5 Elements of an Artful Kitchen

Summer projects are underway in South Florida!  In fact, it's the height of the busy season for most design professionals here.

I don't have to tell you that a new kitchen is a big investment, in fact the kitchen is the most expensive renovation you're ever likely to undertake. It stands to reason that you'd want a kitchen that is tailor-made for you whether you can afford custom or not. This is what we're all about at Artful Kitchens.

The concept of an "artful kitchen" has many different facets.  It is not just about budget or the amount of space you have but the skill you employ using what is available to you. Here are five tips to consider along with some visual inspiration featuring products I saw this year at the Kitchen & Bath Industry (KBIS) trade show in Las Vegas. Implement these with style and confidence and you will be the proud owner of an artful kitchen!

1. Flawless Function

I'm all about artistic expression but a major part of creativity in the kitchen comes from devising flawless function. This quality is not something you see but something you can experience if artfully accomplished.  When I say function, I mean work centers comprised of cooking, clean up and food prep areas.

Those are the basics but you could have more such as a beverage center (think coffee, tea, wine), a computer station or a baking center.  If you have a two-cook kitchen, your layout should be designed so that any one of the major functions can be performed without anyone getting underfoot.

Following the guidelines set by the NKBA is a must to make sure all clearances are adequate. Sometimes we don't have a lot of choice about where to locate our sink or appliances but we can organize our utensils, dishes, pots and food items in a more efficient way.  Don't forget the more flawlessly your kitchen functions the safer it is. You don't have to be an expert at this, just think about how you use your kitchen so that you will be a good collaborator when it comes time to work with a professional.

2. Personalization

This is, without a doubt, the biggest movement in the design world.  An artful kitchen is your own personal statement customized to the way you live.  It could be a steam oven because healthy eating is your passion or it could be a lovely furniture piece with glass doors to display your grandmother's china. Include the colors you love.  Even though you must be mindful of your budget (everyone has one), strive to retain the essence of what you see as your dream kitchen.

3. Harmony

Harmony is one of the principles of design and a must for your kitchen.  Whenever I design a two-toned kitchen I like to ensure that different finishes and details are carried through the space to create a cohesive whole.  It's about how the floor relates to the cabinets and  how the cabinet hardware relates to the faucet. You get the picture!  It does not mean that everything has to match perfectly, it means elements should relate to and complement each other. It also does not mean that every element has to be perfectly symmetrical.  In fact, consider this permission NOT to be! I find that the best rule of thumb is to follow the architecture and style of the home you're in.  If, for example, the kitchen window is way off center you should work with that not against it.  Never force solutions by sacrificing function.

4. Focal Point

Every piece of great artwork has a focal point.  It is the "star of the show", so to speak.  In a kitchen it can be a sculptural range hood, a granite counter with big bold movement or actually a piece of art! It is the item that makes you say WOW when you enter the kitchen.  Just remember less is more here.  One great focal point is probably enough.  Too much and the statement gets lost. Less is definitely more.

5. Texture

The element of texture involves at least two of our senses, touch and sight.  The textures you are likely to come across include the glossy finishes popular in contemporary design, prominent wood grains which can be traditional or modern and smooth honed surfaces that are more matte.  A flat slab cabinet door is a great choice if you plan to use a wood with a lot of pattern and graining.  In this case the material is the decorative element of the cabinet.  On the other hand, if you are traditional and you are using white cabinets you can select a door with some molding or detail.  Also let the wild patterns either be on your cabinets or on your counter, both would be busy and distracting.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  There are many more tricks and methods to create an artful kitchen. What are yours?  Please keep in touch and contact me. Whether you need a quick consult or a full design layout I can help in person or virtually.

I'm located in the West Palm Beach area, so if you're local I can also help you shop for your kitchen products.

Kitchen Work Centers, the New "Triangle"

