Dr Decorator Examines Kitchens
For most people the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is also the hardest working room in the home. It is a space which is used and abused on a daily basis, a family center where we store an abundance of objects, cook, clean, eat, do paperwork, talk on the phone, and socialize. Despite all this activity, we want the kitchen to look good and clean up easily. Because of these many requirements, kitchen remodeling is high on the list of homeowner priorities.

The kitchen is also the most high-tech and expensive room in the house. A new kitchen is a very costly project and requires an overwhelming number of decisions to be made. The homeowner has to select cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, appliances, sinks and faucets, cabinet hardware, window treatments, wall coverings, and furniture.

Deciding on style is also important. Should the overall look be clean lined and contemporary, or country and cozy? Should the cabinets be in dark or light finishes? All of these decisions are definitely migraine material and have even been the source of many marital conflicts. Small wonder that clients have told me of sleepless nights spent deciding which type of faucets to use! They know that these are decisions they will be living with for a long time.

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to put together a new kitchen. Very often the expense is just not in a homeowner's budget. Cosmetic kitchen makeovers are also complicated, but far less costly or disruptive. A tired and dated kitchen can be given a facelift and end up looking like a totally new space.

The kitchen photographed below shows a creative solution to one of the most commonly asked kitchen-design questions:

Where can we eat in a kitchen that does not offer an eat-in space?

Our solution was a breakfast bar built along the side wall. The terra cotta-type tile which was used on the floor in an 18-inch size was repeated on the counter in a 12-inch size.

This kitchen is light and airy but features a definite Country French flair. Decorative elements include toile-style wall covering, majolica plates as wall decor, French-styled barstools, and a hand-painted ceramic tile mural behind the cooktop.

Another interesting element in this kitchen is the mix of finishes. Most of the cabinetry is in a creamy tone which contrasts dramatically with the dark hunter green paint on the crown molding, hood trim, and cooktop cabinet. The surfacing materials are also treated to a mixed-media effect. The countertops are Conan®, the backsplash is tumbled marble, and the flooring and breakfast bar are made of porcelain tile which simulates the look of terra cotta. The overall effect is charming and timeless.