic you choose. Resist the urge to go overboard with themed decorator items. Trends come and go and when you overload, you may have less tolerance for the decor than if you keep it simple.

French Country Kitchen Tables

French Country Kitchen Tables: The Centerpiece of Your Room

A Hallinan

In the center of the French Country kitchen stands the sturdy farm table, a symbol of the resilience and steadiness of the life of French Country peasant farmers over the centuries. The French Country dining table can be synonymous with the the kitchen table. Of course, the layout of your home will ultimately determine this, but historically they've been one and the same.

French Country dining tables are made of solid wood, the choice of which is the consumers. This is a piece you want to consider as an investment. It is where your children and, hopefully their children, will sit down to eat meals,and mark various events in the seasons and throughout the years. In addition, it is often where children will complete daily homework, where families will discuss important matters, and where family vacations will be both planned and remembered. As Albert Einstein once asked, A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?"

The selections available today are truly unlimited. Thanks to the custom nature of furniture design now available to consumers, any table you can imagine can be created. There are a few principles to keep in mind when choosing a table that will fit with the French Country theme.

Top: The top of the table must be able to handle daily use and abuse. This includes the ability to be stain resistant or have stains removed easily, the toughness to stand up to nicks and cuts, and yet retain the warmth so that the room remains inviting. This is another reason why French country is such a a great style for families. It truly invites living. Rather than worry about a scratch or dent in the table, the French Country look actually benefits from a time worn appearance. This is not to say that the table will look shoddy. No, the bulk and density of the woods used in a piece like this prevent real damage from being done.

Cherry and antique pine are two of the most sought after finishes. Many want their tables to appear older and opt for a distressed look to accomplish this goal. Tables can be finished with a whitewashed look as well. Liming, which is a centuries old process originally designed to prevent termites and other insects from attacking furniture, is often an option for the base of the table, whether pedestal or legs, but is not recommended for the table top due its frequent contact with liquids.

Base: A round French Country table is often accompanied by a large center pedestal base. The advantage of this is that no one person will need to be seated near a table leg. The round table is usually smaller, with a maximum seating for eight. More traditionally the rectangular base will be sturdy legs, whether straight and spindled or cabriole, and may have the option of self-storing leaves. Seating can be expanded through the use of leaves.
Seating: One can't forget the seating when discussing French Country tables. Seating, too, offers many options. If a more casual look is desired, an eclectic collection of farmhouse chairs, perhaps with some handmade seat cushions in various farmhouse designs is a great look. If you desire a matching set of chairs, be sure to look for a traditional pattern such as ladder backs or schoolhouse chairs. You can even find chairs with a farmhouse motif such as roosters. Caned seats are a great choice as well.

When choosing a table for your French Country kitchen, be sure to view it is an investment decision that you will have for a lifetime. With the quality of furniture available in today's market, this is a real probability.

Cottage Kitchen Design

How to Develop a Cottage Kitchen Design - J Kennedy

The neutral and pastel paints impart a soothing and calm ambiance. A cottage like kitchen renovation fashion can also be accomplished by adding white coloring shades to cabinets and furniture sets.

There is a well-liked concept to combine warm wooden and white color shades. It is required to spend awareness to detail if 1 desires to impart a type similar to that of a cottage. Cottage fashion kitchen renovation can be reached by picking the equipment and fixtures that align with that specific fashion. A cottage design kitchen can be introduced about by deciding on the suitable type of quilts and floral elements. It is doable to get hold of this unique type of renovation type by browsing garage product sales and flea markets.

The cottage style of kitchen layout in characterized as a colorful, comfy really feel that is produced by painted or decorated furnishings, baskets, beadboard partitions and healthy fiber rugs, and weathered surface finishes, as very well as hues a person would expect to find in a garden.

Cottage-model cooking area can have many accessories, but it is necessary to prevent going overboard to preserve the clutter from getting to be distracting. The cottage-style of kitchen style and design is also identified for floors that are bare with the exception of an occasional toss rug.

The cottage fashion of kitchen area layout conjures up pictures of a space light and airy, charming and casual. The breezy, uncomplicated feel 1 finds in a summer time cottage. Cottages evoke seaside vacations, a countryside locale, or a cabin in the mountains. The mood is often calm, unassuming, and informal. Simplification is the notable element of the cottage type of kitchen style and design.

