|
News & Info
|
 |
 |
Seller Signup...
Quality Service, Seller or Tradesperson? Sign Up Now!
|
|
Home & Garden Articles
Kitchens With A Contemporary Look
Fri 08 Jun 2007 - 14:41
Kitchens With A Contemporary Look
By Adam Peters
I don't spend a lot of time in my kitchen. I'm single and I don't like to cook. A microwave oven, a fridge full of TV dinners, and a stack of paper plates suit me just fine.
Which isn't to say that I don't want the room itself to look nice. Like the rest of my house, its furnished in a contemporary style - which means very simply, very elegantly, with not a lot of clutter. (I don't like to dust, either.)
Appliances
The main thing for any kitchen is the appliances, of course. Refrigerators and stoves, microwave ovens and dishwashers seem to be standards these days, along with the kitchen sink. These all come in a variety of sizes and colors, so it's easy to mix and match if you're purchasing everything new.
Before you choose these appliances, make sure you visit various home furnishing stores in your area, or surf the web to see all the different designs available. Most homes have old fashions kitchens that look homey, but there are also plenty of styles out there that look and are "space age." It's the minimalist look, with everything - such as heating elements - set into counter tops for easy cleaning and sleek appearances.
Pedini USA is one designer of contemporary kitchens. Urban Homes New York offers kitchen redesign services. There are of course many more.
If you're moving into a home or an apartment already furnished, there's no need to replace the appliances - provided they work correctly. By choosing the rest of the furnishings of the kitchen appropriately, everything can blend in together.
Cabinets and Drawers
Cabinets and drawers should be functional. It's not necessary to rip out the present cabinets and start all over, if what's there already is still structurally sound - simply take off the doors and replace with a more elegant design.
Light
You'll be able to get quite a bit of light from your windows, if any. It's always nice to be able stand at the sink washing dishes, preparatory to placing them in the washing machine, while enjoying a view of the outside world, whether it be a grassy yard or a view across the street at other people's houses.
Windows
There's no need to decorate windows extravagantly - windows are only portals to a different view of your world, after all. Particularly in the kitchen, wooden shutters, if not properly treated, can swell and warp due to the humidity almost always present there.
Lighting
The kitchen is one room in the house that needs a lot of light - so that you can see what you're cooking, not to mention what you're watching. Track lighting above the counter tops and oven is the most efficient method.
Finally, the floor. Simple floors of hardwood look elegant, but since it's possible to spill quite a lot of liquids in the kitchen - from stray ice popping out of the ice machine to droplets while washing dishes - it would be necessary to wipe up these spills immediately so that they don't damage the wood. Tile floors are safer, and in keeping with a minimalist style should be a single, solid color.
Decor
As with every room of the house, decor should be kept to a minimum. Everything should be functional. A vase with a few flowers by the window, or some plates on top of the cabinets (if they don't reach all the way up to the ceiling) can add a bit of color, but not get in the way.
Adam Peters is a journalist who has written more articles and newsletters on this subject for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . A website with tips on contemporary decorating.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Peters
http://EzineArticles.com/?Kitchens-With-A-Contemporary-Look&id=598489
Looking for information on Carpentry, Find a supplier at HomeWise.ie
back to Carpentry articles
back to all home & garden articles
|
|