HELP! Dwelling cooks, kitchen connoisseurs, gourmands: right now’s submit is a determined plea to your recommendation. You see, I’m at the moment working off the momentum of my latest lounge reveal – an object in movement stays in movement, as they are saying – and I’ve managed to seize a while with the dream workforce (alternatively recognized by their actual names, Emily Bowser and Sara Tramp) for a kitchen shoot on Could thirtieth, however y’all…I’M NOT ACTUALLY DONE YET.
Okay. Possibly that’s somewhat alarmist – it’s 90% of the best way there, and I’ve 25 days to make a minor adorning determination. I’ll reside! And whereas the kitchen has made leaps and bounds since I first moved in – I’ll catch you up on a few of the design progress beneath – there’s nonetheless a ludicrously capacious house above the range that’s in dire want of some ~pizzazz~. I wish to make this spot useful, but when I’m being sincere…I’m not nice at cooking (but, she wrote, brimming with cautious optimism), and I don’t actually have the talent set to know what constitutes being useful.
To that finish, I’ve researched a ton of classic kitchens and have persistently come throughout the identical 5 adorning formulation for that awkward house above the range. They’re all lovely choices that might look superior in my residence, however I do need assistance deciding which is essentially the most livable (i.e. I don’t need one thing that appears good in pictures however is a nightmare to keep up). So if you happen to take pleasure in cooking at residence (or if in case you have robust emotions about shelving, sconces, pot racks, and the like), please learn on – I’d actually respect your opinion right here! However first…
The place We Began
HI, WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST GALLEY KITCHEN. (Joking, but additionally not joking.) She’s about 15′ lengthy, 8′ throughout, and one way or the other comprises extra cupboards and drawers than anybody particular person needs to be allowed to have. You understand how Carrie Bradshaw needed to retailer sweaters in her range? I might retailer Carrie Bradshaw’s total condominium in my kitchen cupboards with room left over. THERE IS SO MUCH STORAGE.
The flooring (linoleum, troublesome to scrub, impossibly noisy), home equipment (outdated, however it’s a rental, so c’est la vie), and 90-year-old tile counter tops (I imply, sufficient mentioned) all go away one thing to be desired…however actually, I’m simply nitpicking. Over the previous few years, I’ve realized that I really feel most snug after I’m designing round some immovable parts – they really feel like built-in bumpers that hold me on monitor. I don’t do properly with a clean slate, so I’m grateful to have some parameters to work round. 🙂
The In-Progress Transformation
She’s been a piece in progress for a very long time, of us! Right here’s what’s been finished thus far:
- Wallpaper: It’s ‘Orange Blossom’ by Cole & Son and IT’S SO CHEERY. Hanging this wallpaper took the kitchen from “outdated and drained” to “classic and charming.”
- Glass Knobs: I wished to honor the 90-year-old authentic cupboards with one thing somewhat extra interval acceptable – these had been splurge-y (a part of why this reveal has taken so lengthy, ha!), however they’re additionally timeless and so, so, SO fairly. I’ll be utilizing these for the remainder of my life, I feel.
- Window Therapies: Conversely, I didn’t splurge on these – grabbed two of my favourite low cost $40 picket roman shades in ‘Deer’ (a blonder, subtler wooden coloration than the ‘Squirrel’ I utilized in my lounge).
- Trendy Lighting: I LOVE a contemporary/classic mashup, particularly when it improves the performance of an area! I fell in love with the form of this fixture (impressed by leaves and petals, which feels becoming with the blossom motif), however I additionally love that it’s convertible – I’m utilizing it as a semi-flush in my kitchen, however I might use it as a chandelier in a future residence! (Extra manufacturers ought to make lighting like this! It’s genius for renters, IMO.)
- A New Runner: SO CUTE. It’s jute! It’s scalloped! It’s a ten′ runner that solely value $130! FYI, this Etsy is a treasure trove for tremendous candy, tremendous inexpensive rugs – comparable items on Chairish and Primarily Baskets go for 3-5x the value. Verify right here first!
- Up to date Switchplates: I’ll be overlaying the swap and outlet covers with wallpaper in order that they mix into the wall. (What number of tears will probably be shed as I try to realize the proper wallpaper lineup? You’ll discover out once we share the reveal in mid-June!)