Due to the truth that cottage model kitchens are tiny they typically have a flooring plan that is refreshing and open up, that can operate easily, as effectively as be a place to entertain.

To be able to generate the cottage really feel for you kitchen area you require to search at components these kinds of as property wares, linens, and furnishings you will pick for your cooking area. Some examples are the use of white distressed, stained and butcher-block surfaces all-around the kitchen, striped classic towels and dishcloths, an old antique kitchen clock, or exhibiting plates on open shelves over a window or doorway. Other components might involve stoneware pots, glazed earthenware and glass jars. Also you could place a pitcher of refreshing-reduce flowers to create more cottage appeal.

It takes time to produce a cottage type for your kitchen. You can not basically come across the cottage model all at a person time and in one retailer. The kitchen area ought to appear as if it little by little took on this search around a interval of time to realize a additional collected appear.

Furnishings in a cottage fashion kitchen area can include home furniture built from pine, or maple. Furniture detailing is an critical aspect of the cottage style. Furniture can be white painted, or lacquered, can incorporate also such capabilities as curved legs on base cabinetry, and previous fashioned moldings around cabinets and tables. Or a large perform table that can also be a dining room for the loved ones. Items can contain a farmhouse fashion kitchen table with beech spindle fashion chairs.

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Miro Kitchens

Miro Kitchens

Long Kitchen Pictures

Long Kitchen Ideas

The Long Kitchen Design For The Narrow Room (5)

Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

Kitchen Backsplash Ideas - Kirshna Charanadasa

If your sincere attempts to make the kitchen an extension of your vibrant personality have drawn a blank, you better not jettison those ambitious plans just yet. That's because, the gargantuan array of kitchen backsplash ideas more than rescue your project from limbo.

Make A Potent Statement
The scores of materials are more than just the quintessential protective covering on the kitchen wall behind the counters and sink, affording resistance to the onslaught of spills and spatters. This small but significant space has the unique ability to create magic with your signature touch. It's your canvas waiting to get a dose of your infinite creative zest.
But it's just not charisma and charm that define the backsplash. It's also important that practical aspects like ease of cleaning, maintenance and costs do not fade into oblivion.

Nine Scintillating Ideas To Ignite Your Imagination
If you're finding it pretty arduous getting your mind around some creative ideas, don't fret, as help is at hand. Take a look at what's in store for you:

New-age kitchens with a neat and functional look explicitly identify with the sheen exuded by stainless steel backsplashes. Being durable, heat resistant and low on maintenance means that they are cut out for the job.
Tiles- glass, metal, ceramic or natural stone- with their host of advantages, like easy installation and cleaning, resistance to heat and stains, encourage more and more homeowners to bend the prosaic rules of interior décor and create something sensational.
Financially astute homeowners will argue ad nauseam about the indisputable benefits of wall papering. What they're not telling you is the work involved in cleaning those ominous spatters.
Mirrors are reflective of inimitable style and unparalled sophistication. Their sparkling presence certainly sounds the death knell for all space and light constraints. But the 'handle with care' warning needs no magnification.
From those mushy love notes to mouth-watering recipes, both whiteboard and cork display all this and much more.
Antique ceiling tiles with intricate textures and soul-stirring colors add to the sheer bucolic bliss one experiences in a country-style kitchen.
Old, chipped china cups and plates come together to create a veritable mosaic of colors and designs.
Recycled aluminum tiles ensure that you just do not pay mere lip service to the cause of environmental preservation.
Peel and stick reflective tiles in a checkerboard design checkmate all competition with one single move.

Still bereft of ideas to create that masterpiece of a lifetime?

Creating the Perfect Small Kitchen

Creating the Perfect Small Kitchen - Ian Grainger

When it comes to a small kitchen then performance is key. Using some serious planning, clever fittings and a design that suits your way of life and how you cook - rustic, modern or a mixture - your new kitchen can be incredibly useful and attractive. In addition, your small kitchen will not need many units, so you can spend more on high quality finishes to make it look even better.
For even greater utility, look out for scaled down, smaller versions of full-size appliances. These will provide you with the same level of performance and save you space for more storage. Slimline dishwashers are a prime example of the kind of appliances you'll want to have in your kitchen interior design.

