As the holiday season approaches, there's one room in the home that brings together the tantalizing aromas of delicious food and the chatter of good people: the kitchen.
More than just a cooking space, the kitchen tends to embody the heart of the home. There is chaos and chaos in communal meal preparation. Maybe a snack before bed. It is a place where many holiday memories are made.
But if you've skimmed the pages of interior design magazines or websites in recent years, you've probably noticed that coveted kitchens lean toward an authentic, sophisticated feel — and professional-level equipment. Super functional layout. Lots of neutral colors and clean lines.
“We have officially reached the pinnacle of kitchen design. We know exactly how to create beautiful and luxurious cooking spaces,” says Sophie Donelson in her new book, Uncommon Kitchens (Abrams, 2023) I am writing inside.
“Many of us remember our childhood family kitchens. It wasn't perfect, new, or fancy; it was where conversations happened, food was made, and life unfolded. ” she says.
Donelson and other design experts say that by playing with color, pattern, and decorative elements, you can create a kitchen that everyone will love. Some ideas for drinking and savoring:
all emotions
Whether our dream kitchen is fully equipped like Martha Stewart or just a combination of a modest worktop, toaster oven, and mugs, it's a space with a lot of function and atmosphere.
Pay attention to lighting and, above all, how you use your kitchen, says Donelson.
“Comfortable lighting in the morning when you're making your coffee or preparing your lunch for the day is great for when you're whipping up a mug of ice cream late at night or preparing dinner on a relaxing Sunday night. “It's not the way you want to feel. With someone you love,” she says.
Prepare various things such as overhead lights. LED undercounter task strip in warm colors.
“And I always advocate adding a small table lamp to the counter,” says Donelson. “My vintage one sits next to my toaster, and it doesn't take up much space. But it's attractive and cheerful, so it's the first thing I click on in the morning and the last thing I turn off.”
Donelson researched her book and learned that many remodelers choose to add or restore windows when possible instead of tile backsplashes.
space that can be released
“So many people mentioned dancing alone or with their families in the kitchen. It's fun and a great way to exercise!” Donelson says.
If possible, move tables or islands to give them room to rotate. Plus, add a great wireless sound system.
And you probably don't need a full-service island with a lineup of stools. A table of any size with chairs makes for a more cheerful arrangement, but still a tidy work space.
color
Minneapolis-based designer Lucy Penfield painted the oven door matte pink. She added bar stools to the kitchen in bright orange. And the family cabin was outfitted with a fun sunshine yellow Smeg retro fridge to store beer.
Color “can help set the mood in a space and invite conversation,” she says.
Courtney Bishop, who runs a design studio in Charleston, South Carolina, also plays with color. His seafoam-blue Big Chill appliances are installed in the beach house, and the countertops are filled with chunks of what looks like seagrass.
In another kitchen, she used deep, dark colors for the window sills and ground-level cabinetry, and added cheerful scents of citrus and tomato through stools, artwork, canisters, and even the stove knobs. The result is a space that captures her style and personality.
John Sciarone of Tom Stringer Design Partners boosted the energy of his Palm Springs, Calif., vacation home by adding Benjamin Moore's Kiwi paint color to the kitchen. “This home is primarily a weekend home, so the client had a bold focus on furniture.” The vibrant green is featured elsewhere, including through artwork, accessories, and textiles.
“I don’t know what to do,” says Sciarone from her kitchen. “I like bright, crisp countertops that reflect natural light and create a contrast with the food. If I were to add color, it would be orange, because it's a combination of sunshine and citrus, two of my favorite things. Because it reminds me of two things.”
put things where they need to be
Sciarone loves to cook, but says she's fine with an organized galley kitchen.
“I found that if the area is well-organized, you don't need as much counter space to prepare elaborate dishes,” he says. “I love the close-fitting drawer inserts. They provide dedicated space for frequently used items.”
Do you have children? Install a pantry with low bins for easy storage of snacks. Are you proud of your cookbook collection? Having it visible makes it easier to access and also creates a homely decor moment.
Do you entertain often? Set up taskstation. Probably a separate coffee maker zone. A mise en place counter where you can arrange all the ingredients for a dish before cooking. Dedicated baking preparation area.
Rather than worrying about convention, designers say they build and adapt their kitchens to suit how they use them.
storytelling
After a trip to Marrakech that “changed my life,” Penfield says she started cooking a lot of Moroccan food. “There's nothing like freshly cut dill or basil,” she says. “But my favorite is the mint flavor it adds to Moroccan dishes.”
Her kitchen currently has a tajine pot, a North African clay pot.
An art lover, Penfield exhibits modern prints and sculptures, including brightly colored works by Belgian painter Luc Lebon. “He is known for his cheerful and optimistic work.”
She wrapped the kitchen in rustic green terracotta tiles that reminded her of what she had seen during her travels. She said: “It was a bold move, but it felt like the right thing to do.”
make a room
Donelson says it's helpful for everyone to remember that the kitchen is also a room and can be decorated with the same things you would add to any other space.
“Art, plants, small throws. Anything that brings joy in another room will feel the same way in the kitchen,” she says.
“After all, the kitchen is the real 'living room' of the house.