Enter: My Downside Space
GET A LOAD OF THAT OPEN SPACE. In the event you’re additionally battling the design round a free-standing oven in an outdated residence, I SEE YOU. There’s no backsplash, no hood, NO NOTHING on this nook – only a large expanse of wall in want of one thing. I like the best way my wallpaper brightened up this nook (standing right here watching a clean wall felt like a punishment beforehand, TBH) however it’s positively fairly graphic and in dire want of some visible steadiness.
That is the place I flip to you, my wisened kitchen friends, to ask a easy query: which of the next 5 decor layouts would you go for in your personal kitchen? I’m not a fantastic residence chef but, however I’d love to decide on a setup for this space that’d be fulfilling to make use of as soon as I get higher at cooking! Choices are coming in scorching beneath…please advise. (However like, in a real approach, and never in a passive-aggressive e-mail approach.)
Choice 1: Two Cabinets
I’ve to confess that I do love how easy and clear this format is. It’s traditional for a cause, you understand? A fairly mild oak shelf like this one would deliver somewhat heat to the ocean of white whereas talking to the lighter tones within the wallpaper. There’s additionally a variety of flexibility with this kind of open shelving – I might retailer spices, dishes, cooking utensils, a tiny lamp, and many others. up there! – however however…do I really want extra storage on this room? When you have an open shelf above your range, has it been a optimistic expertise for you?
Choice 2: Traditional Pot Rack Or Peg Rail
Two extra tremendous traditional configurations: the pot rack and the peg rail. I do fear {that a} pot rack could also be somewhat too visually busy with the wallpaper – there’d be a variety of small bits in a single space! – however I like how sensible it’s, and I do additionally assume that seeing my cookware encourages me to make use of it extra. I feel I’d be eyeing a brass rail like this, however I’m open to suggestions if anybody has a extra inexpensive possibility that they love!
I additionally just like the peg rail as a candy, period-appropriate various to the pot rack. If I went that route, I’d do one thing in a lightweight wooden – a bit that speaks to the blond window remedies and jute runner – and whereas I feel it’d be AWESOME aesthetically (living proof: this Reath Design kitchen), I fear that it’d be much less useful long-term than a rack on this explicit house.
Choice 3: Joint Shelving And Pot Rack
As Hannah Montana as soon as mentioned: you get one of the best of each worlds! I cherished how Sara mounted a brass rail to her floating shelf in her kitchen reveal, and I feel it’d be good to do one thing comparable right here. The identical considerations nonetheless stand from earlier than, although – will it get too busy? Is it laborious to scrub? Is it doable to have too a lot storage in a kitchen? (No, proper?) GOOD COOKS, PLEASE HELP. I’M OVERTHINKING!
Choice 4: Mirror/Artwork + Sconce
I do have an outlet proper above my range (in case you haven’t observed, ha) and it will be a fantastic candidate for a plug-in sconce. It’d be useful to have extra mild whereas cooking, proper? (Critically, I’m asking!!!) A mirror is likely to be a pleasant possibility right here too – I cherished the outdated federal mirror Jess hung close to the range in her outdated kitchen, and I don’t essentially want extra shelving…ideas?
Choice 5: Ceiling Rack + Decor
OH BABY, SAVED THE WILDEST FOR LAST! I noticed this actual format on oldhouseonline.com (are you able to inform I’m a child who grew up watching Antiques Roadshow with my mother???) and it’s AWESOME in particular person – click on by and take a look at the photograph! I do know there’s rather a lot happening within the graphic, however the concept is fairly easy: pop a ceiling-mounted pot rack up high, and provides myself some house to play and experiment with the styling down beneath. I do know this may look lovely and fascinating, however am I setting myself up for a cleansing nightmare long-term?
That is the place I’ll open up the ground for dialogue, and I’ll fortunately welcome any and all constructive suggestions. Which possibility would you select? (And if the reply is “lady, none of them,” I’d love to listen to your options!) Will hanging one thing above the range make my life a nightmare? (Insert footage right here of my candy boyfriend Dennis, calmly explaining the physics of melting butter and grease to me in an try to dissuade me from putting treasured artwork above the range.) Are some supplies, textures, or colours higher or simpler to keep up than others on the subject of cleansing off kitchen grease? I can’t be the one one who’s struggling right here – let’s all assist one another out, yeah? HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND – I’ll be in search of your ideas within the feedback. xx
Opening Picture Credit: Picture by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Caitlin’s Lengthy, Darkish Hallway Makeover
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