Adding Space To Your Space
Before you get started looking at breathtaking designs in brochures and showrooms, take a look at the kitchen you have now and decide what you can change immediately. Consider things like ditching or moving bulky items to another room, replacing your washing machine and tumble dryer with a washer dryer, moving the sink to a better position. Would it be possible to expand your kitchen into a different room or build an extension to increase your available space? Even think about freeing up space by binning everything you simply never use - old blenders and other kitchen appliances are commonly found tucked at the back of a cupboard!

Create A Layout Based On How You Work
Now you're ready to start planning your kitchen interior design, grab a piece paper (check out the back of Ikea's kitchen brochure for the ideal one!) and mark windows, doors, power points and pipes so you can plan out your units.

You'll need work surfaces for food preparation, a unit for your sink, space for your hob, oven, microwave and fridge (freezer) - and bear in mind you're likely to have your kettle, bread bin and some utensils on your worktops so plan spare space for those too.

Keep the oven and sink 40cm from the corners, and away from doorways. If you're including tall units, put them at the end of a run, again to maximise worktop space. A corner sink looks good and frees up worktop space elsewhere. It's easy to mark out units on a plan, but always bear in mind that the people using the room are just as important - the cook not only takes up quite a bit of space but also needs room to manoeuvre and to open doors and drawers.

A Good Look For Your Kitchen
Keep your unit fronts the same - same design AND same type. A row of all-doors or all-drawers will look best in the small kitchen, while unit widths should be of a standard size and where this isn't possible, the other size should be at the end of a row - this looks far better than a mix.

You can't do without wall units in a small kitchen, they are a must for storage, but that doesn't mean they have to be on every wall. Pick one or two walls at the most and, if you can, consider using shelving instead as this can be even more attractive and certainly less obtrusive. As far as the doors on your units go, carousels and doors that lift up rather than out will take up less space and look better to boot.

Getting It Done
You're now ready to head out and get your kitchen interior design properly planned and implemented. Unless you fancy tackling the job yourself, use a reputable kitchen designer and fitter as this is one room you won't get a second chance with!

Monday, 24 October 2011

Kitchen Floor Materials

Kitchen Floor Materials - Weighing the Options

Nick Austin

What are the main points to consider when choosing a flooring material for your lovely new kitchen? Beyond style and aesthetics one should bear in mind price, durability, maintenance and ease of installation. The main contenders in this race for the flooring prize are stone, wood, ceramic tiles and vinyl flooring.

In the first place it is easy to rank the materials according to price. Basically, stone, whether it's sandstone, slate or some form of marble will be very costly. Wood varies enormously - wide, reclaimed French farmhouse boards are very dear and thin slivers of oak on a plywood base aren't if one is prepared to shop around a bit. Ceramic tiles are comparable with the lesser end of the wood world depending on size of tile. By far the cheapest option is vinyl floor tiles, although there too there is a wide range in terms of cost and corresponding quality.

In terms of durability the same rankings will apply; it will take decades to go through a stone floor and similar for solid wood but laminates wear out comparatively quickly as do some types of vinyl flooring, although some more expensive types do wear well. Ceramic tiling is immensely durable right up to the point you drop an iron casserole on it and then it's ruined. Essentially, when it comes to ultimate longevity you get what you pay for but it is worth bearing in mind that a floor surface in a modern domestic situation probably doesn't need to last five hundred years.

When one thinks of maintaining floor surfaces one is thinking of basically two things; sealing and cleaning. Natural materials like stone and wood need regular application of a protective layer to prevent the underlying material becoming stained in the hustle and bustle of kitchen life. Ceramic and vinyl floor tiles do not (Although porcelain tiles do need a one-off treatment)

Failure to keep up with the maintenance of stone will lead to unsightly discolouration and with wood, inconvenient and immensely disruptive floor sanding.

Cleaning wood and stone in a kitchen environment takes more effort than the ceramic and vinyl alternatives simply because of the grain of wood and texture of stone which creates little hollows in which grime will accumulate and therefore require hard work to remove. Ceramic tiles and vinyl flooring are usually completely smooth in texture and can be cleaned as easily as in television commercials.