Whether you are a design professional or an educated homeowner you’ve probably heard the term “kitchen work triangle”. In fact it’s probably one of the first things you learn when endeavoring to create a new kitchen. Who thought this up? It is actually the result of a study made at the University of Illinois in the 1950s! If you’re wondering if it could be outdated, just think of how much kitchens have changed since then in terms of products, appliances and how we use them.The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) defines the kitchen “work triangle” an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cook top, to the center of the refrigerator and finally back to the sink.The NKBA suggests the following guidelines for determining a work triangle:- The sum of the work triangle's three sides should not exceed 26 ft. and each leg should measure between 4 ft. and 9 ft.- The work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches.- If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area or refrigerator.Yes, this makes kitchen design sound a bit like solving a puzzle and, actually, it really is. I know my design is “right” when the layout works from every angle in terms of safety, ease of function and, of course, aesthetics.Some of the design solution is just good sound common sense but much of it should be directed by the individual needs of the client. I don’t “do” the triangle as a rule. Today we have multiple cook kitchens and no end of possible appliances. Modern kitchens are so unlike those of 60 years ago, so I use the more updated concept of “work centers”. The basic ones are food prep, cooking, clean up and storage. So while efficiency is still at the forefront, the thinking is a bit more evolved to address twenty first century needs.In a perfect world, work centers should be situated to allow someone to work in one area without getting in the way of someone using another. However, let’s face it, in a very small kitchen that is just not going to happen! The focus then is twofold: enough storage and enough counter space.The types of work centers you can have is only limited by your imagination. Here are some good ones:-Beverage center- It can be coffee/tea, smoothies, wine or cocktails-Media center-It can be sit down area for menu planning, computer, charging station or TV-Baking center- You can trick this area out with customized storage for bake ware, bowls, utensils and a marble top for rolling dough.Remember that an “artful kitchen” employs what I call “practical creativity”. Function is the infrastructure, beauty comes next, the art is getting both just right.

An Artful New Adventure!

Let’s face it, things change.  As we navigate those twists and turns of fate we can only hope to move forward, seeing new things with a fresh eye. Like it or not, change is a constant.  You can dread it (understandable) or you can choose to embrace it.  That said, it has been more than five years since I began my adventure as Kitchens for Living. I believe I have been true to my promise to share the latest design trends and product info for the heart of your home. We have frequently ventured out of the kitchen and even around the globe! I am so grateful for all the wonderful and talented kindred souls I have met along the way, fellow bloggers, designers and great organizations such as Modenus, Blanco, Brizo, Tile of Spain and many more.  This blog has afforded me the opportunity to travel and bear witness to marvelous destinations and inspiring trade shows. Before this starts sounding too sad, let me tell you I have never felt so excited about the future and eager to explore new opportunities.  This will be the last post for Kitchens for Living.  From now on I will be able to merge two of the things I love,  kitchen design and art with my new site, Artful Kitchens.  A big THANK YOU to Leslie Carothers of The Kaleidoscope Partnership for her guidance and insight which lead me to discover a new path full of promise and possibilities. Artful Kitchens will focus on all the ways you can use  creativity to personalize your kitchen. Artful spaces reflect who you are and the way you live.The stunning tile above,  by Walker Zanger, was featured at KBIS 2015 which I had the pleasure of attending with The Modenus Blog Tour Vegas. New products like this perfectly white quartz by Wilsonart enhance the kitchen with a feeling of crisp clean freshness!  Color is a primary element of the Artful Kitchen. We'll be talking a lot about that in an upcoming interview with Amy Wax of Color 911We will continue to incorporate new products and technologies as they emerge and we will explore all the artful ways of creating a kitchen that reflects who you really are. I’m so excited, I hope you’ll join me and spread the word.  Last but certainly not least, whether you are a brand or a consumer, I want to collaborate with you! Continue the conversation on Face Book or email me at ArtfulKitchensbyGlo@gmail.com 

The New American Home, Inspired by the Possibilities

In some ways, although it was all fantastic, the Modenus Blog Tour saved the best for last.  On our final day we made a trip to Henderson, Nevada to visit The New American Home. This project was to showcase the latest technology in home building and featured flooring by Mohawk Flooring and Karastan, a division of Mohawk.  Believe it or not this is not a custom home but a production model in the Sky Terrace community.  The purpose is to showcase what can be done with different finishes and technologies for varying budgets so that it feels custom to the homeowner.  In my opinion, that's where creative design comes into play.  I love to be inspired by the finest and be able to translate that for a specific lifestyle and budget.  I know it can be done.  Notice how the neutral color palette reflects the desert landscape.It wasn't all eye candy and hors d'oeuvres, we also learned about Mowhawk and Karastan's SmartStrand made from 37% corn product.  This bio-based material is eco-friendly and stands up to stains!   The protection is there for life because it's built into the fibers.  SmartStrand can be found in both Mohawk and Karastan carpets. They have a fun and interactive website here.Thanks for following along on my adventures with Modenus Blog Tour Vegas.  For more coverage check out what all the bloggers had to say.  You can find them here. Stay tuned for recaps of my trip with Tile Of Spain to Cevisama.  It's all about tile, with maybe a little sangria in the mix ;).  I'll be on the road from Friday February 6-13.  Follow along on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter!

