Editor's note: Welcome to CNN's Open House. This is an online tour of iReporters' homes that showcases the amazing decor. For each space, we look at the beautiful design moments that make a home a home. Want to show off your decorating skills? Submit your photos to the iReport challenge. This week we are looking for a beautiful baby nursery.
Story highlights
It is not impossible to create a beautiful kitchen using original cabinets
Countertops, seating, and lighting matter — accent colors go a long way
Share your nursery decor in the next CNN Open House iReport challenge
CNN
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Have you ever spent hours on Pinterest and looked at tons of gorgeous decor photos, then looked into your kitchen and heard a sad trombone “waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
According to decorators, the kitchen does not function like any other room, and it is not always clear how to decorate it. Instead of four walls of blank space for decorating, he has cabinet doors, appliances, and countertops, so it can feel a bit boxed in.
“When we bought our house, we decided to use a lot of light maple cabinets. Sure, they have great storage, but all I saw were square lines,” says Holly of House by Holly. said decor blogger Holly Modica.
One way to deal with gridded cabinet doors is a complete renovation, but not everyone has the budget to tear down walls or install custom cabinets. Modica took a minimalist approach to the kitchen.
“The focus was on how to soften the cabinets and add texture,” she said. She collected soup her tureens, baskets, and weathered furniture at tag sales, made burlap shades for the chandeliers, and replaced only the backsplash.
“Now I barely notice the cabinets that I used to hate,” she said. Because now there are so many decorative items in the kitchen that we look forward to seeing every day.
“You have to think about decorating your kitchen differently,” said decorator Kate Connor of Chic on a Shoestring. “It's not harder, it's just different. Cabinet color, cabinet hardware, backsplash, and countertops all make up your kitchen décor, whether you like it or not.”
“People don't think of these things as decoration, but they set the overall feel of the room. If they're outdated, they can be difficult to display around them,” she said.
A simple paint job created Leila Palmer's favorite kitchen feature: two-tone cabinetry. She painted the bottom cabinets in the kitchen of her last home her mourning dove gray paint and painted the tops alabaster white. She also used chalkboard paint and a painted beadboard backsplash to create the cottage look she loves.
“We made some inexpensive cosmetic changes, all of which are easy to make if the new homeowner wants to do so,” she said. For example, we added pine boards and crown molding to make prefabricated cabinets look taller.
Who's to say you should leave your cabinet doors alone?
“People are hesitant to use glass doors on their cabinets because they want to hide all the clutter or they don't know how to style them beautifully with simple stemware,” says Lina Norwood, a decorator in Cornelius, North Carolina. There are some,” he says. Modica also uses open cabinetry as part of her interior scheme.
“I like to display my cute things, but I also like to keep my countertops clear,” she said.
The basic kitchen found in many homes can be a source of design frustration. The solution, decorators say, is to think “timeless” when approaching the most visible part of the kitchen.
“I decided to stay within a very neutral zone color-wise so as not to look outdated. By keeping the cabinets white and the countertops black, our kitchen feels very classic and timeless. It's the exterior,” says Carmel Phillips of Lexington, Kentucky. Hardware updates can also be an inexpensive and effective way to update older cabinets.
“White kitchens have a timeless, classic, bright and elegant feel,” says Cuckoo 4 Design blogger Julia Konya.
However, it is not necessary to erase the old features of the room. Sometimes, as in the case of Sandra Kent, you end up giving your kitchen a very specific feel.
“The cabinet says a lot about the times,” said Kent, a Dallas native. “My mom has these lovely maple cabinets from the ’50s that I think are what makes up the kitchen. , I think it represents a period of stability.”
But when it comes to investing in your kitchen, countertops are a practical and decorative option.
“The most noticeable decoration in our kitchen, I have to say in most kitchens, is the countertop. It's a well-worth the splurge and it makes a big difference,” Konya said. “At first we wanted to use Carrara marble, but since we are a very active family, we wanted something more durable. So we decided to go with quartz, which is more durable and durable. .”
Kitchens are exposed to heavy use, and countertops, floors, and appliances need to be strong enough to withstand the test of countless dinners and holiday feasts. At the same time, the room is a gathering place for family and guests, so it needs to be cozy and comfortable, Connor says.
In addition to having plenty of comfortable seating, she believes lighting is important.
“Some people fear using lamps in the kitchen, but they can actually make a room feel cozier. A small lamp near the sink or under a cabinet can provide a cozy glow that you can't get from overhead. It adds warmth to the room,” Connor said. She found that a lamp placed over the buffet table in the kitchen was an easy decorative opportunity to nudge up the comfort level.
Are you crazy about decorating your home?show your skills CNN open house Your photo could be featured in next week's story. In honor of Prince George, the next focus will be the nursery.