With ease of installation vinyl flooring is the easiest, a craft knife is about all you need. Wood, if one is confident with a saw, is comparatively straightforward although there is a difference in complexity between 'click-click' laminate and complete replacement of boards. Ceramic tiles and stone require water, specialist cutting equipment, cement, grout, goggles, a truss for when you've wrecked your back and probably reinforced joists to take the absurd weight of a two inch thick layer of the Jurassic era in your modest terraced house.

So what's it to be?

Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas

Decorating a Farmhouse Kitchen Beautifully - Lazaro Hester

Farmhouse kitchen style will be perfect idea if you want to have family gathering in your kitchen during meal time. There are a lot of ideas in decorating this certain kitchen beautifully and attractively. Besides, kitchen in this certain style also will not make you spend a lot of money because most of the accessories are offered in affordable price. Here are some best ideas in decorating your farmhouse kitchen attractively.

Color will be a great idea to select the theme of your kitchen. The most common colors used in decorating kitchen in this certain style is red, blue, apple green, honey gold, beige, and white. You can use of those colors or make a combination of two match colors.

To tie the theme, you can use country theme border in your kitchen. You can find a lot of popular wall borders in the market with several attractive designs. The most popular designs are including fruits such as apples, berries, floral baskets or country plates. Some designs such as stars and hearts are also quite popular as well. Or, you can choose a wall border with farm animal theme. Cows, horses, pigs, sheep or ducks will be perfect border design for your farmhouse kitchen.

In decorating the wall, you can simply hang weathered wooden signs in various sizes and colors. You can also hang vintage kitchen utensils or a wall pot rack complete with its hanging old pots and pans. Painting with rural or country scenes is also appropriate to be placed in this certain kitchen.

For the furniture, you can choose table and chairs that are made of solid wood such as oak or pine. It will add the touch of traditional rural life in your kitchen. Surely, you can choose furniture in distinct splash of color such as red or blue.

To add more beauty, you can put some rustic containers in your kitchen. You can put tin bowls, old tea pot, or small wooden buckets as vases. You can stick twigs into your container too add more authentic feeling.
You can simply apply those hints in order to get a beautiful farmhouse kitchen in your home. You can get those supplies or accessories to decor your kitchen easily in any stores or suppliers near your home.

Creating the Ideal Farmhouse Kitchen

Creating the Ideal Farmhouse Kitchen - R Davenport

Farmhouse kitchens have become timeless classics that are now replicated not only within spacious country properties, but have also become a popular choice amongst city dwellers, looking to bring some of this relaxed country style to their properties' interiors. Depending on your point of view, this style has never been completely 'on-trend' or has never been out of vogue so you can be safe in the knowledge that a farmhouse kitchen is a shrewd investment.

Classic farmhouse kitchens tend to combine a good mix of natural materials, earthy granites, oversized thick timber tops and chunky end-grain butchers blocks. The cabinetry tends to be in-framed but simple, perhaps with a chamfer or small cock-bead detail around the frame, often hand painted in buttery cream tones. This may also be complemented with the occasional oak piece. However, the detailing tends to be kept simple with the focus being on natural products.

When it comes to handles, pewter drop perhaps with porcelain inserts and pewter knobs are a popular choice given their practicality. Timber knobs can also be used to complement the laid back look of the kitchen and tie in with any areas of timber worktops. An increasingly common introduction to the farmhouse kitchen is granite worktops, which are often used with timber in high use areas around a Range or Aga and often teamed with a chunky end grain chopping board.

Often a period style mantle shelf will be the main focal point above an Aga or Range, as this helps to frame the main cooking area as well as being a practical feature by providing extra shelf space to house pots and ornaments.
Another key feature of the farmhouse kitchen is a large/double Belfast-style ceramic sink, with a bridge tap over to make maximum use of a practical sink area.

Most farmhouse kitchens also have a separate free-standing welsh style dresser, often with a timber top, which may present the opportunity for further shelving space. This reinforces the main concept of the farmhouse kitchen, that most kitchen items are in sight rather than stored away.

The overall farmhouse look is gained by a large number of cabinets with a generous area of worktop, often with decorative features such as bookshelves and plate racks as this helps to give the kitchen a real lived in feel without requiring much effort.