Wood-Mode and Top Knobs, Makings of a Dream Kitchen

If you've spent any time researching cabinets for your new kitchen or bath you've probably come across then name Wood-Mode. It's the nation’s largest manufacturer of custom cabinetry for kitchens, baths and other rooms throughout the home and they've been around for 42 years.  I learned that Wood-Mode has great name recognition in the industry for good reason.  Their booth at KBIS was impressive and fun!  Four yellow Lab pups were on hand to demonstrate  one of their  lifestyle concepts, The Pet Parlor.There's a place for everything from food storage, food bowls, bathing and more.  Great idea, yes? To highlight it Wood-Mode had the most interesting gig going at the show.  For all selfies posted with the dogs they donated $5 to the Susquehanna Service Dogs.  This will be an ongoing partnership.  They call it a PAWSitive partnership. You can read more about it here. Wood-Mode's newest lifestyle concept, Oceanside,  is right after my own heart.  This coastal style is a modern fresh mix of contemporary and transitional.  The subtle aqua and sandy shades of beige are on point. The Oceanside approach includes a very open plan with efficient hidden storage.  I see this as a reflection of the trends I saw in Italy last year, fewer or no upper cabinets but high function tall cabinets instead.  The combination of materials and finishes add lots of visual interest.With over 200 doors to choose from as well as furniture finishing techniques and options for built-in storage, Wood-Mode can create the perfect solution for your lifestyle, whether is be Coastal, pet-perfect or both! If you're going to be needing cabinets, you're also going to need to get into them.  That's where Top Knobs comes in.  Another brand with great name recognition, TopKnobs specializes in fine decorative hardware for the kitchen and bath.  You can tell the quality of a cabinet knob or handle by the weighty feel of it and I have always noticed that about TopKnobs products. The other important thing the finish which they guarantee for life!They introduced the Transcend Collection at KBIS.  This includes the Podium, Ascendra and Contour Series which come in Brushed Satin Nickel, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Sable and Umbrio.Also new at the show was Aspen II in three finishes, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel and Brushed Satin Nickel.  “The Aspen II collection combines old-world shape and style with contemporary finishes,” states Christine Zimmer, product manager for Top Knobs. “They bring to the market a unique look that designers can use in transitional spaces. Made with solid castings of artisan grade bronze, you can feel the quality of Aspen II in the palm of your hand.”With Wood-Mode and Top Knobs your dream kitchen can come to life!  

Seduced by Mr.Steam

Have you ever stopped to think about how design impacts your health and well-being?  Design is just not working if it doesn't make you feel good and that is what Mr. Steam is all about.  One of my experiences on the Modenus Blog Tour Vegas was to attend Modenus Talks.  This was a day long, interactive meeting of design minds and it is where I heard Martha Orellana, AKA Mrs. Steam, seduce us with the physical and mental benefits of steam.Perhaps you already know too much about me.  You know that my dream bath is going to include the TOTO Washlet but the other big must have is, of course, steam.  I will find a way and, according to Mr. Steam, it's not so hard to do.  But first, a word (ok a few) about what's in it for you.  Steam is great for your skin but also for your whole respiratory system and is recommended for the relief of symptoms from colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies, asthma, throat irritation, arthritis and more. Sore, tired muscles? Rigid joints? Steam eases the pain.  It also acts as a natural detox (which we all need now and then). Steam therapy is nothing new.  The Greeks and Roman indulged and so did the Japanese and even Native Americans.  Check here for more about this  interesting tradition.  We got to bathe in the steam at the Aria Spa courtesy of Mr. Steam.  A lovely experience made even better with Tala.  Tala Bath & Body is a new discovery for me and is a line of  essential oils, clays, scrubs and soaps. Mrs. Steam traveled to Morocco to research and develop these products.  The Arabic word for "bath" is "hammam" and there is a beautiful ritual associated with it that you can follow with Tala.So now you're probably curious about what it would take to get steamy.  Basically you need an enclosed shower area around 8' high with a slightly sloped ceiling (because of condensation).  You'll need a water line, drain line and electric for the generator. A seat is a good idea and then you're ready for ten minutes of bliss.  That's all it takes. Steam showers do not require special ventilation. With the shower door closed, very little steam escapes. At the end of a steam shower session, simply turn on the shower to condense the remaining steam in the enclosure before opening the door. Voila'! Next Up: Taking personalization to the kitchen with Wood-Mode and TopKnobs!