Interiors Series - Kitchens

If you have been a reader for a long time, back when I started this blog, you will remember this kitchen. It is my absolute favorite. Something to do with the room height, the cabinet finish, and it reminds me of Flamant, a favorite home store in Paris. It is utter and perfectly understated perfection. It would make me cook on a deliciously grand scale

I tend to analyze the design elements in any room I admire. I have always had a "thing" for upholstered banquettes in a kitchen and this one I find particularly appealing. It is an more inviting type of seating that suggests a conversational meal. Banquettes have become popular in kitchens lately. I think it is an attempt to fashion a more leisurely, restaurant vibe at home. Why I like this one is that it doesn't have that high-fashion restaurant look, especially when used with the wood table and hardwood floor. Look a bit further and there is one design stroke that makes this room so sophisticated. Not the antlers, though I love that quirk, but look to the charcoal black doors. Now picture the room if those doors were painted white. Not nearly so striking is it? Sometimes one designer decision can turn a beautiful room to fabulous.

If I could committ long term to a painted cabinet finish, this wouldbe it. I may have shown you this one before by desinger Elaine Griffin simply because I find this particular green finish to be more sophisticated than most. One I could live with for years. The colour of hardwood with the copper hood, the wall paneling wrapping around the room, this room would be beautiful in the natural light of day or as the day moves to evening. and it has one of those side butler pantry I always wanted, I can't believe I didn't fit it in.

Wouldn't this start your day with glorious colour and perk up those sleepy eyes? Designer Suzanne Tucker also takes green cabinety but plays it againest a lucious pumpkin (apricot?) for a more exhuberant effect. I love inside window casings painted in that french green. I have always wanted to do that somewhere. I once had all the window casings, baseboards, and doors painted in a almost black in a open kichen/family room for a client. With all the ivory kitchen cabinetry, ivory walls and furnishings, it was spectacular (if I do so so myself) and the black window frames actually framed their spectacular wooded view much better than a standard white of ivory would have. My point, look at your room openings as something that can provide a whole new turn-of-events inthe colour scheme of your room.

Another view.

Remember me showing you the work of Canadian designer Brian Gluckstein? The curved library-bathroom a few days ago? Everyone wants to copy his work, hence the logo across every photo. Here is one of his kitchen designs fromback aways, another I am sure plenty would just like to say " I'll just take that one" . Those open shelves, the blackboard hood, then the blackboard wall? Pure genuis.

Makes me want to cook again.

Can I go this petite and simple when it comes to downsizing?

In a minute........ if it has all that light, that celing, those windows and that view.
Absolutely charming by designer Jill Sharp Brinson

Design 1by Baden Baken-UK/Photo 2, 4, and 5 via House Beautiful/Photo 5 via Canadian House & Home/Photo 6 from Gluckstein Design-