Introducing a few farmhouse elements into the home can make a potentially unwelcoming modern kitchen seem more homely and appealing. However, the complete farmhouse kitchen is set to remain a popular style, especially amongst families and those with large eat-in kitchens as it is an easy to live with practical choice. The style also suits most types of house, from the modern house through to period properties and barn conversions.

Old World Kitchen Design

Old World Kitchen Design - Wayne Hemrick

Many homeowners build new homes, but then realize that there can be a starkness to some of the modern home styles currently in vogue. In order to bring some age and patina into the home, an old world kitchen design may be in order. Going back to a time before computers and digital electronics swept the country, and giving a nod to European traditions and design sensibilities is at the heart of achieving a lovely old world kitchens design aesthetic in your own home.

You can start to think about an old world kitchen look by visiting a home decor store or even an antique store. You want to focus on items that have a vintage and timeworn look to them. This can translate into the types of flooring, counter and cabinet surfaces as well as the paint techniques and wallpapers that you might select. Items that have an heirloom feel to them are always appropriate in an old world kitchen.

Another idea is to give your kitchen an European feel through the use of color and textiles. French country style is still very hot right now, and it focuses on the bright colors found in nature in the south of sunny France. Think of bright reds, blues and yellows harmonizing in kitchen curtains, towels, table cloths, napkins, lamp covers, as well as surfaces that can be painted in those rich colors so beloved in France. Dishes, serving bowls and other food preparation items can be purchased with a European aesthetic in mind. Fiestaware plates, bowls and cups in bright colors can be perfect in this type of old world setting as well.

The types of fabrics and finishes you select also will play a part in how the room comes across to you. Vintage furnishings can give a cozy and comfortable look to a room, while more traditional desks, cabinetry finishes and hardware, as well as tile flooring can give a prestigious country style that is elegant.

Garden influences can work wonders to create an old world setting, since potagers, or kitchen gardens, were and remain common in Europe. Fruit and vegetable motifs might decorate backsplash tiles and fabrics used in the kitchen, for example. If you have several collections, you can layer them to give the room the appearance of fullness. A bowl used in the kitchen might be reinvented to hold a grouping of candles, for example, or an outdoor garden bench might be brought into the kitchen seating area for added appeal.

By working closely with a kitchen designer, you can plan now so that your kitchen will have that old world design that you want, and you will not overlook any crucial areas needed to bring this design idea to fruition.

Tuscan Kitchen Design Ideas

Tuscan Kitchen Design Ideas - Candi Randolph

If your dream kitchen includes a large gathering table and chairs or benches to seat the entire family, warm sunshine streaming in through the windows with bold, warm, earthy colors throughout the space, natural elements including wood, tile and stone, you'll be thrilled with Tuscan kitchen design!

Tuscany style kitchens are strong yet welcoming, bold yet serene. How is this balance achieved? First, by selecting Tuscan kitchen colors, which include those found in nature: reds, burgundys, oranges,yellows, olive green, ivory, turquoise, deep purple,brown and black.

How you use these bold colors depends on your own decorating style and comfort. But know that you can comfortably place just about any of the colors (except black) described above on your walls and remain true to Tuscan kitchen colors and design. Suggestion: select shade of deep gold for the walls. It will always present a warm, sunny tone and will provide a beautiful backdrop for your darker wood cabinetry.

The bold colors will be balanced by the natural elements used such as tile, plaster, wood beams, stone and wood furniture, usually oak or pine. Cabinetry should be of a medium to dark wood grain, or a deep, dark wood tone (almost black) for those of you who are more adventurous in their Tuscan Kitchen decor. Your cabinets and furniture will be accented by the warm, beautiful color on the walls of the Tuscany style kitchen. Cabinet pulls should be iron, pewter or wood.

Floors should be tile, stone or wood to most closely follow the Tuscan kitchen design (think of that old Italian kitchen in the country - you know, the one with the chickens strutting around the room and Grandma at the stove preparing the pasta!)

Natural lighting will influence your wall color, although you will want to make sure that you have numerous sources of lighting in your Tuscan kitchen design. Examples include an iron chandelier, undercounter lighting, lighting above the cabinetry, brushed pewter lights,etc.

If your kitchen is large enough for an island, a Tuscan influence in this area may include pots hanging above, and counter tops of tile or stone. If faux stone is in your budget, there are many choices that are realistic in look and will give the same result for your Tuscan style kitchen decor.

Accessories continue the colorful and bold theme of Tuscan design, and many times include pottery, pewter and copper pieces. Whether you have collected, inherited, antiqued or spent some time at the discount store, your Tuscan kitchen design will include these pieces. Themes and patterns will often include fruit, grapes in particular. Beautifully colored tiles, whether used as a back splash or decoratively, are also found in Tuscan style kitchen decor.

Consider bold area rugs, greens (natural or faux), natural finish fixtures in dark brown or black, stainless appliances and touches of fruit, grapevines and/or sunflowers.

Remember as you design and decorate your Tuscan style kitchen to keep to these strategies: bold, earthy colors, natural elements and large scale proportions. Use a healthy dose of accessories keeping a watchful eye out for knowing when enough is enough (you don't want to create a flea market effect!). Above all, create a warm and inviting environment for the entire family to enjoy together, and you will have accomplished your Tuscan style kitchen design goal.

Tuscan Kitchen Remodel

6 Ways to Achieve Tuscan Kitchen Design - L Donaldson

Tuscany is well know for its beautiful landscapes, delicious wines and fabulous fresh foods. Many who have traveled to Italy yearn to have a Tuscan style kitchen in which they too can prepare delicious gourmet meals in a charming old world setting. Even those that have not traveled to Italy yearn for a kitchen that possesses all the magnetic charisma that a Tuscan style kitchen beholds. There's something sweet and grandmotherly yet boldly noble about Tuscan kitchen design that makes it one of the most popular design styles for kitchens today.
If you are planning a kitchen remodel or designing a kitchen from scratch, incorporate the following items and you will have the Tuscan kitchen of your dreams.

#1 - Granite or Marble Countertops
Old World Tuscan style kitchens often have natural stone kitchen countertops. Marble countertops are ideal for kneading dough for fresh baked bread. Granite countertops are the most durable of all and will last forever if cared for properly. Granite is ideal for chopping fresh vegetables and no cutting board is required. Granite is the strongest of stones, second only to the diamond. It doesn't matter what color of stone you choose because natural stone colors blend well with the Tuscan color palate.

#2 - Tuscan Colors
The Tuscan color palate is one that is reflective of the natural surrounding outdoors. Rich shades of ochre and sunflower gold, poppy red, burnt sienna and aged copper, almond and walnut brown and shades of green from olive to rich cedar are all very popular. Rich colors infuse a Tuscan style kitchen. You will rarely find a Tuscan style kitchen that is a clear white or dove gray. Colors are rustic, deep, bold and earthy.

#3 - Kitchen Island
In Old World Tuscan kitchens the center table was a place to not only dine but to also prepare food. Peeling and chopping was often done at the table, then the table would be cleared for eating after the meal was prepared. Now we desire kitchen islands that make meal preparation even easier and normally offers bar stools or counter seats for those that want to eat there in the kitchen center.

#4 - Iron Accessories
Old World Tuscan style kitchens are known for their substantial iron chandeliers, candelabras and candlesticks. To achieve a modern-day version of this look, there are many iron light fixtures, candle holders, wall sconces and simple iron wall decorations that when added create the look of Tuscan kitchen design.

#5 - Natural Stone Backsplash
Old World Tuscan kitchens often incorporated real stone into the walls. The homes were often made of stone and so many times the inside of the home went unfinished and the stone was beautifully exposed. Especially around the hearth there would be natural stone due to its' natural fireproof properties. Today a natural stone backsplash in the kitchen gives that old world Tuscan appearance. Behind the cooktop, natural stone is especially effective in use and appearance.

#6 - Natural Stone Flooring
Old World Tuscan kitchens normally had floors made of natural stone. The stone is durable and easier to keep clean than other materials. Today natural stone floors are more popular than ever since they will last forever and don't harbor dust, bacteria and odors like carpet and wood. Natural stone tiles such as travertine, slate, granite and marble are easy to install and maintain.